Can you Freeze Cranberries?: Cranberries are seasonal fruit with a delicious flavor. Cranberries are usually in stores for a relatively short time during the holiday season. If you want to enjoy them year-round, freezing the cranberries is a good idea.
It’s recommended to store fresh cranberries in the refrigerator until you are ready to use or freeze them. Fresh cranberries can stay good for at least one month after you purchase them. However, if you know that you are going to freeze them, do so as soon as you bring them home.
- Can You Freeze Cranberries?
- How To Freeze Cranberries?
- How Long Can You Freeze Cranberries?
- How Do You Defrost Cranberries?
- Can You Refreeze Cranberries?
- Do Cranberries Freeze Well?
- How Do You Know When Cranberries Go Bad?
- How To Use Frozen Cranberries?
- Can You Freeze Dried Cranberries?
- Can You Freeze Cooked Cranberries?
- Can You Freeze Craisins?
- What are some other ideas for using frozen cranberries?
- How do you properly thaw frozen cranberries?
Can You Freeze Cranberries?
Yes, you can easily freeze cranberries for up to a year! Luckily, there is only a little prep work involved, and they freeze well without blanching or precooking. You can freeze both packaged and unpackaged cranberries. And you can rinse them before freezing or after, depending on your preference and time.
However, you need to remember that no matter what you are preserving, to end up with a high-quality product, you have to start with a high-quality product.
With cranberries, for the best outcome, select the freshest cranberries possible to preserve. Fresh cranberries should be deep-red, firm, and glossy skins, whereas soft, dull, and wrinkled cranberries are not fresh.
How To Freeze Cranberries?
Freezing cranberries is a simple task. Just make sure the individual cranberries remain loose in the freezer bag or container rather than clumping together.
That’s important because it allows you to take out as many cranberries as you need in one go. Follow the below-given steps to properly freeze your cranberries:
Step 1: Sort the cranberries
Separate or discard any cranberries that are shriveled, mushy, or green. At the same time, pick out and get rid of any cranberry stems.
Step 2: Wash and dry out
Rinse the cranberries under cold water and let them drain properly. Then spread the cranberries out on a dish towel and let them air dry for about 15 minutes.
Step 3: Spread
Spread the cranberries in a single layer on a baking sheet, etc. You should use the one with sides to ensure they don’t roll off onto the floor or while in the freezer.
Step 4: Flash freeze
For this, put the cranberries in the freezer for 2 to 8 hours. If you take them out of the freezer early, they may not fully freeze, and they will get freezer burn if you leave them for longer than 8 hours.
Step 5: Freeze
Lastly, transfer the frozen cranberries to freezer bags or containers. Seal them tightly and immediately put them into the freezer. Frozen cranberries will be kept in well-sealed bags or containers in the freezer for up to one year.
If you are curious in knowing about Do Cranberries Go Bad follow the link over here and get a complete overview of the spoilage signs, shelf life, etc.
How Long Can You Freeze Cranberries?
Cranberries can be stored in the freezer for a long time! As long as you start with good quality cranberries, they will stay fresh and perfect for use for about a year. If you have a lot of cranberries, it’s recommended to pack them into several bags or containers, rather than freezing them in one container.
This makes it much easier for you to freeze them well and only use the amount you need at any one time.
If stored correctly, fresh cranberries will stay good in the refrigerator for three to four weeks. And if you opt to freeze them, they’ll keep well for up to a year. When frozen, you can use the cranberries straight from the freezer without defrosting.
| Cranberries | Shelf Life |
| In the refrigerator | 3 to 4 weeks |
| In the freezer | About 1 year |
How Do You Defrost Cranberries?
Interestingly, for many recipes, you won’t need to defrost your cranberries at all. For some baking recipes, it is preferred to use only frozen cranberries, as this can improve the recipe and the distribution of the cranberries throughout the cake or cookie.
Simply grab out the amount of cranberries you need from the freezer and add them straight into the recipe.
Smoothies are another great way to use frozen cranberries, and these won’t need to be thawed out either. The frozen cranberries will add flavor and nutrition, and the ice will add a creamy texture to your smoothie.
Simply grab a handful of cranberries and put them into the blender with the rest of your ingredients and blend, and voila! Your delicious smoothie is ready to be served.
However, if you do want to defrost your cranberries before using them, even that’s an easy process. Just pop the cranberries into a bowl and put them in the freezer the night before you plan to use them. By the next day, your cranberries will be thawed out and ready to use.
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Can You Refreeze Cranberries?
No, we wouldn’t recommend refreezing cranberries if they have been thawed out. The only way that you may be able to get away with this is if you have cooked them into a cranberry sauce and are planning to freeze the sauce.
Always make sure you watch for any signs of spoiling, such as a change in smell, flavor, or color, before using the cranberries which have been frozen for long-term.
Do Cranberries Freeze Well?
Yes, cranberries do freeze well! Just make sure you freeze the best cranberries, and the outcome will be sweet. On freezing, there will be a little change in the cranberries, they are likely to be a little softer when thawed out. This makes frozen cranberries perfect for baking and cooking but not as great if you want to eat them raw.
How Do You Know When Cranberries Go Bad?
As cranberries are grown in cold weather, they are vulnerable to heat. If the room temperature is high or the cranberries are exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period, they will likely deteriorate quickly.
When they start to go bad, there are two significant spoilage signs to look out for:
- Appearance: Fresh cranberries come in white, pink, or red colors. On spoilage, their skins will shrivel, and the color of the skin will get darker. If there are some dark spots on the skins, you better avoid using those berries.
- Texture: Freshly picked cranberries are hard and firm. To check for spoilage, touch them, and if the skin feels too soft and mushy, don’t use those berries.
How To Use Frozen Cranberries?
Generally, you do not need to thaw frozen cranberries before using them in a recipe. Frozen berries are better than fresh ones in muffins, quick bread, and other baked goods because they heat through during cooking.
Also, when frozen, their color doesn’t bleed into the food as much. If you’ve got a lot of frozen cranberries, then cranberry sauce can be your go-to recipe.
In addition to sauces, relishes, and sweet baked goods, frozen cranberries can be used in a variety of other recipes. You can also add them to pancakes or blend them into smoothies, salad dressings, or chutney.
Whole cranberries also make a fantastic garnish for drinks, especially for the ones that use cranberry juice. Frozen cranberries can substitute for ice and will keep your beverage a little colder without dilution. Alternatively, the frozen cranberries can also be thawed, dehydrated, and turned into “craisins.”
They make a great snack or can be used in granola, yogurt, and a variety of recipes.
To know more in detail about the freezing process of fruits like mango do check out our blog on Can you Freeze Mango and clear your ambiguities.
FAQs On Freezing Cranberries
1. Can You Freeze Dried Cranberries?
Yes, it is possible to freeze dried cranberries but there is no point as their shelf life is very long. But if you’ve made a dish that contains dried cranberries, such as fruit cake, then this will be safe to freeze.
2. Can You Freeze Cooked Cranberries?
Yes, cooked cranberries can also be frozen, but expect the texture to change dramatically. Cooked cranberries can soften further in the freezer, so expect the texture to be a little mushy.
Yes, you can freeze craisins, but remember, if they’re kept in an airtight container away from direct sunlight, then they will also keep well in the kitchen cupboard for several months.
4. What are some other ideas for using frozen cranberries?
You can add some frozen cranberries to your morning oatmeal while it cooks or drop them into a bubbly fruit seltzer drink at the end of the day. Defrosted cranberries can be a great addition to fruit salads.
5. How do you properly thaw frozen cranberries?
The best way to thaw the cranberries is in the fridge overnight or for at least a couple of hours. Also remember that when you thaw the cranberries, they’ll release some moisture. So make sure to strain them and dry them with a paper towel for the best results.
Wrapping Up
Hope you find this article helpful in freezing your cranberries properly. Follow the tips mentioned above and you’ll be good to store your cranberries for about a year.
If you still have any queries related to freezing this fruit, drop us a comment below and we’d love to help you out. For more interesting wellness updates like Can you Freeze Grapefruit keep following our website.