How to freeze blackberries?

[mrsbornkuntry]

Blackberries grow wild here so I've been trying to see how much I can do with them, tomorrow I'm going to try making blackberry syrup. But my Dh is overseas and LOVES blackberry cobbler and Dawn1967 posted a recipe on another thread that I'd like to try to make for him when he comes home on leave in Oct. So can I freeze some of the blackberries until then?

 

[KT27]

just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible. Vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Well that's easy enough, lol. Do I need to let them dry before putting them in the bags?

 

[tinytink]

Well that's easy enough, lol. Do I need to let them dry before putting them in the bags?

I suggest wash, dry, place on a sheet pan in a single layer, place in the freezer then once frozen transfer to a freezer baggie, then back in the freezer. I do this with blueberries, good luck.

 

[Allabtprincesses]

I read once to freeze them on something flat first, like a cookie sheet. Then when they are frozen put them in a bag etc. That way they freeze together. I've never tried it (never frozen berries!) but I thought I would share!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I suggest wash, dry, place on a sheet pan in a single layer, place in the freezer then once frozen transfer to a freezer baggie, then back in the freezer. I do this with blueberries, good luck.

This works best so if you only want a handful you can grab just a little. I do this with Strawberries, Blueberries, black & raspberries. MMMMMM, in the winter months when you can't get good fresh fruit!

 

[tink2dw]

Wash them in the sink and add a couple of TBS salt to the wash water, it kills any little creepy crawlers on the berries. Then Rinse twice. Scoop berries out of the water on to paper towels to dry. Then freeze in freezer bags.

One year with peaches we made the crust then froze it then added all the ingredients for the filling with the peaches added the top crust and slit the top crust. Then we froze the pies in 2 gallon zip bags. Then at the holidays we baked the frozen pies just as if we had bought frozen pies at the store.

 

[webstah]

I saw an episode of Good Eats on the food network that was all about freezing berries.
It seems that the traditional freezing method breaks down the cell walls and you end up with soft mushy berries.
Alton Brown fast froze them using dry ice prior to bagging and placing in the freezer.

They seemed to come out just like fresh.

 

[grumpy & dopeys mom]

I just had some of the blackberries this a.m. that I took out of the freezer. I had frozen them a few weeks ago and they were great. I have read not to wash them until you thaw them so I have tried both ways. Seems that they are better not washed until you use them. They don't get mushy that way.

 

[ELLE-TN]

My grandmother used to can them. I would just sit and eat them straight from a jar when I was a kid. But I too would suggest washing them thoroughly and drying...then laying them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freezing and then pouring them into freezer bags. This way you can take out as many or as few as you need. I do this with blueberries, strawberries and blackberries.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

I've found that NOT washing produces better results with blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. I grow them myself I just lay the berries in a single layer on trays or cookie sheets in the chest freezer and transfer to either rigid containers (for ease of stacking) or freezer bags when firm.

Then when I want to use the berries later, I just pour the amount I need into a colander and rinse.

 

[dyna]

Yep it's best not to wash them 1st. YOu might sort thru them very gently lookin for any bits of leaves maybe a bug or 2.

Freezing on a cookie sheet in a single layer does make it easier to be able to pull a few out of a bag later.

Yep my momma canned blackberries too very easy to do by the time the berries are done they hot enough to seal the lids just heat dip the berries up into jar an put lid on.

On a good blackberry year when momma had PLENTY we didn't even have to eat the berries once they was canned we got to drain off the juice and drink it the juice was always best.

Momma also makes seedless blackberry jam that is so GOOD!!!! recipe is on the SURE JELL box.

 

[kid-at-heart]

I suggest wash, dry, place on a sheet pan in a single layer, place in the freezer then once frozen transfer to a freezer baggie, then back in the freezer. I do this with blueberries, good luck.

This method works well with all berries. Some folks suggest not washing first (says they become mushy) but I always wash and have never had a problem with any of the berries being overly mushy.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

We just went to the local orchard yesterday and picked about 13 lbs. of the biggest blackberries EVER!! I go ahead and make the blackberry cobbler filling and then freeze the filling. I use my foodsaver so it works really well. You just have to remember whenever you prepare to make the actual cobbler to HEAT UP the filling and then assemble cobbler. So, I defrost it, then stick the bag in boiling water, pour in a dish, dollop on the biscuit topping and bake, comes out PERFECT!! Also, I sometimes use the filling in a cheesecake. You just puree it and swirl it in the cheesecake. I was just getting ready to go make some blackberry shortcakes for dessert.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

We just went to the local orchard yesterday and picked about 13 lbs. of the biggest blackberries EVER!! I go ahead and make the blackberry cobbler filling and then freeze the filling. I use my foodsaver so it works really well. You just have to remember whenever you prepare to make the actual cobbler to HEAT UP the filling and then assemble cobbler. So, I defrost it, then stick the bag in boiling water, pour in a dish, dollop on the biscuit topping and bake, comes out PERFECT!! Also, I sometimes use the filling in a cheesecake. You just puree it and swirl it in the cheesecake. I was just getting ready to go make some blackberry shortcakes for dessert.

Mmmmm! Set an extra dish out!

If you don't mind, how much did you pay per pound? I am debating going picking and wanted to know an idea of what to expect. TIA

 

[Princess_Michelle]

If you don't mind, how much did you pay per pound? I am debating going picking and wanted to know an idea of what to expect. TIA

We paid $2.19 a pound; its a steal!! Last year I picked blueberries as well, it was also 2 something a pound. We just did strawberries this past June. We're going back next month to pick Apples. I love PYO b/c I am VERY picky about my fruit and I am never happy with the quality of most grocery store fruit, and almost always the berries will have mold on them. Also, at our orchard the blackberries are thornless, so they are very easy to pick and they are HUGE!! I had two shortcakes and a huge bowl of them today. You should try it....remember to dress for the heat, and wear sunscreen and a hat.