Learn the process of how to freeze raspberries with this easy tutorial, from washing to store to how to defrost! Keep fresh frozen raspberries on hand year-round for recipes like berry pie or fruit pizza!
Ever find yourself craving a delicious raspberry pie or a delightful fruit pizza out of raspberry season? Or maybe you want to enjoy the burst of flavors in your breakfast bowl even when fresh raspberries are not available? Make frozen raspberries and have them handy all year round! This tutorial will guide you from washing the raspberries to storing them correctly, and even how to defrost them for use.
How Do I Freeze Raspberries?
With just a few weeks in a year when raspberries are available fresh from local farms or farmer’s markets, it’s important to make the most of the harvest. To enjoy these delectable fruits throughout the year, freezing raspberries is an efficient solution.
Don’t worry, the process of freezing raspberries is as simple as making other frozen fruit like blueberries or strawberries. By freezing them, you can:
- Save money by buying in bulk when raspberries are on sale or directly from U-pick farms.
- Relish the taste of raspberries in and out of season.
- Always have your kids’ favorite fruit handy, even when it’s expensive in stores.
How to Prepare When Making Frozen Raspberries
Proper preparation is crucial to the successful freezing of raspberries. Before you begin the freezing process, here’s how to prepare your raspberries:
Step 1. Inspect Your Raspberries
The first step is to inspect your raspberries for any signs of mold or decay. Pick out any raspberries that are overly ripe or look spoiled. Fresh raspberries and firm are the best candidates for freezing.
Step 2. Rinse the Raspberries
Rinse the raspberries under cool, running water. Gently toss them around to ensure they’re thoroughly cleaned. Remember, raspberries are delicate, so be careful not to damage them in the process.
Step 3. Dry the Raspberries
After washing, gently pat dry the raspberries with a clean towel or let them air dry. It’s important to remove as much water as possible to prevent ice formation during freezing.
What Do I Need to Freeze Raspberries?
The process of freezing raspberries requires minimal supplies:
- A rimmed baking sheet to prevent the berries from rolling off.
- Freezer-safe quart-size storage bags for proper storage.
After washing the raspberries and arranging them on the baking sheet, you’ll freeze them and then transfer them to the freezer-safe bags. It’s ideal to store them in 2-cup portions.
Make sure you use thicker, freezer-safe bags rather than thin sandwich bags. This helps avoid freezer burn and keeps your raspberries from becoming soggy when defrosted. Maximize your freezer space with cooling racks – a clever way to stack sheet pans and save room in your freezer.
Frozen Raspberries: A Step-by-Step Guide
Freezing raspberries is quite straightforward, just like freezing blueberries and strawberries. Follow these simple steps:
Step 1. Wash your raspberries thoroughly.
Step 2. Remove any raspberries that are already starting to soften.
Step 3. Arrange your raspberries in a single layer on a rimmed cooking sheet.
Step 4. Freeze until completely frozen and store in the freezer.
Consider using a Silpat mat or parchment paper to prevent the raspberries from sticking to the sheet pan. Depending on how full your sheet pan is, it might take up to 4 hours for the fruit to freeze completely. If there’s less fruit, they might be frozen enough after just one hour.
FAQs for Frozen Raspberries
Should I wash raspberries before freezing them?
Absolutely! Always wash raspberries before you freeze them. You can use a store-bought produce wash, or try one of my homemade produce washes – they’re just as effective and way more budget-friendly.
Will frozen raspberries become mushy when defrosted?
Similar to other frozen berries, raspberries won’t retain the same firmness as fresh ones when thawed. However, they’re perfect for smoothies, pies, jams, or for dessert toppings and breakfast dishes.
Can I make freeze-dried raspberry powder?
Freezing raspberries isn’t the same as freeze-drying them. Freeze-drying requires a special machine that’s quite costly. Here’s a great article on freeze-drying if you want to learn more about the process.
Make the Most of Your Frozen Raspberries
Remember, raspberries are not just a summer treat. They’re a smart way to make the most of seasonal prices and a great means to have this delicious fruit at your disposal anytime.
So, when you find a good deal on raspberries or when you’re up for picking your own at a local farm, don’t hesitate to get extra. With the freezing tips below, you can now easily enjoy the sweet, tangy taste of raspberries whenever you want. Happy freezing!
Great Ways To Use Raspberries
Raspberries go well in so many recipes. Here are some of my favorites:
- Make a delicious red raspberry pie!
- Make raspberry jam to fill these thumbprint cookies or healthy oatmeal jam bars.
- Use as a topping for healthy fruit pizza or avocado mousse.
- Thaw and put on top of vanilla ice cream with rich chocolate drizzle!
- Make blueberry or raspberry lemonade.
- Make a cheesecake fruit smoothie (I recommend this blender).
More Tutorials on Freezing
- How to Freeze Yogurt
- How to Freeze Tomato Paste
- How to Freeze Cauliflower Rice
- How to Freeze Herbs
- How to Freeze Pizza Dough
- How to Freeze Ginger
- Ultimate Guide to Freezing Bread, Dough, and Other Baked Goods
Hi, could you post a pic of your vertical freeze. I’ve run out of space.
Tip: Maximize your freezer space by using cooling racks! I have this set of cooling racks and I use them to stack the sheet pans on top of each other to save room in my freezer. This will let you freeze the berries vertically, saving you space for other things in the freezer!
I don’t see how. Vertical means the raspberries won’t be flat
Hello Rasberrylover!
We don’t have a picture, but you take a cooling rack, put it on a baking sheet, then a baking sheet on the cooling rack, then a cooling rack on the baking sheet… and you put the raspberries on the baking sheets UNDER the cooling racks. Hope this helps. 🙂