freezing plums

jasmine33

Just wondered if I can freeze plums? I thought of just wiping them over and bagging them, then into the freezer. I will make jam with them later when I have more time (?)
Has any one out there tried freezing them ?

plumtreebabe

Hi there,

We have 6 ancient plum trees (about 60 yrs old?) and these produce quite a lot of fruit probably due to the attentions of my husband, the gardening one. We freeze quite a lot, particularly in the last two years when the rain makes the skins split. In my experience cut them in half and take out the stone before freezing, or you won't get round to using them knowing that you will have to defrost them first and then stone them.

What kind are they? Ours are all victorias. We will have to do the annual tithe around the village and dole out bags of fruit to the older people who actually appreciate these lovely fruit - not like the ones in my office!

jasmine33

plumtreebabe wrote: »

Hi there,

We have 6 ancient plum trees (about 60 yrs old?) and these produce quite a lot of fruit probably due to the attentions of my husband, the gardening one. We freeze quite a lot, particularly in the last two years when the rain makes the skins split. In my experience cut them in half and take out the stone before freezing, or you won't get round to using them knowing that you will have to defrost them first and then stone them.

What kind are they? Ours are all victorias. We will have to do the annual tithe around the village and dole out bags of fruit to the older people who actually appreciate these lovely fruit - not like the ones in my office!

Why do I need to stone them first before freezing if I am going to make jam? I thought I could make it and fish the stones out of the pan once it's ready. I read that they help to set the jam.

Bargainloverbec

You could stew them before you freeze them - add sugar etc. - then just defrost and add a crumble topping for a quick and yummy pudding.

oliveoyl

I've read that freezing plums with the stones in can make them bitter.

looby-loo_2

plumtreebabe wrote: »

Hi there,

What kind are they? Ours are all victorias. We will have to do the annual tithe around the village and dole out bags of fruit to the older people who actually appreciate these lovely fruit - not like the ones in my office!

Same here, when I take stuff in, strawberries, apples, runner beans, etc, they look at me as if I am totally eccentric.

I have found that plums go very dark after freezing but the taste is still good.

newlywed

looby-loo wrote: »

Same here, when I take stuff in, strawberries, apples, runner beans, etc, they look at me as if I am totally eccentric.

You should come to our office, we'd all go - ooooh cool thank you!!

I have been given plums, cooking apples, blackberries, rhubarb (but from friends mostly and some via my sister's workmates).

Planning to plant a few things next year, but at the moment we don't have much room to grow things in.

looby-loo_2

newlywed wrote: »

You should come to our office, we'd all go - ooooh cool thank you!!

I have been given plums, cooking apples, blackberries, rhubarb (but from friends mostly and some via my sister's workmates).

Planning to plant a few things next year, but at the moment we don't have much room to grow things in.

I love to give out extra produce but I hate it when someone who works part time, has a couple of grown up children and with a big garden say 'I don't know how you find the time' or 'I'm no good at gardening' when I work full time and have four school age children. I try to give extra stuff to those at work who I know live in flats or terrace houses with yards or are students living alone/in shared student homes.

Good luck when you have a go

kippers

I have been given another load of of plums which is wonderful but i already have loads of plum jam.

I have just made some plum & apple muffins for my DD's lunch boxes and i still have loads left.

My question is...how do i freeze them. My freezer book tells me i need to freeze them in a sugar syrup, but this seems alot of messing about. Is there an easier way ie wash, stone and just open freeze on a tray?

Any help would be appriciated. Thanks

jusnoneed

I just cook mine in the microwave for a couple of minutes (add a bit of sugar and they make their own syrup) and when cool take out the stones, put the plums into containers and freeze. All ready to use as a pie filling etc when you want it.

shykins

we just picked the plums and then froze them whole, stone and all. we usually use them for chutney/jam etc later in the year and they are fine

hth