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    How To Freeze Strawberries (Fresh)

    Published on July 17, 2020 ᛫ Updated on June 19, 2025 by Chef Markus

    Wondering how to freeze strawberries? It’s one of the simplest ways to preserve your homegrown strawberries or save extra berries from the farmers market or a u-pick outing.

    Jump to Recipe

    With a short growing season, fresh strawberries are really only available for two to three weeks out of the year. After that, the fruit you find in grocery stores has either been shipped a long way or was greenhouse-grown. Not exactly ideal for flavour!

    By freezing fresh strawberries at the height of the season, you can enjoy these delicious little fruits all year round.

    How to freeze strawberries - overhead shot of freshly frozen strawberries

    Featured in Strawberry Recipes to Enjoy In the Summer Season

    To retain as much of the fresh quality of the strawberries as possible (and not end up with one large frozen clump in a bag), there are a few things you should do before freezing your strawberries.

    How To Freeze Strawberries: Step‑by‑Step Freezing Guide

    Choose the best strawberries for freezing

    When freezing strawberries, it is best to pick fruit that is fully mature, bright red, and firm. This ensures you get the most flavor and nutrition out of the berries after freezing.

    Avoid berries that are under-ripe with white or green sections, as well as berries that are overly ripe and soft.

    Cleaning & hulling the strawberries

    Before freezing the strawberries, you'll want to make sure they are clean and have been washed and hulled (green tops removed). Washing the berries removes any dirt or tiny insects that may be clinging or hiding amongst the fruit.

    washing strawberries in a mesh sieve under running water

    Rinse the whole strawberries (with green tops still attached) in clean water before draining them in a colander or sieve. Then spread the fruit on a clean linen cloth and lightly pat it dry.

    drying fresh strawberries on a clean dish towel

    Avoid letting the fruit sit in water to prevent it from becoming mushy and flavorless when thawed.

    Once the berries have been washed and dried, remove the leaves by picking them off with your fingers or removing them with a small paring knife. The waste leaves make a great addition to your backyard compost pile!

    hulling strawberries by removing the green tops

    At this point, you'll need to decide whether you want to freeze the strawberries whole, sliced, quartered, or crushed. Cut the berries into whichever size you prefer. You could even freeze small batches of each!

    Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) Strawberries

    After the berries have been cleaned and washed, it's time to freeze them. Using the IQF method will give you the best result. IQF is the acronym for 'Individually Quick Frozen' and refers to the fact that the berries are all frozen as individual pieces as quickly as possible to preserve freshness.

    freezing strawberries

    In commercial settings, this is done with a blast freezer, but you can achieve the same result with the following steps below:

    1. Line a sheet pan or cookie sheet with non-stick parchment paper.
    2. Spread the prepared strawberries on the sheet pan in one layer, making sure none of the berries touch. If freezing large batches, you may need multiple sheet pans or trays.
    3. Place the strawberry-filled pans directly in the freezer. Let the strawberries freeze solid for about 2-3 hours.
    4. Remove the tray from the freezer and loosen the frozen strawberries. Store the frozen berries in a Ziploc bag or other freezer-proof container.

    How long will frozen strawberries keep?

    When properly stored, frozen strawberries will easily keep for up to one year. That is if you don't eat them all before that!

    If possible, store the frozen berries in a chest or stand-up freezer. These generally stay colder and will keep things frozen longer with less freezer burn than a freezer compartment above or below a fridge will.

    overhead shot of freshly frozen strawberries

    Pro Tip: when freezing anything in a Ziploc bag, use a straw to suck out as much air as possible before sealing the bag. This will remove excess air and moisture, preventing freezer burn.

    Related:  Traditional Greek Salad

    Defrosting & Using Frozen Strawberries

    To use the frozen strawberries, you have several options:

    • You can use them right from frozen, for example,e when making smoothies, some desserts, or baked goods.
    • You can defrost the berries at room temperature to have them thawed in an hour or so. Or thaw them in the fridge, though they will take longer to defrost.

    Note: defrosting or thawing frozen strawberries will cause some of their juices to leak out, resulting in softer berries than if they were fresh. This is a natural result of the moisture inside the berries freezing and bursting the cell walls as they expand. When thawed, this moisture leaches out.

    Recipes you could use frozen strawberries in

    Frozen strawberries are best used in recipes that call for them frozen, or where they will be baked or cooked. Fruit crumbles, muffins, scones, and jams are excellent examples.

    Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

    This classic dessert combines sweet strawberries with the tartness of rhubarb, topped with a crisp, buttery crumble.
    It's simple to prepare and pairs wonderfully with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
    Ideal for early summer gatherings when both strawberries and rhubarb are in season.
    Get the recipe
    a portion of strawberry rhubarb crumble topped with vanilla icecream

    They can also be used in frozen drink recipes, such as milkshakes and smoothies.

    Creamy Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie

    A refreshing blend of strawberries and watermelon in a smoothie, with banana, Greek yogurt, and chia seeds for added nutrition.
    It's a perfect, healthy way to cool down on warm days.
    Get the recipe
    A glass of creamy strawberry banana smoothie on a wooden board

    Did you find this guide useful?? Comment & Rate it below, then tag me on Facebook. For more DIY gardening tips & homecoming from scratch recipes follow me on Facebook & Pinterest

    Recipe

    overhead shot of freshly frozen strawberries

    How To Freeze Strawberries

    Chef Markus
    Learn how to properly freeze fresh strawberries to preserve the taste of summer for year-round use!
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    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Freezing Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Basic Skill
    Cuisine Canadian
    Servings 4 pints
    Calories 97.3 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    Paring Knife
    Sheet pan
    A clean dishtowel
    Non-stick parchment paper
    A freezer
    Large ziploc bags

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 pints freshly picked strawberries

    Instructions
     

    • Rinse the freshly picked strawberries under clean running water to remove any insects or dirt.
      washing strawberries in a mesh sieve under running water
    • Dry the strawberries by spreading them out on a clean, dry dishtowel. Gently pat the strawberries dry.
    • Hull the strawberries by removing the tops of the strawberries, being careful not to waste to much of the fruit. If slicing the strawberries do so now.
      hulling strawberries by removing the green tops
    • Line a sheet pan or cookie sheet with non-stick parchment paper. Spread the prepared strawberries on the sheet pan in one layer, making sure none of the berries touch. If freezing large batches you may need multiple sheet pans or trays.
      spreading
    • Place the strawberry filled pans directly in the freezer. Let the strawberries freeze solid for about 2-3 hours.
      freezing strawberries on a tray in the freezer
    • Remove the tray from the freezer and loosen the frozen strawberries. Store the frozen berries in a Ziploc bag or other freezer-proof container.
      overhead shot of freshly frozen strawberries

    Nutrition

    Calories: 97.3kcal

    Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

    Keyword How do you prepare strawberries for freezing?, How long do strawberries last in the freezer?, Should strawberries be washed before freezing?
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Red Seal Chef Markus Mueller. Owner of Earth, Food, and Fire

    Chef Markus Mueller

    Hey there! Welcome to Earth, Food, and Fire where you'll find delicious and easy to follow recipes, backyard gardening info, and everything you want to know about cooking from scratch at home.

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