How to Pick the Best Blueberries
Updated: May 14, 2023
This quick primer explains how to pick blueberries—plus gardener's tips for washing, storing and freezing blueberries.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
For me, picking blueberries at a U-pick farm is one of the greatest joys of summer. It means a family excursion to the same farm we’ve been visiting for years! It’s easy to recruit helpers since picking blueberries is easy and fun, and we always have a friendly competition to see who picks the most. My daughter is the chief berry picker in our household—likely because she has the amazing discipline to not sample them as she goes. I can’t resist their sweet appeal, which seems to me a fine prize for coming in second or third. Then, when we get home, a Cape Cod Blueberry Pie is the first dessert out of the oven.
How to Pick Blueberries at a Farm
There are lots of different varieties of blueberries that ripen at different times, which makes it easy to hit the blueberry-picking harvest window. Picking blueberries is easier than picking many berries, since you don’t have to stoop over to pick them, and the berries aren’t hidden behind leaves. It’s also easy to spot ripe berries. They are solid blue and firm. Blueberries do not ripen further once picked (unlike these fruits that do continue to ripen), so avoid those with white or green on them, and discard berries that are soft and overripe.
How to Pick Blueberries at the Grocery Store
While blueberries at the store are rarely underripe, they can be overripe—which happens when they are picked and then stored for too long. Look for berries that are plump, with no wrinkled or sunken parts. Be sure to inspect all sides if they’re in a clear clamshell container.
How to Store Fresh Blueberries
Blueberries are more durable than other berries, and can last for 10 to 14 days if stored properly. Rinse them in a colander when you bring them home and remove any stems, then dry them on a sheet pan with paper towels to absorb the water. (You can also wash berries in a vinegar and water solution.) Put the blueberries in a container that can breathe, like this produce keeper, and refrigerate. If you’ve had them for more than a week, pick through the blueberries to find any soft, overripe fruit before using.
To keep the fruit as fresh as possible, don’t make any of these berry mistakes.
How to Freeze Blueberries
Blueberries freeze really well and are great to have on hand for all kinds of blueberry dessert recipes. Rinse and dry the blueberries on paper towels on a sheet pan, then place the pan in the freezer for 4-6 hours. Once frozen, pour the berries into a zip-close bag, label and re-freeze. They should be good for up to a year. You can enjoy the taste of summer months later in this Peach Blueberry Crumble Tart!
Recipes to Make with Fresh Blueberries
Family and friends say this patriotic pie is better than a local favorite from one of our best neighborhood restaurants. Sometimes, I switch things up and use gooseberries for half of the blueberries. —Nancy Barker, Silverton, Oregon
Mini Blueberry TartsI served this recipe to my family while we were on vacation and they were all amazed! The best part: I didn't spend tons of time on it thanks to refrigerated pie crust. Watch your mini tarts around the 13-minute mark to make sure they don't brown too quickly. If you'd like, sprinkle the tops with coarse sugar for a beautiful finishing touch.—Allison Bell, Hillsdale, New Jersey
Luscious Blueberry JamThis perfectly spreadable blueberry jam boasts a beautiful dark color with a sweet seasonal flavor. —Karen Haen, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Blueberry French ToastA local blueberry grower shared this recipe with me, and it's the best breakfast dish I've ever tasted. With the cream cheese and berry combination, this French toast casserole reminds me of dessert. —Patricia Axelsen, Aurora, Minnesota
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice CreamAfter sampling this flavor at an ice cream stand, I kept trying to duplicate it until it was just right. This blueberry cheesecake ice cream is a hit! —Melissa Symington, Neche, North Dakota
Blueberry Fruit SmoothieThis fruit smoothie recipe is one of my favorites. The yummy blend just might take you back to soda-fountain days…but it's a nutritious low-fat alternative to traditional malts, shakes and sodas. —Mary LaJoie, Glenoma, Washington
Spinach Blueberry SaladBlueberries are a fun surprise in this salad. I received the recipe from a co-worker's wife, and it's become one of my favorites. —Heidi Gilleland, Lees Summit, Missouri
Two-Berry Fluff SaladThis fluffy salad is a welcome treat on warm Texas afternoons. Because there's a blueberry orchard near our home, we often pick up berries to use in this recipe and others. When blueberries and strawberries aren't in season, you can substitute frozen berries with equally good results. —Karen Wenzel, Conroe, Texas
Blueberry Chops with Cinnamon Sweet PotatoesA sweet and spicy combo is the perfect accent for meaty chops. With a fresh green veggie on the side, this is a hearty summer meal. It’s easy, yet impressive enough to serve to company. —Laura Davis, Chincoteague, Virginia
Blueberry-Sausage Breakfast CakeI fix this breakfast cake for my co-workers often. The blueberries and sausage are such a nice sweet-salty flavor combo. —Peggy Frazier, Indianapolis, Indiana
Baked Blueberry PancakeFor a quick breakfast, Norna makes the pancake while fixing supper the night before, then cuts it into squares. The next morning, she tops them with butter and syrup before placing them in the microwave. This innovative way to make pancakes takes most of the fuss out of making breakfast. Norna Detig - Lindenwood, Illinois
Slow-Cooked Turkey with Berry CompoteWe love to eat turkey, and on hot summer days, here's how we get our fix. For golden-brown turkey, broil for a few minutes before serving. —Margaret Bracher, Robertsdale, Alabama
Blueberry CornbreadMy husband is a fourth-grade teacher, and he incorporates monthly baking projects into the curriculum. His recipe for blueberry cornbread is a class favorite. —Jennifer Martin, Martinez, California
Originally Published: July 07, 2022
