To enjoy the taste of aromatic berries in winter, you can not only preserve them in the traditional way, but also freeze them. This storage method is becoming increasingly popular due to its simplicity and accessibility. Plums are not just tasty, but also very healthy berries. These fruits contain extremely useful dietary fiber, as well as acids, minerals, vitamins A, B, and E necessary for the human body. It reduces cholesterol levels in the blood and also helps eliminate heavy metals from the body. Helps normalize intestinal function and also strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
Canning is a rather labor-intensive process. Freezing is easier and more convenient. There are several ways to properly freeze plums while preserving all the beneficial properties. How to do this correctly to get maximum benefit?
Features of freezing plums for the winter
A properly frozen plum perfectly preserves not only its aroma and appetizing appearance, but also all the beneficial substances contained in the fruit.
To freeze it correctly, you must adhere to several basic rules:
- You can freeze plums with or without pits, as well as in sugar, syrup or in vacuum packaging. In this way, you can preserve not only fresh fruits, but also prunes.
- It should be frozen in small portions to make it convenient to use.
- During pre-freezing, the fruits should be in a container or on a plate in one layer to avoid damage.
It is also recommended to remove the bags on the second day to completely remove any air from them, and then place them back in the freezer.
Preparing the product for freezing
Freezing plums, like prunes, is a simple matter. But it is very important to prepare the berries correctly. Only whole fruits should be selected; cracked or spoiled ones should be removed. You need to wash them thoroughly and then dry them. For freezing fruits, plastic bags with or without a slider (special fastener), as well as various food-grade plastic containers, are suitable.
Preparing the Freezer
The freezer compartment of the refrigerator where the berries will be stored should first be thoroughly washed and dried.Enough space should be left in it so that the fruit can be placed in one layer for the first few hours for initial freezing.
It is worth considering exactly where the product will be stored. There should be no foods with a strong smell, such as meat, fish or seafood, in the refrigerator near the drains.
How to freeze plums at home
Various recipes for preserving goodies for the winter can be found freely available on the Internet. Next we will talk about the most well-known methods.
With a bone
This is the least expensive method since there is no need to peel the berries. Washed and dried whole fresh plums should be laid out on a tray so that the berries hardly touch, then put in the freezer for several hours. This is done so that they do not become deformed when frozen.
After 3-4 hours, the plums are taken out and transferred to prepared containers or bags and returned to the freezer.
Seedless
If you are going to freeze seedless fruits, first wash them, dry them with a towel, and then remove the pit. The berries should be fresh and firm.
In this case, it is better to give preference to those varieties in which it is easily removed - the preparation process will go better and faster.
The fruit halves should be laid out in one layer on a plate, covered with cling film and placed in the freezer. They should sit in the freezer for 3-4 hours. The drains should be placed at a short distance from each other so that they do not touch.
Then the hardened fruits must be placed in bags or containers for freezing and sent to the freezer for long-term storage. It is preferable to freeze the fruits of the Hungarian variety.
Slices
You can also freeze it in slices. In this case, the fruits are also washed, dried, the pit is removed, and the pulp is cut into slices with a sharp knife so as not to cause damage. Next, the process is the same as for freezing pitted plums.
In sugar
There is also a way to freeze these berries in sugar. For such storage, you should wash the selected berries, let them dry or blot them with a towel to remove excess moisture.
A small number of slices or halves are placed in a container for freezing, and a small amount of sugar is added.
This is done until the container is completely loaded. For 1 kg of fruit you will need 200 grams of sugar or powdered sugar.
If you intend to store plums in the future in bags rather than in containers, then you should do this:
- place the prepared fruits on a dish or tray so that they do not touch;
- cover the berries with sugar or powder;
- freeze the berries in the freezer for 3-4 hours;
- after this time, transfer the frozen plums to the prepared dishes and return to the freezer;
- Remove the frozen berries from the freezer, put them in bags and return them to the chamber for further storage.
In syrup
For this freezing option, not only selected, but also slightly overripe berries are suitable. First the syrup is made. To prepare it, you need to take 800 grams of sugar for every liter of water. If the berries are very sweet, then you can add one teaspoon of lemon juice to this amount of water and sugar. If the berries are not too sweet, then you can do without it. Bring the water and sugar to a boil, stirring lightly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
The syrup should then be cooled.When it has cooled completely, you need to pour it over the prepared plums, placed in suitable containers, and put them in the freezer for storage.
It should be remembered that the plums do not need to be packed too tightly and the containers should not be filled to the very top, because the liquid will increase in volume when frozen.Properly frozen fruits will delight the whole family in the future.
In a vacuum
Dense and fleshy fruits are suitable for freezing, but in some methods even overripe berries can be used. In vacuum packaging, plums are also perfectly stored at low temperatures. To freeze fruits in this way, you need a special device - a vacuumizer. Plums are frozen and stored in special bags.
Frozen food storage
Frozen plums can be stored at a temperature of –10 for up to six months. If the temperature is lower (within -19 degrees), the shelf life will be longer - up to 9 months.
You can place a piece of paper in a bag or container with frozen plums on which the freezing date is written. This will help determine in the future which fruits should be used first.
Rules for defrosting plums
The frozen delicacy can be used in the preparation of various fillings in confectionery products, in the preparation of drinks, baby food, and also in its pure form.
To preserve all the beneficial properties, as well as appearance, you should defrost, following some recommendations:
- This must be done exclusively in a natural way. You cannot defrost berries in warm water or in the microwave; in this case, the berries will be hopelessly spoiled;
- After defrosting, a small amount of liquid will appear in the container. It can be poured into a separate container and then used;
- If the plums have been thawed, they should be used. There is no need to freeze them a second time.
Often, when preparing confectionery, housewives use plums without defrosting them completely. Frozen plums will be a real treat during the cold season.
