How Do I Choose the Best Frozen Blueberries?

There are a few different things you should look for to help you choose the best frozen blueberries possible, including how they are frozen and packed. In general, you should typically look for berries that have been “flash frozen,” as this tends to help them retain as many vitamins and nutrients as possible. You should also look for packages that can be easily resealed and try to avoid any that feel as though the berries are clumped together. While there are many brands of commercially frozen blueberries that you can buy, you can also purchase fresh berries and then freeze them yourself.

Frozen blueberries are typically grown by commercial farmers who oversee the process by which they are picked and frozen. One of the most important things to look for on packages of such berries is the way in which they are frozen before they are shipped. Look for the term “flash frozen,” which indicates that they were frozen through a process that reduces their temperature very quickly. This helps ensure that the frozen blueberries you purchase have as much nutritional and vitamin value as possible, though some antioxidants and other beneficial compounds within them are lost during freezing regardless of what process is used.

As you are choosing frozen blueberries, you should also consider the packaging that different brands use. You should try to find berries that are sold in a package with an internal lining of soft plastic and you should look for re-sealable packages to make storage easier for you. As you are selecting between different packages of frozen blueberries, feel for individual berries within them rather than clumps of berries. If you feel the berries clumped together, this may be a sign that they have thawed and frozen again, which can diminish their texture and potentially reduce their nutritional value.

You might also consider making your own frozen blueberries using fresh berries that you can purchase from local growers. Fresh berries can be spread out onto a sheet pan, and you can typically not worry about washing them off before freezing. The sheet pan can be placed into a freezer and the berries should be allowed to freeze for several hours. Once frozen, you can then place them in an airtight container and keep them in your freezer for up to one year. As you want to use some of the frozen blueberries, you can simply remove them from the container and rinse them lightly before using them.