The best ways to preserve mashed currants with sugar at home
For each housewife, the question of how to store fresh currants, crushed with sugar, for the winter is relevant. The fact is that the berry can lose a significant part of the vitamins during storage, which, of course, is not encouraging. Also, blackcurrant strongly adopts the smells of other products. If it is stored near fish, meat, vegetables, then, most likely, without a sealed container, it will begin to smell and, as a result, deteriorate.
Storage features of red and black currants
Red and black currants are the record holders for nutrient content. Black contains a large amount of vitamin C, and red has the maximum content of pectin - it removes harmful cholesterol from the cells of the body. Growing currants will not take away the strength of the summer resident. Up to seven kilograms of fresh berries are collected from one bush.At the same time, you can prepare them for the winter in any way: from simple grinding with sugar to making delicious and bright jellies or compotes.
The storage features of currants depend on the method of collecting the berries. It is very important to learn how to sort the product, otherwise it may choke, leave juice and begin to rot. Harvested only for the season - characteristics are indicated for a specific variety. Usually the harvest is harvested at the end of July or the beginning of August, but some varieties, usually intended for the colder regions of the country, can be harvested earlier - at the beginning of July. Be sure to pick the berries in dry weather, there should not be the slightest drop of rain or dew.
Currants (especially the red variety) are collected in baskets. They should stay on small branches. Black can be harvested immediately with berries, without twigs.
How to prepare an array for long term storage
Before direct storage, it is important to prepare the berries. Currants are carefully sorted, separated from twigs. In this case, it is advisable to put the largest berries in one container, and the miniature ones in the other. The products are washed under a light pressure of lukewarm water. It is forbidden to use hot water and strong pressure - this will destroy the structure of the product.
Green berries, overripe, unripe or damaged skins are discarded. They can become sources of infection, which will lead to spoilage of grated currants, even if they are frozen in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
Home Storage Terms and Conditions
Blackcurrant berries are only harvested once a year, so it's important to choose a storage method that will preserve food for up to a year.After thorough washing, the ingredients are dried - it is forbidden to store with traces of moisture - this will reduce the period.
There are different ways to store currants. The hostess should choose the most optimal for herself, depending on the availability of space in the refrigerator or drying device. If you follow certain rules and properly prepare the berries, you can store:
- in the refrigerator at a temperature of 4-5 degrees;
- frozen;
- rubbed with sugar;
- in dry condition.
In this state, currants will retain a maximum of vitamins and useful substances. This mainly concerns vitamin C and pectins, which are destroyed by more than half during heat treatment (and heating is necessary to make jam, preserves or compote).
Dedicated refrigerator compartment
Black currants, which are collected according to all the rules, are perfectly stored in the refrigerator. It can be stored on the top shelf of the refrigerator for up to two weeks. But above all you need to protect it from moisture and foreign odors (you can not put strong-smelling foods, for example, garlic sauces, onions or fish in the refrigerator in the open state).
If you follow all the rules, the currant will remain in perfect condition for up to two weeks and will not lose a single percent of the vitamin component.
But red and white varieties can stay fresh when properly stored in a special compartment of the refrigerator for up to two months. The temperature should be 1-2 degrees, set high humidity. Cover the gooseberries with a regular thin paper towel. It should be soaked in clean boiled water every day.This method will saturate the food in the refrigerator with moisture, which will increase its shelf life.
If you plan to store fresh currants as long as possible, it is better to choose slightly unripe berries. It is worth paying attention to the planned amount of storage of ingredients. If they keep:
- not for a long time, then the products are not washed off, since they are more quickly subject to destruction in this case;
- long, then they are thoroughly washed under a thin, gentle stream of warm water, then they must be dried.
For storage, a special container with breathable properties is used. Ordinary pots or plates will not work - currants will begin to rot after a few days. It is worth choosing small wooden boxes that have holes, baskets made of vines that have holes. Do not stir food during storage. This will lead to damage to their skin and, as a result, the appearance of breaks and the beginning of rotting. But it is better to discard clearly damaged berries.
Rub with sugar
Sugar helps keep the maximum amount of vitamins in the berries. The aroma and taste do not decrease either. Sugar has preservative properties, so fungus does not form.
One kilogram of currants will require at least 600 grams of sugar. Conveniently grind, placed in jars of one liter or less. Top covered with a two-centimeter layer of sugar - this excludes contact of the composition with air.
In the fridge
In the refrigerator, grated currants will keep for up to four months. Moreover, it does not need to be thawed, since the temperature is acceptable.The main thing is that the jars are tightly closed, in which case air does not get into them.
In the freezer
In the freezer, the shelf life is considerably increased. The grated product can be stored for up to a year, while fully retaining its useful properties. Defrost gradually - first on the top shelf, then on the bottom, and only then can you put it on the table.
In the freezer
The freezer method is the most effective and easiest way to store berries for a long time. Freezing allows products not to lose their beneficial properties, trace elements and vitamins. You can store it in the freezer for up to a year, but with proper preparation and the absence of foreign odors.
Freezing currants is child's play. Step-by-step action algorithm:
- collect ripe, but not overripe berries;
- rinse them thoroughly and dry them completely;
- lay out the berries in a single layer in any dish, but which does not become unusable with prolonged exposure to low temperatures;
- cover with a paper towel;
- put in the freezer;
- wait until it solidifies completely (it may take a few minutes or hours - it depends on the quality of the refrigeration equipment and its capacity);
- break down frozen berries into plastic bags (preferably ones that are vacuum sealed).
In addition to sachets, you can also use thick-walled plastic containers (the thinner ones can crack when picking berries), containers with a vacuum pump (you can buy them in specialized stores or on the Internet) .
In order for currants not to lose their properties after long-term storage, it is important to defrost them properly.First, the container or sachet is placed on the top shelf of the refrigerator for 3 hours. After that, they are transferred to the lower compartments, to the so-called freshness zone. After that, they take it out of the fridge and put it on the table. In no case should you defrost the berries by pouring them with hot water or putting them in the microwave. Thus, they completely lose their useful properties, also crumble and become soft like porridge.
Dried
In the dried form, the beneficial properties are almost completely retained. But the disadvantage of this method is that it will require more actions, it takes longer to cook. During the drying process, only 15 percent of the moisture remains, while in the fresh state this figure reaches 85 percent.
A drying cabinet or a special oven is used. Well-washed berries are poisoned on a baking sheet or tray inside. The cabinet temperature is set to 40-70 degrees. They are exposed to the temperature for at least 4 hours, but the preparation usually occurs at least 6 or even 8 hours.
But there are other techniques if there is no drying cabinet. Currants are sent to an ordinary oven and dried for several hours. Or they use an ordinary microwave oven at minimum power (of course, a lot of electricity will be spent on this process).
You can check the freshness of the berries in a simple way: squeeze them together - if the currants stick together, they are dried again. The baked product does not stick - it is completely dry. Currants can also be dried on the windowsill - they are laid out in a sunny place, covered with gauze.Dried in this way for 3-5 days.
Keep drying in a dark and dry place, the air temperature should not be lower than 20 degrees. It is better to choose a storage container made of wood or cardboard, cotton fabric. Dried fruits should not be stored in glass and polyethylene, as a fungus can develop.
Freezing rules
Freezing is carried out only in stages. It is necessary to lay the product in thin layers, then put all the berries in a container. This will prevent damage to the structure. In some cases, freezing is carried out in an unwashed state.
But then, after thawing, you need to wash the ingredients after complete thawing and under running water with minimal pressure.
Choice of containers
You need to choose the storage capacity wisely.
Container
The berries are laid out in a container in layers, waiting for solidification. It is also suitable for storage. The container should be of high quality, with strong sides and a deep bottom.
Pack
A simple plastic bag will not work. Choose from dense cellophane, without any pattern. A transparent bag can be supplemented with a vacuum strip at the top.
How to properly defrost food
Currants are first placed on the upper shelf, wait 3 hours, then they are moved to the lower shelf and kept for an hour or two.
Alternative harvesting methods for the winter
You can store berries in other ways.
Juice
The juice is made using a simple algorithm:
- currants are squeezed in a juicer;
- add sugar and lemon;
- subjected to heat treatment.
Since the juice is boiled, 40 to 50 percent of the vitamins will be retained.
Jam
The berries are covered with sugar, left until the juice begins.Then it is boiled, additionally sterilized and closed in jars.
Goo
The principle of making jelly is not very different from that of jam. But in order for the composition to thicken, you either need to cook for a long time, or add a thickener.
Compote
Compote is made in the same way as juice, but the berries do not need to be ground.
Common Mistakes
It's not necessary:
- wash in hot water, under a strong current;
- freeze all the berries at once;
- use a container that allows odors to pass.
Additional tips and tricks
Twisted and candied currants are best used quickly, because the longer they keep, the less vitamins remain. You can use it to make pies, cakes or pies, but there will be a lot of moisture. Better to choose jelly or jam. Grated currant is a delicious treat that both children and adults love.
Of all the cooking options, the largest number of vitamins remains in grated form.