Can You Freeze Gooseberries?

The gooseberry growing and ripening season is short. This means you need to pick them quick, when they are ripe, and then find a way to store them during this time to ensure they don’t go bad.

Can You Freeze Gooseberries?

Yes, you can freeze gooseberries for up to 2 years. To freeze gooseberries, give them a wash then spread out onto a baking tray to freeze them. Once frozen solid, portion out into good-quality freezer bags.

How To Freeze Gooseberries

Gooseberries are one of the easiest and fastest fruits to freeze. When preparing to freeze gooseberries, make sure those that you plan to freeze are fully ripened.

If you wish to save time and plan to use them for pie fillings or other desserts where texture isn’t important then you can omit double freezing them separately by putting just a handful of gooseberries in containers or bags (Steps 6 and 7 below).

Double freezing simply prevents the gooseberries from sticking together. This is entirely down to personal preference. 

When gooseberries are thawed, just like any other frozen berry, they can burst and lose their shape. If you are making cakes or pies where it is important to retain their shape then you will need to double freeze them.

1.Wash and Dry

Fully wash gooseberries then remove stems and blossom ends. Completely dry gooseberries with a cloth or tea towel.

2.Place Onto a Tray

Place gooseberries on a tray in a single row so they are not touching each other.

3.Freeze

Place in the freezer for 1-2 hours. This step is suggested not required but is down to your personal preference, so the gooseberries are not stuck to each other. This step depends on how you plan to use your frozen gooseberries.

4.Portion Out

Portion into freezer bags. Consider how many gooseberries you’ll consume in one go and make sure you use bags of this size. 

5.Freeze

Label and return gooseberries to the freezer.

6.Shake Bag

Re-check gooseberries after about an hour, giving the freezer bag a little shake to loosen the semi-frozen gooseberries.

7.Return to the Freezer

Pop them back in the freezer.