Content
A low-growing berry bush with dark blue fruits, it grows throughout the Russian Federation. The fruits are universally used and are well suited for homemade preparations: compote, jam, preserves. During heat treatment, some of the beneficial microelements are lost; to preserve the vitamins and active substances in the berries, you can freeze the blueberries in the freezer or in the low-temperature compartment of the refrigerator.
Is it possible to freeze blueberries?
The crop ripens in August or September, the timing depends on the climatic zone of growth. The chemical composition of summer berries is in demand in almost all body functions. Vitamin deficiency and micronutrient deficiency manifests itself in winter, weakening the immune system. At this time, the value of culture is greater than ever, by the way. To prevent the fruits from losing some of the active substances during processing, they can be frozen.
Freezing fruits is an effective way to preserve the energy and biological composition.The process is fast, labor-intensive, and the taste, aroma and presentation are preserved. The frozen product is suitable for consumption raw. If the berry is collected or purchased not for making dessert, but for its beneficial qualities, freezing is the best option to preserve it until next year.
Beneficial properties of frozen blueberries
Frozen fruits completely retain organic acids, fiber, flavonoids, and vitamin and mineral complex. They are used to prevent viral infections and are used as a component in the complex treatment of a number of pathologies.
Beneficial properties of frozen blueberries:
- Prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases. It has an antiarrhythmic effect, normalizes blood pressure, and is involved in eliminating cholesterol imbalance.
- Flavonoids in the frozen product improve the condition of capillaries and make their walls more elastic. Eliminate cholesterol plaques, expand venous lumens, improve blood circulation, relieve swelling, cramps and heaviness in the legs.
- The frozen culture restores hemostasis in the cornea of the eye, prevents the development of cataracts, age-related vision loss, and night blindness.
- Vitamin C and the activity of glycosides prevent the occurrence of diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, and aging of the body.
- Thanks to the concentration of antioxidants in frozen fruits, brain activity increases, degenerative changes are prevented, and memory improves, including short-term memory.
- Frozen berries are used for cosmetic purposes: they are used to make masks that improve the appearance of the epidermis.
- Frozen fruits of the bush have antibacterial properties, enhance the action of enzymes involved in digestion, normalize bowel movements, relieve constipation, and prevent gastritis and ulcers.
Fiber contained in frozen berries normalizes digestion and relieves hunger. Low calorie content does not interfere with metabolism. Minerals and vitamin complex during the diet keep hair and skin in good condition.
Do I need to wash blueberries before freezing?
The berries are chosen fresh, ripe, of good quality. Freezing is carried out as soon as possible after picking or purchasing; blueberries quickly lose their presentation and wither. Leaves, particles of branches and fragments of the stalk are first removed.
There is no need to wash self-picked berries; they are frozen after cleaning them from debris. If blueberries are subsequently subjected to heat treatment, they are washed before processing. Excess moisture during the freezing process is undesirable. Under the influence of water, the integrity of the shell is compromised and the berry may become deformed.
The store-bought product is washed in small portions in a large volume of water. A wide container is suitable for this; after the process, the blueberries are removed with a colander and laid out in a thin layer on a napkin so that the liquid evaporates. Only dry berries are frozen.
How to freeze blueberries for the winter in the freezer
There are several ways to freeze blueberries for the winter at home. The traditional way is with whole berries in plastic bags. You can grind until smooth with or without adding sugar, then place in the freezer.The squeezed juice retains all the active substances and is frozen in compliance with certain rules.
How to properly freeze blueberries in bags
To harvest for the winter, take pre-peeled and dry fruits. Algorithm of actions:
- Place a dry, clean canvas napkin on a baking sheet.
- Spread the blueberries in a thin layer.
- Place in the freezer set to maximum mode.
- Leave for 2-3 hours, during which time the berries will become hard.
- Take out a baking sheet, pour the fruits into packaging bags, about half full.
- Release the air and tie it off.
Primary freezing can be carried out without additional container. Cellophane or baking paper is spread on the bottom of the freezer. Blueberries are laid out in a thin layer, taken out along with the lining material and packaged in bags. If the volume of product is large, pre-freezing manipulations are carried out several times. The packaged berries are placed in the refrigerator compartment with a temperature not lower than -150 C.
How to freeze blueberries with sugar
When whole berries are frozen, there is a risk that they will freeze together. To avoid this, a method using sugar is used. For 1 kg of blueberries you need 0.5 kg of sugar. The method involves preliminary washing of the raw materials.
After the berries are completely dry, they are poured into a plastic container. A layer of fruit is sprinkled with sugar, the container is closed and immediately placed in a freezer.
You can freeze the fruits in this way if they are later used for culinary purposes; the method is not suitable for dietary use.
Freezing blueberries for the winter in the form of puree with sugar
Blueberry puree is prepared for freezing from ripe, clean raw materials without mechanical damage and sugar. The output product will be in the form of a liquid mass. Choose the ratio of ingredients to taste. To obtain sweet puree, 1 kg of fruit requires 1 kg of sugar. To preserve the taste of the crop, 0.5 kg of sugar is enough.
Cooking sequence:
- Mix raw materials with sugar.
- Beat with a mixer, blender or grind using a meat grinder with small cells on a mesh.
- Packaged in portioned containers.
- Plastic glasses with puree are covered with cling film on top, containers with a lid.
- Freeze in the refrigerator compartment.
Frozen puree is used in cooking for making desserts or as a filling for baked goods.
Freezing blueberry puree without sugar
Blueberry puree without sugar can be frozen for feeding children over 6 months. The berry does not cause an allergic reaction, but contains a large amount of useful substances necessary for the development of the child and normal digestion.
Process for preparing puree for freezing:
- Blueberries are pre-washed in a colander under hot running water.
- Place on a paper napkin and dry.
- Beat the berries with a blender so that there are no peel fragments in the mixture.
- Poured and frozen.
How to properly freeze blueberry juice in the freezer
Juice for freezing is prepared immediately after harvesting the fruits. Or when purchasing, choose recently picked, elastic, not dried berries. Rinse, let the water drain well, you don’t have to dry it. Squeeze juice for freezing in the following way:
- Pound the fruits with a pestle for mashed potatoes. Place two layers of gauze over the pan, pour out the mixture and squeeze.
- Mix with a blender and squeeze through cheesecloth.
- Pass through a meat grinder twice, squeeze out the substance.
Pour into small plastic bottles or glasses, close, freeze. The juice is not poured to the top; when frozen, the mass increases.
Rules for defrosting berries
Freezing technology is based on quickly performing work at the lowest possible temperature. Defrosting whole berries, on the contrary, is a slow process:
- The required amount of frozen product is placed on a plate or container, placed in the refrigerator, the temperature of the chamber is on average +40 C.
- Leave for 2 hours, during which time the blueberries will thaw.
- Take the berries out to defrost completely at room temperature.
If a product frozen for the winter is taken for the purpose of further heat treatment, there is no need to gradually defrost it.
Terms and conditions of storage
Store frozen blueberries in the freezer section of the refrigerator at a temperature not lower than -180 C until the next harvest ripens. Avoid proximity to meat, fish and semi-finished products made from them. No matter how hermetically sealed the storage container is, there is a risk that blueberries will absorb the smell of nearby products. After use, the remainder should not be placed in the freezer; previously frozen berries will lose most of their beneficial properties and lose their taste.
Conclusion
Freezing blueberries is convenient for preparing berries for the winter while preserving their biological and chemical composition. During heat treatment, the fruits lose some of the active substances; apart from their gastronomic value, they are of no value. You can freeze the berries whole, make puree or juice. If desired, add sugar. Blueberries are stored for a long time, do not lose their taste, and the concentration of microelements and vitamins does not decrease.
