May 27, 2010

How to: Freeze Fruits

Have you ever stuck some fruit or something else in the freezer, only for it to come out in a big block and you can't use it until you defrost the whole thing. Well, I have a trick for you!
So I am a memeber of a produce co-op and get some amazing things. I have been gone from my house a little more than normal so I can't use up all the produce before it goes bad. Plus, my husband is gone for the week and can't help me eat it. So I decided to freeze some things rather than letting it go to waste. I love freezing fruit because I can make delicious smoothies later.

How to freeze fruits:


Place items you want to freeze (for me, it was blackberries, strawberries and bananas) on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer until hard.


Remove and place in freezer safe bag.
Not too hard right?

If you are going to freeze something like peaches, mangoes, etc - it works best to cut them up in peices then freeze them. That way they are ready to go into any dish.
For bananas - I just cut them in half because I only use them in smoothies or banana bread (if you use it for banana bread, let them defrost a little. But you could also cut them into slices to make it easier on your smoothie blender.

Other produce that freezes well:
Mangoes
Peaches
Pineapple
Grapes - these a fabulous mini popsicles (don't thaw great though)
All berries
Corn
Peas
Beans
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
*if you see it in the freezer section at the grocery store - you can freeze it too.

13 comments:

Maria said...

I always freeze fruits when they are on sale. Great post!

Tiffany said...

Amazing! I was just looking at all of my ripe mangoes, wondering if I could freeze them. Thanks!

Hil said...

Genius! Thank you for the tip!

Valerie said...

You can also freeze bananas whole, in the skins. They go black, but otherwise are fine.
I also mash up bananas & freeze in quantities needed for my favorite banana bread recipe.

Cristie said...

I agree with freezing the fruit, such a great tip. Raspberries were on sale at Costco and I just layed them out on a cookies sheet and they will be perfect in jam, desesrts, whatever!

Luisa said...

I do that with my berries and peaches. Hope to do more freezing this year thanks for the tips.

Rambles with Reese said...

This is a great tip Sarah. I don't freeze fruits but I should. ... I usually freeze everything else from soups to cookie dough, etc.

Cheers! Wishing you a lovely weekend!

Melanie said...

Okay, no joke-- I was JUST about to throw a bunch of fresh strawberries in a gallon bag today and put them in the freezer because I realized that even with my pregnant-ness there is no way I can singlehandedly devour a whole Costco container of strawberries. My husband will eat a few and my child too, but not enough to use 'em up before they go bad!

So, I'm glad I checked your blog today!! Thanks for the tip! :)

Becky @ Project Domestication said...

wonderful tip. this is what we do with my in-laws raspberries. what co-op are you part of. those look delicious!

Steph said...

I need to do this more often. I am bad and let fruit spoil...

erika said...

I'm assuming this tactic works for tater tots as well?

Sarah said...

Valerie - Yes, I have done bananas in their skins, I just like cutting them in half so that they can go right into a smoothie.

Melanie - so glad I saved your fruit :)

Becky - I am part of Bountiful Baskets. You can sign up online.

erika - yes, tater tots, chicken breasts, cookie dough, lots of stuff!

Jess said...

Thanks for this post! I am doing this right now with strawberries that will go bad if I don't!