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You can freeze currant leaves at home. This is best done using shock technology. To do this, the raw materials are placed in a very chilled freezer (-24 °C), This allows you to preserve the beneficial properties and aroma of the leaves as much as possible.
Is it possible to freeze currant leaves for the winter?
Freezing is not the most popular way to prepare foliage for the winter. But this is also a completely working option, which some summer residents consider even more interesting than drying. Freezing the material allows it to be stored for a long time. The bags can be kept in the freezer for 8-12 months.
At the same time, the taste of such a product is somewhat worse than that of dried leaves. Therefore, they are more often used in decoctions, fruit mixtures, and for making compotes.
When to collect leaves for freezing
Leaves for freezing are collected at the moment when they contain the maximum amount of useful substances. This is the period before flowering, when the shoots gain green mass. If collected later, the bush will begin to release nutrients and moisture to the formation of ovaries, so these leaves will be of lower quality.
Collection for freezing should be carried out only in clean places - on your own site or in a safe field, away from roads and industrial enterprises. The collection itself is carried out in dry weather, which lasts for several days in a row (the raw materials should not be wet).
Preparing the leaves
When preparing for freezing, it is necessary to sort through the foliage, remove debris, branches, damaged leaf blades (with spots, sunburn, etc.). It is not advisable to wash raw materials. Freshly picked currant leaves are best suited for both drying and freezing. But if in doubt, you should rinse them a little with water, then spread them in one layer and wait until they dry completely.
Only healthy, young currant foliage is suitable for collection.
It is not recommended to remove a lot of foliage from one bush. This can have a bad effect on the condition of the berries and the yield.
How to freeze currant leaves
Freezing currant and raspberry leaves for tea and other drinks is the same. The raw materials are prepared, packaged in bags or film and sent to the refrigerator.
Whole leaves
Freezing whole blackcurrant leaves is convenient, since the raw material does not need to be cut, chopped, etc. Simply layer the foliage into bags and place them in the freezer. Instructions for the event:
- If the raw material has been washed under running water, then it should be laid out in one layer under a canopy and dried. The light should be diffused, indirect.
- To speed up drying, you should choose a clean cloth or napkin that will absorb excess moisture well.
- The leaves are then placed in cling film, plastic containers or thick bags. It is advisable to place them in small portions so that you can take out as much as you need for several cups of tea, compote, or cocktail.
- Remove air from the packaging as much as possible.
- Close with a lid or a special zip fastener.
- Place in the freezer, which maintains a constant temperature of -18 ° C or lower.
Modern freezers are equipped with a quick freezing function. In this case, you need to set the temperature to -24 ° C and hold the bags for 3-4 hours. After this, the temperature can be brought to normal (-18 degrees) and the raw materials can be stored in such conditions for no more than 8-12 months.
One of the best storage packages is a freezer bag.
Shredded leaves
The rules for preparing crushed frozen currant leaves are the same as for whole ones. If necessary, the raw materials are washed, dried, then crushed with a sharp knife and immediately frozen to prevent liquid from leaking out of damaged tissues.
You can mix currants in advance with the leaves of other berries and garden herbs - raspberries, lemon balm, mint, blueberries. The ratios of the components should be approximately the same. It is recommended to take 2 times less mint. Then you get a fruit mixture that can be used both in tea and other drinks.
How to store it correctly
There are no special requirements for storage rules.Raw materials should be kept in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator at subzero temperatures (minus 15-18 °C). The only requirement is that defrosting and re-freezing should not be allowed. For example, if the refrigerator needs to be cleaned, then the food should be moved to another freezer.
You should not store raw materials on the balcony. The weather can be unpredictable, which can cause food to melt. In the open air, raw materials will easily absorb foreign odors.
How long can it be stored?
The shelf life of raw materials is short. It is advisable to use frozen food six months in advance. The maximum period is 12 months. By this time, new greens will grow, which can be eaten fresh, sent for drying or in the freezer.
What is better - freezing or drying currant leaves?
Despite the fact that freezing currant leaves is quite easy, drying is considered a more preferable option for harvesting for the winter. The fact is that during freezing, currant leaves are stored for no more than one year, but dried raw materials can be stored for several years in the right conditions.
In addition, freezing worsens the taste. Such leaves are less suitable for tea. Most often they are used in decoctions, fruit mixtures, and for making cocktails. Frozen leaves work better in drinks like these than dried leaves.
Therefore, tea made from frozen currant leaves is not so fragrant. In this regard, drying also wins.
However, there are also arguments in favor of freezing:
- this is a simple process that does not require lengthy preparation;
- Thanks to freezing, the leaves retain almost all the beneficial substances.
Drinks based on frozen leaves strengthen the immune system, help cope with the first signs of a cold, and also normalize metabolism. It is impossible to say unequivocally what is better - drying or freezing currant leaves. You can try both methods, and then focus on your preferences.
Conclusion
Freezing currant leaves is quite simple. This must be done immediately after collection, without even washing the raw materials. Leaves should be carefully packed and air removed from the bags. Freezing storage is permissible throughout winter and spring, but preferably no more than one calendar year.
