Have you ever gone to the grocery store to buy frozen fruit for smoothies or fruit salads and gasped at the price? It can easily cost $2 to $3 per pound of fruit, if not more. I don’t pay that much for fresh fruit. Why would I pay that much for frozen fruit?
Since my husband and I have started drinking more smoothies, we go through a lot of fruit. We can easily use 2 pounds of strawberries a week for smoothies alone. That adds up quickly if i were to buy them frozen at $2.99+ a pound frozen, or $2.00+ fresh out of season. Since strawberries are currently in season I buy extra to freeze, and usually I pay just $0.99 a pound that’s a huge savings!
The process is so easy! Simply wash fruit, slice if needed, and place in a single layer on a lined cookie sheet. Place in freezer until completely frozen and then transfer to a freezer bag.
Here are some fruits I have frozen:
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Strawberries: Wash fruit and remove leaves. Slice if needed. Strawberries can last up to 1 year in the freezer.
- Banana: You may leave them peeled, or simply remove the peel and freeze the banana. Great to use in smoothies or banana bread! Freeze up to 3 months.
- Pineapple: Remove the skin and cut into chunks. You can freeze for up to 6 months.
- Grapes: Wash, dry and de-stem. Frozen grapes are a fantastic healthy snack on a hot Summer day. They can last for 3 months in the freezer.
- Blueberries: Wash and destem. Perfect for smoothies, homemade muffins or pancakes, or any recipe that calls for blueberries. Freeze for up to 12 months.
I am so looking forward to freezing fresh peaches this Summer. What fruit have you tried freezing?
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