How to Freeze Blueberries
High in antioxidants, blueberries are considered a “super fruit.” In order to reap the health benefits of these tasty little berries all year, while taking advantage of seasonal prices, freezing is an easy way to preserve them.While there may technically be no “wrong” way to freeze, i discovered very quickly that just throwing fresh berries into a container and tossing it into the freezer becomes a frustrating method when it’s time to retrieve them, because they stick together in one big, hard, lump. I recommend pre-freezing (for 1hr.) your cookie sheet. Take out the frozen cookie sheet and cover w/waxed paper. Place berries on sheet and make sure they are not touching one another. Place back in freezer and freeze for another hour. Place frozen berries in a ziplock or air tight container.
***Pre-freezing your baking sheet (put it in the freezer for an hour or so before putting the berries on it) will drastically speed freezing, creating smaller ice crystals and preserving the structure and texture better. Adding this step will result in berries that “leak” less and seem fresher if you thaw them.
So now you know! Keep this tip handy in your apron~
