Summer in Michigan brings an abundance of fresh, delicious produce! From sweet apples and berries to delightful corn and green beans, this fresh produce is packed with nutrients!
But what happens when the harvest season ends and you have to wait until next season for more Michigan produce? The best solution is taking any surplus produce you may have and freezing it! This is the easiest way to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables so you can enjoy them for months to come. It can also help reduce food waste, save money, and make it easier to add nutritious ingredients to meals throughout the year.
Prepping to Freeze
Start by choosing produce that is fresh and free of bruises or spoilage. Wash them thoroughly, then allow them to dry.
For many vegetables, blanching is recommended before freezing. To blanch, briefly cook vegetables in boiling water or steam them before quickly cooling them in ice water. This helps preserve their color, flavor, and texture.
Once your produce is prepared, it’s ready to freeze! Make sure you use freezer-safe containers or bags and remove as much excess air as possible before sealing. Labeling each package with the contents and date may help you later.
🍓 Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are easy to freeze! For the best results, wash and dry the berries thoroughly. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. This method of flash freezing helps prevent the berries from freezing together.
🌽 Sweet Corn
For sweet corn, remove the husks, then blanch before cooling quickly in ice water. You can freeze the whole ears or cut the kernels from the cob and freeze those.
🫛Zucchini, Summer Squash, & Green Beans
Slice or grate the squash. For green beans, trim the ends. Blanch the vegetables briefly then cool in ice water before freezing.
🍅 Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be frozen whole, chopped, or cooked. One of the easiest methods is to wash and dry whole tomatoes, place them in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze.
Whether you’re preserving produce from your garden or taking advantage of what you got at the farmer’s market, freezing can help you enjoy those foods long after the harvest season ends! Freezing produce also allows you to reduce waste and keep nutritious ingredients available for the future.
So before summer’s harvest disappears, fill your freezer with a little taste of the season!
