Okay, so this is probably one of the simplest fruits you can freeze, but I thought I’d let you know how I do it!
Yesterday I had the opportunity to pick some raspberries with a friend. We tried to pay, but she wouldn’t take our money! What an unexpected blessing! Since it’s just my husband and I, I knew we wouldn’t be able to eat them all before they went bad so I decided to freeze some for smoothies or whatever we fancy.
Here’s the the instructions for the simplest fruit to freeze:
- Place raspberries on cookie sheets. (I didn’t even wash them as they were organic and I thought any bugs would die once they were frozen! I don’t mind eating them if I don’t know…)
- Place in freezer
- Once frozen, place in Ziploc freezer bags in the amounts that would work for you! (2 cup increments?)
- Place the full Ziploc bags back in the freezer.
- Enjoy however you’d like!
I really like freezing fruits as I think they’re often easier to freeze then canning. And I like the fact that I freeze them in their natural state. No added sugar!
If I want to freeze blueberries would I do the same thing?
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Simply Frugal Reply:
July 20th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Yes, I would think so! Good luck!
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Toni Reply:
July 20th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
For the blueberries, I would wash them first, then dry them in a salad spinner then the cookie sheet method is good to go!
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Simply Frugal Reply:
July 21st, 2011 at 4:32 am
Great idea with the salad spinner! Thanks!
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Just a note for readers on not washing organic fruits and veg since many people are under the assumption that because a product is organic there is nothing dangerous about this. Often since the produce is organic a natural fertiliser will have be used instead, i.e. manure. This can contain e-coli, which will NOT be killed by the freezing process. Particularly important if you are going to put this fruit straight into smoothies etc without defrosting and washing first, especially if children are going to be drinking the smoothies. (source, my husband is an environmental health officer)
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Simply Frugal Reply:
July 20th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Thanks for your input Sam. In this case I know exactly what was used on the raspberries since they were from a friends house. She doesn’t use anything on them. 100% natural and just good ol’ bees to do their part.
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Excellent tip for freezing and excellent info from you Sam…I always use the Nature Clean Veggie 7& Fruit Spray too…eventhough they say running water cleans just as good, I find the fruit and/or veggies taste better after using the spray:)
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Thanks for the input on freezing blueberries. I will try it. The salad spinner is a great idea in order to dry them.
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