Yesterday at the grocery store, I walked up to the berry section thinking I would just grab one box of strawberries and one box of blueberries. Each were on sale for $2.
Woot!
But as I looked down, I noticed a bunch of the strawberry boxes with 10/$10 stickers on them. I grabbed 6 boxes and knew that I’d spend some time yesterday afternoon getting some into the freezer…both whole and cut into “muffin size” pieces. I did about 4 boxes worth as whole strawberries to use for Strawberry Smoothies, and I cut up 2 boxes worth…1 for muffins. 1 for pancakes.
Here’s how it went down.
First, wash and pat dry.
To flash freeze whole strawberries for smoothies, cut off the stem.
Lay on their sides on a rimmed baking sheet.
Place in the freezer for 20 minutes or so.
Remove from the freezer and scoop off the sheet. Use a spatula if any are stubborn and had the chance to freeze to the sheet.
Place in a plastic storage container or plastic freezer baggies.
For the cut pieces, place them in a plastic freezer baggie and press them flat.
Seal and remove as much air as you can.
Freeze and use for pancakes or muffins.
And I’m not sure my cutting board will ever be the same again! *Update: I’ve figured out how to remove the strawberry stains! See my Cleaning Your Stained Cutting Boards kitchen shortcut tip!
Note: Once the strawberries are frozen, they will not have their same shape or texture. That’s why they must be used in smoothies or for baking.
A couple of my favorite recipes to use up the frozen strawberries:
- Strawberry Sorbet
- Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal
- No Sugar Strawberry Freezer Jam
- Spiced Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
- Whole Wheat Banana Strawberry Crumb Muffins
- Banana Strawberry Peach Smoothies
- Fruit Smoothie Popsicles
Do you have a favorite recipes that can use frozen strawberries? Please share in the comments below!
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I just went to H-Mart yesterday and they had them for $.99 per pkg. I bought 6 and froze them too! Can’t beat that price!!!
To clean the cutting board, if Clorox kitchen doesn’t do it, use a Magic Eraser or generic equivalent and then use the Clorox kitchen again. That “should” work!! : )
Now we are just waiting for your strawberry muffin recipe!
I know. I have been looking for it too.
i hate when my cutting boards get stained. I got some of those bendable ones from ikea. It was two big size ones for $1. I use one to cut anything that will stain and another for meat. I just throw them out every 3 months and buy new ones.
We keep our blueberries and occassionally strawberries (cut small) in the freezer and throw them in cereal!
You can freeze pineapple too! I just bought 3 at ALdis for 99 cents each! Love it!
Nice Tammy!
What’s your recipe for strawberry muffins?
It’s coming Christy! Hopefully Wed or Thurs!
Aha! Finally! A cure for the ever-turning-brown-faster-than-you-can-boil-water pack of fresh strawberries.
Looking forward to your strawberry muffin recipe!
Rubbing a wooden cutting board with lemon slices helps to disinfect it- and in this case, sprinkling it with baking soda and then rubbing with a lemon should remove some of the staining without exposing future foods to cleaner residue! Mmmm… now I want strawberries!
When I really want to clean my wooden cutting boards , I make a salt and water paste with Kosher salt and rub it into the cutting board, and leave it for 5-10 mins and then wipe it off with a damp cloth.
Thanks for the tip Sarah! I plan to include it in a post soon!
I can’t wait to try out your freezing tip, and then use them for your strawberry muffins! Thanks for sharing.
is it a good idea to use one of those food vacuum machines and bags to put strawberries in?
Thanks for the tutorial. I stocked up on the last of fresh organic strawberries for the season at the farmer’s market and need to freeze most of them.
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