How to Freeze Blackberries?

Blackberries are one of the summer’s greatest delights and are delicious. It is difficult (if not impossible) to find decent blackberries the rest of the year due to their limited natural growing season. Please make the most of your summer harvest by freezing your blackberries at their ripest, so you always have delicious fruit.

Blackberries

Although fresh blackberries are tasty, they can only be stored in the refrigerator for a short period before becoming harmful or growing mold. Find out how to freeze blackberries without running the danger of freezer burn or flavor loss.

What are Blackberries?

The edible berries produced by the genus Rubus in the rose family Rosaceae are known as blackberries. Like their near cousin, the raspberry, Blackberries are high in vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and dietary fiber. They have extremely little total fat and no saturated fat. They have a bit of protein, but most of their calories come from carbohydrates.

Fresh blackberries are best consumed soon after gathering. They can also be stored in the fridge overnight, but if you have an abundance of fresh berries, try freezing them for later use.

How to Freeze Blackberries?

The only equipment you need to freeze blackberries at home is a colander, a baking sheet, parchment paper, and freezer bags. In only five easy steps, you can freeze berries.

  1. Use cold water to wash berries. To drain the berries, use a filter or place them in a bowl of cool water.
  2. Dry off the berries. Your blackberries should be spread out in a single layer on kitchen towels or paper towels. Although you should mainly let them dry naturally, you can hasten the process by gently patting them with a cloth.
  3. Place the berries that are dried on a baking sheet. On a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper, spread out the blackberries. Make sure that no fruit touch one another.
  4. The baking sheet should be put in the freezer and the baking sheet should place in the freezer for at least three hours. However, the overall amount of time should not go over twelve hours. The process of “flash freezing” will prevent the individual berries from adhering to one another once they are placed in a freezer bag.
  5. Fill freezer bags with the frozen blackberries. To store the frozen fruit for a long time, remove the baking sheet and place it in thick plastic bags or another freezer-safe container. These frozen blackberries won’t freeze burn, or lose flavor when kept in the freezer for up to six months. The blackberries’ shelf life can be increased to nine months in the freezer by combining them with one cup of sugar before freezing.

Using Frozen Blackberries

Blackberries can be defrosted and used in a variety of dishes, or they can be kept frozen for specific uses.

For most baking recipes, don’t defrost the berries. As mentioned above, you rarely want to thaw frozen berries before using them in a dish that calls for baking, and this increases the moisture in the recipe and may result in a mushy or watery end product.

  • Before baking, some individuals find that melting frozen berries in the microwave for around half a minute yields delicious results without adding too much liquid. If you want to try it, remember that the precise amount of time will depend on the number of berries you have and the strength of your microwave.

To prevent bleeding, roll frozen berries in flour. Frozen berries can occasionally “bleed,” causing discolorations throughout the batter when used in baking recipes. They won’t be affected in terms of taste, but the end products may look less inviting. Before adding frozen berries to your baking mix, try lightly rolling them in flowers to reduce the impact of bleeding. By keeping the berries’ wetness in check, bleeding is reduced.

For use in liquid recipes, defrost berries. Sometimes, thawing your berries before using them in your dish is a good idea. The increased moisture that results from freezing in these situations is typically advantageous to the meal, like blackberry sauces and toppings for ice cream, shortcakes, and other desserts. Blackberries can be swiftly defrosted by placing them in an airtight plastic bag (or keeping them in the freezer bag they came in) and submerging them in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes.

  • You might wish to weigh the bag of frozen blackberries with a heavy dish or bowl to prevent it from floating and thawing unevenly.

Thaw frozen berries that will be eaten raw. To consume your frozen blackberries raw, you should also thaw them first. Although frozen berries are a wonderful summertime treat, there are times when nothing beats fresh berries. You might defrost raw berries quickly, as described above, or leave them on the kitchen counter overnight. After thawing your berries, dump them in a bowl of cool, clean water to remove any frost or debris from freezing. You might also want to go over your berries at this time and pick out any that are broken or damaged.

  • Don’t be put off by thawed blackberries’ mushy, juicy appearance. If the berries were fresh when frozen, they are safe to eat even if they may not appear as immaculate as fresh berries.

Ways to Use Frozen Blackberries

  • Frozen smoothies: Frozen berries, such as blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries, can be blended with milk or juice to create delectable smoothies. Consider adding bananas, oats, almonds, or yogurt to your smoothie.
  • Frozen blackberries can be added to an ice cream recipe to make blackberry ice cream.
  • To make this blackberry cobbler, defrost your frozen blackberries in the microwave or under cool running water.
  • Blackberry pie: Thawed blackberries can be transformed into a delectable pie using many of the same components as a cobbler. You can also use frozen blackberries and other berries from your freezer in a mixed berry pie.
  • Blackberry jam: Chefs report success when preparing holes with fresh and frozen blackberries. The spot will keep in the refrigerator for up to three months.

How Long Can You Freeze Blackberries?

If you keep your blackberries in the freezer for too long, they may develop freezer burn, and their texture may diminish. That is why we recommend using your Blackberry within six months.

This isn’t an absolute rule, so don’t be concerned if you end up with a few blackberries you need to use after this stage. There is a potential that the flavor will fade faster beyond these six months.

Can Frozen Blackberries Replace Fresh Blackberries?

You can make smoothies and most other dishes using frozen blackberries instead of fresh ones. It would help if you didn’t substitute frozen for fresh berries as a garnish, topping, or component of a fruit salad. All frozen fruit will be somewhat mushy when fully thawed, which won’t look good in your application.

What are the Health Benefits of Blackberries?

Vitamin C

Blackberries have a lot of vitamin C in them. Thirty-five percent of the recommended daily intake (RDA) for vitamin C is present in one serving of 100 grams (g).

Vitamin C must be a part of a healthy diet because humans cannot generate it independently.

The body’s production of collagen and certain neurotransmitters depends on vitamin C, which is involved in protein synthesis. Many body activities, including the healing of wounds, rely on these mechanisms.

In addition to having antioxidant qualities, vitamin C supports the immune system.

Source of Fiber

The fiber in 100 g of blackberries is 14% of the RDA. Contrary to other carbohydrates, the thread cannot be broken down by the body into smaller sugar molecules, and fiber is essential for controlling blood sugar levels and sugar intake.

Soluble and insoluble fibers are both present in the diet.

Water-soluble fiber has been linked to reducing blood sugar levels and supporting the maintenance of a healthy cholesterol level.

Although insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water, it aids a balanced digestive system.

Both soluble and insoluble fiber can be found in blackberries.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants like anthocyanins are present in large quantities in blackberries. People can fend off the damaging effects of free radicals in the body with the aid of antioxidants.

Free radicals can harm cells and are believed to have a significant role in the aging process and other diseases, including cancer and heart disease.

Antioxidants are used by the body to lessen the harm that free radicals can do. More research is necessary to establish that when people consume foods high in antioxidants, they may promote this process.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is very well-sourced in blackberries. This vitamin is required for blood clotting, which is critical for effective wound healing.

People have also connected vitamin K to healthy bones. However, if a person is on any blood thinners, they must review their vitamin K dose with their doctor.

May Boost Brain Health

According to a review of studies published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, eating berry fruits like blackberries may enhance brain health and help avoid memory loss brought on by aging.

According to the review, berry fruits include antioxidants that lessen the communication between brain cells and fight free radicals. This might assist in lowering brain inflammation, which can result in age-related cognitive and movement problems.

Does the Taste of Blackberries Change After Freezing?

Blackberries retain their flavor when frozen. The texture does change, but the berry will still taste like a berry. Like other fruit, they will turn into mush after being frozen. The most acceptable uses for this fruit are in smoothies, baking, and culinary preparations.

Conclusion

Fresh blackberries can be frozen, which is an EASY way to maintain their delicious flavor and affordable price while in season. Blackberries are loaded with healthy nutrients, including a lot of fiber, a lot of antioxidants, and a lot of vitamin C. In general, incorporating blackberries into your diet is a brilliant idea.

Blackberries don’t keep very long. Try freezing them to save them for later. If they are protected, they will survive longer. If not, put the blackberries in a bowl and tightly cover them. The berries will cluster once frozen. The flavor will remain the same even though they will have a different texture from the fresh ones.