Here’s how to freeze strawberries:

1.  Get good Indiana strawberries.  It’s best to freeze them the same day you get them.

2.  Cut the tops off the strawberries.  If you’d like sliced strawberries, slice them too.

3.  Rinse them after you top and slice them.  Don’t let the strawberries sit in water.  Instead run water over them in a colander. 

4.  If you are freezing whole strawberries:  Lay strawberries flat on a cookie sheet.  Put the cookie sheet in the freezer for several hours until the berries are mostly frozen.  Remove the cookie sheet and put the strawberries into zip-lock bags to freeze them.  Mark the bags with date and contents and return berries to the freezer. 

5.  If you are freezing sliced strawberries:  Put the strawberries into zip-lock bag and place the bags in the freezer.  Be sure to date and label them.

Ways to use your frozen strawberries:  The strawberries can be thawed out later to use in muffins, baking, salads, smoothies, yogurt, ice cream, jello salad.  They will be a bit softer after freezing, but still have the sweetness of local berries.