Often in winter you want to try some summer vegetables or fruits. Grapes, which are harvested from August to early autumn, are no exception. In addition to taste, every cook would like to preserve the beneficial properties of the berry. Most summer fruits do not lose their quality when placed in the freezer for the winter, but is it still possible to freeze grapes? It's worth looking into this issue.
Is it possible to freeze grapes?
Like many summer delicacies, this product loses neither its taste nor its beneficial qualities in the freezer. Direct proof of this: in cold regions, when temperatures drop sharply, the berries remain just as attractive to various species of birds. Some people think that freezing grapes is an unnecessary fuss in the kitchen, because you can easily buy greenhouse fruits, berries, and vegetables in supermarkets.
However, fresh frozen product retains all the vitamin C it is so rich in. Artificially grown specimens cannot boast of this quality. In addition to the fact that frozen berries can please your family in winter with their “summer” taste, you can make excellent compotes and fruit drinks from these grapes.
What varieties are suitable?
When choosing grapes for freezing, you should pay attention to varieties that have thick skins and the texture of the berries themselves is quite dense. Often these are dark table varieties. Their properties make it possible to preserve the original state of the grapes even after long-term freezing. Also, quite often, experienced housewives choose sultanas. The berries of this variety are quite large, and the absence of seeds makes the process of consuming a summer product in winter even more enjoyable.
Selection and preparation of berries
When buying grapes at the market or in a store, your choice should be based on the beauty and size of the berries. It would be a good idea to try the product before purchasing a large quantity of the product.
You need to be a little more careful when harvesting directly from a branch in the garden.
It is better to carry out this procedure in the second half of September, when it is dry and clear. Moisture on the fruit can cause spoilage when frozen.
It is necessary to cut the brushes very carefully, making sure that the berries do not crack or become wrinkled.Damaged ones should be eaten immediately, left for wine (if you want to make it) or thrown away. The remaining brushes are carefully laid out in a box or drawer, covered with paper on top to protect them from negative external factors.
Immediately before the freezing process, several steps must be taken:
- Rinse the brushes under running water, thoroughly removing any dirt and dust that may have accumulated during storage.
- Hang them on a rope until the water drains completely and dries.
- Place the grapes in the refrigerator for two hours.
This pre-preparation is essential for any freezing recipe. If you skip this stage, there is a risk of spoilage of the berries and a decrease in the intensity of the taste of the product.
Options for freezing grapes for the winter
It would seem that there is nothing simpler than placing the product in the freezer and leaving it there until winter. But in fact, in order for the berries to retain their beneficial properties and primary taste, they must be stored correctly. In addition, there are a large number of recipes for freezing grapes, and each housewife must decide which one to choose. You can try different options every winter or prepare several at once.
Harvesting in bunches
To ensure that frozen bunches of grapes harvested at home do not spoil during storage, you must follow some rules:
- Chilled bunches of grapes are laid out on a large platter or tray and left in the freezer for 6-8 hours.
- Afterwards, the grapes are sorted into bags for further storage. No more than 2-3 brushes (bunches) are placed in one bag.
- Now the product will retain all its beneficial qualities until it is consumed.
Experienced housewives note that this method is most suitable for berries, from which they then plan to cook compote. It will certainly be a tasty and healthy treat in the middle of a cold winter.
Grape puree
This method requires the most serious time investment, since each berry will have to be pitted. The grapes are then placed in a blender along with sugar and pureed. The ratio of products is 2:1. The resulting mass is transferred for storage and sent to freeze.
Freezing in syrup
This method is recommended for light grape varieties. Brushes are prepared using the traditional method. Next, the berries are separated and placed in a container for further freezing. Prepare syrup separately using 2 tbsp. l. water with dissolved 1 tbsp. l. Sahara. The syrup is thoroughly stirred and the berries are poured into the container.
Freezing in sugar
One of the simplest, but no less successful ways to freeze grapes. Individual berries are thoroughly washed and then placed in a bag. Sugar is also poured here. Then you need to carefully move the “mixture” into the container. This way, the sugar will be evenly mixed with the berries, which will not be damaged.
How and for how long can you store it?
Frozen grapes that are thoroughly cleaned and properly prepared will last all winter. So even in early spring you can please your loved ones with summer berry compote. However, if the refrigerator has been defrosted, it is better to consume the grapes immediately.
Defrosting rules
To prevent the berries from losing their taste, it is important to defrost them correctly. The process is carried out in stages. Initially, packages or containers with the product are transferred to the refrigerator for 10-18 hours. Accelerated defrosting method: pour warm water over the grapes.True, in this case the product is consumed immediately.
It is not recommended to place the preparations in the microwave before use. As a result, some of the vitamins are destroyed, as with gradual thawing at room temperature.
