Freezing Your Strawberries Can Help Them Last up to a Year (2024)

Strawberries are, without a doubt, one of the most tell-tale (and welcome) signs of the warmer months. Not only are the berries juicy and delicious, but they’re also extremely versatile and among the healthiest fruits to eat. The season can feel fleeting, though, leaving you scrambling to use up the fresh stuff before they turn mushy in your fridge (psst, check out our pointers on how to store strawberries to make them last longer) and in the lurch when you’re craving a fruity crumble in the depths of winter.

The good news is that your precious farmer’s market haul has more longevity than you might think. By freezing strawberries, you can seal in their top-quality sweetness to have on hand for yogurt bowls, smoothies and strawberry desserts — for up to a year, according to FoodSafety.gov. Our step-by-step guide walks you through how to freeze strawberries, whole or sliced, so that you can keep brighter days within arm’s reach. Read on for our top tips to ensure strawberry success (hint: don’t just throw them in a bag and call it a day!).

How to freeze strawberries, step by step

Wash, freeze and bag following the steps below:

Step 1. Clean your strawberries

When you're getting ready to freeze your berries, pick out the best of the bunch and rinse them under cold running water — go easy with the water pressure, though; the fruit is delicate and bruisable. Don’t soak them, either, which may waterlog the berries and dilute their sweet flavor. After rinsing, gently and thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels then pinch off the green tops (or hull them using a sharp paring knife). Slice, halve or quarter your strawberries if desired (keep scrolling for more on freezing whole vs. sliced).

Step 2. Flash-freeze strawberries individually

Arrange your strawberries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them apart, then freeze until frozen solid, at least two hours. This pre-bagging step will prevent your berries from sticking together into an infuriatingly unbreakable mass when you store them.

Step 3. Store frozen strawberries together in your freezer

Once the individual strawberries are frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer bag (that you’ve meticulously labeled with the date, of course), squeeze out excess air (banish that freezer burn!), then seal the bag. Once the berries are packed up tightly, they’ll be good in the freezer for up to one year (and best within the first six months). If you can, avoid putting them in your freezer door to minimize temperature changes that could affect the fruit. Get ready to say hello to berry cobbler in December!

Questions about freezing strawberries

Here, are our answers (plus some helpful strawberry freezing tips!) to your most frequently asked questions:

Is it better to freeze strawberries whole or sliced?

The answer depends on what you plan to do with the frozen strawberries. If you’re going to thaw your strawbs in the future to snack on, go ahead and freeze them whole. Otherwise, for applications like a compote or smoothie, you’re better off slicing the strawberries before freezing (you can also halve or quarter them based on what makes the most sense). Trying to slice the berries after they're frozen will be more difficult, messy and frustrating.

Does freezing strawberries change the texture?

Yes. As with most fruit, strawberries become less firm after freezing and thawing and will release more liquid. Don't fret, though: The change in texture won’t matter much if you’re going to cook the frozen fruit, and in the case of smoothies, milkshakes and other blender drinks (daiquiris, anyone?), blending strawberries from frozen will actually help achieve the thick, slushy consistency you’re looking for. We can all drink to that!

Do you need to thaw frozen strawberries?

In applications where you’re blending, simmering or stewing the berries, go ahead and use them straight from frozen, tacking on additional cooking time as needed. If you’re baking the strawberries or working with any type of batter, crust, crumble or crisp, our suggestion is to thaw the strawberries first. Here’s how: Defrost them in the fridge, let them stand at room temp until thawed or briefly microwave them to take the chill off. Don’t toss the flavorful thawing liquid — pour it into ice cube molds, or stir it into lemonade!

How do you use frozen strawberries?

Let us count the ways! Blitz frozen strawberries into creamy fruit pops for a refreshing handheld treat (add a splash more milk when blending if needed), or thaw them to fold into air fryer scones or roast into a beautiful, jammy fruit topping for baked brie. The berries also shine as a fun, booze-spiked topping for ice cream sundaes or a spiced coulis to layer in yogurt parfaits. Or keep it simple and thaw a handful of strawberries to add to your morning oatmeal for a juicy, nutritious boost — the possibilities are endless!