freezing berries/ blanching

[Guest guest]

does anyone know if the best way to freeze berries is to simply put them in

freezer bags *as is*? i bough two big containers of maine blueberries

yesterday and want to freeze them today, but my " Joy of Cooking " doesn't

discuss freezing berries.

also, does anyone have any general blanching and freezing tips? I'm planning

on loading up on local produce over the next 4 weeks and blanching and

freezing all i can. after that, there won't be any local produce available

until next may/june

thanks for any help!

Suze Fisher

Web Design & Development

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg/

mailto:s.fisher22@...

[Guest guest]

I just freeze blueberries straight. I put them on bar cookie pans until

they are frozen and then pour them into bags so they don't freeze together

in a big solid mass. That way it's easier to take out a cup here and there

for recipes.

ine

[Guest guest]

Suze,

I have lived in Maine and would kill for some of their good blueberries!

When I use to get them I simply froze them after picking off stems, etc. I

generally did not wash them unless you want to painstakingly dry them. Wash

them before you use them in a recipe.

The book Stocking Up gives good instructions on blanching. Also, the Ball

Blue Book on Canning and Freezing.

Deborah

----- Original Message -----

From: " Suze Fisher " <s.fisher22@...>

" " < >

Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 10:30 AM

Subject: freezing berries/ blanching

> does anyone know if the best way to freeze berries is to simply put them

in

> freezer bags *as is*? i bough two big containers of maine blueberries

> yesterday and want to freeze them today, but my " Joy of Cooking " doesn't

> discuss freezing berries.

>

>

> also, does anyone have any general blanching and freezing tips? I'm

planning

> on loading up on local produce over the next 4 weeks and blanching and

> freezing all i can. after that, there won't be any local produce available

> until next may/june

>

> thanks for any help!

>

> Suze Fisher

> Web Design & Development

> http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg/

> mailto:s.fisher22@...

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>I just freeze blueberries straight. I put them on bar cookie pans until

they are frozen and then pour them into bags so they don't freeze together

in a big solid mass. That way it's easier to take out a cup here and there

for recipes.

----->Thanks for the feedback, ine. do you put the cookie sheets into

the freezer *covered* (in plastic bags or something) or *uncovered*?

Suze Fisher

Web Design & Development

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg/

mailto:s.fisher22@...

[Guest guest]

Well, I have a chest freezer so I just put the trays in uncovered and as

soon as the blueberries are frozen (which doesn't take long), I transfer to

bags. If you think you'll forget the berries and they'll be in the freezer

for long time before transferring them to bags, I would cover them so they

don't get freezer burned.

ine

[Guest guest]

I just froze blueberries and strawberries - spread the strawberries on a

cookie sheet covered with Saran wrap and slid them into my refrigerator

freezer uncovered, which I figure freezes them faster because of the fan

than my chest

freezer where I ultimately put them. I even froze peach slices from the

garden that way, and they look good to put into smoothies. You have to

freeze the peaches as fast as possible as the tend to turn brown. Once

frozen you have to peal them off the Saran wrap and get them into a freezer

bag as quick as you can.

As far as blanching I use my steamer, which goes faster than heating up a

big pot of water. Once the pot is blowing off steam, I shake it a bit to

make sure the steam penetrates to everything, turn if down somewhat, and

steam veggies for a minute or two, then into cold water and start another

batch over the same hot water. Goes pretty quick.

Peace,

Kris , gardening in harmony with nature in northwest Ohio

If you want to hear the good news about butter check out this website:

http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/know_your_fats.html

----- Original Message -----

From: " Suze Fisher " <s.fisher22@...>

" " < >

Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 11:30 AM

Subject: freezing berries/ blanching

> does anyone know if the best way to freeze berries is to simply put them

in

> freezer bags *as is*? i bough two big containers of maine blueberries

> yesterday and want to freeze them today, but my " Joy of Cooking " doesn't

> discuss freezing berries.

>