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Every person knows about the health benefits of wild berries. That is why these products are used to saturate the body with vitamins. In folk medicine, the most popular berry for preparing medicines is blueberries. As a rule, it is collected from the forest and preserved. The easiest way to prepare is blueberries in their own juice.
The benefits of blueberries in their own juice
If we consider the beneficial properties, we can highlight the content of the following valuable components:
- vitamins A, B, C;
- organic acids;
- tannins;
- potassium;
- chlorine;
- magnesium;
- iron;
- sodium;
- sulfur;
- calcium;
- phosphorus.
These components bring enormous health benefits. Due to the antioxidant content, the fruits are used in the fight against cancer.
With the help of berries you can normalize blood sugar levels.If you prepare blueberries in their own juice without adding granulated sugar, then diabetics can safely consume the finished product. An anticoagulant reduces the ability of blood to clot, which is very important for people suffering from thrombosis.
Preparing the berries
As a rule, the recipe for preparation includes only berries and granulated sugar. To improve and enhance the taste, some housewives add a number of other ingredients:
- raspberries;
- strawberries;
- pear;
- lemon zest.
Everyone adds these components at their own request. Blueberries used for cooking must be prepared. To do this, they sort it out and remove the twigs and leaves that fell during collection.
The raw materials are washed in a saucepan. This method allows you to remove debris that floats to the surface of the water. The washed fruits are transferred to a colander and allowed to drain. As a rule, for preparations it is recommended to use freshly harvested raw materials or those that were collected no more than two days ago.
How to make blueberries in your own juice
Preparing blueberries is quite simple. The main thing is to adhere to the step-by-step recipe algorithm. During the cooking process, the fruits should release their own juice in a water bath. Such a dish subsequently has a wide range of applications. For example, you can drain the juice - it is very good for health, the fruits are used in cooking.
How to cook blueberries in their own juice in the oven
You can cook blueberries in the oven very quickly, as a result of which the beneficial properties remain in full:
- The fruits are thoroughly washed, dried and ground using a wooden press. If necessary, you can add sugar in a ratio of 1:2.
- The resulting puree is poured into sterilized jars and placed in an oven preheated to +120 °C for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, the jars can be taken out and screwed.
In a slow cooker
To prepare blueberries, you can use a slow cooker, following the following recommendations:
- The collected fruits are washed and the multicooker is filled with them almost to the very top.
- Fill the multicooker bowl halfway with water.
- Set the extinguishing mode.
- Allow the berries to simmer for 30 minutes, then add the remainder and leave for another 20 minutes.
After this, you can pour the finished product into sterilized jars and send it to the cellar for further storage.
In a convection oven
Cooking blueberries in their own juice using an air fryer does not take much time. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- The raw materials are washed, dried and poured into pre-prepared and sterilized jars to the very edges.
- The filled jars are placed in a convection oven and the temperature is set to +180°C.
- Depending on personal preferences, you can add sugar to the raw materials in a 1:2 ratio.
- The cooking process takes 30 minutes.
After the specified time has passed, the jars are taken out, screwed up and sent for storage.
Recipes for blueberries in their own juice for the winter
There are a large number of recipes for preserving blueberries for the winter.You can make jam, jam, compote from the berries, but most often it is prepared in its own juice, as a result of which all the beneficial properties are preserved. A special feature of this option is the absence of granulated sugar, as a result of which even diabetics can consume the finished product (sugar can be added if necessary).
Recipe for blueberries in their own juice without sugar
This recipe is ideal for those who strive to preserve the beneficial properties of wild berries to the maximum. The cooking algorithm is as follows:
- The berries are sorted, washed thoroughly in a saucepan, placed in a colander, and allowed to drain.
- While the water is draining, glass jars are sterilized. Often containers of 500 and 700 ml are used.
- Blueberries are poured into the prepared jars, covered with sterilized iron lids, but not rolled up.
- Take a large saucepan, lay a towel or piece of cloth on the bottom, place jars of berries and fill them up to the shoulders with cold water.
- Place the pan on low heat, bring the water to a boil and cook for 45 minutes.
- During the heating process, the fruits will release juice, which is why it is not recommended to fill the jars to the brim.
- If after the blueberries have released their juice, the jar remains incomplete, then you can add more berries and extend the boiling process for another 20 minutes.
- After this, the jars are taken out of the pan, twisted and covered with a blanket until they cool.
The finished product can be used to make desserts or consumed with herbal tea.
Blueberries in their own juice with sugar
In order to prepare blueberries in their own juice, you will need 1 kg of granulated sugar, 2.5 kg of wild berries and follow the following recipe:
- The raw materials are carefully sorted, washed, and allowed to dry.
- In a small container, you need to mash 500 g of fruits, pour into a saucepan, add the remaining blueberries and sugar.
- Dissolve sugar over low heat. After boiling, remove the pan from the heat.
- Pour into sterilized jars and pasteurize over low heat for 25 minutes.
After this, the jars can be screwed and sent for storage.
Terms and conditions of storage
The conditions and shelf life of blueberries depend entirely on the form in which they plan to store them:
- Freshly picked fruits can be stored in the refrigerator, but no more than 10 days; you should not wash them before storing them;
- frozen berries can stay in the freezer for 8 months without losing quality;
- if you dry blueberries and then place them in a cotton or linen bag, the shelf life is 12 months; it is important to understand that in this form the fruits should not be stored in glass jars, as mold may appear;
- blueberries in their own juice and jam from them can be stored in the refrigerator or cellar, in this form the finished product can be stored for up to 3 years;
- Blueberry jelly is stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours; the same periods are given to other berry dishes that are not canned.
Regardless of the chosen storage method, the unique beneficial properties of the product will not be lost. The main thing is not to exceed the specified shelf life of the prepared dish.
Conclusion
Blueberries in their own juice are a unique product of their kind that can be used not only in cooking, but also for medicinal purposes. Thanks to its balanced composition, the fruits can be consumed not only by adults, but also by children, since the berry does not cause an allergic reaction or diathesis.If you plan to introduce blueberries into the diet of children under 2-3 years of age, you must first consult with your doctor, as there is a possibility of harm due to the body’s intolerance to some components.