How to Freeze Raw Rhubarb the Easy Way

Discover a great way to preserve fresh rhubarb, so you can use it in your favorite recipes throughout the fall and winter months. 

When my man and I moved to the countryside, I was so excited at the thought of finally being able to establish perennial plants in the garden beds surrounding our home. I was especially excited about food producing perennials. 

One of things I wanted was my own rhubarb patch. 

In my northern climate, rhubarb is one of the first edible perennials to appear in the spring. These plants are very hardy and will live upward of 20 years in the garden, so they're well worth the effort. 

In the kitchen, rhubarb stalks pair well with sweeter fruits that require the additional of lemon or lime for extra tang. I love adding rhubarb with local strawberries or sweet cherries. 

An added bonus? Preserved in the freezer, rhubarb is an excellent filler and will help you stretch your fruit supply when you add a cup to your favorite pies, fruit cobbles or sauces. 

Is it any wonder rhubarb appeals to my old fashioned, food growing, food preserving heart?! 

Where to Find Fresh Rhubarb Stalks

You know I always encourage folks to grow their own food! Rhubarb has beautiful, fan shaped leaves that look lovely in a flower bed or vegetable garden. So if you don't have plant or two, give it a try! 

But you can probably get rhubarb in the spring at your local farmer's market and perhaps even your local grocery store.

Tools You'll Need

• small kitchen knife (to trim leaves)
• large bowl or basket
• cutting board
• large kitchen knife
• kitchen sink for washing
• measuring cup
• plastic bag (several is a good idea!)

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Harvest Rhubarb

In case you do grow your own rhubarb, I want to give you step by step directions for harvesting, so you have fresh, firm stalks to put in the freezer. 

Gather Stalks in Spring or Early Summer

Rhubarb is best harvested in the late spring through early summer. The rhubarb season varies a bit, based on the variety and your location. 

You want to harvest stalks while they are still small and tender. 

A good rule of thumb? Harvest rhubarb when the base of your stalks are just bigger than the size of your thumb. 

Larger stalks will become hard and develop tough strings, so it's important to catch them before this happens. 

Helpful tip: if you miss the prime window of opportunity, go ahead and take the top half of mature stalks. They'll probably still be tender! 

How to Harvest Rhubarb

To harvest stalks from your rhubarb plant, grasp the stalk halfway down with the rounded side of the stalk in your palm. 

Wrapping your fingers around the flat front of the stalk, gently pull to the side. Rhubarb will easily pop loose from the crown base, without damaging the crown itself. 

You may be tempted to pull upward as you harvest. But don't. Pushing or pulling the stalk to the side is the best way to harvest and leave the plant undamaged, so it can produce more. 

How to Trim Rhubarb Stalks

I like to bring a small kitchen knife into the garden with me. There, I cut off the big, fan shaped leaves from the fresh rhubarb stalks. 

Rhubarb leaves are full and beautiful to look at, but they contain high levels of oxalic acid and can be poisonous to humans, animals and poultry alike.

After removing leaves, use them as mulch around your rhubarb plant. Or remove them from the garden completely by dumping them in a place where children and animals aren't likely find them. 

If you want to save on time, you can also cut off 3-4 inches of the rough ends before bring fresh rhubarb stalks indoors. 

And then? It's time to cut up and freeze your rhubarb harvest!

How to Freeze Rhubarb

Step 1: Rinse Your Rhubarb 

Bring your stalks indoors and give them a quick rinse at the kitchen sink.

Rhubarb is usually quite clean, but dirt, bugs and even slugs can sometimes be found down at the base of each stalk. Quickly wash rhubarb to remove these unwanted guests. 

Step 2: Trim the Stalks

If you haven't already trimmed away leaves and the tough, 3-4 inches found at the base of each stalk, now is the time to do it. The base is too tough for eating. 

Step 3: Cut Rhubarb Into Rings 

Using a large kitchen knife and a wooden cutting board, cut rhubarb into small rings. The easiest way to chop your rhubarb is to gather up 3-5 stalks at a time and slice through the bunch all at once.

I like to cut rhubarb into smaller pieces, about 1/2 inch thick. Toss cut rhubarb pieces into a large bowl as you go. 

Step 4: Fill Plastic Bags with Raw Rhubarb 

When you've finished cutting everything to size, grab a measuring cup and some freezer bags.

I measure 2 cups of rhubarb into each freezer-safe bag, because I generally use 2 cups in my favorite recipes. It keeps things simple that way. 

Spread rhubarb out in a single layer within the bag, so it will stack nicely in the freezer. 

Step 5: Label, Date and Freeze Your Bags

Use a sharpie to label and date the bags. Then stack your bags flat in the freezer. Rhubarb freezes beautifully and will keep up to 1 year without getting freezer burn. 

Use as you would fresh rhubarb and add some tangy flavor to your home baked goods! 

Your Questions Answered

Do I need to blanch rhubarb for a long freezer life?

While you can blanche rhubarb before freezing, it isn't necessary. If well sealed, raw rhubarb will last up to 12 months in the freezer. 

Should I dip rhubarb in an ice bath before freezing? 

No. If you plan to cook or bake your rhubarb before serving, an ice bath is an unnecessary step in the process! If it's going to be cooked down anyway, it doesn't matter if the rhubarb is crisp when it goes into the freezer. 

Can I use a vacuum sealer for rhubarb? 

Yes and particularly so, if you want a longer freezer life from your rhubarb. A vacuum food sealer will remove most of the oxygen from your bag and small pieces of rhubarb will last longer on the freezer. 

Should I flash freeze rhubarb before bagging it up?

If you want to measure out frozen rhubarb, you can flash freeze individual pieces on a rimmed baking sheet or even cookie sheets.

Once frozen, you can transfer frozen rhubarb chunks to a freezer bag. I don't do this because it takes extra time. I prefer to measure out exact amounts and freeze fresh stuff in bags. 

Favorite Rhubarb Recipes

There isn't any benefit to having rhubarb in the freezer if you don't know how to use it in the kitchen! So take a look through this list for a great idea or two (or three!) for delicious rhubarb dishes and options!

• homemade jams
• sweet ice cream topping
• rhubarb sauce
• stewed rhubarb for topping
• rhubarb sweetened concentrate
• rhubarb crisp
• rhubarb juice
• rhubarb jelly
• strawberry rhubarb pie
• strawberry rhubarb crumble

My favorite rhubarb dish? Hands down? Strawberry rhubarb pie or tarts! I know it's an old fashioned dish, but the mix of strawberry and rhubarb is just about perfect.