How to Freeze Blueberries

Co-authored by Jennifer Levasseur

Blueberries are juiciest and most delicious during a short period between June and August. Freezing them at their peak will allow you to enjoy that fresh summery flavor all winter long. To freeze blueberries, spread them flat on a tray and pop them in until they're hard, then scoop them into bags so you can store them more compactly. If you want to know how to freeze blueberries to preserve their texture and flavor, keep reading.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the blueberries

1
Harvest blueberries at their peak. For best freezing results, freeze berries that are juicy, tender, and flavorful as can be. Freezing berries that are too tart or a little mushy will leave you disappointed in their texture and flavor when they thaw.
- Harvest blueberries early in the morning - that's when their flavor is strongest.^{[1]
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- If you don't freeze blueberries right after harvesting them, keep them cool in the refrigerator until you're ready.
2
Decide whether you want to wash the berries. When it comes to washing blueberries before freezing, there are two camps. There is research that shows that washing blueberries before freezing can result in slightly tougher skin once the berries thaw. Others say the difference is imperceptible, and they'd rather not have dirt in their freezer.
- If the berries are washed before frozen, you can enjoy eating a frozen one without having to thaw it.
- If you're planning to use the berries in a recipe for pie or another cooked dessert, washing them before freezing shouldn't be a problem.
- If you decide to wash before freezing, rinse the berries gently and let them dry completely before freezing.
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3
Place the berries on a pan in a single layer. A cookie sheet or large roasting pan should do the trick. Spread them out so that they aren't piled on top of each other.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Freezing the blueberries

1
Place the pan in the freezer until the blueberries are frozen. It should take 2 - 3 hours. Don't leave the berries on the cookie sheet too long before you remove them; doing so puts them at risk of getting freezer burn.
2
Place the frozen berries in a vacuum bag or a Ziploc type bag. Remove excess air from the bag. The more air you can remove, the less freezer burns the berries will have. Label the bags with the date you're freezing them.
3
Store the bags in the freezer. You can freeze berries for up to one year. Enjoy anytime.

Packaged and stored properly, blueberries can be kept frozen for 6-8 months (optimal) but will still be edible after this time.

Blueberries freeze well, keeping both shape and texture when used in baking.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using frozen blueberries

1
Thaw berries slowly. The best way is to place them in the fridge or let them come to room temperature. Don't use a microwave to defrost unless you plan on cooking with them.
- To use still-frozen blueberries for baking, there is no need to thaw. Simply put them straight into muffins and other baked goods. Bake as usual. This prevents the blueberries from being smashed while mixing them into the batter, and they end up being juicier and plumper in the finished product. They still become just as warm as the rest of the baked item.
- If you decided not to wash the berries before freezing, remember to do so once they have been thawed.
2
Finished.

1
Finished.

Community Q&A
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Question

My blueberries are freezer burnt, can I still use in a cake recipe and will it hurt anyone who ingest it?

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You can use the freezer burned blueberries in a baking recipe and no, they won’t hurt anyone. However, be sure to use a recipe that is generous in good flavoring, such as plenty of sugar and butter, because freezer burned berries may taste less than optimal and can even impart a rank taste through the baked item. It’s a good idea to have the expectation that the end result has a fifty-fifty chance of tasting good or bad, and by not expecting too much, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Question

What do I do if the skin on my frozen blueberries is tough?

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Try using the blueberries in a way that can help soften the skins, such as pureeing, making a blueberry sauce, using as pie filling or adding to a dessert that has plenty of cream or soaks them in alcohol, juice, etc. Sometimes the variety of blueberry has a tougher skin due to growing conditions, etc., while sometimes it’s due to what you do with them after thawing; try to avoid microwaving the berries, as this is likely to toughen their skins. Some also think washing the berries before freezing toughens their skins but others don't agree, so perhaps experiment with this.
Question

Is it normal for blueberries to be tart after being frozen?

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It is likely that the blueberries were sour before freezing; unripe blueberries are tart or sour tasting and will retain this even after freezing. Alternatively, the variety of blueberry may have been very sour, even when ripe, before freezing the blueberries. Try tasting a few of the blueberries before freezing them, to be certain you’re preserving the right batch of berries for your preferences.