Do blueberries have seeds?

If you’re like us, you may only know about blueberries in the form of a sauce or jelly that is served at Christmas meals. Or maybe sweetened and dried and added to salads, granolas, and baked goods.

So maybe you’ve decided it’s about time you did some research to find out more about this wonderfully nutritious fruit. And a question that may arise is:

Do cranberries have seeds?

Like most berries, cranberries contain a small seed inside each berry that is completely edible. In fact, they’re so small you’ll hardly notice them. But if you cut the berry in half, you will see a small seed in the center.

Read on to find out if you can remove the seeds from blueberries, eat them, or use them for other purposes.

Do cranberries have seeds?

Since lingonberries are classified as a fruit, that means they will contain seeds. When it comes to defining a food as a fruit, we technically look at the mature ovary of the plant.

It often emerges from a flower and matures into the edible fruiting part of the plant.

These ovaries contain the seeds necessary for the plant to reproduce and create more plants. Since blueberries are a fruit, then they will contain seeds inside.

Are blueberries true berries?

If you want to know if the fruit you’re eating is a true botanical berry, you have to look at a few things.

Berries are any fleshy fruit that has its seeds inside. Although it may come as a surprise, this includes fruits such as watermelons, tomatoes, lemons, and grapes.

Technically, watermelons belong to a specific family of berries called pepos. Other fruits that belong to this berry family are cucumbers and pumpkins.

Citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, and oranges, are also classified as berries in the hesperidium family.

You may be surprised to discover that fruits that we commonly call berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries, are not actually berries. They are called aggregate fruits. That means they are made up of a series of smaller fruits.

Think of a blackberry and you’ll see that each one looks like a small cluster of grapes, rather than a full berry fruit. Each little ball of the blackberry could be a berry, but taken together, they are an aggregate fruit.

Cranberries and blueberries, on the other hand, have their seeds inside and are classified as true botanical berries. That means your cranberry doesn’t lie about itself in its name, like some of our other favorite fruits, and you can enjoy it, seeds and all.

Can cranberry seeds be eaten?

You can absolutely eat cranberry seeds! They are quite small and do not contain any compounds that are not safe for people. The texture of the seeds isn’t bad either, and they’re small, so you’ll barely notice them when you’re enjoying your blueberries.

Since cranberries are super bitter, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll enjoy them by the handful. You’re much more likely to prepare the cranberries in some way, which means you’re even less likely to notice the seeds when you eat them.

Regardless of how you enjoy your blueberries, you can feel safe eating the seeds.

Can you remove the seeds from cranberries?

If you don’t like the seeds in your cranberries or are making a recipe that calls for them to be removed, there are a couple of ways to get rid of the seeds inside the berry.

1. Cut the blueberry in half.
2. Separate the two halves and drop the berries into a bowl of cold water.
3. When you’re done cutting all the berries in half and adding them to the bowl, gently stir in the blueberries.
4. After a while, the blueberries will float to the top of the bowl, while the seeds and pulp will sink to the bottom.
5. Use a slotted spoon to scoop out the blueberries and use as directed in the recipe.

You can save blueberries to use in body scrubs and other beauty product preparations. If you don’t want to throw them away, try looking up how to use blueberry seeds in beauty care for some easy recipes.

Another way to remove the seeds from cranberries is to puree them and strain them through a fine mesh strainer before or after cooking.

How to freeze cranberries

Sometimes there are deep sales on cranberries when they are in season. So if it’s a berry you like, it makes sense to stock up on them when the price is right. However, if you keep them in the fridge, they only last so long.

Like most berries (and fruits we call berries), cranberries freeze very well and can last for several months in this form. To preserve your cranberry loot follow these steps:

1. Wash and dry your cranberries. We like to leave them in a colander for about an hour and then dry them with a kitchen or paper towel.
2. If you want, you can cut them in half and remove the seeds or you can leave them whole, depending on your preference and the use you are going to give them once defrosted.
3. Spread parchment paper on a plate or small baking sheet.
4. Arrange the blueberries in a single layer on the parchment paper-lined plate or tray. Try to leave some space between them, so they freeze evenly and don’t stick together.
5. Put the blueberries in the freezer for 12-24 hours.
6. Once the blueberries are frozen, put them in an airtight freezer bag.
7. Label the bag with the date and contents so you don’t forget when you frozen them and what they are.

Your blueberries should stay fresh for about 12 months after freezing.

Super easy cranberry sauce recipe

We like to make this cranberry sauce to have at parties or to add to oatmeal, yogurt, or other snacks. This berry is versatile and not just to be enjoyed during the holidays!

Ingredients

• 3 cups of whole blueberries
• 2 cups of orange juice
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 pinch of sea salt
• 1/4 cup sugar, maple syrup, or honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Instructions

1. Place a medium-sized saucepan on the stove.
2. Add all the ingredients to the saucepan and stir.
3. Set the heat to medium high.
4. Bring the cranberries to a gentle simmer, then reduce to a simmer, stirring regularly.
5. Let the cranberries simmer until they open up and soften, which should take about 15 minutes or so.
6. If you want a thicker sauce, you can let the cranberries reduce on the heat for half an hour or more until thickened. It depends on your preference.
7. Taste the sauce and feel free to add more sweetener if it’s still quite bitter.
8. Remove the sauce from the heat and enjoy it hot on cake, oatmeal, yogurt or muffins.
9. Store the cranberry sauce in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

You can also make larger batches of this cranberry sauce and freeze it for future use. Follow these steps to freeze your cranberry sauce: 

• Pour the cranberry sauce into mason jars or plastic containers, leaving it about 1 inch from the top.
• Allow the cranberry sauce to cool completely. We often chill it overnight in the fridge.
• Once it has cooled, seal the cranberry sauce well.
• Put a piece of tape on the container and write the date and contents on the label. This step will help you remember what you have frozen and when.
• Put the sauce in the freezer and use it within 6 to 12 months for optimal preservation.

How can I use blueberries in the kitchen?

Although cranberries are often too bitter to enjoy raw or fresh, they can be used in many creative ways in your kitchen. Some of my favorite uses for cranberries are

• Like delicious sauce. Don’t limit yourself to a basic cranberry sauce. You can get creative by adding apple juice, orange juice, cinnamon, and other flavors to make it really special.
• Make a blueberry jelly. This option is great for holiday meals, but can also be enjoyed on toast, cakes, and other treats.
• Add them to sauces for chicken.
• Use dried cranberries in salads, cheese balls, roasted Brussels sprouts, homemade granola, energy balls, and cookies.
• Use them in baking. There are many ways to use blueberries in baking:
  • blueberry muffins
  • Cranberry cake
  • blueberry cookies
  • Blueberry pie
  • Blueberry Coffee Cake
  • Blueberry Apple Upside Down Pie
  • Cheesecake with Blueberries
  • Sliced bread with blueberries and brie cheese
  • Brie bites with blueberries in puff pastry
• Use leftover cranberry sauce on turkey sandwiches or to top oatmeal and other dishes.

Final thoughts

Although lingonberries do contain seeds, the seeds are completely edible and do not take away from the distinctive flavor of this tart berry.

Even if you don’t feel like eating them raw, there are countless ways to enjoy cranberries any time of year.