Freezing blackberries in the freezer for the winter: basic freezing methods

How to prepare blackberries for freezing

The main question that torments housewives when freezing blackberries: should they wash or not wash the berries? Everyone decides for themselves.

If you have collected berries from your garden and are sure that they are not contaminated with a thick layer of road dust or dirt, and even more so if it has recently rained, then it is better not to wash the berries. This way it will better retain its shape when frozen.

Advice: If you plan to pick blackberries in the near future, then rinse the bush along with the berries with a watering hose, and after a few hours, start picking. Thus, the berries will be washed immediately on the vine. The main thing is that the stream is well dispersed, otherwise the blackberry may be damaged.

If you bought the berries at a local market or store, then be sure to wash them.To do this, place the blackberries in a colander and rinse under running water.

In order for the berries to dry, they need to be spread out on paper towels. The use of cotton towels is not advisable, since blackberry juice will be impossible to wash off from the fabric.

Methods for freezing blackberries

Blackberries whole berries

2 hours before placing the blackberries in the freezer, set the freezer to the “Super Freeze” mode. If your unit does not have such a function, then set the minimum possible temperature.

In order for the freezing to remain crumbly, berry after berry, you will need preliminary freezing. Blackberries are laid out on a cutting board, tray or special freezer container in one layer. Be sure to place a plastic bag underneath to prevent the plastic from staining.

If you have collected a lot of berries, then pre-freezing can be done in two or three layers, covering each layer with cellophane.

After a few hours, the berries will set and can be poured into a container or bag.

If the blackberries were not washed before freezing, and the berries remained completely dry after picking, then they can be frozen immediately in containers with a layer of 6-8 centimeters.

Watch the video from the Lazy Professor channel - Freezing blackberries for the winter.

How to freeze blackberries with sugar

The berries are laid out in containers in one or two layers, then the whole thing is covered with a small amount of sugar. Layers of berries and sugar alternate until 1-2 centimeters remain to the top of the container. Close the container with a lid and shake a couple of times.

This preparation requires very little sugar - for 1 kilogram of berries it will take approximately 100-150 grams of granulated sugar.

Mashed berries with sugar

The blackberries are placed in a blender and sprinkled with sugar.Grind the berries until a homogeneous puree is obtained. The amount of sugar is arbitrary, and is approximately 3-4 tablespoons per half kilo of blackberries.

If you want the berries not to be crushed very finely, then instead of a blender you can use a potato masher to prepare mashed potatoes.

And if you plan to use freezing to feed your children, then it is advisable to rub the berry mixture through a sieve to get rid of the seeds and not add sugar to it at all.

Watch the video from the channel “Household chores” - Household chores. Method for freezing blackberries for the winter

Shelf life of blackberries in the freezer

Frozen berries can be stored frozen for no more than 9 months at a temperature of -18°C. Never allow temperature changes in your freezer to avoid spoiling the freezer.