How to properly freeze cherries for the winter: choosing the best recipe

Many owners of cherry orchards are thinking about freezing cherries in the freezer. After all, in the summer there is nowhere to put a rich harvest: fresh berries with a sour taste cannot be eaten in kilograms. It's a pity for the missing fruits. And in the cold season, the body just lacks vitamin nutrition, but nothing grows. We will tell you how to properly freeze cherries for the winter, with or without pits, in their own juice, syrup and other methods.

Why freeze cherries at home?

Freezing is one of the best ways to extend the shelf life of vegetables, fruits and berries. If it is carried out correctly, 90–100% of the useful substances are retained in the fruits: vitamins, macro- and microelements, organic acids.

In terms of chemical composition, frozen cherries are practically the same as fresh ones. It has a calorie content of 45–50 kcal per 100 g (if you have not added sugar) and contains the following substances in large quantities:

• vitamin A and beta-carotene;
• B vitamins;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• copper;
• omega-3 fatty acids;
• alimentary fiber.

By eating frozen cherries in winter, you support the health of the body's immune, nervous, cardiovascular and hormonal systems. You also get a boost of energy and a great mood.

Prepared pitted cherries are convenient to use in cooking. It gives a unique taste to pies, cakes, dumplings, pancakes, and porridges. But fruits with seeds can be eaten as an independent dessert or made into compote.

Nowadays you can easily find frozen products on sale, including cherries. But no one except the manufacturer knows 100% what technology was used or how fresh the raw materials were. Therefore, if you have the opportunity, freeze the fruits at home yourself. Then in winter you will be confident in the quality of the product.

Preparing cherries for freezing

To freeze cherries correctly, you must first prepare everything thoroughly. Otherwise, in the refrigerator the berries will turn into mush with a sour or alcoholic aftertaste. Follow these recommendations:

1. Sort through the cherries. Remove cuttings, leaves, and discard spoiled, damaged and wormy fruits. Please note that only ripe (but not overripe) berries are suitable for freezing. The time interval between harvesting and storage should be minimal, otherwise the cherries will release juice and become unsuitable for freezing.
2. Rinse the berries. They need to be poured into a colander and placed under cool running water. If the temperature is high, the berries will soon release juice. Wash the cherries thoroughly so that no marks remain on them.
3. Dry the raw materials. Place the fruits in an even layer on a towel. It will absorb excess moisture. Wait until the berries are completely dry.
4. Prepare the container. Thick ziplock bags, cups with lids, and plastic containers are suitable for freezing. You cannot use regular plastic bags, as they tear easily and allow foreign odors to pass through. And next to the berries in the freezer, there will most likely be meat, fish and other products.

How to freeze cherries with pits?

Cherries with pits have a more aesthetic appearance than pitted cherries. It retains almost all the juice and maximum vitamins, so it is better suited for use as an independent dessert. We offer you two recipes for freezing berries.

Classic recipe

Before the main preparation, clean and dried cherries need to be frozen:

1. Take a cutting board or wide plate and cover with cling film.
2. Place the fruits on top so that they do not touch each other.
3. Place in the freezer for 2-3 hours.

If the berries do not stick to the film, then they are ready for the next stage:

1. Carefully pack the cherries into bags, one layer at a time.
2. Release the air and fasten (tie tightly).

It is advisable to freeze the fruits with the expectation that you will consume a portion at a time. It is enough to place 200-300 g in a bag, maximum 500 g. After all, the product cannot be re-frozen, since in this case it loses its beneficial properties.

If you are using a plastic container, sprinkle the cherries with a small amount of sugar or powdered sugar during packaging. This will prevent the berries from sticking together, but the calorie content of the product will increase.

In cubes

This unusual freezing recipe will come in handy for cocktail lovers. You will receive portioned ice cubes with whole cherries inside. Such fruits look very aesthetically pleasing.

Prepare square ice trays and rinse them thoroughly. Drop the cherries inside. Pour cold boiled water into each mold. Wrap the top with cling film and place the fruit in the freezer.

How to freeze pitted cherries?

The main advantage of pitted cherries is that they are convenient to use for cooking. But before freezing you will have to tinker with the fruits longer.

To remove the seeds, use a special machine. It is sold in hardware and online stores and costs about 300–600 rubles. If you can’t buy a machine, take a simple pin.

Let's look at recipes for freezing seedless fruits.

Simple recipe

You need to follow the same steps as described in the classic recipe for freezing cherries with pits. Just act quickly. As soon as you take out the seeds, put the fruits in the refrigerator to freeze so that they do not release the juice.

In its own juice

This recipe involves freezing berries in a plastic container:

1. First, prepare the sweet filling. Take 0.5 kg of pitted cherries and 250 g of sugar, beat in a blender until smooth.
2. Place the fruits in a plastic container, leaving 2-3 cm at the top.
3. Pour in the sweet cherry mixture and place in the freezer.

In sugar syrup

To prepare the syrup you will need 1 liter of water and 1.5 kg of sugar. Cook the mixture over high heat until the sugar crystals are completely dissolved.

Place the cherries in a plastic container. Fill them with syrup to 2/3 of the height. Leave in the room for 2-3 hours so that the fruits are thoroughly soaked. After this, put it in the freezer.

Grinded

This is a recipe for ready-made delicious filling for baked goods, pancakes and dumplings.Take berries and sugar in a ratio of 3/1 and place in a blender. Beat for 2-3 minutes. Pack the mixture into cups or plastic containers and freeze.

How long can frozen cherries be stored?

The optimal storage temperature is minus 16–20 degrees. Under such conditions, the product can be consumed within 6–10 months.

If you added sugar to the fruit, the shelf life is extended to 12–16 months.

Never eat expired cherries with pits. The latter contain amygdalin, which during long-term storage breaks down and releases a toxic substance - hydrocyanic acid.

Thus, freezing cherries in the freezer is not at all difficult. Taking into account the preparatory steps, you can complete it in 1 hour or even faster. If you want to get the most healthy product, do not add sugar to the fruits. In winter, you will take berries out of the refrigerator, which will not only improve the taste of your favorite dishes, but also saturate the body with vitamins.