Blueberries have many beneficial microelements. These berries are used to prevent heart disease and strengthen the immune system, which is especially important in the cold season. The product is also used to prepare delicious desserts. And people have found several solutions to the problem of how to keep blueberries fresh for the winter. In this state, the berry retains most of its beneficial properties.
Vitamins in blueberries
By consuming blueberries, a person compensates for the lack of vitamins C, PP, B1 and B6. This product also contains magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron and phosphorus.
Blueberries are a natural antioxidant. Consumption of berries helps strengthen the immune system and accelerates the body's recovery from infectious diseases.
The fruits are also recommended to be consumed to improve visual acuity and prevent cancer. The microelements that make up the berry increase the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels and normalize cholesterol and sugar levels.
Methods for storing fresh blueberries
Fresh blueberries cannot be stored for long. Even after a few days, the berry loses its presentation and beneficial properties. And after a week, the collected fruits must be thrown away. The general shelf life of blueberries at home does not exceed several hours. Therefore, the collection must be immediately placed in the freezer or refrigerator. You can also store fruits in dried or candied form.
In a refrigerator
The berries can be kept fresh for one week in the refrigerator at a temperature of +4 degrees. To prevent the collection from losing its beneficial properties, you must follow the following recommendations:
- remove spoiled fruits, leaves and debris from the harvested crop;
- rinse under running water and dry the fruits on a paper towel;
- Place the berries in a container and close the lid loosely, thereby ensuring air flow.
This storage method requires the use of plastic or ceramic containers. If a metal container is used, the acids contained in the berries will provoke an oxidation reaction. It is recommended to collect and store blueberries separately from other fruits and vegetables.
Sugaring
This storage method produces a product that is ready to be added to desserts.To ensure that the fruits do not lose their original properties, several conditions must be met:
- select, wash and dry;
- grind the fruits with sugar in a ratio of 1:2 (you can use a blender);
- sterilize jars;
- put the prepared mixture into jars and close the lid so that no air enters the container.
How long to store candied berries depends on the place in which the container is placed. In the freezer, blueberries will not spoil for several months.
Canning in own juice
Preservation allows you to preserve the beneficial properties of the product for a long period. To do this, you will need to rinse the collected fruits and sterilize the jars in the oven. Then the prepared blueberries should be placed in containers. After this, the jars should be placed in a basin and the mixture should be heated over low heat for one hour. During cooking, it is necessary to periodically add berries to containers.
At the end of the hour, the jars need to be tightly screwed on with their lids, and after the containers with jam have cooled, place them in the refrigerator or cool room.
Methods for freezing blueberries
If you freeze blueberries correctly and follow the storage conditions, the berries will retain their beneficial properties and taste throughout the winter. There are several similar methods for harvesting fruits for the cold season.
An important condition for preserving the beneficial properties of fruits is rapid freezing. But prepared foods should be thawed slowly, at room temperature. In this case, the berries, juices and purees will not spoil.
Freezing blueberries without sugar
To freeze, you will need to sort through the collection, removing damaged berries. Then you need to rinse and dry the blueberries on a paper towel.The prepared berries are laid out on a plate (or other suitable dishes, but not iron) covered with cling film. At the end, the collection is placed in a pre-freezing chamber for an hour.
Once the preparation is complete, the blueberries are poured into a bag, which is then placed in the freezer.
With sugar
This harvesting method is no different from the one given earlier. To preserve the harvest during the cold season, you will need to sort and wash the blueberries, lay them in layers in a plastic container and sprinkle with sugar (proportion 1:2). At the end, the containers are closed with a lid and placed in the freezer. This recipe is suitable for preparations that are used in the preparation of fruit drinks and as an ingredient for pies.
Mashed potatoes with sugar
This cooking method combines the two recipes given earlier. For the puree, you will need to mix sugar and blueberries in a ratio of 2:1 (if you need a sour product, then 1:1), and then grind in a blender until mushy. The resulting product is finally laid out in containers that are placed in the freezer. This mixture is used as a filling for pies or desserts.
Sugar free puree
This recipe is no different from the previous ones. Washed and dried berries are first crushed in a blender (food processor) to a mushy state. The resulting mixture is then placed in prepared containers, and the tightly closed containers are sent to the freezer. This “porridge” is often used as complementary food for children.
Frozen blueberry juice
The method for making blueberry juice is quite simple. To get the finished product, you will also need to wash the berries.Then you need to squeeze the blueberries in a convenient way (it is recommended to use a juicer), and pour the juice into glasses and close tightly. After this, the containers should be placed in the freezer.
To avoid negative consequences, it is recommended not to fill the juice to the brim. This is explained by the fact that during the freezing process the liquid expands.
Other storage methods
In addition to the previously given recipes, you can use a method that involves drying the collection. To do this, you need to remove debris and spoiled berries. Then the fruits are laid out in one layer and dried in an oven or device designed for this purpose.
In the first 4 hours, the fruits are dried at a temperature of +40 degrees. Then this indicator must be increased to +70 degrees. As soon as the moisture is completely released, the fruits can be transferred to appropriate containers (bags, jars, plastic containers are suitable). Dried blueberries can be stored for two years. The humidity level should not exceed 70%, and the temperature should not exceed +20 degrees.
You can also place the berry collection under a shed or attic if the weather is hot outside and there is good air circulation in the room. Drying in such conditions will take 4 days.
