Blackcurrants are a deliciously tart fruit. They are versatile and can be used in many dishes. Of course, you can eat them as they are or put them on your cereal or yogurt.
You can mix them with other berries and serve them with ice cream or cream. Make them into a compote or a cordial or bake them in a pie or crumble. They are extremely nutritious and are packed with vitamins and minerals.
However, what do you do if you have a glut of them? Perhaps, you have blackcurrant bushes in your garden and the blackcurrants are all ripe at once. They will keep in the fridge for a few days but then they will start to spoil.
So, can you freeze them? The simple answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze blackcurrants and how to defrost them.
How To Freeze Blackcurrants
You can simply put your blackcurrants in a freezer bag, squeeze out all the air so that freezer burn doesn’t occur, and then put the bag in the freezer. However, the blackcurrants will stick together so you will have to defrost the whole bag. It is a much better option to flash freeze the blackcurrants as this stops the blackcurrants from sticking together and also helps them to retain their nutrients, taste, and texture. This is the way to do it:
1. Put the blackcurrants on a baking tray.
Put a piece of parchment paper on the tray first so that the blackcurrants don’t get stuck to the tray. Make sure that they aren’t touching each other. By doing this they won’t stick together when you put them in a freezer bag. You can then only defrost as many as you need at any one time.
2. Flash freeze the blackcurrants.
Put the tray with the blackcurrants in the freezer and freeze until they are solid. This should take between two and three hours.
3. Put the blackcurrants in a freezer bag.
Squeeze out all the air so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of your blackcurrants and deplete their nutrients. Put a label on the bag with the date, so you can keep an eye on how long you are keeping the blackcurrants in the freezer.
4. Put the bag in the freezer.
The fresher the blackcurrants are when you freeze them, the longer they will last in the freezer. They will also taste better when you defrost them. In addition, it will help to preserve nutrients and freshness.
Tips For Freezing Blackcurrants
- Flash freeze the blackcurrants. This stops the blackcurrants from sticking together.
- Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur.
- Freeze blackcurrant dishes. Both blackcurrant cordial and blackcurrant compote can be frozen as can blackcurrant pie and blackcurrant crumble. You can even freeze blackcurrant jam and blackcurrant and apple cake.
- Freeze a mix of berries to ring in the changes. Mix them with other berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. It will be nice to have a mixture of fruit on your cereal or yogurt and you can still make a pie or crumble with them.
For How Long Can You Freeze Blackcurrants?
You can keep blackcurrants in the freezer for up to six months. It is a great way of storing your blackcurrants for a long period of time. They will retain their taste, texture and nutrients for this length of time. After six months, they will start to deteriorate.
How Do You Defrost Blackcurrants?
If you are going to put the blackberries on your cereal or yogurt, put the frozen blackcurrants in a bowl of lukewarm water. They will defrost within a couple of minutes. Then drain and dry them and they are ready to use. However, many recipes allow you to use the blackcurrants while they are still frozen. You can add them straight into a smoothie and use them in a pie or crumble. If you are making a hot dish with them, they will soon defrost when the heat hits them.
Can You Refreeze Blackcurrants?
Yes, you can refreeze blackcurrants but their texture may change. Every time you freeze food, ice crystals are formed and if you freeze twice, there is more of a chance for the food to end up soggy. However, this won’t matter if you are using the blackcurrants in a smoothie, compote, or jam. You shouldn’t have this problem if you flash freeze your blackcurrants as you will be able to take out as many or as few as you need. If you do have to refreeze some blackcurrants, do it as quickly as possible so that bacteria doesn’t start forming.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Blackcurrants?
Blackcurrants freeze very well and because they keep for so long in the freezer, you will even be able to enjoy them in the winter. What could be better than a steaming blackcurrant and apple pie on a cold winter’s night? You won’t notice much difference in taste between fresh and frozen blackcurrants. If you flash freeze them, they will keep all their nutrients and antioxidants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing blackcurrants, but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
How Long Do Blackcurrants Last In the Fridge?
You can keep blackcurrants in the fridge for up to four days. After this time, they will become soft and very sour.
Can you freeze raspberries?
Yes, you can freeze raspberries in the same way as you freeze blackcurrants, that is by flash freezing them. The same goes for redcurrants, strawberries, and blackberries. All can be kept in the freezer for up to six months.
Can you buy frozen blackcurrants?
Yes, some stores stock frozen blackcurrants, although you will find that it is more common to find bags of frozen mixed berries such as blackberries (see also Freezing Blackberries), blueberries, redcurrants, and strawberries. They can be used in the same way as if you have frozen the blackcurrants yourself.
