How to Freeze Raspberries + Frozen Raspberry Recipes

Freezing raspberries is a wonderful way to enjoy summer’s harvest year-round! This guide explains how to freeze raspberries, plus it answers the most commonly asked questions about thawing frozen raspberries and using them in recipes. 

Why Would You Freeze Raspberries? 

Sweet, tart, and juicy, raspberries are one of the many fruits I look forward to enjoying each summer. Unfortunately, raspberry season doesn’t last for long. 

Although I’d love to stockpile cartons of fresh raspberries in my fridge to enjoy later on, they spoil quicker than heartier fruits like apples.

So, what’s a gal to do when raspberry season is in full swing and she wants to savor the flavor of summer for months to come? She starts freezing raspberries, of course! 

Here are a few reasons to start freezing fresh raspberries: 

• Bought too many raspberries and don’t want them to spoil? Freezing raspberries extends their shelf life and minimizes food waste. 
• Want to take advantage of sale pricing? Freezing raspberries is a great way to purchase in bulk when prices are low.
• Storing frozen fresh raspberries in your freezer for use during the off season is a great way to save money.
• Did you go raspberry picking or grow your own berries in your back yard? Freezing raspberries lets you enjoy your big summer harvest out of season.

When Are Raspberries in Season? 

Raspberries begin ripening in June and you can typically harvest them until September. Raspberries will continue ripening until the first frost of autumn. 

Note that different types of raspberries bloom and ripen at different times of the year, but June, July, and August are the best months for buying raspberries at the grocery store. 

Want to check out more info about seasonal fruits and veggies? Head over to my Spring Produce Guide and Fall Produce Guide.

How to Freeze Raspberries 

Can you freeze raspberries? Absolutely! One thing I love about freezing raspberries is that there’s very little prep work required. 

Unlike certain vegetables, you don’t need to blanch raspberries before freezing them. You just need to rinse them thoroughly, pat them dry, and then freeze them! 

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to freeze fresh raspberries: 

1. Discard any berries that have gone soft or have become discolored. 
2. Rinse the remaining berries in a colander under cold tap water. 
3. Gently pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. (They must be fully dry before being frozen, otherwise they can develop freezer burn more quickly.)
4. Spread the berries on a parchment paper-lined baking tray (tip: How to Line Pans with Parchment Paper) . Make sure none of the berries overlap. 
5. Place the baking tray in the freezer. Keep it as level as possible to prevent the berries from sliding to one side. 
6. Freeze the berries just until solid, about 1 hour. 
7. Label and date the bag so you remember when you froze the berries.  

Tip: Seal the frozen fresh raspberries inside a freezer bag or another container that’s specifically intended to be used for freezer storage. Frozen berries can easily develop freezer burn if frozen in thinner plastic bags or containers unsuitable for freezer storage. 

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

How Long Are Frozen Raspberries Good For? 

If stored correctly, frozen raspberries will last 12 to 18 months in the freezer. Fresh raspberries only last two to three days in the fridge, so extending their shelf life by freezing them is a great idea! 

How to Thaw Frozen Raspberries 

You have a few options when it comes to thawing frozen raspberries. Choose whichever method is best for you depending on how much time you have. 

Thawing Raspberries on the Counter

Measure out the amount of frozen fresh raspberries you’d like to use. Place the frozen berries in a bowl or baking dish. Pour cold tap water into the bowl, just until the berries are covered. 

Let the berries sit on your counter until fully thawed, about 10 minutes. If the berries haven’t thawed after 10 minutes, drain the water and replace with fresh tap water.

The exact amount of time required to thaw frozen raspberries this way will depend on how many are in the bowl. 

Once thawed, pat the berries dry with a clean kitchen towel and proceed with the recipe as instructed. 

Thawing Raspberries in the Microwave 

Place the desired amount of frozen fresh raspberries in a microwave-safe bowl that’s been lined with a paper towel (this helps soak up the excess moisture from the berries).

Using the “Defrost” setting of your microwave, microwave the berries for 30 seconds. If they’re not fully thawed by that point, continue microwaving them on the defrost setting for 10-second intervals. 

Thawing Raspberries in the Fridge  

Measure the desired amount of frozen fresh raspberries into a bowl or sealable container. Place the berries in the fridge overnight, or for about 6 hours. 

In the morning, the berries will be thawed and ready to use. 

Should You Thaw Frozen Raspberries Before Using Them? 

It depends on what you’re making. If you plan on using the raspberries in a recipe with a short cooking time — like pancakes or waffles — it’s best to thaw them first. Otherwise the frozen raspberries won’t cook through fully and you’ll wind up with raw batches of batter or dough in the finished product.  

If you’re making a fruit crisp, pie, cake, quick bread, or muffins, you likely won’t need to thaw the raspberries beforehand. However, you may want to toss the berries in a spoonful of flour or cornstarch before adding them to the recipe. Frozen berries release lots of liquid once cooked, and you don’t want to make a soggy cake or quick bread! 

Also, if using frozen raspberries in a baked good, you may need to add a few extra minutes to the total cook time. Frozen berries lower the temperature of batters and doughs, which means they’ll need more time in the oven. 

Common Issues (+ Solutions!) 

For the most part, it’s easy to substitute fresh raspberries with frozen raspberries. However, you may run into one of the following issues when doing so: 

• The recipe came out too watery — Frozen fresh raspberries release quite a bit of liquid once cooked. To combat this, toss the berries in some all-purpose flour before mixing them into the batter. If making a raspberry sauce or a fruit filling of some kind (i.e. in a pie or fruit crisp), you can add cornstarch to the berry mixture instead.  
• The raspberries sank to the bottom of my muffins / quick bread / cake — Don’t add frozen raspberries straight to the batter. Instead, toss them in a tablespoon or two of all-purpose flour first. This will prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the batter. 
• The berries bled into the batter — Frozen berries often bleed into quick bread and cake batters. To prevent this, rinse the berries until cold tap water and pat them dry. Then, toss them with flour before mixing them into the batter. 

Frozen Raspberry Recipes (That Don’t Need Thawing)

Now that you know how to freeze raspberries, you can start cooking with them! Below are some of my all-time favorite frozen raspberry recipes that don’t require thawing first.  From smoothies to sauces to muffins, there are so many recipes using frozen raspberries that you can make! 

Frozen Raspberry Recipes (That Do Need Thawing) 

While I love making frozen raspberry recipes that don’t require thawing in advance, I also have quite a few recipes that do call for thawed berries. Here are my favorite recipes using thawed frozen raspberries. 

More How to Freeze Tutorials:

Now that you know everything there is to know about freezing raspberries, here are some more helpful freezer. tutorials:

Did you know that you can also freeze kale? Here’s How to Freeze Kale 4 different ways, depending on how you want to use it!

Frozen grapes make for great snacks on hot days, and they can be thrown into smoothies. Here’s How to Freeze Grapes the easy way!

Learn How to Freeze Blueberries, plus get answers to FAQ about thawing frozen blueberries and using them in recipes.

Next time you make a batch pancakes or waffles, make some extra and follow this quick and easy tutorial for How to Freeze Pancakes and Waffles. I’ve also given instructions on how to reheat them!

No matter what season it is, you need to know How to Freeze Cookie Dough. Spoiler: it’s super easy to do!

Did you know that smoothies can easily be prepped in advance and frozen. So easy and delicious! Check out How to Make Freezer Smoothies.

Yep, you can freeze spinach too. Here’s How to Freeze Spinach, plus a yummy smoothie you can make with it.

This helpful guide shows you The Best Ways to Freeze Strawberries and shares ways to use them in recipes.

Who doesn’t love a good kitchen tip? Looking for more kitchen tutorials? Check out the entire Kitchen Tips and Tricks archive for lots of great ideas!

Photography: some of the photos taken in this post are by Stephanie from Stephanie Fassler Photography.