How to Properly Freeze Strawberries

Fresh picked strawberries still warm from the sun are probably one of the best things on earth! We have a local berry farm that allows you to come pick (although this year we have had WAY too much rain so we didn’t make it). When you get can fresh berries for a great price ($1/lb), you want to get as much as you can, but trying to keep them and their delicious flavor all winter is a challenge. This guide will help you to be able to have those wonderful berries all year long by sharing how to properly freeze strawberries.

First, DO NOT WASH your berries. Strawberries have little hairs and washing messes these guys up. If you have some visible dirt, wipe it off like you would for a mushroom. Occasionally, I have really sandy ones, those get set aside for washing and immediate eating.

Next, cut off the green part with a sharp knife. I love to use a small paring knife like this one.

Then, place the strawberries cut side down on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. I love my stackable cooling racks for this. I can fit so many more berries on one freezer shelf.

Put your cut, unwashed berries in the freezer and forget about them for 1-2 days. My freezer is turned to one of the coldest settings so I get a good hard freeze.

After a day or two, remove the strawberries from the paper and place in plastic storage containers or zip bags releasing as much air as possible. Stack flat and put back in freezer.