Can You Freeze Kiwi Berries? – Step By Step
Quick Answer
Yes, you can freeze kiwi berries. Here’s how:
- Ensure the kiwi berries are dry.
- Optionally, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pre-freeze the berries for 2-4 hours.
- Transfer the pre-frozen berries to airtight freezer bags or containers, leaving space, then label and date.
Read on for more detail
If you love the sweet and juicy flavor of the kiwi fruit, you have got to try kiwi berries! They are a relative of the kiwi fruit and quite possibly the better choice. If you already love kiwi berries you have come to the right place because we have plenty to discuss.
If you didn’t know any better, you might take a look at kiwi berry and think it’s a kiwi fruit. But guess what, they really are different! And it’s perfectly acceptable for you to love both forms of kiwi but we will dive into the details a bit later on in this guide.
It’s so hard sometimes to keep fruit fresh long enough you get to really enjoy it. Other times, you find really good sales and want to stock up but you don’t know your options to make it last more than a few days.
How do you store kiwi berries to keep them fresh longer? Can you freeze kiwi berries and what is the best way to do so? Yes, you can freeze kiwi berries and there is more than one way to do it. You can freeze them whole or sliced and they last really well in the freezer.
In this guide, we will walk you through all of the tips and tricks you should know before you try to freeze kiwi berries and give you all of the insight for the best use and storage of your kiwi berries so you can enjoy that delightful flavor a little bit longer.
Keep reading to get all of the insider information on freezing kiwi berries, and more.
A Guide to Freezing Kiwi Berries
Freezing your kiwi berries does not have to be difficult. In fact, we think you will be pleasantly surprised at just how easy it really is to freeze and preserve those kiwi berries and how easy it is to use them after freezing them.
If you’re still new to kiwi berries or just curious about them, we have some information to get you going. We know you will love these!
Kiwi Berries Defined
Kiwi berries are much smaller than kiwi fruit, typically much the size of a large grape, like a berry size. They are sweet little berries that you can literally just pop into your mouth, after rinsing them of course.
Kiwi berries grow on a vine. They herald from the northern parts of Asia and even some of Eastern Russia. They grow best in cooler climates. These are a natural fruit related to kiwi fruit.
So what are the differences between kiwi berries and kiwi fruit? Here are a few.
- No rough or hairy skin
- Slightly sweeter than kiwi fruit
- Can be eaten whole, skin and all
- Tend to be green in color, maybe with a tinge of purple or blush color
- They have soft smooth skin
- Bite-size berry
- Best when slightly soft
When you bite or slice into a kiwi berry, the inside looks almost exactly like the kiwi fruit. The same green with lighter green or white center and black tiny seeds that don’t have to be removed.
You can eat your kiwi berries much like you would eat a grape or another type of berry. Pop them in your mouth and savor the flavor.
Uses for Kiwi Berries
Kiwi berries are a newly discovered fruit in some areas so many people are not quite sure yet how to handle them. There are many uses for kiwi berries, including just eating them plain as a meal or snack.
Here are some other ideas for use of kiwi berries.
- Fruit salad
- Salad additive
- Slices with fruit dip
- Top pancakes or waffles with slices
- Fruit salsa
Kiwi berries have a lot of nutritional content. They naturally contain Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Magnesium, and Potassium. They are also low in sodium, fat, and cholesterol. 6 oz. of kiwi berries hosts approximately 130 calories.
Kiwi Berries Preparation for Use
Using your kiwi berries is quite simple because you can eat them whole if you want to. You can also easily slice them. Some individuals prefer them sliced because the flavor is more noticeable and sweeter when sliced.
Always start by rinsing your kiwi berries with cold water to be sure they are clean and fresh. You never know what kind of germs or bacteria are on them.
Eat your kiwi berry whole, just like you might a grape or another form of berry. If you decide you want to slice your berries you can do so by cutting off the ends of the berry and cutting smooth slices in whatever size you prefer.
If you slice your berries, be sure to store them in a storage bag or a sealing container in order to preserve them and keep them from going bad.
Storing and Freezing Kiwi Berries
Here’s the important part because you want to make those delicious berries last if you aren’t going to eat them all right away.
Kiwi berries have a short-term season so it could be ideal to stock up on them while they are in season and then preserve them to enjoy later. This allows you to always have them on hand and not have to worry about them going bad.
Have you ever had frozen grapes? Imagine that sensation but with a kiwi flavor! Of course, if you don’t want to eat them frozen you don’t have to, but you should know it’s delicious.
If you just need a short-term storage solution, it’s quite simple. When you store your kiwi berries you want them to be dry as moisture is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. You can store them in the container they come in or a simple bowl or storage bag will also work.
You can store kiwi berries up to 14 days in the fridge. You know they are perfectly ripe with they are slightly soft to the touch. They typically are best when used within 7 days or otherwise preserved.
You can also freeze kiwi berries, which dramatically extends the shelf-life of your kiwi berries. If you stock up and freeze them, you will have berries to enjoy when they aren’t in season!
How to Freeze Kiwi Berries
It’s relatively easy to freeze your kiwi berries but there are some minor tricks we want to make you aware of.
With kiwi berries, we recommend doing a “pre-freeze” before the final long-term freezing status. This seems to work the best and ensures they don’t smash or stick together when freezing for the long haul.
- Determine whether you want to freeze them whole or sliced and prepare them as such.
- Be sure your kiwi berries are dry. Pat them dry with a towel or paper towel if necessary.
- To pre-freeze, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the kiwi berries on the sheet.
- Freeze in this manner for 2-4 hours or even overnight before prepping for long-term freezer storage.
- Once you have pre-frozen the kiwi berries, remove them from the freezer and immediately transfer them to either freezer storage bags or plastic airtight containers. Since they are frozen you shouldn’t have to worry about them smashing. Leave about an inch of space in your freezer storage bags.
- Label and date your storage items.
- If frozen properly, your kiwi berries should last up to 12 months in the freezer.
There is no blanching, cooking, slicing, dicing, or peeling required. It’s as easy as making sure they are dry and freezing away. Don’t forget the pre-freeze step as this is what ensures they last the longest.
Related Questions
We hope that you have found this guide to freezing kiwi berries to be both useful and informative and that you feel prepared with all of the information you should know about kiwi berries, particularly freezing them.
We have put together a question and answer section that provides answers to some of the most common questions. We invite you to check it out as an additional resource.
Are Kiwi Berries a Genetically Modified Fruit?
Kiwi berries are not genetically modified. They grow directly from a perennial vine that is most commonly found in Northern areas of Asia and far East areas of Russia.
The original locations for kiwi berries were central China, Japan, and Siberia. Now they are commonly grown in some areas of the US.
How Can You Tell When Your Kiwi Berry is Bad?
The most common sign that a kiwi berry is going bad is usually mold growth. However, that is not always the case. Another common sign is if the berry becomes mushy rather than just slightly soft.
You may need to examine the berry closely to see signs of mold as it could easily disguise on this berry. You can also smell the berry for signs of rot.
When a kiwi berry is considered overripe – mushy – you can actually still eat it as long as there are no signs of rot or decay.