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Home » How to » How to Freeze Strawberries [The Easy Way]

How to Freeze Strawberries [The Easy Way]

June 11, 2019 , Updated July 25, 2019 Maria 18 Comments

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Frozen strawberries on ice cubes.

Tips and tricks provided for how to freeze strawberries. The only special equipment you need to preserve this wonderful berry is a straw!

An overhead shot of frozen strawberries set over ice in a silver tray.
How to Freeze Strawberries

Would you be surprised if I told you that I went strawberry picking and I came back with 16 liters of strawberries?

Yup! I did it again… every year, it’s the same story…

But in my defense, strawberry season doesn’t last very long and if you’ve ever had a Quebec strawberry, you know they are super sweet and delicious.

If you love strawberries as much as I do, I am sure you can understand how easy it is to go a little overboard when picking fresh strawberries.

You may argue (and rightly so) that strawberries are available year round. But, as I always say, there is nothing better than local fruits and vegetables.

There is however one good thing about picking too many strawberries – I get to share a few of my favorite ways to preserve them and some of my favorite ways to use them with all of you.

Just recently, I made this Homemade Strawberry Jam recipe. As you can well imagine, this jam is perfect for making Italian Jam Crostata.

But today, let’s talk about another method -how to preserve fresh strawberries in your freezer.

Frozen strawberreis on a tray sourrouded by fresh strawberries and strawberry leaves.

Can you freeze strawberries?

Strawberries are one of the easiest and simplest fruits to freeze. Always try to use the freshest and firmest strawberries for the best result. They can be frozen whole, halved or quartered.

A basket of freshly picked strawberries set on the ground.

Which strawberries are best to freeze:

Always choose strawberries that are entirely bright red and glossy looking in order to get great tasting and sweet strawberries once they are thawed. There should be no green or white streaks.

Do not freeze strawberries that have a deep red color as they are probably overripe and will result in an extremely mushy texture once the strawberry is thawed.

The best time of the year to freeze strawberries is when they are in peak season and available at your farmers market or freshly picked. This will ensure the flavor and texture of the strawberry is at its maximum.

Although there are several effective methods, let me show you my preferred method on how to freeze fresh strawberries

Bright red freshly picked strawberries are in a colander, ready to be rinsed.

How to freeze strawberries:

  • Place the strawberries in a colander and rinse under cold running water;
  • Allow the water to drain;
  • Gently transfer the strawberries to a tea towel and spread them out;
  • Pat them down with another tea towel to remove the excess moisture. Never soak these delicate berries as they quickly begin to lose their quality… they become soggy and lose their flavor
  • Allow to air dry for 30-60 minutes

One of the steps on how to freeze strawberries involves the removal of the hull. In this picture, a paring knife is used.

  • Remove the hulls from each strawberry  -simply pinch out the little green stem. You can use a knife or one of those gadgets to facilitate this process. It is important to remove the hulls after you have rinsed the strawberries otherwise you risk getting soggy strawberries. The hulls are great to add to your compost pile.
  • Slice the larger berries in half or quarters, keep the smaller ones intact;

Strawberries on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.

  • Place the strawberries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Since we don’t want clumps of strawberries sticking together, make sure the strawberries do not touch each other when placing them on the parchment paper. Individually frozen strawberries will allow you the flexibility to thaw them out individually based on your specific needs.  Remember to use a baking sheet that fits in your freezer;
  • Place the baking sheet of strawberries in your freezer for about 2-3 hours.

The final step on freezing strawberries involves transferring the frozen strawberries in a plastic bag.

  • Transfer the individual partially frozen strawberries in resealable freezer bags. Use a straw or a sealer to remove as much as the air as possible as this will reduce the formation of ice crystals.
  • Properly label your bags by indicating the date and place your bag in the freezer.

You now have the versatility of using one strawberry at a time (if you wanted) to make some of your favorite strawberry treats.

How long can you freeze strawberries:

Frozen strawberries will keep in the freezer up to one year. They are more likely to experience freezer burn the longer they stay in the freezer. If you have one, use a chest freezer as this will provide a higher quality berry when the time comes to defrost your berries.

How to defrost strawberries:

Depending on how quickly you want to use them, there are different options.

I need them now: Use the defrost option on your microwave and check at one minute intervals until they are defrosted.

Ready in 15 minutes: Place them in a leak proof bowl or container which has been set in a larger bowl of cold water. 

Ready in 60  minutes: Defrost at room temperature by placing them in a single layer on a large plate on the counter.  

Ready in 24 hours: Place them in a seal-able container in the fridge. 

As a general rule of thumb, thawing frozen strawberries will create juices.

What to do with Frozen Strawberries:

In the long run, it’s a lot cheaper to freeze your own locally picked strawberries rather than buying them in the middle of the winter from the frozen section of your big box store.

Plus, you’ll love the convenience of just reaching into your freezer and using the exact amount you need to make some of these delicious treats:

  • Desserts like strawberry cheesecake, Italian Jam Tart;
  • Smoothies and milkshakes;
  • Frozen treats like Strawberry Kiwi Granita;
  • Fillings and sauces;
  • Preserves or jam.
  • Brunch recipes like these Banana Strawberry Muffins.

Strawberry Desserts we Love:

Whipped Ricotta Parfait

Summer Crostata Recipe

Macerated Strawberries

Frozen strawberries are also convenient when making summer drinks. Dawn over at Girl Heart Food shares her recipe for Frozen Strawberry Mango Margarita. Doesn’t it look good?

 

A close up of icy cold frozen strawberry halves set on ice.

What’s better than thawing out the exact amount of perfectly frozen strawberries in the middle of winter from your freezer to make your favorite strawberry dessert?

Freezing strawberries not only preserves the beautiful red color, but when done right, the quality and the flavor of this delicate berry is also preserved.

So if you go strawberry picking and come back with a little bit more then you planned for, why not freeze them?

I would love to hear about how you are planning to use your frozen strawberries!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

Ciao for now,

Maria

Frozen strawberries thawing on a bed of ice cubes.

How to Freeze Strawberries

Tips and tricks provided for how to freeze strawberries. The only special equipment you need to preserve this wonderful berry is a straw!


 

5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: how to
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 46kcal
Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

  • 1 cup strawberries
  • water
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Place the strawberries in a colander and rinse under cold running water.
  • Remove excess moisture.
  • Remove the hulls from each strawberry by pinching out the little green stem. You can use a knife or one of those gadgets to facilitate this process. It is important to remove the hulls after you have rinsed the strawberries otherwise you risk getting soggy strawberries.

  • Place the strawberries on a baking sheet that’s been lined with parchment paper.
  • Place the baking sheet of strawberries in your freezer for about 2-3 hours.
  • Transfer the individual partially frozen strawberries in resealable freezer bags.
  • Use a straw or a sealer to remove as much as the air as possible as this will reduce the formation of ice crystals.

  • Properly label your bags by indicating the date and place your bag in the freezer.
Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Nutrition

Calories: 46kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin C: 84.6mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.6mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @shelovesbiscotti or tag #shelovesbiscotti!

This post was originally published on June 29, 2018 and republished on June 11, 2019 with updated content.

 

 

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About Maria

Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

Comments

  1. Mrs. Westbrook says

    November 16, 2020 at 14:04

    5 stars
    I never knew that you could freeze these. Actually a friend brought me 16 containers today. I had no idea up until now what I would do with all of them! This was very helpful! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      November 17, 2020 at 09:38

      How wonderful for you! Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Jess says

    February 11, 2020 at 12:13

    When these thaw – do they get mushy? Im hoping to freeze & thaw for kids school lunches. Would this be suitable?

    Reply
    • Maria says

      February 11, 2020 at 12:16

      Unfortunately, strawberries have a high water content making them mushy when they thaw. They are better suited to make smoothies or incorporate them in yogurts and breakfast bowls. Thanks for stopping by Jess

      Reply
  3. Val says

    July 10, 2019 at 11:41

    5 stars
    Perfect timing! I just went strawberry picking and I picked way to many strawberries! Thanks again Maria!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      July 10, 2019 at 11:42

      That happens to me all the time Val! Have fun freezing strawberries!!! Thanks for stopping by, appreciate it!

      Reply
  4. MDIVADOMESTICA says

    July 5, 2018 at 02:15

    Wow! That is a lot of fresh strawberries. Thanks for sharing your tips on freezer storage. Summer can be really busy to use up all those the fresh ones.

    Reply
    • Maria says

      July 6, 2018 at 07:09

      What can I say, we just love our local strawberries;) Thank goodness strawberries are so versatile and freeze so well! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  5. Denise from Urb'n'Spice says

    July 4, 2018 at 21:30

    This is a great post, Maria! Preserving strawberries at their peak is essential and you have nailed it! Thanks for sharing both your DIY method and recipes to use them. 🙂

    Reply
    • Maria says

      July 6, 2018 at 07:07

      Can’t go wrong with fresh strawberries. Thanks so much for stopping by Denise, appreciate your comment 🙂

      Reply
  6. Elaine Nessman says

    July 3, 2018 at 19:40

    I grow my own strawberries and I also buy organic berries when they’re in season and freeze, freeze, freeze! Can you ever have too many strawberries? I think not. 🙂 Wonderful post with lots of ideas to use these berries! Thanks Maria!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      July 4, 2018 at 07:53

      I agree, strawberries are great year round and it is fun to have a secret stash, so to speak 🙂 Appreciate your comment Elaine, thanks for stopping by ♥

      Reply
  7. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says

    July 3, 2018 at 12:02

    I don’t buy strawberries year round, they are too big, too “pumped” with something, and they lack in flavor. So I only buy them at their peak season. l have never frozen them, but now I have the perfect how-to guide! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      July 3, 2018 at 12:23

      I agree Nicoletta! Whenever possible, local and organic is the way to go with strawberries.Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  8. Paula Barbarito Levitt says

    July 2, 2018 at 09:21

    Maria, this is an excellent guide to preserving summer strawberries to enjoy in a few months. I often pine for the delicious berries in September or October but refrain from buying as they are simply without any flavor.

    Reply
    • Maria says

      July 2, 2018 at 11:21

      Thanks Paula. This is my preferred method… sometimes I will preserve them in a simple syrup but you are limited as to what you can do with them once they are thawed. Hope you are keeping well my friend ♥ Thanks so much or stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  9. Marcellina says

    June 30, 2018 at 09:32

    I love to freeze strawberries! Strangely, here in North Queensland strawberries are cheapest in our late winter early spring so I like to stock up and freeze as many as I can. I usually use them to make jam or strawberry sauce fir icecream or over yogurt.

    Reply
    • Maria says

      June 30, 2018 at 09:55

      It truly is a wonderful berry to have on had for wonderful “last minute” treats. Thanks for stopping by Marcellina. Have a great week-end ♥

      Reply

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Hello and Welcome to She Loves Biscotti!
I'm Maria: dietitian and full time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth, to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

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