How To Freeze Strawberries With Sugar For The Winter + Video

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to Freeze Strawberries Properly: Proven Home Ways

The aroma of ripe strawberries evokes pleasant emotions, especially when fluffy snowflakes fall to the ground outside the window. This summer berry is a favorite delicacy of adults and children, and thanks to the freezing process, they can be treated to relatives at any time of the year. Delicious strawberries, grated with sugar, will become an exquisite filling for homemade baked goods and enrich the body with many useful elements. So how do you freeze it for the winter? Are there procurement rules?

Content

• 1 Why Frozen Strawberries Are So Popular

  • 1.1 How much and in what conditions is frozen berry stored
  • 1.2 How to properly defrost strawberries
  • 1.3 General rules for freezing berries
  • 1.4 Something About Strawberry Varieties

• 2 Ways to Freeze Strawberries

  • 2.1 Freezing whole berries without sugar
  • 2.2 Freezing whole berries with powdered sugar
  • 2.3 Freezing strawberries with sugar
  • 2.4 Berry, grated with sugar
  • 2.5 Strawberry jam with honey for the winter
  • 2.6 How to freeze meadow and forest berries with sugar

• 3 Recipes Using Frozen Strawberries

  • 3.1 Frozen strawberries with sugar and sour cream
  • 3.2 Frozen berry with whipped cream
• 4 Video: how to properly freeze strawberries

Why frozen strawberries are so popular

Fresh strawberries, of course, contain more vitamins, however, they remain useful even after freezing.

1. It is in this product that a large amount of vitamin C is present. Scientists have proven that there is as much of it in five berries as in one orange.
2. Strawberries contain nutrients necessary to maintain normal functioning of the body: folic acid, B vitamins, sodium, potassium, calcium and dietary fiber.
3. The natural sweetness of the berry will undoubtedly appeal to children, and its unique aroma can instantly whet the appetite and save you from depression.
4. It is strawberry that is an excellent sugar reducing agent and helps to free the body from toxins and toxins.

In the absence of allergies, strawberries can be used as a valuable ingredient in the preparation of various home cosmetics. But for this you need berries frozen without using sugar. In addition, the product has a number of other advantages:

• strawberries can be enjoyed regardless of the season;
• frozen berries contain less cadmium, lead and pesticides;
• bacteria harmful to the human body cannot develop in them;
• there are only slightly less nutrients in frozen berries than in fresh ones, while the taste and incomparable aroma are preserved;
• frozen strawberries are an excellent addition to ready-made cereals, cottage cheese, milkshakes, ice cream and yoghurts, and compotes from it are a real vitamin pantry;
• This product makes excellent mousses, sauces and jellies that can become a real decoration of the table, as well as fillings for biscuit cakes, muffins and yeast pies.

Frozen strawberries preserve many vitamins

How much and in what conditions is frozen berry stored

At home, freezers are mainly used for storing frozen strawberries, which allow to ensure the optimal temperature of -18 ° C. In such conditions, it can be kept for no more than 8-9 months.

Sometimes food stored in household refrigerators can be defrosted untimely, for example, due to an unscheduled power outage. Melted berries cannot be re-frozen and may be harmful to health. The best solution in such a situation would be to completely defrost the product, after which the strawberries must be cooked. Then the cooled berries can be frozen again.

The freezer is a great place to store strawberries.

How to defrost strawberries correctly

Before eating frozen berries, it is very important to take a responsible attitude to the defrosting process, which must be carried out correctly.

1. To defrost strawberries, you can use sealed containers that must be immersed in cold water for 45 minutes.
2. An even better option is to place the berries in a regular refrigerator compartment at 4 ° C. In this case, the defrosting process may take about 7 hours. This will keep the original shape and flavor of the berries.

General rules for freezing berries

There are several types of strawberries, each with individual benefits. However, whichever one you choose to freeze, you should adhere to the general rules.

1. If you're harvesting yourself, try picking ripe strawberries early in the morning before dew appears or just before sunset. It is noticed that the crop harvested at this time retains its useful properties and aroma better, and also has a more refined taste.

   

   It is recommended to pick strawberries in the early morning or before sunset

2. Before starting the freezing process, the berries must be carefully sorted out, removing spoiled and deformed specimens aside.

   

   Spoiled strawberries must not be frozen

3. If your strawberries are flawlessly fresh, you can skip the washing procedure. It is enough to lightly blow the berries with a hairdryer. This will keep the natural protection active for 3 hours after harvest. It is a thin film consisting of special substances that effectively protect the berries from the effects of harmful bacteria.
4. If you bought strawberries from the market, it is advisable to thoroughly wash them by placing them in a colander and submerging them in water. This will keep the delicate berries intact.

5. The strawberries need to be dried to prevent excess water from freezing.

   

   Before freezing, strawberries must be washed and dried thoroughly.

6. When packing strawberries in plastic bags, it is necessary to remove as much air as possible, which can cause frost. Putting the date on the packages will allow you to track the expiration date of the workpiece.
7. When placing strawberries in the freezer, you should avoid possible proximity to strong-smelling foods, especially fish.
8. If for some reason it is necessary to defrost the freezer, a blanket will help to protect the strawberries from contact with warm air, in which it is enough to wrap the berries for a short period of time.

Something about the varieties of strawberries

There are three types of strawberries:

• garden (the largest berries);

  

  Garden strawberry differs from field strawberry in larger size

• meadow (field);

  

  Field strawberries are very similar to strawberries, but their berries are larger.

• wild strawberry).

  

  Forest strawberries are easily separated from the green outlet

Meadow strawberries are often confused with strawberries, which have smaller and more fragrant berries. A distinctive feature of strawberries is that they are easier to separate from the green cup. It also has many beneficial properties and a whole range of vitamins. Strawberries are distinguished by their pronounced sweet taste, aroma astringency and density. It is very difficult to tear them off the branch, which makes the cleaning process somewhat difficult.

The first ripe berries appear from June 15th. When collecting field strawberries, they are cut directly with twigs and bouquets, since it is very difficult to quickly tear the berry off the stalk. Forest strawberries are distinguished by increased fragility and softness, for this reason, you need to handle them as carefully as possible so that the berries do not crumple and do not let the juice flow.

Freezing strawberries

Strawberries can be harvested in several ways to ensure good results.

Freezing whole berries without sugar

1. Take strawberries prepared in accordance with the general rules, spread them in a thin layer on plastic boards or on large kitchen plates covered with cling film.
2. When spreading strawberries, try to keep a small distance between the berries. This will prevent them from sticking together.
3. Then send the boards or plates filled with berries to the freezer, leave there for about a day. If your refrigerator has a Super Freeze function, it is advisable to use it. Then the process will last no more than 3 hours.
4. Remove the berries, place in dry plastic bags, then send them back to the freezer.

Frozen berries are placed in plastic bags and stored in the freezer

Freezing whole berries with powdered sugar

It has been noticed that during the freezing process, strawberries are able to partially lose their original sweetness. It is for this reason that many people choose to freeze it with powdered sugar. Proportions: for 1 kg of strawberries, you need to take 200 g of powdered sugar.

1. Spread the prepared berries on the planes you have, previously covered with cling film. At the same time, observe the distance between the berries.
2. Send the planes with strawberries to the freezer for 1–2 hours.

3. Then remove the berries again, carefully remove them from the film and place them in food plastic containers, sprinkling each layer with powdered sugar.

   

   Strawberries frozen with powdered sugar will not lose their sweetness

4. Place the containers of berries in the freezer for storage.

Freezing strawberries with sugar

There is another way to freeze strawberries with sugar. When used, the berry gives juice. For this recipe for 1 kg of strawberries, you need to take 300 g of sugar.

1. Take strawberries prepared for freezing in advance, put them in a plastic bowl, sprinkling sugar over each layer.

   

   Each layer of strawberries must be sprinkled with sugar without damaging the berries.

2. Place the bowl of berries on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
3. Wait until the strawberries give juice.
4. Gently transfer the berries to food plastic containers, filling them as tightly as possible, and pouring plenty of juice over the contents.
5. Place the strawberries in the freezer.

Berry, grated with sugar

For this method you will need:

• blender;
• Strawberry;
• sugar - 300 g per 1 kg of berries.

Operating procedure:

• puree the prepared strawberries with a blender;

  

  It is more convenient to grind strawberries with sugar using a blender

• add sugar, stir;

• place the berry puree in food containers and place in the freezer.

  

  Strawberry puree frozen in food containers

In this case, sugar can be added both during the preparation of the puree and after thawing.

You can also pour the berries with ready-made syrup at room temperature, and then send the containers to the freezer. To prepare the syrup, take:

• 1 liter of water;
• 300 g sugar;
• 5 g citric acid or 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

Mix all ingredients and put on fire. Remove from heat at the first sign of boiling.

You can also freeze strawberries in sugar syrup.

Strawberry jam with honey for the winter

To prepare such a blank for 1 kg of berries you will need:

• 2 glasses of honey;
• 1 apple;
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Operating procedure:

• chop the prepared strawberries in a blender until puree;
• grate the peeled apple on a medium grater;
• Mix apple mass with strawberry puree, add honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice;
• put the mixture on fire, bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes;
• Arrange ready-made strawberry jam in food containers, cool and send to the freezer.

How to freeze meadow and forest berries with sugar

To freeze field strawberries, which differ in the hardness of the fruit, you can use the following recipe.

1. Mix the prepared berries with sugar: for 3 cups of strawberries, you need to use 4 cups of sugar.
2. Arrange the berries with sugar in half-liter jars, filling the containers only ¾.
3. Pour sugar into the remaining free space up to the very neck of the jar.
4. Close the containers with lids treated with boiling water.
5. Put the jars in the refrigerator or cellar.
6. After 2 weeks, you can again add sugar to the neck of the jar, since during this time the jam will settle down a little.

It is very convenient to freeze strawberries in plastic cups

Recipes using frozen strawberries

The frozen berry can be used in a wide variety of dishes.

Frozen strawberries with sugar and sour cream

One of the simplest options is pureed strawberries with sugar and sour cream. For its preparation, you can use whole frozen fruits or mashed potatoes prepared earlier.

1. If you prefer to work with whole berries, defrost them first and soften the strawberries using a blender or other available means.
2. If the strawberries were frozen without sugar, add 2 tablespoons of sugar to 400 g of berries.
3. Then add 3 tablespoons of sour cream and mix the resulting puree. Your dessert is ready.

Strawberries with sour cream is a delicious and healthy dessert

Frozen berry with whipped cream

You can also make an original dessert with whipped cream from frozen strawberries.

For this you will need:

• strawberry puree - 400 g;
• heavy cream - 400 ml;
• 2 yolks;
• icing sugar to taste.

When all the products are prepared, you can start preparing a sweet masterpiece.

1. Add yolks to thawed strawberry puree.
2. Put the resulting mixture on fire and bring until thickened, stirring constantly.
3. Whisk the cream until stiff and add to the chilled strawberry mixture.
4. Adjust the flavor of the dessert by adding powdered sugar.
5. Arrange the treat in vases and send to the freezer until it solidifies.
6. Serve dessert to the table.

Strawberries with whipped cream will be highly appreciated by children and adults

Video: how to properly freeze strawberries

Using simple guidelines, you can easily freeze strawberries for the winter. The main thing is to adhere to the basic rules, because thanks to them it becomes possible to save as many useful vitamins as possible in these berries. Such preparations will allow you to feel the taste and aroma of summer even in the middle of a cold winter, as well as diversify your home menu.