Freezing is a fantastic way to make your fresh goji berry harvest last way beyond the growing season. To keep all those great nutrients and that signature flavor intact, there are just a few simple tricks you should know.
When is the best time to freeze goji berries?
If you want to keep that fresh-picked taste, your best bet is to pop your goji berries in the freezer immediately after harvesting. This locks in the highest quality, allowing you to enjoy them for up to a year. Pro tip: Let the berries stay on the bush as long as possible so they are fully ripe and sweet before you pick them.
How do you freeze goji berries the right way?
Like most things in the kitchen, a little prep goes a long way when processing your berries. Here’s my step-by-step guide to getting it right:
- Give the fruit a good rinse.
- Pat the berries dry thoroughly on a paper towel.
- Use the “flash freeze” method.
If you just throw all your goji berries into a bag and toss them in the freezer, you’ll end up with one giant, frozen brick. To avoid this, lay the berries out in a single layer on a plate or baking tray. Put them in the freezer for about two hours until they’re firm. Once they’re individually frozen, you can pour them into a freezer bag or container. This way, they won’t stick together, and you can easily scoop out exactly as many as you need! If you have a huge harvest, just repeat the process in batches.
If you’re short on space or time, you can fill a container halfway with berries and give it a good, hard shake after about two hours in the freezer. It helps keep them from clumping too badly, though you might still get a few small clusters.
How should you use frozen goji berries?
Keep in mind that freezing does change the texture a bit. For example, if you’re looking for that chewy topping for your morning muesli, dried goji berries are usually the better choice. However, the frozen ones are absolutely perfect for:
- Baking into breads, muffins, or cakes
- Blending into fresh smoothies
- Adding a nutritional kick to savory sauces
