Don't let those surplus berries go to waste. Give leftover berries a new life by freezing, blending, or by making a simple macerated syrup.
Berries are delicate fruits that are loved by all. In the excitement of the start of berry season and during the abundant summer months, we often end up with more berries than we can eat before they get smooshed or moldy (even with proper storage techniques, found here). Make sure that you make the most of these precious fruits so they don't end up in the compost bin.
Ideas for processing surplus berries:
- Freeze the berries by loosely placing them on a cookie sheet, then transferring them into a sealed, labelled container.
Illustrated below in a Thrifty Thursday tip from Food Shift
- Blend the berries directly into smoothies or freeze the blended berries into ice cubes that can add an extra fun flavor to drinks.
Tip shared by Angel (pictured above), who was selling berries at the Oakland Grand Lake Farmers' Market
- Finally, try making a tasty macerated berry syrup that can be used as a topping for yogurt, pancakes, and other treats!
- If you want to keep the berries for even longer, consider Chef Alison's tip for cooking them into a quick jam.
