6 ways to preserve the beneficial properties of cranberries in winter

Even for those who have been familiar with this berry for a long time, the question of how to store cranberries remains relevant. After all, this is one of the most useful berries with a “broad spectrum of action”, and you want to preserve its beneficial properties for a long time. Cranberries have long been included in the diet of people who care about their health. It grows on small bushes, entire plantations of which are located in peat bogs and moss bogs in the cold zones of Eurasia and America. In Russia, several hundred tons of this amazing berry are harvested every year. It contains a lot of useful acids, sugars and vitamins. Cranberries are often used to boost immunity, restore strength, and easily remove harmful substances from the body. In addition, it helps in the fight against vitamin deficiency, bronchitis, diseases of the throat and genitourinary system. And cranberry juice quenches thirst well, treats colds and has an antipyretic effect. Thanks to the efforts of nutritionists, these swamp berries are actively used in the preparation of various dishes, adding new notes to their taste.

What is important is that cranberries are one of the few berries that retain their beneficial properties even after freezing.But before you find out how to achieve this, you need to choose the right raw materials for long-term storage.

How to choose cranberries for storage?

There are two harvests of cranberries: early, back in September, when the berries are not yet fully ripe, and late, after the first frost, when they are as juicy as possible. If you are going to store cranberries frozen all winter, it is better to choose slightly (!) unripe berries. If they are too ripe, after thawing the taste of the product will decrease significantly.

How to prepare berries?

Before performing any manipulations with cranberries, you need to prepare them in a certain way. First of all, sort out the fruits. Throw aside all leaves, twigs, insects. If wrinkled or too ripe, set aside. You shouldn’t throw them away, because you can make an excellent fruit drink from these berries (see recipe at the end of the article). But white, that is, completely unripe berries, should not be used. Then wash the cranberries thoroughly and dry them on a sieve or tray.

So, having decided which berries are best for long-term storage, we will tell you the most popular and successful ways to store cranberries.

Methods for storing cranberries

Pickled cranberries

You will need: water, clean dishes (cans, plastic bottles, bowls).

• Option 1.

This is perhaps the most ancient and simplest storage method. First of all, you need to thoroughly wash the berries and then put them in containers prepared in advance. Don't fill the container completely - leave some space in the jar or bottle. Boil the required amount of water, cool it and pour over the fruits. Containers should be stored in a cool place. A refrigerator or basement is perfect for this.

• Option 2.

In order to remove the slightly sour taste, cranberries can be filled with sugar syrup rather than just water. To store 1 kilogram of berries, take 1 tablespoon of sugar and a pinch of salt. You can add cloves, a little cinnamon or other spices to taste.

Minus: during storage, the berries will absorb water, so later their taste will change slightly. The cranberries will no longer crunch on your teeth, but will remain suitable for cooking or making fruit drinks and jelly. In addition, all beneficial properties are preserved.

Freezing

If you choose slightly unripe berries for freezing, preparing them for storage is very simple. Place dry cranberries in plastic bags, tie tightly and place in the freezer.

Advice

Place in one bag as many berries as you use at a time. You can't freeze them twice.

If your cranberries are very ripe, the freezing process becomes a little more complicated. You need to spread it on a tray in one layer and freeze until solid. Only after this can the berries be placed in bags.

Cranberries with sugar

This method will definitely please those with a sweet tooth. Its advantage is that the product does not need to be prepared before use. Add sugar to the berries to taste and mince. Then put the resulting mixture into jars, close them with lids and store in the refrigerator.

Advice

Store containers in a well-ventilated area, because if there is a lot of carbon dioxide in the air, the berries may spoil.

Fresh cranberries

Cranberries can be stored for quite a long time without any special manipulation. Simply pour the sorted berries into wooden or metal boxes and leave them in a cool place.

Dried cranberries

This method will not help you preserve the beneficial properties of the berries, but dried cranberries are great for making compotes or fillings. So, place the washed and dried berries on a tray and dry them outside for several weeks. After this, process them in the oven or oven, and then place them in bags. The main advantage of dried berries is that they can be kept anywhere and used for more than three years.

Conservation

A fairly common method, since the cranberries obtained as a result of its use are incredibly tasty. And there are a lot of types of preservation, which gives you the opportunity to choose.

You will need: a liter of berries, a quarter liter of orange juice, 3 kg of sugar.

Add orange juice to the berries and blend in a blender until smooth. Then add sugar and bring to a boil. Cook the mixture over low heat for about an hour, stirring regularly. Let it cool and pour into sterilized jars. It is advisable to store them in a cool place.

Now that you know how to preserve cranberries for the winter, let's move on to one of the most popular soft drinks made from this swamp berry. It has a delicious taste and quenches thirst well in hot weather. In addition, cranberry juice strengthens the immune system and effectively treats colds.

How to make cranberry juice?

To create this masterpiece at home, you don’t need to worry about the berries - they can be fresh, frozen, whole, even a little bruised will do.

1. Wash the berries and grind them in a blender.
2. Add water to the resulting mass and heat over low heat until the first bubbles appear.
   

   Advice

   Morse should NOT boil. Otherwise, it will lose all useful acids, sugars and vitamins.

3. Remove the brew from the heat and add pre-prepared sugar syrup to it - its proportions depend only on your preferences and love for sweets. Instead of sugar, you can add honey to the cooled drink.

Cranberries are one of the few berries that do not lose their beneficial properties after long-term storage. It contains benzoic acid, thanks to which it can be stored for such a long time at home. This substance also has the characteristics of a natural preservative - so you do not need to use salt, vinegar, or any other components. If you regularly consume cranberries, frozen or fresh, your body will be much more resistant to a variety of diseases and infections. It was not without reason that in ancient times it was called the queen of berries.