Fruits that lie on store shelves do not lose their presentation for a long time and do not spoil because they are coated with wax and treated with chemicals. Eating such fruits is fraught with the development of allergies and disruption of the digestive organs. People who grow fruits and berries on their plot make jam, jam or compote for the winter; apples and mint make an aromatic delicacy that preserves tannins and trace elements, contains organic acids and vitamins.
Features of preparing apple compote with mint and lemon balm
The fragrant herb gives the dessert a delicate aroma, and fresh fruits give it a rich taste.
How to choose and prepare the main ingredients correctly
For preservation you will need clean water, but neither vinegar nor citric acid is required. You can take summer varieties of apples for compote, but it is advisable that there are no dents on them. To speed up the cooking process, clean fruits are chopped into slices, the peel is pierced in several places, and the apples do not burst. Dry twigs or fresh mint are placed in the compote.
Preparing containers
Glass containers without cracks or chips should be washed with warm water and mustard or soda. To disinfect against fungi and bacteria, jars are sterilized:
- over steam;
- in a saucepan with boiling water;
- in the oven;
- in a microwave oven.
3 liter containers are disinfected for half an hour, 2 - 20 minutes, liter containers - 10 or 15. Sterile jars are dried by placing the neck down on a clean cloth.
The lids are steamed in boiling water.
Best Recipes
Use one of the proven recipes.
Classic apple and mint compote
To prepare a drink from fruits, you don’t need any special knowledge or skills. You will need a minimum of ingredients in the form of:
- water;
- 2 kg apples;
- 400 g sugar;
- 3 or 4 sprigs of mint.
The fruits are washed under the tap, chopped into slices along with the peel, and the core is removed. The aromatic herb is rinsed and dried. The container is filled to the top with chopped fruits and mint.
Boil water in a kettle or saucepan and pour it into a container with apples, which is covered for 40–45 minutes. When the solution has cooled, pour sugar into it and boil the syrup. A jar of fruit is filled with the hot mixture, screwed and insulated.
Apple compote with lemon balm
The aromatic drink can be stored in the kitchen or pantry if you add citric acid. In order for the workpiece to fit into a three-liter container, you need to take:
- 700 grams of apples;
- a large glass of sugar;
- 2–3 branches of lemon balm.
Pour about 3 liters of water into the pan and turn on the stove. The fruits are washed, dried with a napkin, and chopped into slices. The chopped fruits are transferred into a container, fresh grass is placed there, boiling water is poured, which is decanted after a quarter of an hour, sugar is poured in, and boiled for 3 or 4 minutes. 5 g of acid is added to a jar of fruit, filled with syrup, sealed and wrapped.
A very tasty compote is obtained from Antonovka; the apples of this variety are so aromatic that fragrant herbs are not needed:
- Small fruits are washed and sent whole to a disinfected container.
- Boiling water is poured into the container, closed, and wrapped in a blanket.
- After 14–16 hours, the water is drained into a saucepan, where 300 g of sugar is poured and boiled for 5 minutes.
- Fill a 3-liter jar of fruit with hot syrup. It holds up to 10 apples.
The drink does not spoil for a long time if the container with the fruit is sterilized. However, in this case, the amount of useful components in it is significantly reduced.
Further storage of workpieces
In a cellar or basement, where the temperature is low and humidity is low, apple compote does not lose its taste, does not become cloudy, or become moldy for up to 3 years. It is recommended to store fruit preparations in the kitchen or pantry for no more than 12 months.
