Strawberry Information

Freezing Tips

WHOLE: rinse first, then cap berries. Air dry on a dish towel. Place, not touching, on a cookie sheet and put in the freezer. Once berries are frozen, place them in freezer bags. Use later like ice cubes in fruit smoothies, or partially thawed in cereal or to snack on.

CHOPPED: (This is the way we freeze most of our strawberries). Rinse and cap the berries. You may crush, chop or slice the berries.

Crush: Place whole berries in a casserole dish and use anything with a flat surface to crush the berries. (We use glasses or glass jars). Then place in freezer bags.
Chop: Chop berries with a pastry blender or any food chopper (NOT a food processor.)
- These are great for freezer jam, homemade ice cream, or pouring over ice cream or cake.
- We usually freeze some without sugar. For freezer jam, pies, and homemade ice cream, do not add sugar; the recipe will call for sugar. For just pouring over cake or ice cream, you may want to add a little sugar to taste. If you add sugar, let the berries and sugar sit for a few minutes to make a juice.
- We would recommend freezing no more than 2 cups of chopped berries in one bag.

Care of Strawberries

Handle berries gently.
Protect them from heat and direct sunlight.
Leave the caps on the berries until after you wash them.
Do not wash the berries until you are ready to eat them.
To store your berries for a day or two, cover them and place in refrigerator.
It’s best to store them only 1 or 2 deep in a shallow container.
On the drive home, keep berries cool and take them inside immediately to a cool place. Do not leave them in the car!

Tips

For best flavor after refrigerating, allow strawberries to reach room temperature before serving.
Always wash berries in cold water. Leave the caps on.
Do not wash until ready to use.
Leftover berries? Rinse, cap, and crush. Add sugar or not. Store in freezer bags in freezer. Thaw and use in smoothies, shakes, or over desserts for great fresh flavor! Also, 2 cups of these frozen crushed berries can be used to make a batch of “fresh” jam.
Strawberry ice cubes are pretty in punch or in a glass of lemonade. Place a whole, unhulled strawberry in each section of an ice cube tray, then fill with mineral water, punch or lemonade and freeze.

How To Pick Strawberries

Please stay on your assigned row.
Every red berry, large or small, is ripe so please pick all of the ripe berries on your row.
Green berries will not ripen after you pick them, unlike tomatoes.
Look under the leaves of each plant to find the berries. Pinch or pull stem from plant.
Try to leave the cap on the berry until you are ready to rinse and eat it. This keeps juice and vitamins inside.
Please do not cross rows to get that big juicy berry over there. There are some on your row.
Our flowers will be berries soon so please don’t let children pick them.
Watch your step. Rows can be uneven.
Please stick your flags in the dirt beside the row at the spot where you stopped picking.

“Berry Best” Strawberry Tips

Strawberries stored with stems stay firm longer than those without stems.
Refrigerate fresh strawberries in shallow containers as soon as you pick them, and wash berries in cold water only when you are ready to use them. Do not allow berries to soak.
Freeze whole strawberries on a cookie sheet until firm. Transfer to heavy plastic bags or 5-qt. plastic ice cream buckets. Serve slightly thawed.
Many people like frozen berries served icy, barely thawed for a great taste and texture.
Freeze your berries prepared the way you want to use them. Sliced, sugared, chopped, or in small easy-to-use packages.