Do you eat fresh and eat local? Farmer markets are a go-to for our family during the summer. Among our purchases, fresh strawberries are a favorite. Reduce food waste with these 11 easy ways to use fresh strawberries. I also share a few linked tools in this post. It Happens in a Blink is a participant in the Amazon Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
It’s one of my kids’ favorite times of the year- strawberry season. We are lucky enough to live close to multiple berry farms. During this time of the year, we head at least once a week to the strawberry farm to buy a gallon for lunches and general snacking. We have a large family, so we never have strawberries that go bad, but I know that isn’t the case for everyone. If you like to stock up but aren’t sure how to best utilize them, here are 11 easy ways to use fresh strawberries.
Eat Them Fresh
Fresh strawberries make a great snack. Pack them with your lunch or cut a bowl and leave them in the refrigerator for easy snacking all day.
Have Strawberries for Breakfast
Fresh strawberries are yummy in cereal and are a tasty side to eggs.
Add Strawberries to a Salad
I love adding fresh strawberries to my lunchtime salad. They pair well with almost any dressing and salad combo.
Top Dessert with Strawberries
A bowl of ice cream is complete with sliced, fresh strawberries. Other desserts, like brownies and pie, are also made even more delicious with fresh strawberries.
Strawberry Smoothie
A few days a week I’ll enjoy a smoothie for breakfast. During strawberry season, I’ll use fresh strawberries for a seasonal strawberry smoothie. The Recipe Rebel shares a tasty Healthy Strawberry Smoothie recipe that includes fresh strawberries. I have a KitchenAid Blender, but there are several great blenders for smoothie here.
Freeze the Strawberries
In the rare event that we have leftover strawberries that need to be used, I will freeze them to use for smoothies in the future. Sweet Peas and Saffron shares a tried and true method on how to freeze strawberries. Have you tried reusable freezer bags for freezing produce?
Make a Strawberry Pie
Strawberry pie is a classic summertime dessert. Do you have a favorite strawberry pie recipe that has been handed down through your family? If not, the internet is full of recipes. I like this Easy Fresh Strawberry Pie recipe that specifically uses fresh strawberries and has good reviews.
Strawberry Muffins
My kids like muffins for breakfast. They also like it when I make a large batch of muffins that they have plenty of leftovers for an after-school snack or to throw in their lunch box. I have a few different recipes that I have tried, but this Strawberry Muffin recipe from Once Upon a Chef has always been a favorite.
Topping Sauce
Combine strawberries and raspberries to make this delicious Strawberry Raspberry Sauce. It is excellent for topping on cheesecake, ice cream, pancakes, and more.
Breakfast Bars
These Strawberry Oatmeal Bars look fancy but they are actually a cinch to make. And, of course, they use fresh strawberries!
Easy Strawberry Popsicles
Making my own popsicles is a great way to give the kids a frozen treat without all the sugar. This Homemade Strawberry Popsicle recipe is easy and healthy. If you need popsicle molds, there are many choices here.
