How To Freeze Blueberries | How Long Can Blueberries Be Frozen? | Best Way to Freeze and Preserve Fresh Blueberries | Perfect for Smoothies, Cobblers and Pies

How to Freeze BlueberriesHow to Freeze Blueberries


How to Freeze Blueberries | By Sherry Trautman | Travel-Mi.com

If you are wondering how do you freeze blueberries, you've come to the right place!

I just finished picking 10 pounds of luscious, fresh blueberries (July is the optimal time in Michigan) so they are ready to be frozen for use throughout the year.  It took some trial and error to learn how to preserve blueberries...

But I finally figured out how to freeze blueberries in a method that works the best for us. 

So keep reading for the best way for freezing fresh blueberries in the freezer!


How Long do Blueberries Last in the Freezer? 

How long do blueberries last in the freezer?  It is recommended to use your frozen blueberries within 12 months if properly stored and continuously frozen. 


What To Do With Frozen Blueberries

I mainly use my frozen blueberries for my daily green smoothies, blueberry pies, blueberry sauce for pancakes, blueberry popsicles, blueberry cobblers and frozen blueberry drinks. 

For my frozen drinks, I like to blend frozen blueberries, 1/2 a frozen banana, some yogurt and a small amount of fresh cold water.

So keep reading for more info on blueberries for smoothies and treats!


How to Freeze Blueberries


Wondering how do you freeze blueberries? Well....

I always pick several pounds of blueberries at one time from one of our local Michigan blueberry farms.  I usually freeze my blueberries in two ways, depending on when I plan to use them.



I begin by pulling any small stems off the berries then I wash them in a colander with fresh running water. 

I pour them into a large cookie sheet and use paper towels to dry the berries a bit. I do this to prevent extra water from freezing on the blueberries. 


How to Freeze BlueberriesHow to Freeze Blueberries


I then lay the berries in a single layer on cookie sheets and place them into the freezer for a flash freeze.  In my opinion, this is the best way to freeze blueberries.



I leave the blueberries in the freezer for about 4 hours until they are solid. 

I then use a spatula to pry them off the bottom of the cookie sheet if any are stuck. 

This is the best way to freeze fresh blueberries to prevent them from sticking together in a big frozen ball in a freezer bag. You can easily take out as many as you like instead of thawing the whole bag. So you can see, freezing blueberries is easy!




How to Freeze Blueberries For Short Term Use:

If I plan to use my flash frozen fresh blueberries in the next month or two for my smoothies and fruit drinks I will simply place them into quart sized freezer bags and push out as much air as possible.  For me, I usually freeze 4-5 quart bags worth of fresh Michigan blueberries...yeah, I go through a lot!

How to Freeze Blueberries For Long Term Use:

Since I pick enough blueberries to last all year, I need to prevent freezer burn on my flash frozen blueberries.


How to Freeze Blueberries with FoodSaver


We invested in this Food Saver and we absolutely love it. Not only can you freeze and preserve fruits, but we buy large packages of steaks from Costco and freeze half of them. 

Using a Food Saver vacuum sealer really prevents your food from getting ice and freezer burn inside the packages. Vacuum sealers preserve food by depriving the food of oxygen. Mold and bacteria cannot grow without oxygen. 

I freeze small enough packages so once I open them I take out what I need and then use it within 3 days. I close the package with a chip clip and refreeze. 

It works awesome to preserve blueberries!

You can stack several of these lovely freezer bags in your freezer to use throughout the year. I hope you found some helpful tips on how to freeze blueberries!

How long can you keep frozen blueberries in the freezer?

If you are wondering how how long can you freeze blueberries, if they are flash frozen and properly stored in a freezer bag they last about 6 months but if you freeze them with a vacuum sealer, they last a few months longer, about 12 months. 

My goal is to use up all my frozen blueberries by July so I can pick fresh blueberries at these Michigan Blueberry Farms.


Where to Pick Fresh Michigan Blueberries

I create an interactive map of the best farms in Michigan to pick fresh blueberries! Check it out!


Love Strawberries? How to Make Strawberry Pie with Your Fresh Strawberries!

Michigan Strawberry PieMichigan Strawberry Pie

So guys, you gotta try this yummy Michigan Strawberry Pie!  It's so yummy and doesn't use Jell-O! 


Subscribe To Receive Exciting Destinations, Day Trips and Fun Directly to Your Inbox!

Cute Baby Ducks on Our Newsletter InviteTraveling Michigan Newsletter

Sign Up to Our Newsletter to Get the 5 Free Must Have Apps to Travel in Michigan Like a Boss!

Have A Great Story About This Topic?

Do you have a great story about this? Share it!

[ ? ]

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional)[ ? ]

 

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

(first or full name)

(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

  •  submission guidelines.


(You can preview and edit on the next page)

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

how long do blueberries last in the freezer Not rated yet
I am going to freeze a TON of blueberries with my grandkids this weekend (after we pick!) and wanted to know how long they will last in my freezer. …

how to freeze fresh blueberries Not rated yet
Hi! Do you have a favorite way to freeze blueberries? Answer Hi Jen! I definitely prefer to flash freeze my blueberries immediately after I …

How to Freeze Blueberries with Foodsaver Not rated yet
Hi! Have you tried freezing your blueberries with a Foodsaver? We would like to get one but not sure how to do it. Answer Hi Emily! Oh man, …

Click here to write your own.

Follow Us on Instagram 



Sherry Trautman Bio Picture

About the Lead Author | Sherry Trautman

Thanks for stopping by!

Our Words of Wisdom: “Never follow anyone else’s path. Unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path, then by all means follow that path.”

"Sherry & Chris"

We're Sherry and Chris the founders of one of Michigan's most comprehensive and Top Travel Blogs!

    Sherry Trautman is a seasoned business owner and a multifaceted content creator, deeply entrenched in the world of travel in Michigan. With her extensive background in writing, editing, photography, marketing, website design, web mastering, social media, and publishing, she is the driving force behind the acclaimed Michigan Travel site "Travel-mi.com." A lifelong Michigander, Sherry's journey began in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan led her to St. Joseph during her formative years, and further to Kalamazoo for her higher education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design and Fine Art from Western Michigan University. Her career initially blossomed in Battle Creek, where she contributed significantly to aviation, marketing, and the art industry.

    In 2018, Sherry, alongside her husband Chris, embarked on a passionate endeavor with the inception of Travel-MI.com. This venture was not just a business but a full-time commitment to exploring and celebrating the diverse landscapes and communities of Michigan. Together, they tirelessly traverse the state, curating unique experiences, capturing stunning visuals, and weaving engaging narratives that showcase Michigan's rich cultural tapestry and natural beauty. From her early experiences in different Michigander locales to her extensive professional background, Sherry's life and work epitomize a deep-rooted expertise in Michigan travel, making her an authoritative voice in this niche.

Sherry & Chris are at the Inn at Bay Harbor and looking out at the lake.
Read More About Us Here

JOIN OUR NETWORK
Join our newsletter of Michigan Explorers!

Share Social

When you wish destinations came with a 30 second trailer so you can see what you’re getting yourself into.  

If you whine and are nice, IM us and we will tell you if you are truly screwed or not. 







Where Do You Want To Start Your Next Adventure?

Slickstream Search Box