Can you freeze strawberries?

What freezing does to strawberries

Freezing cannot improve the flavor or texture of any food, but when properly done it can preserve most of the quality of the fresh product. A sugar syrup or pectin mixture will help the berries retain their firmness and bright color after they are thawed.

How to freeze it

1. Select fully ripe, firm berries with a deep red color; discard immature and defective fruit, then wash and remove caps.
2. For a syrup pack, put berries into containers and cover with cold 50 percent syrup, leaving headspace; seal and freeze.
3. For a sugar pack, add ¾ cup sugar to 1 quart (1 1/3 pounds) strawberries and mix thoroughly; stir until most of the sugar is dissolved or let stand for 15 minutes, then put into containers leaving headspace, seal and freeze.
4. To freeze individually, wash berries, drain well and place in a single layer on a baking sheet; freeze until firm, then package in freezer bags or containers.

Thawing and using it

Berries frozen dry can be used in making jams, jellies, pies, cobblers, or syrups.

Depends on the form

• Sliced or crushed berries: prepare as for whole strawberries, then slice or crush partially or completely; to 1 quart (1 1/3 pounds) berries add ¾ cup sugar and mix thoroughly.
• The sugar syrup will help the berries retain their firmness.
• The pectin mixture will help the berries retain their firmness and bright color after they are thawed.