When you can find berries in bulk for a really good price you just can't beat it.  Unfortunately those berries don't tend to last very long, so you either have to make something that uses them all up, or you can freeze them.

If you plan to freeze berries, it is best to use them in a baked good or a smoothie.  Thawing and eating them raw will turn into a mushy, watery mess.  They are best for blending into smoothies, but also great to mix into hot oatmeal or into baked goods such as muffins or a cobbler.

Every once in a while I can find two pound boxes of strawberries from Whole Foods for $5.00.  It's nuts how great that price is, and there is no way I ever pass that deal up!  As most people know, berries, especially strawberries, can turn very quickly, so buying a few containers at a time is tough unless you eat them all within a few days, which can be hard even for me.  So what's my trick?

Quick freezing!

In this tutorial, I am going to use strawberries, but the same goes for blueberries, raspberries or blackberries.

First thing's first, wash and dry the berries.  Use a colander to wash them, then lay them out on paper towels to dry completely.  Then cut the tops off.

Once you've cut the tops off, grab a baking sheet or a baking dish and lay the berries out in a single layer.  This will prevent them from clumping together as they freeze.

Place them in the freezer and let them sit in there for at least two hours.

​

Once the berries are completely frozen, you can then put them all together in a freezer baggie, making sure to get as much of the air out as possible.  

Use them as needed, always making sure to reseal the baggie to keep air out (which prevents freezer burn).