Choosing and Care of your Fresh Blueberries

When buying blueberries, first check to see that the berries aren't hard, purple (as opposed to blue) which will indicate they were picked before they were ripe, and be sure to see that they're not moldy. Fresh, ripe blueberries should not be hard to the touch, but should be firm with just a little bit of give, and a lovely, brushed blue color. This indicates that they are picked at the peak of ripeness.

The wonderful nutrients in blueberries are best sustained by keeping them cool, so purchase from a refrigerated section in the market and put them in your own fridge as soon as you get them home, and keep them there when you're not eating them. (Better yet, pick them ripe, and then put as many in your mouth as you put in a pail.) And never wash a blueberry until you are ready to use them.

You can freeze your own fresh blueberries. Do not wash them, but put them straight on a cookie sheet straight into the freezer. Once frozen, you can put them in a plastic freezer bag. You don't need to defrost blueberries to use them in baking, but if you need to, it's best to thaw slowly in the refrigerator and drain well if you are using them uncooked.