Frozen Organic Blueberries -Raw?

[DaisyHair]

Hi,

I wondered.. I am brand new to raw (today is day 5 - about 80% raw).

I have two packages of frozen organic blueberries (Whole Foods) in my freezer.. they don't say they are pasteurized.

Would these be considered raw? Does freezing a freshly picked fruit hurt the enzymes?

I want to make sorbet (just blend them with some lime juice and stevia)..
wondered what the lowdown is on frozen fruit (and veggies?)..

Thank you!

[Veganforlife]

I think you are "safe" with them. Usually freezing vegetables requires blanching (dipping in boiling water), but not berries...

...go for it...!

Also, I think it affects the enzymes so minutely that it's all good!

[Mary Kay]

Yes, all (or at least most!) fruit that is frozen is raw, and all frozen veggies are par-boiled. ( So when Alissa says to use frozen corn, it is not raw, unless you did it yourself)

I consider them raw. A few enzymes here and there may be destroyed, but it's better than the alternative ---no blueberries.

I went blueberry picking this year, and we have oh, at least 50 lbs of blueberries all ready for the winter in our freezer. Woohoo! Much cheaper than buying packaged stuff that's shipped from far away. This is getting close to the end of blueberry season here in Ohio, but it's still going strong/just beginnning in other parts, so find a pick-your-own place that doesn't spray the trees themselves and go picking!!! The place I went, sells u-pick for $1.40/lb, and if they pick them for you, it's $3/lb. I probably picked about half what we have in the freezer, and bought the rest.

I just throw them in bags and freeze right away. I rinse them as I'm using them.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[DaisyHair]

Yeah!

Sorbet for dessert tonight. Yum.

Thanks so much for the quick posts!

Cary~

[Thick]

Whole foods corn and peas are not blanched, they say.

[DaisyHair]

Hi Thick.

Thanks for letting me know that! I have so much to learn.

[spicyfull]

How was your Sorbet?

[johnled]

$1.40 a lb for blueberries, WOW! I pay $9.99 for a 3 lb bag of frozen.

[Mary Kay]

Hey Thick,

Sorry to be a snooty snoot, but who is "they?" Raw foodies? Best to call the companies and find out for sure.

I have called the companies: Cascadian Farms etc....and they ARE blanched. If they don't blanch corn or peas for example, when in the freezer, the sugar enzymes continue to turn to starch and they will not be as sweet.

Here's Cascadian Farms #, if you want to call yourself. 1-800-624-4123.

This year, I'm going to freeze some fresh corn on the cob, cut off the cob and do some steamed, then compare them in a few months. Then compare again in oh, eight months or so, and see the difference.

Even if the sugar does turn to starch in the corn, I don't think it would pose a problem if I used them in corn tortillas though, for example.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[T-Bird]

This year, I'm going to freeze some fresh corn on the cob, cut off the cob and do some steamed, then compare them in a few months. Then compare again in oh, eight months or so, and see the difference.

Excellent!

I await your analysis with my nerd alert glass, bun, and pocket protector!


On another thread some of us hypothesized that if the corn DID get starchier as time went on in the freezer.....it might be tastier for corn chips.....

So either way - I think it will be a win!

[Mary Kay]

Yep. I was on that corn turning-to- starch- thread!

I did call both co's though just to check: Casc and Woodstock..... I didn't know that Woodstock Farms was bought out by United!! It's a humongous conglomerate. When I called, I thought I had the wrong no! Then they passed me on from one person to another, and the voice mail I got didn't even say Woodstock Farms, but some other co.

So, they did call me back, and frankly, the lady did not know what she was talking about. she said ALL fruits were blanched. Hogwash. There is no way for example that they do strawberries or raspberries. They would be mush.

However, I have bought some bulk og frozen bluebs from United, and they are somwhat shrivelled. Interesting. They were also something like $8/lb.

My point being, that I just can't be sure about Woodstock Farm's bluebs, but about their other fruits I am certain they are not blanched. You can just tell.

But for 100% certain, Cascadian Farms fruit is absolutely NOT blanched. so to be safe, you may want to go with Cascadian Farms blueberries. But all of their vegetables ARE all blanched, and I am certain that Woodstock's are too. You will not find raw peas or broccoli or corn etc that's frozen anywhere.

If I do buy frozen stuff from now on, unless there's a HUGE price difference, I think I'll stick with Cascadian Farms.

Mary Kay

[T-Bird]

So, they did call me back, and frankly, the lady did not know what she was talking about. she said ALL fruits were blanched. Hogwash. There is no way for example that they do strawberries or raspberries. They would be mush.


idk - I was using frozen fruit until I left some strawberries out on the counter and they defrosted - looked almost like pink mashed potatoes.....so I could definitely believe they are blanched and I haven't had any frozen food since then, except something I froze myself, usually just bananas...

[Shona]

idk - I was using frozen fruit until I left some strawberries out on the counter and they defrosted - looked almost like pink mashed potatoes.....so I could definitely believe they are blanched and I haven't had any frozen food since then, except something I froze myself, usually just bananas...

Frozen strawberries are often mushy upon thawing. It's just the way it is. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be blanched beforehand because berries are fragile.

I've heard frozen peaches are blanched which is a shame because I find good fresh ripe peaches hard to come by. They seem to go from rock hard to over-ripe and rotting in the space of minutes. :(

[splendorintheraw]

hi daisy hair!! BRAVO to you...Congratulations of your raw journey!!! My instinct would be that it really would not hurt the enzymes, of course, fresh is always better. if it says organic, and its from Whole Foods, it will be safe. (no pesticides, etc.) They don't parboil fruit. Its some of the frozen veggies that we have to watch out for.

If there's anything i can do to help you with your new lifestyle, just let me know!

[T-Bird]

I've heard frozen peaches are blanched which is a shame because I find good fresh ripe peaches hard to come by. They seem to go from rock hard to over-ripe and rotting in the space of minutes.

I was just going to start a thread about this - then forgot!!

The was NOT the case 10-15 years ago.

What is happening is unscrupulous or ignorant farmers are harvesting too soon, and they stay like a rock too long, then rot never being ripe and tasty.

Sweet2eat which is organic is a culprit too.

I am gong to be planting my own trees to get a decent nectarine or plum. And peaches for DS.

[Mary Kay]

T Bird,

I do grow my own and freeze my own strawberries, fresh. And yes, if left out on the counter to defrost, they will turn to mush, and since I've done them myself, I know for certan they weren't par-boiled/blanched. Try blanching some strawberries and you'll see what happens to them!!! LOL. Other fresh fruits that you freeze yourself, will also turn to mush, so will bananas, raspberries etc......Blueberries though, aren't so bad.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[barkwheats]

Mmm, I just raked a couple 5 gallon buckets of wile Maine blueberries... best ever. This years berries were like grape clusters!! These things are enormous and wild. Just gave some to the dogs for their dinner, too.