Can chocolate covered strawberries be frozen?
When you have a romantic indulgence or delicate sweet tooth, chocolate covered strawberries are one of the best treats. They are easy to make and you can find them to buy on many sites.
The chocolate covered strawberries are a delight. The problem is that it can be difficult to store them and keep them in good condition for as long as possible. As you know, strawberries only last for a short time if stored properly, so you need options to make them last longer.
Can chocolate covered strawberries be frozen to make them last longer? Yes, you can freeze the chocolate covered strawberries for up to 3 months. It is best to freeze them separately on a cookie sheet before transferring them to a freezer-safe container. Otherwise, the strawberries will stick together and lose their firmness.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of freezing chocolate covered strawberries for the best results. Rest assured that this process is not complicated and your strawberries will still be delicious. You might even like them better frozen!
Read on to find out all about freezing chocolate covered strawberries.
How to Freeze Chocolate Covered Strawberries
The chocolate covered strawberries are a delight. They can be easily made at home or purchased at a store. The nice thing about making them at home is that you can make a big batch and store some in the freezer to have later.
Chocolate-covered strawberries make a great gift for get-togethers, showers, parties, and more. They look great and you can make them even more elegant with a little effort.
They are very easy to make and everyone loves them. It’s amazing how special someone can feel after some chocolate covered strawberries.
Let’s talk about freezing chocolate covered strawberries, and then we need to cover other relevant information as well.
Proper Freezing Methods for Chocolate Covered Strawberries
When it comes to freezing chocolate covered strawberries, we recommend using a pre-freeze process. This will help prevent them from sticking together or turning into mush or anything like that. We want your freezing experience to be as pleasant as possible.
Here are our recommended steps for freezing chocolate covered strawberries:
- Start by lining a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Make sure the chocolate is hardened if you made them fresh.
- Arrange the chocolate covered strawberries in a single layer on the surface of the parchment paper.
- Let the chocolate covered strawberries freeze like this for 3-4 hours, until solid. They should remain uncovered during this part of the process.
- Once you’ve pre-frozen the strawberries, it’s time to pack them. Start by sorting them into proper portions.
- Place the chocolate covered strawberries in individual airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
- Label, date and seal each container.
- Freeze up to 3 months for best results.
As you can see, the freezing process for chocolate covered strawberries is not complicated.
That pre-freezing process can make a significant difference to the end result of your freezing process, so for your sake, don’t skip it! Strawberries have their own juices and sometimes chocolate sweats .
The pre-freezing process prevents the juices from running out and the soft chocolate from sticking . This way, when you’re ready to use your chocolate covered strawberries, they won’t stick together or feel slightly mushy.
You should not have any adverse effects as long as you follow the freezing process carefully and attentively. Using those strawberries afterwards is also relatively easy.
Notes on storing chocolate covered strawberries
The option to freeze your chocolate covered strawberries is great. This is very useful, especially if you want to make treats in advance and make sure they keep well.
It can also be helpful if you know you’re not going to eat all the strawberries before they go bad.
Some people prefer their chocolate covered strawberries super chilled or even frozen. You may find that you really like them cold and frozen this way.
But we want to be honest about the good and not-so-good things about freezing these treats. So let’s talk about the pros and cons of freezing strawberries:
Advantages of Freezing Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- You can make them ahead of time or make big batches.
- They keep frozen for up to 3 months.
- They are easy to use when you take them out of the freezer.
- The process is simple.
- They freeze very well.
- You may decide that you prefer them frozen.
Cons of Freezing Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Freezing requires a pre-freezing process.
- They freeze best for short term only.
- They may stick slightly (this is contributed to by the pre-freezing process).
- They should not be refrozen, so be sure to freeze in specific portions.
- You can get addicted to frozen chocolate covered strawberries.
We think the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to freezing chocolate covered strawberries. In fact, you will find that some of the cons are easily fixed with the tips and tricks we provided earlier in our initial instructions to guide you through the freezing process.
Now, let’s talk about how you should store your strawberries if you’re not ready to freeze them yet. You can keep them in the fridge for a few days and this works quite well.
Just do n’t wait too long to freeze the chocolate covered strawberries . You certainly don’t want to wait for them to get soft or start to go bad.
Storing Chocolate Covered Strawberries Before Freezing
If you decide not to freeze the strawberries right away, that’s an option. You just have to be aware of the variables that can cause you to lose the strawberries or not be able to freeze them successfully. We certainly don’t want that to happen!
If you are going to freeze them, the sooner you do it, the better the results will be. They are best served fresh or straight from the freezer, so keep that in mind.
However, here are some basic steps to keep your chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge:
- Line a container with kitchen paper. This will help absorb moisture.
- Arrange the strawberries in a single layer in the bowl.
- Cover the strawberries with plastic wrap or an airtight lid.
- Refrigerate up to 3 days maximum.
Let’s talk about what to expect here. If possible, you should avoid the fridge for more than a day. The fridge will draw natural moisture into your chocolate covered strawberries and will most likely make your chocolate sweat.
The humidity in the fridge can also make your strawberries a bit mushy. If it’s cold enough, we actually recommend that you store your chocolate covered strawberries at room temperature or in a cool place for a few hours, then freeze if needed.
Ultimately, storing them in the fridge is a last resort, unless you know you’ll be eating those strawberries within 1-3 days.
If you are going to use them for a party or for some type of guests, it may be a better idea to go ahead and freeze them until you are ready.
How to Use Chocolate Covered Strawberries After Freezing Them
The nice side of freezing strawberries is that you don’t have to go through any lengthy thawing process or wait a long time to eat them after they’ve been frozen.
It is really surprising!
When you’re ready to use those frozen chocolate covered strawberries, just take them out of the freezer. Let them rest for 30 minutes to an hour. You can do it in the fridge or at room temperature.
Afterward, they should be ready to serve and will taste just as delicious as fresh. Of course, you can always eat them frozen. You might even find that you prefer them cold, with a crisp, fresh touch.
Related questions
We hope you found this guide to freezing chocolate covered strawberries valuable and informative. The process is very easy and we don’t think you will have any problem to be successful with it.
We invite you to take a look at the following question and answer section for additional information that might be useful to you.
What is the best type of chocolate to use?
Any good melting chocolate will do. Some people use chocolate chunks , which is fine too. You just have to make sure you use something castable. You may need to use a bit of melting wax to make it smoother.
How can you make the chocolate stick better to the strawberries?
Make sure your strawberries are completely dry before dipping. This will make a big difference as the melted chocolate will not hold if they are wet in any way.
Can you leave chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge overnight?
Yes, the ideal is to do it. However, keep in mind proper storage techniques and the potential for moisture to affect quality. 1-3 days is the maximum recommended storage time in the fridge, so be prepared to freeze them if necessary.