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Freezing fruit

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Badgergal
Badgergal Posts: 531 Forumite
in Old style MoneySaving
Hello all,

I was having a read of a book I have about juices and smoothies, and was surprised to learn you can freeze fresh strawberries, raspberries etc to put into smoothies (blending them from frozen so no need for ice, also thickens the texture of the smoothie).

This just never occurred to me and is so useful to know when the local market is selling three punnets of something in season for a pound and I know I will never get through them all before they go off! I hate waste so I thought I would share this (though you all probably knew, and it was just me it never occurred to?!)

:)
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Comments

  • squeaky
    squeaky Posts: 14,129 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    While I know it can be done I've never had enough left over to freeze :)

    Firstly from making puds, pies and crumbles for the freezer, but also from making a jar, or two, of jam. :D
    Hi, I'm a Board Guide on the Old Style and the Consumer Rights boards which means I'm a volunteer to help the boards run smoothly and can move and merge posts there. Board guides are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an inappropriate or illegal post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. It is not part of my role to deal with reportable posts. Any views are mine and are not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
    Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.
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  • 16011996
    16011996 Posts: 8,313 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    i find strawberries go soggy when you defrost them, but they are great for smoothies. raspberries freeze brilliantly as do blackberries, blueberries etc.
  • Ticklemouse
    Ticklemouse Posts: 5,030 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    As a matter of interest, what do you lot use to make your smoothies? - equipment-wise I mean. I have a juicer but wanted to get into smoothies too, so as to eat the whole fruit. I have a stick blender and a blender on my Kenwood Chef (oooh, and one on my cheffette, if I can remember where that is:D)

    I have frozen bananas currently as well as bags of frozen berries, but thanks to the OP, didn't think about the strawbs.

    PS nice to see you again, 160 :)
  • spendaholic
    spendaholic Posts: 1,550 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Debt-free and Proud! Name Dropper
    I use a blender.
    spendy/she/her ***DEBT-FREE DATE: 11 NOVEMBER 2022!*** Highest debt: £35k (2006) MY WINS: £3,541 CASH; £149 Specsavers voucher; free eye test; goody bag from Scottish Book Trust; tickets to Grand Designs Live; 2-year access to Feel Amazing App (worth £100); Home Improvement & Renovation Show tickets; £50 to spend on chocolate; Harlem Globetrotters tickets; Jesus Christ Superstar tickets + 2 t-shirts; Guardians of the Galaxy goody bag; Birmingham City v Barnsley FC tickets; Marillion tickets; Dancing on Ice tickets; Barnsley FC v Millwall tickets
  • raeble
    raeble Posts: 911 Forumite
    I'm got that braun stick blender thing with all the attachments, so I use the big jug when I'm making smoothies - banana or two, yoghurt and frozen soft fruit. Lovely.
  • Badgergal
    Badgergal Posts: 531 Forumite
    I have a Kenwood Smoothie maker that cost about £20. I don't really know if it is the same as a blender as I have nothing to compare it to, but I like it, it's powerful and easy to clean. And silver. I have an ancient Braun stick blender with no attachments but as its old and not as powerful there is no way it could blend ice or frozen fruit the way the smoothie does, it is better for blending softer stuff.

    I guess the great thing about freezing fruit for smoothies is who cares what its like when it defrosts (ie soggy) as its getting whizzed up anyway. It will probably have more nutrients than if it was sitting going mouldy in my fridge for a week too.
  • trace-j
    trace-j Posts: 783 Forumite
    Badgergal wrote:
    Hello all,

    I was having a read of a book I have about juices and smoothies, and was surprised to learn you can freeze fresh strawberries, raspberries etc to put into smoothies (blending them from frozen so no need for ice, also thickens the texture of the smoothie).

    This just never occurred to me and is so useful to know when the local market is selling three punnets of something in season for a pound and I know I will never get through them all before they go off! I hate waste so I thought I would share this (though you all probably knew, and it was just me it never occurred to?!)

    :)

    Freezing fruit is hit and miss. The faster the food is frozen the smaller the ice crystals and the less cell damage to the fruit. Hence why household freezers take a lot longer and you're left with sloppy fruit upon defrosting. Amazing what you can learn from TV and the processes used to fast freeze peas!
    :idea:I got an idea, an idea so smart my head would explode if I even began to know what I was talking about:idea:
  • Ticklemouse
    Ticklemouse Posts: 5,030 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    trace-j wrote:
    Freezing fruit is hit and miss. The faster the food is frozen the smaller the ice crystals and the less cell damage to the fruit. Hence why household freezers take a lot longer and you're left with sloppy fruit upon defrosting. Amazing what you can learn from TV and the processes used to fast freeze peas!

    That would explain (perhaps) why my cauli tasted funny after I'd frozen it. Perhaps I won't try buying the market up and freezing it then :) Thanks for that.
  • Galtizz
    Galtizz Posts: 1,016 Forumite
    Can you freeze Aubergines? I ask because I got some out of the freezer this morning intending to have them for tea, if they don't come out right I'll have to re-think tea :D

    It's OK if they turn to mush because they're going in a pie, as long as they're not going to kill me :eek:
    When life hands you a lemon, make sure you ask for tequilla and salt ;)
  • squeaky
    squeaky Posts: 14,129 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    There's a paper on freezing aubergine Here :)
    Hi, I'm a Board Guide on the Old Style and the Consumer Rights boards which means I'm a volunteer to help the boards run smoothly and can move and merge posts there. Board guides are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an inappropriate or illegal post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. It is not part of my role to deal with reportable posts. Any views are mine and are not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
    Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.
    DTFAC: Y.T.D = £5.20 Apr £0.50
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