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I love all the fresh blue and black berries available at the farmers market and I'm buying oodles of them
I soak them for a minute or two with white vinegar and water to retard mold growth. I drain and dry. Then I keep some for this week's consumption and freeze some in single layers on cookies sheets and then put them in a big container and back in the freezer. They are individual berries now and I can measure for recipes or grab a handful for milkshakes, etc. No preservatives like many store bought frozen fruits.
I love all the fresh blue and black berries available at the farmers market and I'm buying oodles of them
I soak them for a minute or two with white vinegar and water to retard mold growth. I drain and dry. Then I keep some for this week's consumption and freeze some in single layers on cookies sheets and then put them in a big container and back in the freezer. They are individual berries now and I can measure for recipes or grab a handful for milkshakes, etc. No preservatives like many store bought frozen fruits.
Heck, when I get blueberries I don't do anything except wash them, add a tiny bit of sugar, I do not put them in single layers in the freezer because they do not really stick together like other berries. I just put them in a really large (a gallon) size bag and stick them in the freezer. They I have them, like you say, for smoothies, pancakes, whatever. I do freeze the blackberries on a cookie sheet first cause they can stick together, same with strawberries. I also don't buy them at the farmers market, they are usually way too expensive, especially the blackberries. The blueberries are less expensive.
Heck, when I get blueberries I don't do anything except wash them, add a tiny bit of sugar, I do not put them in single layers in the freezer because they do not really stick together like other berries. I just put them in a really large (a gallon) size bag and stick them in the freezer. They I have them, like you say, for smoothies, pancakes, whatever. I do freeze the blackberries on a cookie sheet first cause they can stick together, same with strawberries. I also don't buy them at the farmers market, they are usually way too expensive, especially the blackberries. The blueberries are less expensive.
Well I always wash everything, fruits and veggies when I get home so berries will be wet and stick together if I froze them without first freezing in single layer on cookie sheet.
I am diabetic and one of the reasons why I eat and enjoy blueberries so much is because they don't need sugar (at least not to me) and I pop them all day for a boost. I decided blueberries are my reward for all my other frugalities and I buy them year round. Now I enjoy blackberries raw too but they do need sugar when baked in cobbler or other dishes.
Well I always wash everything, fruits and veggies when I get home so berries will be wet and stick together if I froze them without first freezing in single layer on cookie sheet.
I am diabetic and one of the reasons why I eat and enjoy blueberries so much is because they don't need sugar (at least not to me) and I pop them all day for a boost. I decided blueberries are my reward for all my other frugalities and I buy them year round. Now I enjoy blackberries raw too but they do need sugar when baked in cobbler or other dishes.
We do wash them, but we put them in a colander for just a few minutes and let them drain. We have never had a problem, but I don't think it makes much difference, either putting them on the cooking sheet or not; both ways do work. I think the reason why it isn't as important with blueberries is, they are seem to come apart almost as soon as you touch them. They are a totally different texture from other berries.
I'm a berry-loving fool. I used to pick blackberries and sell them to make some extra cash. A family up the road had a mulberry tree and, in case you don't know, a mulberry is one sweet and juicy berry.
Every year we would wait until that HUGE mulberry tree had ripe berries and we would eat mulberries until we just couldn't eat one more.
Well, one year we were noshing those mulberries and I took a bite out of one and happened to look at the other half of the berry. What I saw was a little white worm wriggling in that berry. I picked a few more and each time I ripped one apart I noticed a little worm inside.
I don't know how many worms I had eaten but I have never eaten another mulberry since then.
BTW - Yes, I know what the "experts" say about worms in mulberries, but I also know what I saw wriggling in those mulberries.
Last edited by Dirt Grinder; 07-27-2013 at 03:17 AM..
I buy tons of berries during the season here and really miss them when out of season. And I won't buy frozen. Yuck.
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