Blackberries are a staple food during the fall. Sure, you can easily buy some from your local grocery store, but why buy them when nature has them out there for free?
That’s right, in many places, blackberry bushes grow in the wild, and you can get this fruit for free!
If you were to spend a whole afternoon out picking these berries from their bushes, you could probably get enough to at least make one large pie, depending on where you lived.
So, once you have gone out blackberry picking, and have picked up a great load of blackberries, how should you store them to make them last as long as possible?
Well, you will have a few options, so we will go through them to help you make sure that the blackberries you pick do not go to waste!
What Is The Lifespan Of Blackberries?
Blackberries can last from 2 to 3 days if you put them in the fridge, after this time they will slowly start getting soft, and then turn moldy as they start to rot. Alternatively, you can freeze them if you want to ensure they last longer.
While freezing them does mean you will have to thaw them when you want to use them, it does mean that none of your blackberries will go to waste, and instead you will have a fresh supply of blackberries all year round.
If you put blackberries in the freezer, they should last you around 9 months or so. Just make sure to freeze them correctly so that they last as long as possible and do not suffer freezer burn.
At room temperature, no berries can last very long, so always be aware of this, they will start rotting in 1–3 days if they are left out at room temperature (depending on the specific temperature of the room).
So, once you bring home a load of blackberries, wash them, and then quickly put them in the refrigerator or freezer to store.
Storing Blackberries In The Refrigerator
If you wish to store your blackberries in the refrigerator then you can keep them for around 3 days or so, although sometimes they may last longer, but not by much.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you store your Blackberries safely.
Firstly, select a vented container. You should always keep blackberries in a container that will allow them to properly breathe. Doing this helps to prevent spoilage.
If you bought your blackberries at the grocery store, you can also keep them in the original container that you bought them in if it has had no damage.
While it can be tempting to store your berries in an airtight container, don’t berries need good air circulation, or will they go bad?
Make sure to line your container with a paper towel as well. Make sure that you place a paper towel at the very bottom of your storage container. The paper towel will absorb the excess moisture that would otherwise speed up the process of rot and mold.
Now, simply place your blackberries in the refrigerator. Place the blackberries in your fridge, and ensure you pick out a spot that has low humidity. The fruit crisper drawer is the best place for this.
Then, when you are ready to use the berries, wash them under cold water, using a colander to get rid of any dirt, bugs, or debris. Do not wash your berries before you are about to use them, if you add any excess moisture this will encourage them to rot.
Storing Blackberries In The Freezer
Before you place your blackberries in the freezer to store for a long time, flash-freeze them. This is done to make sure that they do not freeze in one large lump.
Here is a handy, step-by-step to help you along with the process.
Firstly, wash the berries in cold water, place them in a colander, and rinse them with water. You could also swish them in a bowl of cold water to clean them of any dirt or critters.
Use a paper towel to gently dry them. Lay the blackberries on a single layer on some paper towels or a kitchen towel. Ideally, you should mainly let them air-dry, but patting them gently does help to speed this up.
Now, arrange them on a baking sheet. Place the blackberries onto a cookie sheet that is lined with parchment paper, this is to prep them for flash-freezing.
As you do this, make sure that no berries are touching, if they are, they will clump when you freeze them.
Now you will want to flash-freeze them for around 3 hours. Put the baking tray in the freezer and leave it there for 3 hours. You could do this for longer, but be sure not to go over 12 hours.
Flash freezing helps to prevent individual berries from sticking to one another once they are in a freezer bag.
Now that the flash-freezing process is completed you can remove the baking tray from the freezer and store your frozen berries in freezer-safe containers, or in a thick plastic bag to store them for a longer period.
These berries can be in the freezer for 6 months or so with no loss of flavor or freezer burn. Also note that if you mix them with a cup of sugar before you freeze them, you actually extend the amount of time they can stay in the freezer for!
Overall
Being able to properly store your blackberries does ensure that you will be able to enjoy them for longer.
While refrigeration is great, if you have a lot of blackberries, it does not hurt to freeze some of them, so you can have some later, and get to minimize your wastage too!
Hello, my name is Valentina and I am the founder or ‘grower’ as I like to call myself of BonitaFruitTrees.com.
Cultivating my own fruit trees is definitely my passion, and has been for such a long time.
That’s what made me want to make this website. I wanted to create a place where I could share my experiences with others, teach more people how to grow fruit trees, and just help them have a little fun with it.
