Get‘em while you can. Since our season is just about over don’t forget to explore some easy ways to enjoy Florida strawberries all year long.
There are many methods for preserving the goodness of fresh strawberries. I recommend you search for ideas on the Internet to determine the best method(s) for you.
Here are a few tips I ran across that might be helpful…
- Make sure the berries are dry before freezing. Otherwise the water will freeze on them and make them more difficult to enjoy when thawed.
- Thawed strawberries may be used for making jam, added to fruit salads or dessert sauces. They can be used for making cakes and incorporated into cheesecakes. And don’t forget strawberry smoothies.
- Sorbets and strawberry ice cream are great ways to enjoy strawberries and they may not even need to be thawed first. Find a recipe that works for you.
- Before freezing, remove as much air as possible from storage bags and seal as tightly as possible. This will help prevent freezer burn and keep berries tasting fresh.
- Freeze strawberries using a baking sheet lined with waxed paper, paper towels or parchment paper. Stand berries on their bases on the tray, making sure they don’t touch. Put in freezer. When they are frozen, remove from the baking sheet and store in containers.
- One more storage idea—Wash, dry, remove caps and slice strawberries into halves directly into a mixing bowl. Sprinkle 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar over each quart of strawberries. Stir gently until the sugar is dissolved, being careful not to crush the delicate berries. Pack into freezer containers, seal tightly and freeze.