Freezing Strawberries

Extend the strawberry season in your freezer.

Fresh strawberries are available frequently throughout the year. However, you can extend the season and enjoy strawberries all year by freezing them when they're in season. It's quick and easy. Here's how you do it

By freezing strawberries when they're in season; you can enjoy "the fruits of your labor" all year. Here's how you do it.

Select firm, ripe fruit.

Wash the berries a few at a time in cold water, being careful as you lift the fruit from the water. Repeat this process two or three times until the water stays clean after the berries are removed. Remove the caps, then, use them whole or sliced.

Sprinkle sugar over the berries, about 3¦4 cup of sugar to 1 quart strawberries, depending on how tart the berries are and how sweet you like them. Gently turn the berries with a large spoon until all of them are coated with sugar and juice. One teaspoon of commercial ascorbic acid mixture stirred into each cup of sugar before you put it on the berries will help protect the bright red color and the vitamin C.

Use better quality containers…

Pack the strawberries in moisture-vapor-proof containers. Fill the containers to within about a half inch of the top of the package. You can put a small piece of crumpled freezer paper or waxed paper on top to hold the berries under the juice. Seal the package airtight and label it. Freeze the berries as quickly as possible and store them at zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Freezing without sugar…

You can freeze berries without sugar, however, texture, color and flavor will not be as good, as if you had used sugar. To freeze whole berries without sugar, put them in a single layer on a tray or a baking pan, cover them lightly with waxed paper or freezer paper, and freeze them quickly. Finally, take the berries from the pan and put them in an airtight, moisture-vapor proof container.

For more information on freezing strawberries; contact your local county Extension office.