[Upbeat music] Blueberries freeze very well.
It captures their seasonal freshness so that we can enjoy that for months to come.
It's a quick and easy process.
And the berries taste great when thawed.
So here are a few tips on how to go about it.
Don't rinse the berries before freezing them.
That cloudy, waxy looking coating on fresh blueberries is called bloom, and it's nature's way of protecting the berries.
Spread them out in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
Or another shallow container that will fit in your freezer.
You can freeze a few berries or work in batches to freeze a good supply that will last up to six months.
After they're frozen solid, transfer the berries into small freezer bags that you can flatten and stack into your freezer to save precious space.
This also ensures that the berries won't clump into a big icy chunk that you have to pry apart.
Now you can open a bag and pour out only as many berries as you need at a time, without having to thaw them all.
To thaw them, pour the berries into a bowl, and cover with room temperature water.
Let them stand for about five minutes, or until they're no longer rock hard.
Once they thaw, you cannot refreeze them.
Once thawed, drain and dry the blueberries thoroughly.
Keep in mind however, that some recipes call for using frozen berries, which means all you have to do is pull out a bag from the freezer and you're good to go.