Answer Line FAQs
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the best method for freezing blackberries, boysenberries, dewberries, loganberries, and youngberries?

Wash berries in cold water and sort. Pack in syrup made by mixing 3 cups sugar to 1 quart water. Or crush and pack using 1 cup sugar for 7 to 8 cups of fruit. For pies, pack berries dry without sugar.

Pack fruits in freezer bags or rigid containers. Squeeze as much air as possible from bags before sealing. Whole berries frozen without sugar may be placed in a single layer on a tray and frozen until nearly solid. Transfer to freezer bag or containers. Leave 1/2 inch headspace for expansion in containers.
Related Information:
Freezing Fruits and Vegetables [http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1045.pdf]
Iowa State University Extension publication with detailed description about preparing and packaging foods for freezing
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a service of Answer Line, Iowa State University Extension, Ames, Iowa.

For more information, visit http://www.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/, email us at: answer@iastate.edu, or call 1-800-262-3804 (in Iowa) or 1-800-854-1678 (in Minnesota).