TOP 6 ways to properly freeze red currants for the winter

The currant harvest period is short. In addition to making jam, make it cold, simply mixing it with sugar in equal proportions. But the disadvantage of this method is a large amount of sweet component. It is much healthier to freeze red currants, since a minimal amount of sugar is required. If the berry is prepared whole, you don’t need to use sugar. Such preparations are ideal for desserts, ice cream, smoothies, porridges, and muesli.

Is it possible to freeze currants for the winter?

Preparing berries in the freezer is a suitable way to preserve maximum vitamins and valuable elements.

The harvesting process involves preliminary freezing. The fruits are laid out on a flat surface, frozen, and then put into containers for storage. If the currants are dry, fresh, with intact skins, they can be immediately placed in a plastic bag or other container.

Important! Food cannot be frozen a second time.

The preparation must be made for one-time use. It is recommended to use small plastic bags and plastic containers. In addition, such portions go through the freezing process faster.

How to select and prepare berries?

In addition to freezing red currants, you can prepare white, black and other berries. You will get a delicious berry mix. It remains important to follow the rules for preparing fruits and the freezing process itself.

What berries are suitable:

• fully ripe;
• the harvested or purchased crop must be sorted out, leaves, other debris, and spoiled berries removed;
• it is necessary to collect and wash with twigs;
• rinse under running water, placing them in a colander;
• then dry it by spreading it on a cotton cloth, then pick it off, otherwise loss of juice is inevitable.

Methods for freezing currants at home

Recipes for freezing are varied: it is prepared whole, ground with granulated sugar or in the form of juice. It is recommended to prepare not only one red one, but to make a multi-component preparation: diversify with black and white currants, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. This berry cocktail is used for cooking compotes, jelly, and added to muesli.

With twigs

Branches with fruits are well stored in the freezer. For preparation you need:

1. Sort the fruits, wash them, and distribute them dry.
2. Place in plastic containers or bags. Place in a freezer.

From such preparations in winter you can make smoothies, juice, cook compote, add to muesli and other cereals.

With sugar

This type of freezing involves two methods: whole berries or chopping them using a blender or meat grinder. If the fruits are frozen whole, they should be placed in a container or bag and sprinkled with sugar.

Cooking diagram:

1. Grind the washed fruits.
2. Add granulated sugar. The classic ratio of berries to the sweet component is 5 to 1. But each housewife changes the amount of sugar depending on the taste preferences of family members.
3. Place the berry mixture in small containers and place in the freezer.

As a puree

If the fruits have been in the refrigerator, squashed, and the process of juice separation has already begun, it is recommended to freeze them in the form of a puree. Berry cubes are ideal for desserts, cereals, and ice cream.

Action plan:

1. Use a blender to puree the fruits. If desired, the mass can be rubbed through a sieve, then the skins and seeds will separate and it will be homogeneous.
2. Pour granulated sugar, the amount of which is used, taking into account the type, ripeness of the berries and the taste preferences of family members.
3. Place the mixture in an ice container and freeze.
4. Transfer the hardened cubes to a storage container and place in the freezer.

If desired, you can add whole berries to the puree. After defrosting, they look beautiful and appetizing on desserts, ice cream and granola.

Blackcurrant smoothie with milk

To prepare a smoothie, you can freeze currant cubes in advance. These preparations are mixed with milk and yogurt, and a delicious, healthy drink is ready.

To prepare the cubes:

1. Grind the fruits using a blender.
2. Place the puree mixture in an ice container.
3. When the berry cubes harden, place them in a bag or storage container.

Preparation for compotes, fruit drinks, jelly

To prepare compotes and jelly in winter, berry mixes are prepared, the composition of which is at the discretion of the housewife. For such purposes, crushed berries that have been sitting for some time are suitable. They must be packaged in plastic bags.

Their size should allow for one-time use.

For fruit drinks, it is recommended to prepare the juice of the berries, freeze them in the form of cubes and use them during the preparation process in winter.

Currant juice

Juice can be added when preparing smoothies, jelly, and jelly desserts. It is frozen according to the following scheme:

1. Pass the prepared fruits through a juicer.
2. Pour the juice into plastic containers and place in the freezer.

Do not throw away the juice field. You can cook compote or berry mass from it, you can freeze it for making compotes and jelly.

Some housewives dry currant cake and brew it with tea.

Black currants are very popular. The result is a fortified, aromatic, healthy drink, since a large amount of vitamins and minerals are stored in the peel of the berries.

How and for how long can you store it?

Refrigeration equipment experts say that the optimal temperature for storing berry preparations is from 18° to 23°. Vegetables, fruits and berries are frozen faster and stored for up to 12 months.If the temperature is 10 o or higher, under such conditions the shelf life is up to four months.

How to defrost correctly?

Berry preparations need gentle defrosting. To do this, transfer the container or bag from the freezer to the refrigerator and use it after complete defrosting. When defrosting in a microwave oven, most of the vitamins are lost due to temperature changes. Defrosting at room temperature is faster, but the berries lose their attractive appearance.

When preparing compotes, fruit drinks, and jelly, the preparations are immediately filled with water. When adding to baked goods, cottage cheese casserole, you can immediately add frozen fruits during the cooking process.