Freezing blackberries

Timeflies

Quick question - I have lots of blackberries and want to make blackberry and apple crumble. I have no apples though, so I'm planning to freeze the blackberries.

Do I cook them, then freeze them, or just freeze them fresh?

Farway

Love to know the answer, I have loads of ripening blackberries

Grouchy

I freeze them just after they are picked, no cooking no rising, nothing.

Pick over them for any that are spoiled or any bugs and chuck out any poor ones. I put them on non-stick trays/ greaseproof paper and make sure they are not touching each other. Put them immediately into the freezer. After several hours (depending on your freezer) they will be thoroughly properly frozen. Then quickly put them into pie-size portions into freezerbags and put back into freezer trying not to squash them. Same for raspberries.

Some people just put them into freezer bags straight from the canes, but I find when you defrost them they are squishy and don't hold their shape and texture as well.

Good luck

Linda32

I do exactly the same as Grouchy. I freeze raspberries, strawberrries and loganberries.

LV_Sue

^^^^^^^
Wot Grouchy said except I usually put them in plastic takeaway containers instead of plastic bags! ;-)

LameWolf

^^^^^
Wot LV Sue said!

Btw, blackberry crumble is also delicious, if you have loads of blackberries and no apples.;)

tessie_bear

i do blackberries in a few ways....when picked i soak in slightly salted water for a couple of hours...inspect them and then sometimes i cook them and pour into tubs (always add sugar on defrosting) for crumbles/pies....some i pour after washing on to trays and freeze open and seperate then once frozen i put into plastic bags/plastic tubs

cant wait to get some blackberries

imho

So lucky where i live as the fields are brimming with Blackberries but walked a different route with my dog and found another field with loads of Raspberries.They wont be ready for a couple of weeks yet.

[Deleted User]

I too dump them in salty water to get rid of any lingering creepy crawlies then pat dry and lay on a sheet of foil and open freeze and bag up when frozen.