Getting Started
Like all straight-from-the-garden produce, freshly picked blackberries are no strangers to dust, dirt and assorted debris. They may also be hosting invisible mold spores or bacteria. So a pre-freezing bath is essential.
Because they’re so delicate, the best way to wash ripened blackberries is to place a few at a time in a colander under cool running water. After letting them drain, set them on paper towels to dry.
Expert gardener’s tip: For the driest berries, use a small-basket berry spinner. Just spin slowly so they don’t get crushed.
Preliminary Freezing
The goal of this round of freezing is to prevent your blackberries from forming a solid, frozen clump that’s impossible to use without thawing completely.
Things you’ll need:
- Scissors
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheets
- Plastic wrap
- Cut pieces of parchment paper to fit your baking sheets.
- Spread berries over the parchment-lined sheets so they aren’t touching.
- Drape each sheet loosely with plastic wrap.
- Freeze the berries overnight.
Long-Term Freezing
To keep them long term, remove the frozen berries from the baking sheets and transfer them to sealable plastic containers or freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible from them before sealing.
Label the bags or containers with their contents and the date. Frozen blackberries in dry, airtight containers or bags should keep for up to a year.
Thawing Frozen Blackberries
Thaw your berries at room temperature. If you’re in a rush, use a microwave oven:
- Line a microwave-safe plate with paper towels.
- Spread 1 cup (144g) of frozen blackberries over the plate so they aren’t touching.
- Microwave the berries on “Defrost” for 30 seconds.
- Check the berries. They should still look lightly frosted, but give slightly under mild pressure. If they’re still hard, microwave up to 30 seconds longer.
When Not to Thaw Your Blackberries
Much of the time, thawing your blackberries won’t be necessary. If they’re going into baked goods, preserves or a sauce, cooking will do the job. And if you’re into fruit smoothies, you already know that as banana substitutes, frozen berries make fantastic thickening ingredients!
