How to keep blueberries fresh for the winter so that all vitamins are preserved

Blueberries have many useful trace elements. These berries are used to prevent heart disease and strengthen the immune system, which is especially important in the cold season. Also, the product is 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

Consuming blueberries, a person makes up for the lack of vitamins C, PP, B1 and B6. Magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron and phosphorus are also found in this product.

Blueberries are a natural antioxidant. Consumption of berries helps to strengthen the immune system and accelerates the recovery of the body in case of infectious diseases.

Fruits are also recommended to be used to improve visual acuity and prevent cancer. The trace elements that make up the berry increase the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, normalize cholesterol and sugar levels.

Ways to keep blueberries fresh

Fresh blueberries cannot be stored for a long time. Even after a few days, the berry loses its presentation and useful properties. And after a week, the collected fruits must be thrown away. The general shelf life of blueberries at home does not exceed a few hours. Therefore, the collection must be immediately placed in the freezer or refrigerator. You can also store fruits in dried or candied form.

In the fridge

Berries can be kept fresh for one week in the refrigerator at a temperature of +4 degrees. In order for the collection not to lose its useful properties, the following recommendations must be followed:

• remove spoiled fruits, leaves and debris from the harvest;
• rinse under running water and dry fruit on a paper towel;
• put the berries in a container and close the lid loosely, thereby ensuring the flow of air.

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.

Candied

This storage method results in a product ready to be added to desserts. In order for the fruits not to lose their original properties, several conditions must be met:

• select, rinse and dry;
• grind fruits with sugar in a ratio of 1:2 (you can use a blender);
• sterilize jars;
• put the prepared mixture in 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 keep the useful 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 prepared blueberries should be placed in containers. After that, the jars need to be put in a basin and the mixture is heated over low heat for one hour.During cooking, it is necessary to periodically report the berries in the container.

At the end of the hour, the jars should be tightly tightened with lids, and after cooling the container with jam, place in the refrigerator or a cool room.

Ways to freeze 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 quick freezing. But prepared foods should be thawed slowly, at room temperature. In this case, berries, juices and purees will not spoil.

Freeze blueberries without sugar

For freezing, you will need to sort out the collection, removing the damaged berries. Then you need to rinse and dry the blueberries on a paper towel.Prepared berries are laid out on a plate (or other suitable dish, but not iron), covered with cling film. At the end, the collection is placed in the pre-freeze chamber for an hour.

At the end of preparation, the blueberries are poured into a bag, which is then placed in the freezer.

With sugar

This harvesting method does not differ from the one given earlier. To keep the collection during the cold season, you will need to sort and wash the blueberries, put 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 in pies.

Pure with sugar

This cooking method combines the two recipes above. For mashed potatoes, you will need to mix sugar and blueberries in a 2: 1 ratio (if you need a sour product, then 1: 1), and then grind in a blender to a mushy state.The resulting product at the end is 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 pre-crushed in a blender (food processor) to a mushy state. The resulting mixture is then placed in prepared containers, and tightly closed containers are sent to the freezer. This "porridge" is often used as complementary food for children.

Frozen blueberry juice

The way to make blueberry juice is quite simple. To get the finished product, you will also need to rinse 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 that, the containers should be placed in the freezer.

To avoid negative consequences, it is recommended to fill the juice not to the brim. This is explained by the fact that in the process of freezing, 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, 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 figure must be increased to +70 degrees. As soon as the moisture is completely gone, the fruits can be moved to the appropriate container (bags, jars, plastic containers are suitable). Dried blueberries will keep for two years. In this case, the humidity level should not exceed 70%, and the temperature should not exceed +20 degrees.

You can also place the berry pick under a shed or attic if the weather is hot outside and the air circulates well indoors. Drying in these conditions will take 4 days.

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