raspberries "fresh" from the freezer
I posted this picture a week ago on my blog, and I am still getting questions about how my berries come out of the freezer in berry shape, and not mushy. And since I am pressed for time (milking two cows instead of one) I thought I would kill two birds with one stone and answer here since I cannot think of a single thing interesting to write about!
Anyone over the age of about 40 living in the Pacific Northwest probably had to pick berries for a summer job. I started at age 9 and picked all types of berries until I could get a job at the local tourist trap, Multnomah Falls. To be a good berry picker we had to be careful with the berries, if we turned in mushy, dirty or unripe berries our meager pay was docked. Wanting to earn money to fuel my jerky and comic book habit, I was careful with my bumper. The cans we picked in were called bumpers, but they were actually No. 10 cans with holes cut in them and a rope to tie around your waist. We were instructed to not bounce the can on our legs, and to take it off when taking it to the crate to dump, so as not to jostle the berries.
homemade "bumper" or berry picking can
I used a can opener to make these holes in this coffee can. It’s a great way to re-purpose a coffee can and gives me an excuse to drink copious amounts of coffee. 😉
Our procedure for freezing raspberries (or any berries for that matter) is pretty simple: we pick a can and then gently place the berries in freezer bags immediately, and freeze. I do not wash the berries, and I don’t mess with individually freezing them on cookie sheets.
♥ Pick in a small enough container that your berries don’t get crushed.
♥ If you are picking at a u-pick farm, place your berries in shallow crates or boxes for transporting home.
♥ Plan on dealing with them right away – a hot summer day in the trunk of car can be murder on soft fruits. Make the berry picking/buying your last stop of the day.
♥ If you’re just planning your berry garden, read the descriptions carefully, you may want to buy a variety that touts it’s processing qualities. In berry lingo, good for processing usually means a concentrated crop and a firm berry.
Don’t worry about sacrificing taste for good processing quality – I don’t think anyone who likes to eat berries has met one that doesn’t taste good. And they taste especially good in the winter when summer is just memory we are clinging to.
Happy freezing!
Not Dabbling In Normal 
I flashfreeze mine (as soon as I get home from the U-pick)before vacuum sealing, and I find it they do keep their shape when thawed, with a good texture. I mean, you can tell they’re not fresh, but I use them for baking so no big deal.
I do find they release a ton of juice in the thawing, though, is this also your experience? And if you do end up with all that juice, what do you DO with it? (I just drink it but I’m wondering if there is a way to “use” it.)
I’m planning to freeze berries this summer – the sugar in canning and the softer texture is too much for me. But freezing is perfect!
I use the cookie sheet method , but I love the idea of the hands free berry holder. I’ll be making one of those fancy berry holders before blackberry season (lol).
~ Blessings ~
JoyceAnn
Irma, mine don’t seem to get too juicy, but I love to drink the juice when they do or sometimes I make a quick syrup out of the extra berry juice. It still retains the fresh taste, unlike regular berry syrups that are cooked and then processed.
Mangochild, I agree the frozen berries are much closer to fresh, and so good in smoothies etc. We eat most of them straight out of the bag.
JoyceAnn, you will love the berry can, it makes it so much easier to pick when you can use both hands.
We are so terrible about picking blackberries – they are the kudzu of the PNW, so generally we have this love/hate relationship with the berries. But they sure taste good!
we picked so many wild blackberries when we were kids that my fingers were permanently stained for weeks.
mama made jam, jelly, preserves, pies, cobblers, and shortcake with the fresh ones.
They were free, except for the picking time. She had 8 kids and so she kept her “locker” in berries and her “fruit room” in preserves for years.
Those look so delicious!! I have great memories of picking blackberries with my Grandma 🙂
Robbyn
Thanks for sharing. I was one of the folks wondering about the freezing as your berries seemed so perfect!
Thanks. I’m so behind on reading that I’m just now seeing this. Pruned my raspberry bushes a week or so ago…they’re looking good, but lately the deer have been visiting. GRRRRR
Great post Nita. I will try your methods this year!