How to freeze raspberries

About a decade ago, I bought an impulse item – a container of raspberries – at my local food co-op.

I got lucky and the container of plants turned into a raspberry patch. For many years, I’ve gotten 20 or more pints of raspberries every season.

Here’s my method for freezing raspberries:

• Pick raspberries.

• Place on a cookie sheet. Discard any overripe berries.

• Freeze for at least two hours.

• Put berries into glass pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.

• Put lids on the jars and return to freezer. (You can label and date your jars if you think there may be confusion about when they were frozen. I make berry cobbler with almond flour every other week, so my supply is usually gone by December.)

As for washing raspberries, I wash them when they’re frozen before I use them.

If you wash them before freezing, wash in cold water and drain thoroughly.

Along with being delicious, raspberries are nutritious. They provide potassium, essential to heart function, and are proven to lower blood pressure. The omega-3 fatty acids in raspberries can help prevent stroke and heart disease. Raspberries also contain manganese, which is necessary for healthy bones and skin and helps regulate blood sugar.

In addition, raspberries are high in antioxidants that can protect cells from damage by free radicals, which may play a role in the aging process, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other conditions.

Enjoy.

Comments

[Diane]

Wow, Rita! This is awesome! I've always just 'jammed' them because they end up mush when I try to freeze them. I never even considered putting them into jars! Brilliant!

[Rita]

Yes, and the important thing is to freeze them on a cookie sheet first. That way, they keep their shape. And, jars are great. Much better than plastic, that can leach into food.

[Jennifer]

The freezing of them on a cookie sheet first is a great idea. I use to love eating fresh raspberries from the small patch in my Aunt's yard. They never made it to a freezing option...lol

[Rita]

Yes, my great-aunt Mable had a raspberry patch. I loved eating them off the bushes.

[Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski]

I bet your raspberry cobbler is yummy! Great tips.