Cranberries have an incredibly short season—once they’re gone, they’re gone until next year! That’s why when I see fresh cranberries in the store, I stock up while I can and freeze cranberries so I can enjoy them all year long.

If you love cranberries like I do, it’s worth grabbing several bags while they’re available and freezing them. Freezing is the quickest and easiest way to preserve cranberries, and they’ll last up to a year if you freeze them properly.

Personally, I plan to can and dehydrate some of my cranberries—and I’ll be making Christmas jam later, too. But right now, I don’t have time for all of that. So I’m freezing them now to keep them from going bad, and I’ll preserve them other ways when I have more time.

Why Freeze Cranberries?

Freezing cranberries is perfect for:

Making cranberry sauce or Christmas jam later
Baking (think muffins, bread, and cobblers)
Tossing into smoothies
Adding to salads or oatmeal
Dehydrating later
Enjoying all year long!

Freezing cranberries gives you the flexibility to preserve them now and decide how to use them later—without losing that delicious cranberry flavor.

Step-by-Step: How to Freeze Cranberries

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Step 1: Wash the Cranberries

Fresh cranberries being rinsed in a colander over the sink. — Washing fresh cranberries before freezing.

Even though they come bagged and look clean, check the packaging—it says right on the bag, “Wash & Rinse Before Using.”

Cranberry package label showing “Wash & Rinse Before Using.” — The cranberry package clearly says to wash and rinse before using.

Step 2: Let the Cranberries Drain

Allow the washed cranberries to sit in the colander for a few minutes so excess water can drain off.

Step 3: Dry the Cranberries

Spread the cranberries out on a flour sack towel (Amazon) -my preference- or paper towels. Flour sack towels absorb water better and help prevent freezer burn later.

Wet cranberries piled on a white flour sack towel. — Cranberries in a heap on a flour sack towel after washing.

Step 4: Spread Out in a Single Layer

Use your hands to gently spread the cranberries into a single layer. This helps them dry faster and prevents bruising.

Washed cranberries spread in a single layer on a towel. — Spread cranberries out in a single layer for even drying.

Step 5: Dry Thoroughly

You can either pat them dry or let them air dry for 15–30 minutes. If you choose to pat them dry, use a clean flour sack towel and gently press.

Fresh cranberries on a flour sack towel partially covered with another flour sack towel. — A double layer of flour sack towels helps dry the cranberries thoroughly.

A clean flour sack towel covering cranberries. I patted the cranberries with this towel to help dry them from the top.

💡 Tip: The cranberries need to be bone dry before freezing. Any moisture can lead to clumping and freezer burn.

Step 6: Sort Out Any Soft or Shriveled Cranberries

Before freezing, check for any soft or shriveled cranberries and discard them.
If your cranberries are fresh from the start of the season, you may find that all of them are in great shape—like mine were!

That’s one benefit of buying cranberries early in the season and freezing them right away.

Step 7: Pre-Freeze the Cranberries

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Spread the cranberries out in a single layer—don’t let them pile up.

resh cranberries in a single layer on a wax paper line baking sheet. — Cranberries on a wax paper-lined baking sheet, ready to freeze.

Close-up of cranberries on the tray before freezing.

Don’t cover them; just slide the tray into the freezer.

Step 8: Freeze Cranberries for 2–8 Hours

Freeze for at least 2 hours but no more than 8 hours.

If you leave them in too long, they may develop freezer burn. Less than two hours, and they won’t freeze solid.

⏰ I set a timer for 3½ hours, which worked well with my schedule. So think about a time that will work for you between 2 and 8 hours in, and if you are forgetful like I am, set a timer. :)

Step 9: Label Freezer Bags or Containers

Label your freezer bags before filling them—trust me, it’s much easier this way!

Empty labeled freezer bag marked “12 oz cranberries” and date. — Labeling the freezer bag before filling makes life easier later.

Step 10: Transfer Frozen Cranberries to Bags

Once frozen solid, remove the tray from the freezer and transfer the cranberries to your labeled bags or containers.

Frozen cranberries on a baking sheet, ready to be bagged. — Cranberries right after removing from the freezer.

If you want to store in recipe-friendly portions, weigh out 12 ounces (about 3½ cups) per bag—the amount in a standard bag of cranberries.

Pro tip: A kitchen scale like these on Amazon are well worth the low investment. I find myself using one almost every day.

Freezer bag with cranberries sitting on digital kitchen scale. — Weighing out 12 ounces of cranberries for easy recipe use.

Two sealed freezer bags filled with cranberries on table. — Two freezer bags, each filled with 12 oz of cranberries, ready for the freezer.

Press out as much air as possible before sealing, then flatten the bags. Flat bags stack neatly and take up less freezer space.

How Long Do Frozen Cranberries Last?

Properly frozen cranberries last up to one year. I recommend using them before the next cranberry season rolls around so you can restock with fresh ones.

How to Use Frozen Cranberries

Frozen cranberries are incredibly versatile! You can use them in almost any recipe that calls for fresh ones. Here are some ideas:

Cranberry sauce – No need to thaw first; cook straight from frozen.
Christmas jam – Thaw before using in jam recipes.
Smoothies – Add frozen cranberries directly to your blender.
Baking – Use in muffins, breads, or cobblers—just add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Dehydrating – Start with frozen cranberries to skip the blanching step.
Salads and oatmeal – Thaw slightly before mixing in for a tangy burst of flavor.

Conclusion

Freezing cranberries is one of the easiest and most effective ways to preserve them. It only takes a little time and will save you from losing these seasonal gems.

Whether you use them for jam, baking, or smoothies later, you’ll be glad you froze them while you had the chance!

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How to Freeze Cranberries

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Learn how to freeze cranberries the right way so you can enjoy them all year long. Freezing cranberries now keeps them fresh for baking, smoothies, or holiday recipes later!

Active Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

Fresh Cranberries

Tools

Colander
Flour sack towels or paper towels
Rimmed baking sheet
Parchment or wax paper
Freezer-safe bags or containers
Marker for labeling

Instructions

Wash the Cranberries
Rinse the cranberries in a colander under cool running water. Check the bag—most say “Wash & Rinse Before Using.”
Drain and Dry
Let the cranberries sit in the colander for a few minutes to drain. Then place them on a flour sack towel or paper towels and pat them dry. For best results, let them air dry 15–30 minutes.
Pick Out Any Soft or Shriveled Berries
Discard any soft or shriveled cranberries. (If you buy them early in the season, you’ll likely have very few to remove.)
Pre-Freeze the Cranberries
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Spread the cranberries in a single layer, making sure they’re not piled up.
Freeze for 2–8 Hours
Place the tray in the freezer. Freeze for at least 2 hours but no more than 8 hours to avoid freezer burn.
Label and Store
Label freezer bags or containers with the date and contents before filling. Transfer the frozen cranberries into the bags, pressing out as much air as possible.
Optional: Portion for Recipes
Store in 12 oz portions (about 3½ cups), the same amount as a typical store-bought bag. Flatten the bags before sealing so they stack neatly in the freezer.

Notes

Frozen cranberries keep for up to a year.
You can use frozen cranberries straight from the freezer for baking, smoothies, or sauces—no need to thaw first.
Freezing cranberries now gives you flexibility to can, dehydrate, or make jam later when you have more time.

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💬 I’d love to hear from you!

Have you tried this yourself? Have a question or tip to share? Leave a comment below — your experience or question could help someone else, too!

How to Freeze Cranberries (So You Can Enjoy Them All Year Long)

Why Freeze Cranberries?