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freezing raspberries

Freezing raspberries is as easy as kindergarten.

The Damsel would like to gently insist that you flash freeze your raspberry treasure. Do it this way:

1. Wash the berries. This means put them into a strainer and rinse well with cold water.

2. Let them drain a bit.

3. Spread them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Careful! Raspberries are very fragile!

4. Put the cookie sheet, uncovered, into the freezer. Have a lie-down or clean a bathroom. Your choice.

5. When the raspberries are hard-frozen, sweep them off the cookie sheet into ziplock bags or freezer containers. You may need to nudge them off the cookie sheet with a pancake turner or something. Put the bags or containers into the freezer until you want to eat them.

Before the Damsel learned about flash freezing, she’d just put the freshly washed berries directly into a ziplock and froze them that way. But if she wanted to use a recipe that required say, one cup of raspberries, she’d quietly cry for a minute or two, because the frozen raspberries would have become a single, solid frozen block. She’d have to thaw the whole thing or attempt to ice-pick the thing into pieces. Sometimes she just couldn’t face it.

But because you know better and flash froze them, they will stay individual. You’ll be able to take out just what you need, without having to face a discouraging frozen mass. You can use them all year long for smoothies, desserts, or just popping into your mouth.

You can use this method for practically anything little you want to freeze. This is the Damsel’s wish.

  • http://elaineshandra.blogspot.com Elaine

    Excellent idea! Hopefully I remember this when the time comes. This weekend, I'm going to preserve/can some apricots. Any hints?

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/the_damsel the_damsel

      Here's the Old School post on apricots: http://www.mynewoldschool.com/2009/07/29/canning-… Hope it helps!

      • http://elaineshandra.blogspot.com Elaine

        Thanks, that's perfect! Lucky me, my neighbors are letting whoever wants their apricots to pick them and do what they will with them!

  • http://beinglds.blogspot.com Jocelyn

    Kindergarten wasn't easy for me. I'm just sayin'! :) All those new rules, and no talking…no talking? One of my first major trials in life!

  • http://www.idnaturegirl.blogspot.com Leslie

    Pretty sure we ALL learned the frozen raspberry block lesson the hard way…they just don't teach you these things in school. But you say I have to choose between a lie-down and cleaning the bathroom…hmmmmm…what to do, what to do?

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/edenwild Lisa C

    We did this with strawberries once. So much better!

  • http://livinglightlyinsuburbia.blogspot.com Gail

    To get the air out of the ziplock bag I take a straw and suck all the air out before putting it in the freezer. That way it doesn't get freezer burn.

  • http://www.idnaturegirl.blogspot.com Leslie/ NatureGirl

    Gave you a little mention on my blog today. Spreadin' some love that was spread to me. Thanks for being a positive force in the world.

  • Rocky Mentos

    I am just saying…but I know for a fact…there are not a lot of Raspberries left over at your house…just saying. Or maybe since I am not there you have more.

    • damsel

      Yep…”someone” was here picking. It’s great to see them get used.

  • Lynne's

    I truly love the Damsel.

  • http://lynnewsnyder.blogspot.com/ Lynnes Invented Life

    Well, I truly do love the Damsel but she won't know who "Lynne's" is because I hit the wrong key and my comment posted.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/latermom Charlotte

    My sister just taught me this about blueberries. I had no idea how easy it was to keep them separate yet frozen.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/latermom Charlotte

    That is a great idea. I have tried freezing cooked ground beef before with less than stellar results and this might be the solution I need. Thanks!

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    Yummy..It is my favorite.Thanks for the advice.I even know about this procedure good thing I came across here at your site.

  • http://www.bes.co.uk plumbing

    This is really great! Thanks for this awesome post, It is really yummy and delicious.