Learn how to freeze rhubarb the easy way to make sure all of the delicious fruit goes to good use. Then, you can use it later in jam, pie, crisps, or cobblers with a simple technique that takes just minutes!
The rhubarb plant we have in our garden always surprises me when it’s ready—and I’m not always ready to use it. To make sure it stays fresh and I can put it to use when I have time and other fresh ingredients to pair it with, I use this easy method to freeze it for future use in pies, crisps, cobblers, and/or jam.
I have been using this easy method for how to freeze rhubarb for over a decade and it works so well each year I do it. It also takes just minutes, which means it’s one of the fastest ways to preserve fruit.
You can use this method to freeze rhubarb from your garden, the grocery store, or the farmers market.
(You may also like Strawberry Chia Jam, which is a great way to use rhubarb, Easy Blueberry Crisp, Fruit Popsicles, and my go-to freezer meals.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at what you need to freeze rhubarb to use in future recipes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the easy process of freezing rhubarb. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information.
Step 1. Discard the leaves if the stalks have leaves. Wash well and trim any rough ends.
Step 2. Slice into thin pieces. Place into a zip top freezer bag and press flat. Seal and freeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can freeze fresh rhubarb raw, so there’s no need to blanch it first. And you can put it directly into recipes straight from the freezer too!
You can store rhubarb in the freezer for up to 6-12 months, which means you can save it until you have plenty of strawberries to pair it with—or until you are ready to bake a pie.
How to Use Frozen Rhubarb
You can use frozen rhubarb just as you would fresh in your favorite recipes for jam, cobblers, crisps, pies, and muffins. There’s no need to thaw it or do anything else to it before you use it.
Best Rhubarb Recipes
Here are some of my favorite rhubarb recipes to put your frozen rhubarb to use.
- Easy Blueberry Crisp
- Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
- Homemade Rhubarb Crisp
- Rhubarb Upside Down Cake
- Rhubarb Muffins with Streusel
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear how you like to use your rhubarb, so please comment below to share!
How to Freeze Rhubarb
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh rhubarb
Instructions
- Pick your rhubarb. (Or buy a bunch from the farmers market or store.)
- Discard the leaves if the stalks have leaves.
- Wash well and trim any rough ends. Slice into thin pieces.
- Place into a zip-top freezer bag and press flat to remove as much air as possible and to spread the rhubarb out in one even layer. Seal.
- Place bag onto a small baking sheet and freeze for at least 4 hours.
- Remove the baking sheet and store the bag flat or upright. Measure out frozen rhubarb in any recipe you like.
Notes
- Store in the freezer for up to 6-12 months.
- Use in recipes like Blueberry Rhubarb Cobbler or Strawberry Rhubarb Chia Jam.
Nutrition
This post was first published June 2018.
Do you have to dry the rhubarb after you’ve rinsed it off? Or can you just put it in the bag and flatten it then freeze it?0
I would dry it at least a bit so you don’t get a lot of ice in the freezer bag (which could add extra water to a baked good if you plan to use the rhubarb that way)
When my mom or MIL prepare rhubarb they peel the outside off the the stalks, but I don’t see that in the recipe. Is it necessary? How does it affect the outcome to peel or not peel the rhubarb?
I’ve never found it to be necessary. If it was tough and left a little too long growing, it could be necessary. If you have a hard time cutting through it, you could peel it if you want.
I made some rhubarb brownies and rhubarb bread but what I’m not sure about is if I can freeze these products once
I’ve baked them. I should be able to do that, right?
Yes, you should be able to do that. Just let them cool fully first before wrapping and storing.
Can you shred the rhubarb before freezing it? I have a few recipes that call for it to be shredded, problem is I let it get away from me and now I have more than I can handle lol. So I am hoping I can freeze both ways, cut and shredded.
Thank you!
Sure! Just press it flat in the bag so it’s in a thin layer, which will thaw faster.
Thank you Thank you!! I have never seen rhubarb in the grocer until yesterday and I LOVE it so much! It brings back a really happy childhood with my grandma and baking pies. Sooooo 45 years later there it was and I bought a bunch of it. I had planned on making pies etc today and my husband surprised me with a pop up 3 day get-a-way. So finding your recipe to be able to freeze made me really happy. Thank you for posting!
I am so glad and ENJOY that trip!
Love, love, love rhubarb thank you for the tips.
Above the recipe it says you can store in the freezer up to 6 months. In the actual recipe it says 3 months. Which is correct?
6 months, sorry about that!