The key to getting the best deals on the juiciest, freshest, sweetest fruit, is to stock up in the summer! Watch out for these 11 summer fruits you don't want to miss!
11 Fruits You Should Stock Up on This Summer
Fresh fruit can be dicey, especially if you're buying it out of season. Out-of-season fruit can be expensive and, frankly, not very good.
The summer months can be a great time to stock up on fresh fruit, as many of the varieties are now in season and can be purchased for just pennies per pound.
What to Do with Bulk Fresh Fruit
When buying fruit in bulk, you have a few options for use.
1. Freeze it
This is probably the easiest thing to do. Buy it, wash it, and pat it dry. Then transfer to freezer bags. Be sure to label the freezer bags with what it is, how much, and the date (month and year are fine). You think you'll remember these things, but trust me, you won't. You don't want to waste it because you forgot what it was or how long it had been in there!
2. Can it.
You can freezer can or pressure can. Turn it into sauces, jams, jellies, pie filling. The possibilities are endless.
3. Eat it fresh.
Fresh summer fruit is the sweetest, juiciest fruit around. You'll want to make sure you have the opportunity to eat some fresh before you pack it away.
Fruits You Should Stock Up on This Summer Season
So which fruits should you stock up on exactly? The 10 fruits below are the summer rockstars you want to keep your eye on. Keep your eyes on the grocery ads for even bigger sales. That's how you know when they'll truly in season. You will find them at rock bottom prices making them perfect for preserving for later!
11 Fruits to Stock Up on in the Summer
1. Blueberries.
Grocery stores carry blueberries at low prices in the summer. You can also look for a U-pick farm near you for even lower prices and fresher fruits. You will typically find these in mid-July to mid-August. Blueberries are easy to freeze too, so you can easily buy in bulk and save them for the rest of the year.
Recipes to Make with Fresh or Frozen Blueberries:
- Blueberry Peach Crumble
- Blueberry Maple Syrup
- Best Blueberry Muffins
- 96 of the BEST Ever Recipes with Blueberries
2. Strawberries
Strawberries grow like crazy in the summer months, making them a cheap staple at farmer’s markets and most grocery stores. Strawberries have different peaks depending on where you live.Buy in-season strawberries in bulk and use them in jellies and jams, fruit salads, to make fruit skewers, or even to just eat plain. They make a cheap summer snack and for around $1 per pound, you just can’t beat the value.
Recipes to Make with Fresh or Frozen Strawberries
- Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes
- BEST Ever Healthy Fruit Salad
- Strawberry Buttercream
- Whipped Strawberry Butter
- 112 Best Strawberry Recipes
3. Raspberries
The growing season for raspberries is short, but it is one worth stocking up on! Raspberries are ridiculously expensive when they're not in season. Watch the grocery ads closely for these. In the southern United States, raspberries ripen in late May to early June, and in the north, they will typically ripen in July. Like blueberries, these are easy to freeze too, so you should buy in bulk and save them for the rest of the year.
Recipes to Make with Fresh or Frozen Raspberries
- Raspberry Streusel Muffins
- Raspberry Ganache Thumbprints
- Raspberry Buttercream
- Raspberry Chocolate Cake
4. Blackberries.
Okay, so if you haven't caught on by now... pretty much all berries. Freeze them, can them, pick them yourself... You can't go wrong. Peak season for blackberries is typically late July to early August.
Recipes to Make with Fresh or Frozen Blackberries
5. Bananas
Bananas are pretty cheap year-round, but they cost even less during the summer. You can typically find bananas for around 25-39 cents per pound during the summer, making them perfect for drying into tasty and healthy banana chips. You can also peel and freeze ripe bananas for smoothies.
Recipes to Make with Bananas
- Banana Cream Pie
- Chocolate Banana Cake
- Nutella Banana Muffins
- Banana Blueberry French Toast Bake
- 92 Yummy Recipes with Bananas - use them all up!
6. Cherries
It's hard to find fresh cherries anytime except for the summer. Of course, you can always buy them frozen, but there's nothing like biting into a fresh, juicy cherry. Cherry season is typically from mid-June to mid-July. To freeze cherries for future use, remove the stem and pit first!
7. Peaches
Peach season can range from anywhere to mid-May to mid-August. Coveted Georgia peaches are in-season during that whole time, if you're lucky enough to come across them. Peaches are great to make fresh cobblers, eat for a snack, or freeze in slices for later.
Recipes to Make with Peaches
8. Kiwi
During the summer months you can snag kiwi for as little as 50 cents per piece. They are an excellent source of nutrients and can even be dried into tasty fruit chips. Kids will love kiwi, and you will love how cheap it is to use them in snacks and salads.
9. Lemons
If you love citrus infused water, now is the time to buy those lemons. You can find them for as little as 50 cents per piece in the summer months, making them perfect for ice tea and lemonade. Or, you can make lemon zest and freeze it in ice cube trays for winter baking. You can even use fresh lemons around the house!
Recipes to Make with Fresh Lemons
10. Grapefruit
Not only is grapefruit good for you, it is quite cheap during the summer months. Use it in citrus salads or to craft a healthy breakfast. You can also use it to infuse summer beverages. For less than a buck each during the summer months, they are a great value.
11. Watermelon
Summer time is the BEST time to buy watermelon. You can typically buy a huge melon for as little as $3, perfect for using in salads or just eating fresh. While watermelon can be tricky to dry or freeze, you will find that it makes the perfect summer side dish or snack. Buy them anyhow, as they tend to go quick and there is no need to preserve!
Are you ready to build your fruit stockpile up? Buying in season fruit is the way to go. What's your favorite summer fruit?
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