by Thriving Mama

Created on: July 06, 2009

With small light green berries rapidly moving to shades of purple and blue on the local blueberry bushes, it's time to think about how to store these fresh little gems for use during the winter months. Fresh fruit is least expensive when it is purchased in season locally, so that is the best time to stock up and store your favorite produce. While blueberries are generally adorned with extraordinary price tags during the off season, they can often be found at reasonable prices in the summer when they are freshest. Many areas of the United States also have pick-your-own blueberry orchards which can bring and even lower price tag for those willing to put in a little extra work. Once you've gathered your blueberries, they are among the easiest of berries to freeze and store for later use.

First, find the plumpest blueberries in the orchard or off the grocer's produce rack. When you get them home, fill a bowl with berries, then fill the bowl with water. Swish the berries around to clean off any dust or orchard grime. Pour the berries into a strainer and give a final rinse. Shake off as much of the water off the berries as possible, then spread them out on a towel to dry. As you spread the berries out, look for stray stems and remove them. Also look for blemished berries as they may be better to use now than frozen. By allowing the berries to dry, you will eliminate excess moisture which can cause freezer burn, causing your berries to lose their sun-ripened flavor and texture.

Once all the water has evaporated from your blueberries, place your berries onto a cookie sheet and place the cookie sheet into the freezer. This will allow each of the berries to freeze individually and prevent having a large clump of blueberries frozen together. Once the blueberries have frozen, place them in labeled freezer-quality zipper-bags. It is important to use a freezer-quality bag as they are made from thicker plastic and will better protect your precious produce. Make sure to press out as much of the air in the bag as possible as you close it. Place your filled bags into the freezer for long term storage.

Frozen blueberries can easily be added to muffins, pancakes. When slightly thawed, they will lose a bit of their plumpness but are still a wonderful addition to fruit salads. With a little bit of work now you can add an infusion of summer fruit to your fall, winter and spring seasons.

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