FREEZING BLACKBERRIES

[WHU010]

We have a glut of blackberries at the moment and have been using them in crumbles - pear and blackberry being a favourite at the moment. But think I need to think about freezing some now - do they freeze ok? Can you just put in a container and put in freezer? Any advice would be appreciated

[Nibble]

No problem at all, our freezer's full of clip-top boxes full of them.

[roslyn251254]

I would freeze them on trays separately so they don't stick together in a lump

[EcclesCake]

Put them on a baking tray lined with grease proof and freeze them in a single layer. Once frozen transfer to a freezer tub.

[Barmaid]

Freeze them on a tray first, separately before putting them into bags. Otherwise you will end up with a big lump.

[Nibble]

Boxy says put them in a freezer bag, as many as you fit in, then put in a box and stuff them in.

[WHU010]

Thanks everyone for your answers. Didnt get a chance to go out and pick them today as everytime I had time it started to rain. Hopefully will manage to do it tomorrow. Got plenty of baking trays and room in the freezer so will down that route

[Jemisa]

Before you freeze your blackberries put them in the fridge in a container with a tight lid. They are full of microscopic maggots & by doing this overnight because they can't breathe they leave the fruit and gasp for air and you'll find em in the morning clinging to the lid. Wash them off and your blackberries are now ready for freezing. I assure you it works, I do it every year.

jem.

[Ann]

Poor little maggots and big bully Jem ;)

[WHU010]

Thanks Jem - timely advice as I am just about to go picking once I have got the washing on the line....weather forecast good today!

[factor-fiction]

It's a bit early here for blackberries. We picked a few at the weekend but they were quite hard and not very nice. It'll be a couple of weeks yet before there are plenty to pick

[Tilly2]

Last year I froze loads of hedgerow picked blackberries. I just washed them and put them into portion sized bags. I don't worry about the little maggots as they taste of blackberry as well.

I used one of the portions to make an apple and blackberry crumble for our Christmas lunch dessert. It was lovely and ended the meal very nicely. I hate Christmas pudding.