We clean them up, leaving the stones in and then freeze them on a tray first, before bagging them off - they tend not to stick together so much so if you need to take smaller quantities it is easier. Frozen still makes great jam....
Many thanks Zacmaster and Androcles for your answers.
I can't believe that they are left rotting on the ground, still ,with a couple of pounds of blackberries picked earlier I've the makings of some fine pies.
Again many thanks.
P.s. How did you get that thorn out !!!!
I freeze them before I make damson gin with them, so yes you can. They go a wee bit mushy, but they do that anyway when cooked, so it doesn't really matter. Stones in, definitely.
You can make damson gin as well - it's lovely - a bit like sloe gin. The experts reckon it's best to pick sloes for gin after the first frost has got to them as it improves the flavour, so I guess freezing them would have the same effect?