Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and more…whatever your favorite variety, summer is the time for berries! And what’s not to love? They’re not only delicious, easy to prepare, and wonderful in a wide variety of recipes, they’re good for you, too! Low in calories yet high in sweetness, berries are chockfull of vitamins and minerals, and may even reduce the risk of some forms of cancer.

Harvest time for certain berries may be coming to an end, but there’s no reason you can’t enjoy them all year. And there’s no need to get out the canning equipment, either – berries are easy to freeze, and can be frozen whole. Just place dried, unwashed berries on baking sheets and put them in the freezer, uncovered. Once the berries are frozen, transfer them to storage containers or bags, then return them to the freezer for long-term storage. Remember to wash the berries after you thaw them out.

Once the berries are thawed, they will not be as firm as fresh-picked berries, but they’ll still be delicious – and good for you!
Ideas for serving previously frozen berries:

• Use in recipes for muffins, pancakes, pies, cakes or breads
• Stir berries into vanilla yogurt, or blend with low-fat milk, bananas and a splash of orange juice for a tasty and nutritious smoothie
• Use in recipes for jams or jellies
• Make cobblers or crisps and serve warm with ice cream

Editors Note:Visit our recipes section for some new ideas on using those frozen berries.