🌡️How to Freeze Saskatoon Berries
Learn how to clean and freeze Saskatoon berries and use frozen Saskatoon berries in recipes, with step by step instructions.
Servings 10 cups
Cost 5
Equipment
Ingredients
- Saskatoon berries
Instructions
- I prefer to lay them out on baking sheets to sort them, as it gives you a better view of the berries.
- Pick out and remove any bits of stems, leaves, and unripe, soft, or mushy Saskatoons.
- Wash the berries under cool water, in a large sieve, or a colander to remove as much water as possible. I usually let them sit for about 10 minutes in the colander.
- This is another opportunity to do quality assurance and make sure that you get all of the bad berries, stems, bits of leaves, critters, etc (I found 2 spiders in my last batch of berries!)
- Lay a tea towel on the baking sheets and put the wet berries on the towel.Pat them dry with a paper towel or another tea towel.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lay the dried berries on the parchment paper.
- Place them in your freezer for 4-6 hours.Then transfer to a storage container or Ziploc freezer bag, pushing out as much air as possible before sealing.
Notes
Expert Tips:
Use the freshest berries possible. The fresher the berries when you freeze them, the better their flavor, color, and texture will be once thawed.
Sort and clean in small batches. Working in smaller portions helps you catch more stems, unripe or overripe berries, and insects, ensuring a cleaner final product.
Dry berries thoroughly before freezing. Any excess moisture can lead to ice crystals and freezer burn. Pat berries dry well, or use a salad spinner in small batches for faster drying.
Always flash freeze in a single layer. Freezing the berries in a single layer on parchment-lined baking sheets prevents clumping, so you can easily scoop out only what you need later.
Don’t overload your freezer trays. Stacking too many baking sheets can slow down the freezing process. Leave room for airflow, or freeze in batches if needed.
Label clearly with date and quantity. Use freezer-safe labels and include the freeze date and portion size. This helps you track freshness and plan recipes more efficiently.
Double-bag for long-term storage. For storage longer than 6 months, place the initial freezer bag inside a second bag or a rigid container to reduce air exposure and prevent freezer burn.
Measure after thawing. Frozen berries lose water as they thaw, slightly shrinking in volume. For recipe accuracy, always thaw and drain before measuring.
