As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Learn all the tips and tricks for how to freeze blueberries to extend the harvest. Freezing fresh blueberries is a great way to preserve this wonderful summer fruit without needing to know any special kitchen skills.
From baking to snacking to fancy desserts, blueberries are a favorite fruit for people of all ages! Having some stashed in your freezer is like a delicious, delicious insurance policy.
Unlike making jam or a canning project, freezing fresh blueberries does not require any special kitchen skills or equipment. If you have a baking sheet, 5 minutes, and a freezer, you too can stock your freezer with this amazing seasonal fruit.
And that being said, if you decide that shelf-stable is your goal, check out our tutorial on canning blueberries.
HOW TO STORE FROZEN Blueberries
Once frozen, you can transfer the blueberries to freezer storage (we love these reusable silicone bags) and scoop out whatever amount you need without having to hack away at a hunk of berries. Other options include:
- Freezer-safe Ziploc plastic bags
- Wide-mouth canning jars:
- 8 oz jam jars = 1 cup berries
- 16 oz pint jars = 2 cups berries
- 32 oz quart jars = 4 cups berries
- Freezer-safe reusable snap-tight containers
- Souper Cubes for premeasured portions of frozen blueberries.
How long can you keep fresh blueberries in the freezer?
Your berries will last for 6-12 months in the freezer. If you have a deep freeze, storing your frozen berries in there would be most effective and they will last longer than in a fridge/freezer combo.
How to Thaw Frozen Blueberries
It depends on how you want to use them. For things like jam or overnight oats, or yogurt cups, it’s great to allow them to thaw in their own juices.
For quick thawing – place the (sealed) freezer bag in a large mixing bowl filled with warm water. Replace the water every 20 minutes when it cools.
For basic thawing – place the freezer bag in a large mixing bowl and allow it to sit at room temperature or in the fridge. For a 1-gallon bag of blueberries, it will take up to 12 hours in the fridge, or 4-6 hours at room temperature to completely thaw.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Most recipes do not require you to thaw your blueberries first. If you do need to thaw them, simply place them in a strainer/colander and gently rinse with warm water.
- Toss frozen berries with 1 tbsp of all-purpose flour before adding to baked goods. This will keep them from sinking in the batter.
Get my Canning e-book!
It’s 51 pages of every helpful tip and trick you could want as a brand new canner, AND it includes 13 ad-free canning recipes that are designed to take you from novice to pro.
How to Freeze Blueberries
Equipment
- Strainer
- 2 Clean towels
Ingredients
Instructions
- Rinse your blueberries in a colander/strainer.1 blueberries
- Place rinsed berries on a clean towel and bloat them dry with another towel.
- Place a piece of parchment on a rimmed baking sheet and lay berries on top. Use the space efficiently, but try not to let them touch too much.
- Optional: Lay another piece of parchment on top of the berries and top with an additional layer of berries. You can do up to three layers on the same baking sheet before it becomes precarious.
- Allow the blueberries to freeze through (1.5-2 hours) and then transfer to a freezer-proof storage container.
Notes
- Berries are good in the freezer for 6-12 months.
- Using canning jars:
- 8 oz jam jars = 1 cup berries
- 32 oz quart jars = 4 cups berries
- 16 oz pint jars = 2 cups berries
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I really loved your post. I read your blog quite often and I just shared it on Twitter. Keep up the good
work.