How to Freeze Cranberries at Home
Absolutely! Fresh cranberries freeze extremely well. They are great to have year round and add a beautiful aesthetic to many different dishes. I love adding fresh cranberries to my lemon water or punch bowl during holiday parties, or adding fresh cranberries to a charcuterie board to add a pop of color.
However, you love to use cranberries, keep reading to find out how you can freeze them at home at their peak of freshness.
One of my favorite ways to use frozen cranberries is in cranberry sauce for the holiday season.
Homemade freezer cranberry sauce is one of my many secrets to an easy Thanksgiving morning. Prep the freezer cranberry sauce during the week, and you have a dish ready to go come Thursday morning.
Why you will love freezing Cranberries at home.
- Only takes a few minutes
- Reduces food waste
- Save money
- Easy healthy snack
- Always have Cranberries on hand.
Method to Freezing Cranberries
Step 1: Prepare a Baking Sheet with Parchment Paper.
Cover a baking sheet (with a lip) with parchment paper. This will keep your cranberries from sticking and make it easy to transfer once frozen.
Step 2: Rinse Fresh Cranberries.
Be sure to also go through your fresh cranberries and take out any of the super damaged or discolored fruits.
Step 3: Dry Cranberries on Paper Towel.
Lay out rinsed cranberries in single layer on paper towel, pat dry and let air dry for about 10 minutes.
Step 4: Spread cranberries out on prepared baking sheet.
Spread cranberries out on the parchment paper covered baking sheet that you prepared in step 1.
Set baking sheet with cranberries into the freezer for 1-2 hours. Do not freeze much longer than 2 hours otherwise cranberries may develop freezer burn.
Cranberries will be mostly frozen with a couple spots that may still have to freeze completely.
Don’t worry if they still have a little way to go. They will finish freezing in step 5.
Step 5: Transfer frozen cranberries into a freezer bag.
Once cranberries are in a freezer bag, remove as much air as possible and seal.
TIP: Don’t forget to label the freezer bag and write an expiration date on the bag. (Today’s date plus 6 months).
How long will frozen cranberries stay good in the freezer?
Frozen cranberries will stay good for up to 12 months in the freezer as long as you have frozen them correctly.
Be sure to remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag when you are sealing in your cranberries to keep them as fresh as possible.
You can use the straw method, twist the bag, or simple squash it until you have gotten out the air.
Really no right or wrong way. lol
*See FAQ’s and specific tips following recipe card below.
*Frozen cranberries will last for 9-12 months in the freezer, if frozen properly. Be sure to use freezer bags when storing or any other airtight container.
Method for Freezing Fresh Cranberries. ????
- Parchment Pepper
- Quart Freezer Bags
- fresh cranberries
- Rinse Fresh Cranberries (Fruit of choice)
- Lay out rinsed cranberries in single layer on paper towel, pat dry and let sit out to dry for 10 minutes
- Spread cranberries out on parchment paper covered baking sheet
- Freeze cranberries on baking sheet for 2-4 hours (Be sure to remove by four hours to avoid freezer burn)
- Remove from freezer and split cranberries into quart size freezer bags in desired amounts (I measure out 1 cup to each bag, perfect amount for baking!)
- Freeze for up tp 12 months
Freezing (food) FAQ’s
Don’t forget to pin this recipe and save for later! ????
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