Strawberry Sauce Recipe (fresh or frozen berries!) - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

FAQs

Can you substitute frozen strawberries for fresh? ›

Frozen and fresh berries can be interchangeable in the kitchen, but there are some recipes and situations where using the wrong type can be disastrous. Whether you're craving berries out of season, or freeze your home grown berries to stop yourself from wasting them, frozen berries can be a year-round lifesaver.

The best jam is always from fresh fruit that is almost, but not quite ripe. The jam I make from frozen fruit is almost as good as from fresh, and certainly tastes better than jam left around for a year.

Strawberries have a high water content, so they're prone to turning soggy and waterlogged when they thaw.

They are not as sweet as fresh naturally ripened fruit but they are perfect for cooling down drinks or blended.

Frozen fruit and vegetables are a great option. They're less expensive, longer lasting, and they often have as many nutrients and as much flavor as fresh. Don't let unnecessary fear mongering make you feel like you only have to buy fresh produce.

Frozen strawberries are picked at the peak of ripeness, at the perfect moment, so they have time to develop more sugar. This means that regardless of the season, you're guaranteed a burst of strawberry goodness in every sip of your smoothie. No more disappointingly bland berries that leave you wanting more.

Though texture is important, the biggest reason you should use frozen instead of fresh strawberries comes down to flavor. You might be surprised to learn that frozen strawberries actually have a better flavor profile when compared to fresh.

Picked at the peak of ripeness and then frozen, these berries will be exponentially better than a pale, washed-out berry from faraway climes at this time of year. Get them into the jam pot before they thaw; the faster they defrost, the less juice escapes the fruits. This makes a thicker, tastier jam.

When you want to thaw some of the strawberries place them into a strainer… and run warm water over them for about 8-10 seconds. It's important that the water is hot but not too hot, and the time will vary depending on the size of the strawberries.

Methods of Freezing Strawberries

For whole berries: Freeze the berries in a single layer on a baking sheet to keep them from getting stuck together. Once they're solid, transfer the berries to a container, such as FreezerWare™, or a zip freezer bag such as Glad® Freezer Zipper Gallon Bags.

Should fresh strawberries be washed before freezing? ›

Even if the berries are from your backyard, they may have residue from any pesticides you use, soil, and even bugs. So be sure to wash the berries before you freeze them, but not too early. Strawberries will begin to break down and turn mushy after being washed.

Because the amount of sulfide ion in frozen strawberries was lower than that in fresh berries, and because K₂S addition resulted in further increases in the production of H₂S, it is likely that H₂S evolution is due to the decrease in pH of the cytosol caused by the disruption of cells by freezing, resulting in the ...

So what do you do if your strawberries have been in the fridge too long and start to look a bit soft and sad? Pop them in some ice water and they'll quickly firm up and regain their vibrant colour.

Using/cooking strawberries from frozen

There is no need to defrost frozen strawberries before using or cooking. Blitz them in a strawberry smoothie, cook in a pan with sugar to make compotes and strawberry jam, or bake in desserts like our strawberry & almond cheesecake sponge.

Do you need to thaw frozen fruit before baking? Usually, no. For recipes with a short baking or cooking time (like pancakes), thawing is likely beneficial. But for most baking recipes, you'll want to start with frozen fruit.

If a recipe is going to be baked or cooked after fruit's been added, it's safe to say you can use frozen fruit. Cakes, muffins, baked fruit pies, quick breads, etc.

If you buy frozen berries, you weigh them frozen. In the case of the berries, it won't make a huge difference.