What fruit freezes the best?

Maybe you came across a bin of irresistibly in-season tomatoes and went overboard on buying&#;or maybe there was a big sale on apples and you stashed far too many into your cart for just one pie. However you ended up with all the produce currently in your possession, a great way to keep it around for a little while longer is to freeze it.

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Most fruits and vegetables can be frozen. It's just a matter of prepping it before you stash it so that it's ready to go when you need it. Here are a few guidelines:

How to Freeze Fruit

Most fruits freeze well: berries, cherries, peaches, plums, pears, grapes. The best way to freeze something is to think about how you're going to want to use it. So, if you're planning on strawberry pie, core and slice the strawberries in whatever way you'd like them to appear in your pie. Apple pie? You can go ahead and toss the whole filling together and freeze it. Your blender will be happier if you cut fruit for smoothies into chunks no bigger than an inch, though whole blackberries or blueberries are fine.

Here are the basic steps for freezing fruit:

1. Clean the Fruit

Rinse whole fruit under hot tap water and dry throughly with a dish towel. (Yes, hot water! According to food scientist Harold McGee, a quick bath in hot water helps to kill mold spores.) If you're dealing with berries or other soft fruit, simply spread them out in a single layer, pat gently with your towel, and let them dry for a few hours so that you don't mar them too much.

2. Prep the Fruit

Once dry, prepare the fruit as needed: hull and slice strawberries, pit and chop stone fruit (peel first if you want), remove the rinds and seeds of cantaloupe and cut into chunks, slice and de-seed apples or pears, peel bananas, and so on.

3. Freeze the Fruit

Lay everything in a single layer on a sheet pan or baking sheet lined with parchment paper so that the fruit doesn't stick to the pan. Freeze for a few hours until the fruit is solid, then transfer it to an airtight container or a freezer bag and squeeze out as much of the air as possible.

The frozen fruit can be stored for up to 3 months&#;take it out to toss in smoothies, sprinkle on your morning oatmeal, or bake into pies.

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How to Freeze Vegetables

When considering which vegetables to freeze, stay away from things you'd most likely only eat raw, like cucumbers and lettuce, since frozen vegetables are better off cooked.

1. Clean and Prep the Vegetables

Rinse your vegetables, then do whatever you need to do&#;trim green beans, chop zucchini, slice eggplant, core tomatoes, husk corn (but leave kernels on the cob&#;more on that in a minute), peel and chop squash, de-stem greens like kale and collards and tear the leaves into large pieces, etc.

2. Blanch Vegetables if Necessary

Most vegetables will need to be blanched before they can be frozen. Doing this stops most of the enzyme activity that might cause the vegetables to change texture and lose nutrients over time. Blanching also keeps their color vibrant. (Feel free to skip this step with winter squash, sweet potatoes, and other hearty veg.)

Pineapples are a delicious tropical fruit that can be easily frozen and enjoyed for months to come. To begin, remove the top/stem of the pineapple using a sharp knife and a flat surface, such as a wooden cutting board. Standing the fruit tall on the now flat side, gently slice the skin off to reveal the bright yellow meat inside. Remove the fruit from the sides while avoiding the 1- to 2-inch round core in the middle. Slice the meat into bite-sized chunks and place them on a baking sheet that's lined with parchment paper and stick it in the freezer. Freezing the slices this way will prevent the fruit from freezing in one solid clump. Once the chunks are solidly frozen, place them in an airtight container or plastic bag.

These frozen chunks of pineapple will serve as the perfect base for a cold, refreshing smoothie in the summertime. Replacing ice cubes with chunks of the fruit help avoid watered-down smoothies and will create a smooth, thick texture. The fruit won't lose any of its tart, sweet flavor, which means you can add a little orange or apple juice and a paper umbrella for a delectable tropical drink to enjoy by the pool. 

Pineapple is usually firm and juicy before freezing, so thawing it out won't change the texture too much. This means you can also slice it up for your morning yogurt or add it and some ham to a pizza for a sweet addition that tastes fresh.

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