How To: Freeze Blueberries For Easy Measuring.

So, on the subject of freezing berries, I am a bit of an expert. I am not even bragging. Mr. Gillis and I have got this down to a science. We are serious about keeping our harvests until the next harvest. Our deep freezer is full of this years strawberries and raspberries already. So time to throw some blueberries  in there as well.

For freezing berries for ease of use later, you need a few things other then the berries.

• Cookie sheets
• Freezer paper
• A good grade vacuum sealer
• Bags for sealer

We both believe that a vacuum sealer has been a hugely beneficial investment. We freeze and save so much food and this machine really cuts down on any freezer burn.

So, get your cookie sheets in a row. Grab your freezer paper and cut out your pieces so that they are a little bit larger then the pans.

Since the paper is larger then the sheet, it makes for easier handling later

Now, grab your cleaned berries and spread them out. You can put a little bit more then a single layer, because blueberries freeze so well. They are super easy to break apart.

Three cookie sheets full and ready to go into the freezer.

Next, find a place in your freezer, and throw them in. They’ll need to be in there  for about 2 to 3 hours in order to be frozen all the way thru.

A look into the depths… I am pretty good at finding more room tho.

This is when we get out our food saver. We make up a rather large bag and put all three trays into it.

This bag will be about 10 inches long

When the berries are completely frozen, take the edges of the freezer paper and pull them towards the middle forming a circle. Put one open end inside your bag, and carefully lift the other side of the bag. If everything is in its place, your berries will just roll on down and into the bag.

It can be a little difficult to get the berries to stay in the paper.

This bag will hold three trays of berries

Then we turn the machine on, and let it do its work. You end up with a bag of frozen berries that you can easily scoop out in smaller portions.

Our giant bag of frozen berries, air sucked out and sealed tight.

Now, repeat. We usually end up with about 8 of these bags.

Coming up next- some fun blueberry jam recipes!

So until that time, have a wicked good evening.