How to Pick Raspberries That Are Perfectly Ripe
Updated: Nov. 11, 2022
Raspberries are the delicate princesses of berries. If you learn how to pick ripe raspberries, you'll be rewarded with taste bud-tingling ruby desserts, smoothies and more!
My grandma had a raspberry patch that produced loads of the fragrant, garnet berries. As kids, we loved placing them on our fingertips and thumbs before nibbling them off. Grandma’s raspberry pie was a masterpiece of sweet and tart flavors, topped with billows of lightly sweetened whipped cream. Today, making raspberry pie is an annual family tradition that brings back sweet memories.
How to Pick Raspberries
Whether for a recipe or enjoyed out of hand, you’ll want to look for the best berries. No matter where you get your berries—from a U-pick farm, farmers market or grocery store—look for vibrantly colored, firm raspberries with plump drupelets (the little balls that make up a raspberry). Pass up berries that are soft, dull looking, dark, shriveled or squashed. If you’re at a U-pick farm or picking wild raspberries, it helps to have berry tools like a basket or colander to hold your fruit.
How to Handle This Delicate Fruit
Raspberries need lots of pampering. Here are some ways to keep your berries at their best:
- At the grocery store, make sure the carton of raspberries is set gently on top of the other groceries in the bag, so they’re not squashed.
- Do not wash these berries when you get them home. This is one of the most common berry mistakes! They easily absorb water, which could cause them to mold.
- Keep them in the same container you bought them in or place them in any breathable container, handling them gently so they aren’t bruised.
- Store the berries no longer than 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
- When you’re ready to use them, wash the berries in a colander and then dry them on a cookie sheet or tray with paper towels to absorb the water.
How to Freeze Raspberries
Raspberries freeze really well (for up to a year) and they’re delicious in smoothies. You can follow the same guidelines for freezing any type of fresh fruit. Just rinse the berries briefly in a colander, shake gently to remove the water, then roll the berries onto a paper towel-lined half sheet and let them drain. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the berries, so each berry has its own “breathing space.” Then pop the entire tray into the freezer.
Once the berries are frozen, in, say, 4-6 hours, tumble them into a freezer bag, seal, label and return to the freezer. It’s that simple!
Love other berries as well? Then, find out how to pick blackberries that are perfectly ripe.
The Best Fresh Raspberry Recipes
Berry Smoothie BowlWe turned one of our favorite smoothies into a smoothie bowl and topped it with even more fresh fruit and a few toasted almonds for a little crunch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Berry Ricotta Puff PancakeThis slightly sweet berry puff pancake is filled with fruit and has a custardy texture that puffs up beautifully when baked. It makes an easy yet impressive breakfast. —Jessi Smith, Fort Myers, Florida
Baked French ToastAny day is special when Mom makes one of her French toast recipes, like this do-ahead baked version. —Jill Baughman, New York, New York
Fresh Raspberry Icebox CakeLayered icebox cakes are so fun because they look impressive but couldn't be easier. Fresh raspberries make this one really special. Use Anna's Ginger Thins to get the scalloped edges, or regular gingersnaps if those are not available. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Very Berry SpreadTwo kinds of berries make this jam deliciously different. I always keep some on hand.—Irene Hagel, Choiceland, Saskatchewan
Raspberry Coconut French Toast Slow-Cooker StyleI put the ingredients in the slow cooker crock the night before, refrigerate it, then pop the crock into the slow cooker in the morning. You can use regular milk or half-and-half, include your favorite jam, and substitute almond extract instead of vanilla. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Raspberry Peach Puff PancakeHere's a simple, satisfying treat that's perfect when you have company for brunch. It's elegant enough that you can even serve it for dessert at other meals.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Berry Puff PancakeBreakfast is my husband's favorite meal of the day. I use our homegrown blueberries in this sweet morning treat. —Cecilia Morgan, Milwaukie, Oregon
Raspberry Ice Cream in a BagMaking homemade ice cream is fun for the whole family, and the fresh raspberry flavor of this treat makes it a perfect summer activity. Kids can shake the bags until the liquid changes to ice cream and then enjoy the reward! —Erin Hoffman, Canby, Minnesota
Mixed Berry Sundaes for 2These delightful yogurt sundaes are an easy way to add fruit and calcium to your diet. Berries star in the dish, which I enjoy as a simple breakfast or healthy dessert for two. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
Slow-Cooker Berry CobblerI adapted my mom's yummy cobbler recipe for slow cooking. With the hot summers here in Arizona, we can still enjoy this comforting dessert, and I don't have to turn on the oven. —Karen Jarocki, Yuma, Arizona
Favorite Fresh Raspberry PieThis pretty raspberry pie was practically a staple at our house during the late summer. Our family had raspberry bushes, so we always have pie with fresh raspberry filling. —Emily Dennis, Hancock, Michigan
Berry-Stuffed French ToastBoth kids and grown-ups will enjoy the creamy filling and sweet syrup that flavor these French toast sandwiches. Vary the recipe by substituting fresh blueberries and strawberries and the corresponding jam. —Monica & Lisa Hannahan, Dayton, Ohio
Citrus-Raspberry Coffee CakeOrange and lemon beautifully complement the raspberry flavor in this dense cake. Add a dusting of confectioners’ sugar for a pretty finishing touch. —Pat Harlow, Cataldo, Idaho
Lemon Whirligigs with RaspberriesGolden whirligigs with a tart lemon flavor float on a ruby raspberry sauce in this delectable dessert. I love serving it to guests. My children also like it made with blackberries. —Vicki Ayres, Wappingers Falls, New York
Raspberry RefresherThis recipe explodes with raspberry flavor! It's a wonderful summertime treat.—Doreen Patterson, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Raspberry Pork MedallionsPork served with a luscious raspberry glaze is fancy enough for company. We bring it to the table with wild rice pilaf and steamed veggies. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Crumb-Topped Raspberry Coffee CakeRaspberries are abundant at our summer home nearby Aziscohos Lake. So I developed this recipe to share the bounty with our guests. The pretty crumb-topped cake's fruity flavor really shines through. —Marian Cummings, West Paris, Maine
Summer Harvest TartOne of my favorite bakeries makes this scrumptious tart that uses fall and summer fruit, so I created my own version. I like to serve it warm with whipped cream or ice cream and with a cup of coffee on a cool autumn night. —Sarah Knoblock, Hyde Park, Indiana
Raspberry Mint JamI have so much mint growing in my yard that I add it to almost everything. What a revelation it was when it went in my raspberry jam—the mint really wakes up the raspberry flavor.—Laurie Bock, Lynden, Washington
Melon-Berry SaladThe best way to cool down on a warm day is with a chilled fruit salad. Serve this one for breakfast, brunch or dessert. Yogurt and coconut milk make the creamy dressing even more decadent. Wait until just before serving to garnish the salad. Otherwise the toasted coconut will get soggy. —Carrie Hirsch, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Raspberry Crumble Coffee CakeDon't be "intimidated" by the recipe directions for this coffee cake—it really isn't difficult to make. Try it sometime as a nice brunch item. Don't limit it to that, though...it's also a delicious dessert.—Shirley Boyken, Mesa, Arizona
Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pots de CremeLunch on the go just got a whole lot sweeter. Tuck the jars of rich chocolate custard into lunch bags for a midday treat. These portable desserts are fun for picnics too. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
Tri-Berry JamMy mother-in-law and I dreamed up this jam after we'd been picking blueberries one day. She wondered if blueberries, raspberries and strawberries would taste good together. So she made a test batch—and we quickly learned that they definitely did! Then I came up with my own version of the jam. I preserve everything from our garden! —Karen Maerkle, Baltic, Connecticut
Chocolate Raspberry PieAfter tasting this pie at my sister-in-law's house, I had to get the recipe. A dreamy cream cheese filling separates the tangy raspberry layer from the chocolate topping. Garnish with fresh berries for an extra-special presentation. —Ruth Bartel, Morris, Manitoba
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
Pear Raspberry CrispWe grow our own luscious red raspberries and feast on them fresh and freeze them for winter. This recipe combines the berries with fresh pears and a crunchy cereal topping. —Fancheon Resler, Bluffton, Indiana
Raspberry Rhubarb JamI love making and enjoying this jam, but I usually end up giving most of it away! It's always a well-received gift. —LaVonne Van Hoff, Rockwell City, Iowa
Originally Published: July 05, 2022
