How Can I Freeze Blackberries After Picking Them?

Blackberries are one of the most well-loved fruits in the world. These fruits have a lot of health benefits and are important to boosting overall well-being.

It is not surprising that they are a staple in most kitchens. If you want to have a good supply of this delicious fruit, freezing is the best option.

We researched the steps you can take to freeze blackberries so that we could help you do that.

If you follow the steps below, you will be able to perfectly preserve the summer taste of blackberries. 

You can retain most of its natural flavors if you follow them without skipping.

• The blackberries need to be sorted properly.
• It’s a good idea to rinse the blackberries with cool water.
• The blackberries have to be dried on a tray.
• You can flash freeze them for a few hours.
• Place them in a bag or container and put them in the freezer.

The steps for freezing blackberries were shortened. Continue reading if you are interested in learning more about the details.

An additional section has been added for a short list of quick and tasty blackberry dishes.

What Can I Do with Blackberries After Picking?

The peak flavor of summer-fresh blackberries is summer-fresh. If you have blackberry bushes in your home garden, it is even more true.

It can be difficult to harvest and store them with only a few weeks left. We are here to help, so give these worries a rest.

You will be looking forward to packs of well-stored blackberries for up to a year after the following steps.

Sort the blackberries properly

After picking your berries, place them in a dry container or tray. There are tiny bugs that hide in the crevices of the berry.

If you are a person who doesn’t like using pesticides on your fruit, you should follow this step.

As you go through the process, you should remove the leaves and sort the berries according to their ripeness.

Your berries should be divided into fully ripe and half-ripe ones. It is simple to distinguish between the two.

Black fruit with a tender texture, fully ripe blackberries are deep black. The ones with the sweetest flavor are the best-Tasting ones.

Half-ripe ones still have a hint of red or purple, which is the best state of ripeness you should freeze.

Rinse the blackberries with cool water

If you want to wash away dust, dirt, and small organisms, place the berries in a strainer, and put them under cold running water.

It’s a good idea to shake the berries in the strainer to avoid mushing them or popping the juices out.

Blackberries are delicate and you have to be extra careful when washing them with a strainer or sieve.

You can take your cleaning up a notch by putting the berries in a bowl of water with vinegar after you rinse them.

It is possible to decrease the chance of the berries getting damaged by using a bucket or a deep bowl.

If you want to increase your sterilization game, you should first fill with water the equipment of your choice and then add vinegar.

After pouring the berries, gently swirl the water to wash them off. Scoop up the berries when the water is draining.

You don’t want to pour them into the colander as it can damage the berries. It is recommended that you repeat the process at least two more times.

Let the blackberries dry

The next thing to do is dry the blackberries. If you want to evenly spread the berry over the tray, cover it with a kitchen napkin or a clean cloth.

The berry must have enough space to make sure the water doesn’t get too hot.

If you want to speed this process up, you can cover the berries with a kitchen napkin and soak up the water from washing them.

Flash freeze for 2-3 hours

The napkin should be removed from the top of the berries when the water from washing has dried.

If you want to flash freeze the berries, put them in the freezer and leave them there for 2 to 3 hours.

When freezing fruits and vegetables for a long time, it is necessary to use a method called Individual Quick Freezing.

This method ensures that each berry will freeze on its own to prevent them from sticking together, even if put in the freezer with a single container.

Pack in a freezer bag or airtight container Then Place In the Freezer

Proceed to pack the fruit after they are completely frozen. If you want to store your berries in a container, you can use either a heavy-duty freezer bag or an airtight container.

It’s not a good idea to cram so many berries in a single container or bag. If you want the best freezing conditions, put the right amount in every container.

The threat of freezer burn is the same for blackberries as it is for most frozen food.

If you want to avoid that, squeeze out as much air from the freezer bag as possible or consume the berries within 6 months.

It is a good idea to put the storage date and expected expiration date on the container. You will be able to store your fresh stock of blackberries in the freezer.

How Can I Store Blackberries in the Freezer?

Blackberries are a very delicate and delicate fruit. It is important to pay attention to where you place them in the freezer. Can you tell me how to properly store blackberries in the freezer?

Some people think they should be placed on a tray.

The berries can be isolated from the rest of the frozen goods by placing a basket in your freezer. Don’t forget to take advantage of those to keep your frozen fruit intact.

Can You Freeze Fresh Blackberries?

You can freeze fresh blackberries when you pick them off the stems, using a freezer basket or tray.

The fresh blackberries do not freeze as well as the ones that have gone through the proper preparation process.

Aside from freezer burn, fresh frozen blackberries can clump together, turning into a large block of ice berries, which is one main reason why they turn this way.

It’s a problem if you freeze fresh blackberries because you risk freezing bugs and dirt as well. The unwashed frozen berries can go bad very quickly and only last for a short time.

Unless you plan on keeping stock on hand for a long period, we recommend cleaning, pre-freezing, and packing them using the steps above.

Do They Taste Good?

If you are new to freezing or buying frozen berries for the first time, you might be wondering if they will taste the same as the fresh ones.

There is good news about frozen blackberries, they taste better than fresh ones. The same amount of vitamins and minerals can be found in fresh and frozen blackberries.

A lot of people prefer frozen berries over the fresh ones at the local grocery store. The taste of the berries that are left on the counter or the grocery shelves continues to get worse.

On the other hand, frozen blackberries have the same flavor as their fresh counterparts. The reason is not known.

After picking, frozen blackberries almost always undergo IQF, locking in all the vitamins and minerals at their peak until they are eaten.

If you don’t have a berry bush in your backyard, frozen blackberries are a better alternative because of their lower pesticide content.

How Can I Freeze Blackberries for Cobbler?

If you want to make a blackberry cobbler on the weekend, we recommend buying them from your local grocery store or picking them up from your backyard a week before.

They should be immediately frozen to retain their peak sweet and tart flavor.

The process of freezing blackberries for cobbler does not need a special procedure, nor does it differ from the other methods.

Just follow the steps above, and you will be ready to bake your delicious cobbler on the weekend.

If you want to bake your frozen berries in the oven, you can either toss them into the mix or not at all. Your cobbler will not be affected by this.

Easy blackberry recipes

Three of the easiest ways to make use of your frozen blackberries, aside from turning them into a cobbler, were promised.

Blackberry French Toast

Whether you are craving a snack or a holiday treat, this one-dish blackberry French toast with the added sweetness of maple syrup or whipped cream is one you will never want to be missed on your table.

Lattice-Top Blackberry Pie

It is easy to make a berry pie using fresh or frozen berries. If you have frozen blackberries, they will be sweeter in the summer or any other season.

Blackberry Cheesecake Brownies

Your sweet tooth will be satisfied by this cake with a brownie base.

Conclusion

If you follow tried and tested methods in freezing blackberries, you can keep them fresh. The delicate fruits make it important to handle them with care along the way.

When life gets a little rough in some seasons of the year, you can use blackberries to lift your spirits by bringing the right balance of flavor.