How to freeze currants for the winter to preserve all the beneficial substances?

Black currant is a storehouse of vitamins and beneficial microelements given by nature. Unfortunately, you can only enjoy the taste of fresh berries in the summer and for only two to three weeks. Therefore, many housewives are interested in the question of how to freeze currants for the winter in the freezer so that they retain their medicinal properties and wonderful taste. We have collected some valuable tips on this topic.

When to collect currants for storage?

They begin to harvest currants as soon as the berries are ripe. It depends on the geographical location and weather conditions. In central Russia, the harvest of black “beauty” falls from June 20 to July 10.

No matter how you plan to preserve currants - in the form of jam, preserves or jelly, in compotes and ground with sugar, in the refrigerator or freezer - when picking berries, you must follow several rules:

1. Currants should be picked in clear, dry weather, waiting for the dew to dry on the berries. Crops harvested after rain will spoil faster.
2. Use small buckets, boxes or baskets for collection. The container should be wide and not too deep so that the top layer does not crush the bottom. The optimal volume is 2–3 liters.
3. The berry is removed along with the stalk and neatly placed in the basket.

If for everyday use currants can be collected at any time, even in the rain, then for preservation it is imperative to follow the rules described above.

Cold storage

Fresh blackcurrants can be stored in the refrigerator without any processing for up to two weeks. At the same time, the color, taste and smell of the product are perfectly preserved. Red and white varieties will last two months without spoiling if special conditions are created in the refrigerator (high humidity and temperature no more than +1°C).

A few tips on how to properly store fresh berries in the refrigerator:

• The collected currants are not washed, but only sorted, separating spoiled berries;
• For storage, use wide baskets or other containers that allow air to pass through well;
• the best place in the refrigerator is the top shelf;
• The container should be covered with a damp cloth to protect the berries from drying out;
• The product should not be stirred during storage, as there is a risk of damaging the delicate berries.

In order for the harvest to remain fresh longer, the currants must be harvested slightly unripe. During storage in the refrigerator, it will gradually reach a normal degree of ripeness.

Classic freezing method

Currants contain a large amount of phytoncides - natural substances that kill various pathogenic viruses and increase the body's immunity. However, there are almost no useful substances left in the prepared jam or preserves, and moreover, the permissible sugar limit is exceeded. Therefore, freezing is considered the best way to prepare for the winter.

The procurement process is as follows:

1. Select dry, ripe, but not overripe berries and pour them into a small plastic bowl or other dish suitable for washing.Red and white varieties can be frozen along with the branches. Blackcurrants are usually picked from the branch and only the berries are frozen.
2. Fill the basin with cool water and lightly, being careful not to crush it, stir and turn the berries over. Small debris will float to the surface of the water and will be easy to collect.
3. The washed currants are placed in a colander to completely drain the water, and then scattered in one layer on a cotton towel. The berries must be thoroughly dried before freezing, so they will not stick together.
4. The finished product is scattered on a tray or flat plate in one layer and sent to the freezer for pre-freezing.
5. Frozen berries are poured into food containers or bags. You should not take containers that are too large, since it is not recommended to freeze such a delicate product twice.

Each decrease in temperature by two degrees increases the shelf life by 1 month. Modern freezing units can freeze currants for a whole year. The recommended temperature is -18°C.

A simple and convenient preparation is useful for preparing compotes, pies and dumplings, sour sauce for meat and other vitamin-rich dishes. You need to defrost the berries gradually by moving the container from the freezer to the refrigerator, and only after the product has almost completely thawed, bring it to room temperature. This is the only way the berry will retain its shape and color.

How to freeze blackcurrants with sugar?

Some housewives advise freezing currants with sugar. This method is convenient because the berries, sprinkled with granulated sugar, practically do not wrinkle or spoil, since the sugar absorbs the moisture released.

For 250 g of berries you will need 2 tablespoons of sugar.

Plastic containers are used for freezing. The bottom of the dishes prepared for preparation is covered with granulated sugar. Berries are placed on it and sprinkled with sugar again. Layers alternate until the container is full. Cover with a lid and place in the freezer.

Freeze as puree

Frozen berry puree can be used to make jelly, sauce, as an additive to porridge or cottage cheese. The preparation can be made with or without sugar, it all depends on the preferences of the housewife.

1. The washed berries are crushed using a blender or meat grinder.
2. Add granulated sugar (if you decide to prepare a sweet product) and mix thoroughly. For 1 kg of berries, 250 g of sugar is enough.
3. Pour the resulting mass into small containers and place in the freezer.

To save space, you can shake the frozen cubes out of the molds and put them in bags. It is very convenient to use such a preparation - to prepare compote, you just need to take out one or two cubes and, without defrosting, throw them into the pan.

Frozen currants retain their properties perfectly. Simple and practical preparation in the freezer will allow you to diversify your menu and replenish your supply of vitamins in the winter season.