Strawberries.........and LOTS of them

[justmama]

Yesterday i took my boys and 2 of their friends to pick strawberries. In just over an hour they picked 28 pounds . We used to do it every year, but just got back into the tradition. I have already made 24 or so 8oz jars of jam (cooked, not freezer) and still have 10 pounds left. I thought about freezing some, i did this before. I have lots of the ziplock twist and lock i got almost free from CVS, i am thinking of using those just cutting them up and adding a little sugar. Would my food saver be better. I thought about flash freezing them in slices then bagging them in the food saver bags. I guess i could probably do both.

Any ideas? TIA

[Cynthiabutterfly]

I read that it is recommended to freeze them whole. Remove the stems and freeze on trays. Once frozen you can bag them.

This worked really well for me, and all you have to do is defrost them and they make their own sauce for the most awesome strawberry shortcake!

I didn't add sugar to mine, but only because we are watching our sugar intake. You could probably sweeten them more easily when you are ready to use them.

[mum2hba]

I wash, remove the stems, and immediately freeze the strawberries. It works great, and the kids love them right from the freezer.
I also slice, add sugar, and then freeze the strawberries. Makes them perfect for strawberry shortcake. Then I want to use them, I just put the bag under cool running water to defrost.

[Maura]

I've frozen them sliced, sugared, with a little vanilla added in, in snack sized ziplocs... then, whenever I can't ignore my sweet tooth any longer, I grab a single-serve sized bag, nuke it for 45 seconds to partially thaw it, dump it in a bowl and chow down on a mainly healthy snack...
Sliced berries are only good if they are still partially frozen, IMO... the texture gets funky if you let them thaw all the way. Here in Florida, Strawberry season hits in Feb/March... and I've already used the two flats I put up! I wish I had made more room for the local berries when they were in season!

[tacatcon]

Hi
I have a question on this as I'm going picking today. I have heard NOT to wash them before freezing. And I have heard about the tray thing, is there anything besides laying them on a cookie sheet/tray that I should do with the (well obviously wrap them)

Thanks!!novice picker here! lol

[queenofthehivemomof5]

What I like to do is remove the stems and lay out on wax paper or foil lined cookie sheets. If any of the berries are particularly large I cut them in half. The stick the cookie sheet in the freezer for about 4 hours (I use my one of my big full-size freezers which freeze faster than the freezer on my refrigerator plus I have a side by side and the cookie sheet does not fit) then I put the frozen berries in food saver bags (I like 3 cup portions) and seal (or freezer bags work too but make sure you remove as much air as possible - the food saver bags let me freeze for a longer time without freezer burn). Then of course put back in the freezer. I use my frozen berries for smoothies, topping for pancakes and waffles, on vanilla yogurt. etc.

I am processing Bing Cherries today. Not much in the way of local produce or pick your own places where I live so I just try to take advantage of low prices at the grocery store and freeze for winter use.

[tacatcon]

Awesome! Thank you. Came home with 11 lbs and gave some to my mother in law. Toying with the idea of making strawberry jam or preserves but i've never done it before so we'll see!

My kids will all eat strawberries just plain by the bowful so these are just what I needed!

next month -Blueberries! lol

[Ggbwg]

My aunt who lives in florida says this is how she does her strawberries.
Don't wash and just leave the way they are. Then flash freeze and they will not be mushy when thawed.

If i had that many phew i would be making my strawberry pie and strawberry bread well it;s not my pie recipe. It;s betty crockers.