How to keep blueberries at home for the winter, rules and best ways
People often wonder how best to store blueberries. To achieve good results in this area, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations of specialists. First of all, it is recommended to choose the right fruit. They should be of the highest quality possible and free from signs of rot or mould. You can store the berries in the refrigerator. It is also allowed to freeze them or use them for parts.
Bay characteristics
This healthy berry has an amazing taste and pleasant aroma. It helps to saturate the body with important vitamins and minerals. Blueberries are often used in medical practice. It is recommended to use it for pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. The fruit helps maintain the health of the genitourinary organs and improve visual function.
It is a real elixir of youth, since the composition contains many antioxidants and other elements that contribute to the recovery of the organism. The product is used after operations. It helps to increase blood clotting. In addition, blueberries help reduce fever and cope with viral infections.
Berries can also be used by children, as they are distinguished by their benefits for the growing body. Forest fruits contain trace elements that help strengthen bones and teeth.
The maximum amount of useful elements is contained in fresh fruits. To extend the shelf life of berries, they must provide optimal conditions. It is allowed to store them in the refrigerator. To increase shelf life, fruits can be frozen, ground with sugar, dried, or used to make jam.
How to choose for long term storage
You can buy blueberries at a store or market. Some people grow it themselves in the country. First of all, it is recommended to pay attention to the selection and preparation of fruits. To do this, you should focus on the following recommendations:
- the fruits should retain their integrity and not have damaged areas - spots, traces of insects;
- blueberries should have a firm, firm texture - they can't be too soft;
- smelling it, it is important to make sure that the berries are not damaged.
Proper preparation of fruit for storage is not insignificant. In order for them to retain their taste and aroma as much as possible, it is necessary to choose only high-quality fruits.
Damaged berries should be discarded. It is also allowed to cook jam from it, make jam or compote from it.
Wash the selected fruits in cold but not hot water and place them on a flat surface. It is recommended to sort the blueberries as soon as possible. This will help prevent mold from appearing. After the berries are dried, it is allowed to put them in bags.
How to properly store at home
To preserve blueberries for a long time, they can be frozen, soaked, made into jam or dried. The berries can be candied, which also increases their shelf life.
Frozen
This is the most reliable way to prepare flans. It helps to protect the berries from rotting for a long period of time. To do this, it is recommended to do the following:
- sort the fruit;
- remove all stems;
- rinse the berries thoroughly under running water;
- slightly dry the fruits - if you freeze them wet, the skin will become too hard, which will lead to a deterioration in taste;
- put in even layers in a sealed small dish - you should not fill it to the top, you need to leave 2-3 centimeters of free space;
- put a small amount of sugar between each layer;
- close the dishes tightly and put them in the freezer.
This method preserves the benefits of the berries for several years, but it is best to consume them within the first 12 months after freezing.
Urinate
Soaking is considered an interesting method of harvesting fruit. Thanks to this, blueberries will remain fresh and beneficial to the body for many months. To do this, it is recommended to proceed as follows:
- pour the peeled and washed fruits into ordinary glass jars;
- fill with cold boiled water;
- boil blueberries - when using 0.5 liter cans, this should be done for 10 minutes;
- close the banks well;
- turn over - this will help sanitize the lids.
It is recommended to store soaked berries in a cool, dry place. A basement or refrigerator is suitable for this.
confectionery
In this form, the fruits can be stored for 1 year.To do this, you must do the following:
- knead the berries or pass them through a meat grinder;
- put sugar in the berry mass - 500 grams of sugar should be used for 1 kilogram of blueberries;
- heat the berry mixture;
- sterilize the banks;
- transfer blueberries to jars and proceed to pasteurization - for dishes with a capacity of 0.5 liters, this procedure is extended for 20 minutes.
It is recommended to store blueberries with sugar in the refrigerator or cellar. In such places, it can retain its freshness throughout the year.
jam making
This is a common storage method for blueberries. Of course, it doesn't save you a lot of vitamins, but it helps you enjoy a wonderful dessert. To make homemade jam, follow these steps:
- Sort and wash the berries, put them in a saucepan and add water. This will require 250 milliliters of fluid.
- Put on low heat and add 850 grams of sugar per portion. This will help you get a rich syrup.
- Boil the finished composition for 20 minutes.
- Pour the jam into jars, roll up the lid and put in a cool place. Pots should be placed with the lid down.
- After the cans have cooled, they can be moved to the basement or cellar.
This is a standard jam recipe that has many variations. If you want to get a more unusual option, you need to prepare the following components:
- blueberry;
- 2 tablespoons of rum;
- 180 grams of honey;
- a packet of gelatin.
Berries should be washed and put on low heat. Add honey and gelatin, stirring constantly. When the mixture boils, simmer for a few more minutes until bubbles appear. Add the rum at the end of cooking.
There is also another option for making jam.To do this, mix blueberries and sugar in equal parts. Leave to infuse for a day. When the syrup appears, the mixture should be boiled for 5 minutes. After that, it remains to pour the composition into banks and twist.
Drying
To get a useful part, it is worth using a special dryer. Otherwise, you can use a regular oven. To prepare dried blueberries, follow these steps:
- put the fruits on a baking sheet and put in the oven;
- set the temperature regime to + 40-50 degrees;
- slightly open the door;
- systematically check the condition of the berries and, if necessary, mix;
- dry at a temperature of +50 degrees - it is recommended to do this for 1.5-2 hours;
- then dry for another 1 hour at a temperature of +60 degrees.
It is recommended to place the finished product in an airtight container and put it in the basement or in the refrigerator for several months.
Optimal storage conditions and duration for fresh berries
Fresh fruits are better preserved naturally, without transformation. Selected fruits should be stored in the refrigerator in small quantities. It is allowed to do this for 1-2 days. With a longer shelf life, the berries suffer from mold and deteriorate.
In order to keep fruits longer, they must be provided with a temperature of +5 degrees. The berries should be sorted in the standard way. They should be cleaned of leaves and insects and transferred to a plastic container. Do not add blueberries on top. It is important that the container is tightly closed. Place the container on the middle shelf against the wall. This will increase the shelf life of berries up to 1 week.
Common Mistakes
When storing berries, you must follow these rules:
- If you store the berries in the refrigerator for too long, they can develop mold.
- If you store dried fruits at room temperature, they will dry out too much.
- If the jam is stored at room temperature in the summer, it can mold.
- If the berries are not dried before freezing, they will turn into porridge.
Storing blueberries has a number of special features. Fresh berries should be stored in the refrigerator for only a few days. If you want to keep fresh fruits longer, they should be frozen or used for harvesting.