What Are Blueberries and How Can I Use Them?

Blueberries rewards a little know-how: how to choose them, cook them, store them, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 462 recipes to cook with them.

What are blueberries?

Blueberries are a berry, ranging from 5–16 millimetres (0.20–0.63 in) diameter with a flared crown at the end; they are pale greenish at first, then reddish-purple, and finally indigo blue when ripe.

They have a sweet taste when mature, with variable acidity. Blueberry bushes typically bear fruit in the middle of the growing season: fruiting times are affected by local conditions such as altitude and latitude, so the height of the crop can vary from May to August depending upon these conditions.

Blueberries are sold fresh or processed as individually quick frozen (IQF) fruit, purée, juice, or dried or infused berries which in turn may be used in a variety of consumer goods such as jellies, jams, blueberry pies, muffins, snack foods, and cereals.

Blueberries have a diverse range of micronutrients, with notably high levels (relative to respective Dietary Reference Intakes) of the essential dietary mineral manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K and dietary fiber (table). 

One serving provides a relatively low glycemic load score of 4 out of 100 per day.

Especially in wild species, blueberries contain anthocyanins, other antioxidant pigments and various phytochemicals possibly having a role in reducing risks of some diseases, including inflammation and certain cancers.

Nutrition

Where found

Blueberries are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Blueberries are a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do blueberries weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using blueberries

There are 462 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Blueberry French Toast Sandwiches

Golden French toast stuffed with warm blueberry-maple compote and dusted with powdered sugar. Make weekend brunch feel special with this sweet sandwich.

Granola with Fresh Fruit

Granola with fresh fruit is the no-cook breakfast bowl done right: crunchy granola topped with blueberries, raspberries, banana, and sliced almonds, then milk or yogurt. Ready in 5 minutes, high in fiber.

Buttermilk Waffles

Buttermilk waffles with chopped cashews folded into the batter and a quick fresh blueberry compote spooned over top. Light, crisp, and ready for weekend brunch in under 25 minutes.

Buttery Blueberry Banana Muffins

Blueberry banana muffins combine ripe mashed bananas, fresh or frozen blueberries, and tangy buttermilk for tender, double-fruit breakfast muffins dusted with powdered sugar.

Uncle's Favorite Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry muffins where half the berries get mashed into the batter for purple swirls and double the fruit flavor. Sugar-crusted tops, bakery-style domes.

Blueberry Muffins with Nutmeg Topping

Bakery-style blueberry muffins with nutmeg sugar topping. Three flours, butter, and buttermilk give a tender crumb and tall domed tops crowned with crackly spiced sugar.

Blueberry Orange Muffins

Tender breakfast muffins bursting with fresh blueberries and bright orange zest for a bakery-style morning treat in under an hour

Jordan's Blueberry Muffins

Bakery-style blueberry muffins pack 2.5 cups of berries into a tender butter-creamed batter with crackly sugar tops. A bursting-with-fruit breakfast classic.

Muffins, Blueberry

Light blueberry muffins use egg whites, egg substitute, and fat-free spread for tender, fruit-packed muffins with lemon-bright flavor. Two cups of fresh blueberries in every batch.

Yummy Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

Blueberry buttermilk muffins with browned butter, tangy buttermilk, and a juicy berry burst in every bite. A bakery-style classic that earns its golden domed top with a hot oven and a light hand.

Super Blueberry Muffins

Super blueberry muffins, packed with two full cups of fresh berries for maximum fruit-in-every-bite. A simple one-bowl recipe ready in 20 minutes for breakfast or snacking.

Favorite Blueberry Pancakes

Blueberry pancakes scatter fresh berries onto the cooking pancakes instead of mixing them into the batter. Bright blueberry pockets, no purple-streaked batter, ready in 30 minutes.

Blueberry & Rum Milkshake

Fresh or frozen blueberries macerate in dark rum and vanilla bean seeds, then blitz with ice cream into a grown-up milkshake with berry-booze swirls and creamy vanilla richness.

Double Berry Muffins

Double berry muffins layer blueberry batter around a hidden teaspoon of raspberry jam, lightened with wheat germ and orange juice. Low-fat breakfast bake.

Buttermilk Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce

Whole wheat buttermilk pancakes with a quick blueberry-lemon sauce. Honey-sweetened, lighter on fat thanks to egg substitute, and finished with a glossy fresh blueberry pour. A 30-minute breakfast win.

Lemon Blueberry Cake

Moist lemon blueberry cake with cornmeal, buttermilk, and fresh lemon zest. Bursting with 3 cups of blueberries, this from-scratch sheet cake has a golden crumb and bright citrus flavor in every slice.

Fluffy Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes

These flapjacks are leaps and bounds better than any other I've tested. The key is the buttermilk which makes them thick and fluffy and adds just the right flavor.

Blueberry Tarts

Individual blueberry tarts with a flaky vinegar-butter crust and cinnamon-spiced fresh berry filling. Dusted with powdered sugar and topped with whipped cream for a rustic summer dessert.

Blueberry Hill Muffins

From a new blueberry cookbook I just got, these sound good for my two blueberry lovin' guys! I like that they have very little butter in them...cant wait to try them out! It doesnt say how many it makes so Im guessing at 6.

Spicy Blueberry Citrus Marmalade

Spicy blueberry citrus marmalade simmers orange, lemon, and lime rinds with fresh blueberries, sugar, and a kick of crushed red pepper into a sweet-tart-spicy preserve. Made for canning and gifting.

Blueberry 'N' Spice Sauce

Blueberry spice sauce simmers fresh berries with cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon for a glossy dessert topping. 15 minutes from saucepan to spoon, ideal for ice cream and pancakes.

Morning Blueberry Orange Muffins

Quick blueberry muffins with orange zest and a crunchy sugar-topped crust that bakes in just 20 minutes for busy weekday mornings

Maine Blueberry Muffins

Maine blueberry muffins with whole wheat flour, melted butter, cinnamon, and fresh blueberries. Topped with sugar for a crunchy crust. A New England classic in 30 minutes.

Blueberry, Roasted Corn, Soy Bean & Arugula Salad

Fresh blueberries, roasted sweet corn, soy bean, red bell pepper and peppery arugula are tossed with a white wine vinegar-olive oil vinaigrette. It's a light and tasty summer salad that accompanies well with any barbecued dishes.

Blueberry Jam

Blueberry jam pairs deep berries with tart rhubarb for natural pectin set, no commercial pectin needed. Traditional Scottish-style preserve with three ingredients and a simple boil.

All 462 recipes