In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to freeze blackberries without needing to clean them first or thaw them later (unbelievably easy, right?)
Freeze-ability Index
How Long in Freezer
6 to 8 months (dry frozen)
9 to 12 months (sweetened pack)
Best Stored In…
Airtight container or freezer bag
How to Thaw
Typically not needed
What to Expect
Soft and squishy
Can I Re-Freeze?
Yes, but not recommended
Can You Freeze Fresh blackberries?
Can you freeze fresh blackberries? Yes, and they’re much easier to freeze than you think.
Aim to freeze the berries as soon as possible—no more than 6 days after picking or buying them. The fresher, the better.
When it comes to freezing, you’ve got two choices. You can either:
- Dry freeze the blackberries. This will give you frozen berries that don’t clump together. You don’t need to clean the berries before you freeze them.
- Turn the blackberries into a sweetened pack. This means mixing blackberries and sugar together to stop them from sticking together. This is a better method for desserts that call for added sugar, like pies. By the way, you need to clean the blackberries for this one.
How to Freeze Fresh blackberries Properly: The Dry Freezing Method
Here’s the great thing about freezing blackberries: you don’t need to clean them before freezing. I’m serious! Before using the frozen blackberries in smoothies or recipes, just rinse them under cold water. Boom, you’ve saved time with less effort.
If you really want to clean the berries beforehand, I included this how-to guide on cleaning blackberries with a natural vinegar solution. Remember: the berries must be dry before freezing them to avoid freezer burn. So, if you do clean them, dry them thoroughly.
How to Freeze Blackberries: Dry Freeze Method
Equipment
- A baking sheet
- Waxed paper or parchment paper
- Resealable, plastic freezer bags
- Freezer labels
- A permanent marker
- A straw (optional)
- Space at the back of your freezer
Instructions
- Check the berries and remove any mushed, discolored, underripe or overripe berries before you freeze them.
- Line a baking sheet with waxed or parchment paper. Cover the tray with a single layer of blackberries, but don't overcrowd them:
- Slide the tray(s) of blackberries into the freezer and allow them to freeze for at least 3 hours. Or, just leave them to freeze overnight.
- Take the baking tray with the blackberries out of the freezer. Put the blackberries into a resealable freezer bag.
- Gently press the air out of the freezer bag(s) and seal them.
- Straw "vacuum seal" trick (optional): Slide a straw into the bag and suck out the air so the bag "shrinks" around the blackberries. Slide the bag down the straw as you inhale, and quickly seal the bag while you remove the straw.
- Write today's date on a freezer label, stick it to the bag, and place the bag in the back of your freezer.
Equipment Shopping list
I made this quick list for you in case you noticed that you were low on freezer bags or realized it was time to replace that old baking sheet (RIP).
I’ve either used these tools or added them to my own shopping list because they’re affordable and they get great reviews. Add them to your next Amazon order!
The Best Baking Sheet (Nordic Ware)
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The Ultimate Freezer Bags (Hefty)
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• Tough and easy to fill
The Handiest Freezer Labels (Chinco)
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• Water-resistant, easy to remove, no residue
The Best Mixing Bowls (OXO)
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• No skidding or wobbling
How To Freeze Blackberries For Pie (Sweetened Pack)
A “sweetened pack” is when you mix in sugar with the berries before freezing them. Use this method if you plan on using your frozen blackberries for desserts like pies or muffins.
Use This Common Household Item To Clean Blackberries
You need to clean the berries first before adding any sugar, so let’s take care of that first:
The Best Way To Clean Blackberries
Equipment
- A strainer/colander
- A bowl large enough to fit the strainer/colander
- 2 dark towels OR paper towel
- White OR apple cider vinegar
- A measuring cup (1 cup)
- Water
Instructions
- Pour 3 cups of water and 1 cup of vinegar into a large bowl (this natural cleaning solution always uses 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar — see the image below.) If you have a lot of blackberries, use the sink instead.
- Put the blackberries in the strainer/colander and submerge them in the cleaning solution. Use your hand to mix the berries around in the water/vinegar for 1 minute.
- Lift up the colander/strainer with the berries out of the cleaning solution.
- Rinse the blackberries under a gentle stream of cold tap water for about 1 minute.
- Pour the cleaned berries onto a dark towel or a paper towel. Use another dark towel or paper towel to gently pat the blackberries dry. Being gentle with the blackberries is really important. Avoid crushing or damaging the berries.
- Allow the berries to air-dry for at least 45 minutes.
After you’ve cleaned the blackberries, follow these steps to freeze them as a sweetened pack:
How To Freeze Blackberries For Pie (Sweetened Pack)
Equipment
- Clean, dry blackberries
- A mixing spoon
- A measuring cup (1/2 cup)
- A medium-sized bowl
- Granulated sugar
- A clean, airtight freezer-friendly container
- Freezer labels
- A permanent marker
- Space at the back of your freezer
Instructions
- Pour the clean, dry blackberries into a bowl. Sprinkle sugar over the blackberries—you'll need 1/4 cup of sugar for every 2 cups of blackberries.
- With your mixing spoon, gently mix the blackberries and the sugar together until the berries are evenly coated in sugar. Do not crush the berries.
- Gently spoon the sugared blackberries into an airtight, freezer-friendly container. Important: don't crush or pack the berries down, and leave about 1/2 inch (or less) of room at the top of the container for expansion.
- Write today's date on a freezer label, stick it to the container, and place it in the back of your freezer.
The Best Airtight Containers (Glasslock)
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These airtight glass containers from Glasslock don’t leak or absorb food smells, they’re oven-safe, freezer-safe, microwavable, and affordable.
Best Practices for Freezing blackberries
- You don’t need to wash blackberries before you freeze them. Any bugs will die in the freezer, and you can rinse them under cold water before you use them.
- You can use a freezer bag instead of a container for the sweetened pack blackberries, but we don’t recommend it because it can make a mess.
- Don’t crush, smush, or pack the blackberries. Always handle them gently before freezing. If they are damaged, they won’t freeze well.
How Long Can You Freeze blackberries?
You can freeze fresh blackberries (no sugar added) for 6 to 8 months.
You can freeze sweetened blackberries (sugar added) for 9 to 12 months.
How To Thaw Frozen blackberries
Did you know you don’t usually need to defrost blackberries after freezing them? However, it does depend on what you plan to do with the blackberries.
Baking or Making A Smoothie? Then You (Probably) Don’t Need to Defrost
Check your recipe to see if you need to defrost the blackberries. Cooks prefer frozen blackberries in their baking because defrosted ones add too much liquid to desserts. If you froze the blackberries using the dry freezing method, you’ll need to rinse them first.
It kinda goes without saying that you don’t need to defrost blackberries for smoothies. Just rinse them under cold water before popping them into the blender.
How To Thaw Frozen Blackberries
Equipment
- A colander/strainer
Instructions
- Open the freezer bag and take out as many berries as you need.
- Place the berries in a colander/strainer.
- Rinse the blackberries thoroughly under cold tap water. Now, they're ready to use.
Making A Blackberry Jam Or Sauce? You Probably Need To Defrost
If you’re making a blackberry a jam or sauce, thaw your frozen blackberries in the refrigerator, the microwave, or in cold water.
The fridge is the best option if you want to eat the defrosted blackberries (on their own, added to oatmeal, etc.) and have them retain their shape.
Microwaving is fastest, but you risk over-nuking and making the berries really soft, which isn’t a problem if you’re turning the berries into a jam or sauce. You can also quickly thaw blackberries in a cold water bath.
How To Thaw Frozen Blackberries in the Fridge
Equipment
- A colander/strainer
- A towel OR paper towel
- A bowl
- Plastic wrap
Instructions
- Place the berries in a colander/strainer and rinse them thoroughly under cold tap water. Shake off as much excess water as you can.
- Pat the blackberries dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
- Pour the cleaned blackberries in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and put it in the fridge.You can take the sweetened pack container and put it directly in the fridge, too.
- Leave the blackberries to thaw in the fridge for at least 6 hours. Alternatively, you can leave them in the fridge to defrost overnight.
How To Thaw Frozen Blackberries In The Microwave
Equipment
- A colander/strainer
- Microwave-safe plate
- Paper towel
Instructions
- Place the berries in a colander/strainer and rinse them thoroughly under cold tap water. Shake off as much excess water as you can.
- Pat the blackberries dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
- Place a sheet of paper towel on a microwavable plate.
- Spread out 1 cup (or less) of blackberries on the paper towel. Leave space between the blackberries.
- Microwave the blackberries for 15 seconds on 100% power.
- Try a blackberry—if it's still frozen, microwave for 5 to 10 seconds and try another blackberry. They should still have a little frost on them (if not, it's not the end of the world.)
How To Thaw Frozen Blackberries In Cold Water
Equipment
- A strainer/colander
- A bowl
- Cold water
- A towel OR paper towel
Instructions
- Place the berries in a colander/strainer and rinse them thoroughly under cold tap water. Shake off as much excess water as you can.
- Fill a bowl with the cleaned frozen blackberries, but leave some room for water.
- Fill the rest of the bowl with cold water (not warm or hot water.)
- Set a timer to go off in 5 minutes.
- Gently squeeze a blackberry to feel if it's still frozen. If not, replace the water with more cold water and set another timer to go off in 5 minutes.
- When the blackberries have thawed, drain the water.
- Gently pat the berries dry with a dark towel or a paper towel.
What to Expect After Defrosting Blackberries
Here’s what to expect in terms of taste and texture after you’ve defrosted blackberries:
- The taste will not change.
- Defrosted blackberries are very soft, mushy, and juicy.
If you notice any of the following, toss the blackberries out:
- They’re covered in ice crystals;
- They’re noticeably lighter in color;
- They seem dry; or
- There was air in the freezer bag.
Can You Re-Freeze blackberries?
As long as you keep the thawed blackberries chilled in the fridge at 40 degrees F or lower, you can technically re-freeze them within the same day.
Remember, the blackberries’ texture will worsen every time you freeze and defrost them, so they’ll be even mushier the 2nd time you defrost them. If I were you, I wouldn’t re-freeze them.
Ok, But What About…
Do you know a better way to freeze blackberries? Or are you looking for info on something else? Leave a comment below or email us—we’d love to hear from you!
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