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Get them while they're at their peak—then stash them in your freezer!

Strawberries may be available year-round in grocery stores, but nothing compares to the bright red, juicy berries you can get during peak season! They're usually at their best in May, but strawberry season can actually start as early as April in warmer climates and extend into July in cooler areas. During that time of the year, you can head over to your local berry farm and pick your own, or grab a few extra pints at the farmer's market or grocery store and freeze them to enjoy whenever you want. But...how to freeze strawberries, you ask?

Ahead, we're outlining all of the steps so that you can enjoy your favorite strawberry desserts year-round. Keep in mind, though, that frozen strawberries won't have quite the same texture as fresh ones once they're thawed—so truthfully, your best bet is to use them in smoothies, sauces, or other recipes where they're blended or mashed. Fruit desserts aren't off the table entirely! We've got plenty of no-bake ideas for which you can swap in frozen berries. You can also use frozen strawberries in place of ice in your favorite drinks—drop some into a glass of lemonade, for instance!

Thoroughly wash and dry your strawberries, then hull them by inserting a paring knife into the stem end and cutting in a small circle to carefully remove the green stem.

You can slice them in half, quarter them, or thickly slice them. (This is up to you depending on how you plan to use the berries later.) They'll be difficult to slice once they're frozen, so only freeze them whole if you plan to use them whole (like if you're adding them to smoothies or something similar).

Place the sliced berries on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer (make sure none of them are touching). Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze until the berries are fully hardened, about 3 hours. Remove the strawberries from the parchment and transfer them to resealable freezer bags and immediately return to the freezer. Repeat this process for any more berries you plan to freeze.

You can technically do either, but it's a good idea to slice or at least halve the strawberries before you freeze them so they are easier to work with when you eventually use them. And no matter what you do, be sure to remove the green stems before freezing.

Yes, yes, yes! Wash your strawberries but be sure to thoroughly dry them with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel before freezing so they don't accumulate ice crystals in the freezer.

Follow all of the steps above, then freeze the strawberries until you're ready to use them. They'll be good for months—even up to a year!