Recipes
How to Freeze Fresh Raspberries
There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh raspberries and, if you’re a fellow raspberry lover like us, you may tend to bring home a bunch at a time. But, as lovely as these berries are, they’re also very delicate. This means that raspberries can stay plump and juicy for up to 2 days when stored in the refrigerator.
If you’ve bought more than you plan on consuming during that short time frame, no need to worry! The good news is, raspberries freeze extremely well. Follow our tips below to find out how to freeze fresh raspberries and properly handle them.
Basic Care and Handling of Raspberries
Keep your raspberries as dry as possible (don’t wash them until you’re ready to eat them) and store them in your refrigerator. Freeze any raspberries you haven’t used up after three days to extend their shelf life.
Raspberries can be stored in the freezer for up to 12-18 months, which means you can keep them on hand all year long! Frozen raspberries are perfect for making a delicious smoothie, topping cereal or granola, baking pies and more.
How to Freeze Berries Step by Step
Raspberry freezing is a very quick and easy process. And you’ll soon discover it’s well worth the little bit of effort to have this versatile fruit on hand at all times!
1. Discard any berries that are discolored.
2. Place raspberries in a colander to wash. Gently rinse 2-3 times in cold water (do not leave them to soak) and allow to drain for about 10 minutes in the colander.
3. Carefully place raspberries on a paper towel or kitchen cloth to remove excess water.
4. Gently pat berries dry with a paper towel or kitchen cloth prior to storing them in the freezer. (Note: Make sure they are completely dry, as freezing wet berries can cause frost damage).
5. Arrange washed, drained raspberries on a cookie tray lined with wax paper. Make sure the berries do not touch. This will help the raspberries keep their shape and prevent them from clumping together.
6. Place tray in the freezer for a couple of hours. The amount of time it takes for your raspberries to freeze will depend on the amount you're freezing and the strength of your freezer. Check on the raspberries every half hour until they're hard and frozen throughout.
7. Once the individual raspberries are frozen, dump them into an airtight, freezer-safe bag or container. If using a freezer bag, it should be thick enough to prevent the raspberries from freezer burn.
8. Label the containers or bags with a name and date so you’ll be able to easily find them when you need them and know exactly how long they’ve been frozen.
Using Frozen Raspberries
When ready to use frozen raspberries, you can use them frozen or thaw them. If thawing, place them in the refrigerator for about 12 hours or, to thaw more quickly, place on your kitchen counter for a few hours. It’s not recommended to thaw raspberries in the microwave, as this can negatively impact the color and texture.
Explore the possibilities of Driscoll's raspberries and find out where to buy in your area. When you buy Driscoll’s, you’ll enjoy the difference our fresh, delicious and naturally grown berries make.