Can you freeze strawberries?

What freezing does to strawberries

Freezing causes the water inside the strawberry cells to expand and rupture the cell walls, which leads to a significant loss of firmness upon thawing. Because the texture changes from crisp to soft, they are no longer suitable for fresh applications like salads or garnishes.

How to freeze it

1. Wash the strawberries gently and remove the green stems.
2. Slice or leave them whole depending on how you plan to use them later.
3. Spread the berries in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 2 hours).
4. Transfer the frozen berries into a heavy-duty freezer bag, removing as much air as possible.
5. Label the bag with the date and return it to the freezer.

Thawing and using it

When thawed, the berries will release a lot of liquid and feel very soft; the best way to use them is to thaw them in the refrigerator or use them directly from frozen in smoothies, jams, or baked goods.

Depends on the form

• whole vs. sliced (slices freeze faster and thaw more evenly)
• very ripe vs. firm (firmer berries hold shape slightly better)
• sugar-dipped vs. plain (sugar helps preserve some texture)