Nothing beats the taste of freshly-picked berries on a hot summer day.

Unfortunately, living in Canada means we only get this exact feeling for a few short weeks a year.

If you want to enjoy the taste of ripe Ontario peaches and bright B.C. blueberries when winter rolls around, we have a few tricks for you. Flash freezing is an easy way to preserve as much of the original state of a food item as possible. Of course, a frozen fruit is never going to taste the exact same as one you just picked up at the farmers' market, but, hey, it'll do when the snow rolls in and you're sick of eating squash and Brussels sprouts.

Bonus: Freezing your just-bought local fruits helps support Canadian farmers. The more you buy in summer to freeze and use the rest of the year, the less you'll buy later, when offerings aren't from local vendors.

How to flash freeze fruit

1. Prep your fruit

Wash and dry your fruit. You can use a specific produce was if you want (we like this one). Cut fruit into desired size or leave whole.

2. Baking Sheet

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a reusable mat. Arrange your fruit on the surface in a single layer, making sure it is spread out evenly and isn't touching.

3. Freeze

Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 3-5 hours. The longer, the more frozen solid it will be and less likely to clump and stick together once stored long-term. Leaving the baking sheet and fruit this way in the freezer for too long (12+ hours), exposes it to a lot of oxygen, which can create freezer burn. It is also important not to freeze too many sheets of fruits at the same time, as this will result in a drop in temperature of your freezer and potentially negatively effect the flash freezing process, as well as other previously frozen foods.

4. Package & Store

Transfer fruit to a reusable bag or Ziploc, making sure to squeeze out all excess air to prevent freezer burn. Store for 8-12 months (just until fruits are in-season again!).

Recommended

This Summer Vegetable Can Help Fight Bloating

By: Lauréna Valette

Gentle on the gut, easy to cook up, and full of nutrients, zucchini ticks all the boxes for relieving minor digestive woes in the summer.

Read More

Recommended

Can You Balance Your Hormones With Food?

By: Emily Szatrowski, RD

Hormone health has become a buzzy topic in the wellness world lately. 

Read More