Content
- 1 Is it possible to freeze cherries for the winter?
- 2 What are the benefits of frozen cherries?
- 3 How to freeze cherries in the freezer
- 4 How to freeze cherries for the winter in the freezer with a pit
- 5 How to properly freeze cherries in cubes
- 6 How to properly freeze pitted cherries
- 7 How to freeze cherries in sugar for the winter
- 8 How to freeze cherries in their own juice
- 9 Freezing cherries in sugar syrup
- 10 How to properly freeze cherries for cocktails
- 11 How to deliciously freeze cherries in the form of puree
- 12 Freezing cherries in containers
- 13 Blast freezing of cherries
- 14 How long can cherries be stored in the freezer?
- 15 How to defrost cherries correctly
- 16 What can you cook from frozen cherries?
- 17 Conclusion
Freezing cherries in the refrigerator must follow certain rules. When exposed to low temperatures, it will retain its beneficial properties for a long time. If you violate the freezing technique, the berry will change its structure and taste.
Is it possible to freeze cherries for the winter?
Cherry is the fruit of a plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. Thanks to its rich composition and pleasant sweet and sour taste, it is in great demand in cooking. Harvesting takes place from June to August. During this period, fresh berries become available.During the cold season, the likelihood of buying a quality product decreases. In this case, you can freeze cherries at home. It is convenient to use for making compotes, baked goods and various desserts. In order for cherries to remain tasty even after freezing, you need to follow a number of rules when selecting and preparing them.
Is it possible to freeze cherry leaves for the winter?
Not only the fruits, but also the leaves of the cherry tree have a lot of beneficial properties. They contain phytoncides, vitamins, natural antioxidants and tannins. Herbal teas and decoctions are prepared from the leaves to strengthen the immune system and treat various diseases. Their beneficial properties include:
- hemostatic effect;
- normalization of water-salt metabolism;
- diuretic effect;
- increased performance;
- strengthening the body's defenses;
- getting rid of toxins;
- antifungal and antiviral effect;
- slowing down the aging process.
In order to preserve the benefits of the leaves for a long time, they are not only dried, but also frozen. It must be remembered that their structure is quite fragile. Before freezing, the leaves should be thoroughly washed and removed from excess moisture. They are placed in a plastic container with a tight lid. In this form, the leaves can be stored in the refrigerator all winter.
Before use, the leaves should be thawed by transferring them from the freezer to the refrigerator shelf. It is not recommended to place them in hot water. This will lead to destruction of the leaf structure.
Due to their adhesive action, the leaves are often used for diarrhea.
What are the benefits of frozen cherries?
Not all types of thermal effects have a detrimental effect on the berry. When frozen, the product does not lose its shape and characteristic taste. Unlike other berries, it does not become watery. If you properly freeze cherries for the winter, you can preserve their rich composition. It is represented by the following substances:
- ascorbic acid;
- iodine;
- phosphorus;
- cobalt;
- sodium;
- pectin;
- coumarins;
- iron;
- copper;
- sulfur;
- vitamins of groups B, E, H, PP and A;
- fructose and sucrose.
Replenishing the supply of essential substances in the body strengthens the immune system, which, in turn, helps cope with viral and colds. Due to the presence of pectin in the composition, cherries stimulate the intestines. Thanks to coumarin, the product reduces blood clotting and cleanses the vascular cavity from harmful cholesterol. Therefore, it is often used to strengthen capillaries. The beneficial properties of frozen berries include:
- bactericidal effect;
- calming effect;
- stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract;
- preventing the growth of malignant cells;
- normalization of metabolism;
- strengthening the immune system;
- blood thinning;
- expectorant effect;
- prevention of anemia.
Frozen cherries are used not only for cooking, but also for medicinal purposes. In combination with other traditional medicine, its effectiveness increases markedly. It helps cope with colds and flu by replenishing the supply of vitamins in the body. It contains substances that have an antipyretic effect. By stimulating metabolism, the berry can promote weight loss. In addition, it can be used as an alternative to baked goods and high-calorie desserts.Cherries can reduce the body's need for sweets. Thanks to its pectin content, it can be used to combat constipation.
How to freeze cherries in the freezer
Freezing cherries for the winter at home is carried out according to a certain algorithm. When choosing fruits, special attention should be paid to visual analysis. There should be no damage or dents on the surface of the berry. The elasticity of the cherry is checked by pressing. Soft fruits are considered overripe. An important factor is the presence of a petiole.
For freezing, it is advisable to use ripe berries that have not been in the refrigerator for more than two days. When choosing a variety, you should give preference to dark-colored specimens. To remove worms and insects, the fruits are soaked for 30 minutes in a saline solution prepared in a 1:1 ratio.
The choice of thermal treatment method is carried out taking into account plans for further use of the berry. If it must remain intact, then preference is given to gentle methods. Before freezing, rinse the cherries thoroughly and remove the stems. The bone is removed as desired. To do this, use a special device or pin. It is impossible to remove the seed without changing the structure of the berry. If you freeze the fruits along with it, the shelf life of the product is reduced to a year. This is due to the release of amygdalin, which has detrimental effects on health.
How to freeze cherries for the winter in the freezer with a pit
It is not recommended to consume frozen cherries.
The process of removing seeds from fruits is quite labor-intensive. Therefore, many housewives exclude this stage of preparing berries.Before placing in the freezer, the fruits are sorted and washed. Then they are dried and laid out in one layer in any container. You can use a plastic container or a special freezer bag for this purpose. If the cherry is placed in several layers, then after each of them it is sprinkled with a small amount of sugar. This allows you to add sweetness to the berry without turning it into mush.
How to properly freeze cherries in cubes
You can freeze cherries for the winter in the refrigerator and in the form of cubes. This option is perfect for making drinks. In ice, the berries look unusual and very attractive. For freezing you will need special forms. They come not only square, but also in the shape of a heart, berries and other shapes. One berry with a petiole is placed in each cell. Then they are filled with boiled water at room temperature. If there is no lid on the form, it should be carefully wrapped with plastic wrap. The berries are kept in the freezer until the ice completely hardens. This may take several hours.
Cubed cherries are removed from the freezer immediately before adding to the drink.
How to properly freeze pitted cherries
There are several options for storing pitted cherries in the freezer for the winter. In this case, the berry loses its shape, so it is often mixed with sugar. After defrosting, they are used to prepare fillings for baked goods, fruit drinks, dumplings and other dishes.
The manual method of removing seeds may take several hours.
How to freeze cherries in sugar for the winter
If you want to preserve the structure of the fruit, they are placed in a ziplock bag, lightly sprinkled with granulated sugar. Place the container in the freezer immediately before the juice is released.Instead of a container and bag, you can use plastic glasses with a lid. In this case, the product is sprinkled with sugar after laying out each layer.
The berry covered with sugar inside remains sour
How to freeze cherries in their own juice
The seeds are removed from the fruit using a pin or a special device. Then the berries are covered with sugar in a 1:1 ratio. The mass is crushed using a blender and then laid out in the cells of the form for freezing. This version of cherries is suitable for preparing desserts and baked goods. Cherries in their own juice have a homogeneous structure and retain their taste properties. It is great for use as a dessert for children.
Sugar can be replaced with sweet powder
Freezing cherries in sugar syrup
This method of harvesting berries is considered more gentle. It allows you to preserve not only the taste, but also the rich aroma of the product. Cherries frozen in sugar syrup can be considered a real dessert. But you need to remember that its calorie content is much higher than a product prepared without the use of syrup. It is not recommended to use it for weight loss purposes. Components:
- 1.5 kg sugar;
- 1 liter of water;
- 1 kg cherries.
Freezing stages:
- Sugar is poured into water and put on fire. The container is removed from the stove only after the crystals have dissolved.
- The fruits, pre-washed and pitted, are placed in a plastic container. They are poured with syrup on top. They should stand like this for three hours.
- After the specified time, close the containers with a lid and put them in the freezer.
The taste of the product in sugar syrup is as close as possible to fresh
How to properly freeze cherries for cocktails
When preparing cherries for making cocktails, the visual component is important. This product option is perfect for hot weather. The following ingredients will be required:
- mint leaves;
- cherry;
- boiled water.
Cooking process:
- Ice trays are thoroughly washed with warm water.
- A mint leaf and a berry are placed in each cell. Then fill with water.
- The form is put in the freezer for one day. After the specified time, berry ice can be used for its intended purpose.
Mint leaves should be washed thoroughly before freezing.
How to deliciously freeze cherries in the form of puree
Fresh cherries can also be frozen as a puree. This option is suitable if the berries are overripe.
Components:
- 1 kg cherries;
- granulated sugar - to taste.
Cooking steps:
- The berries are removed from the seeds and placed in a blender.
- After each beating, add sugar to the container. The end result should be a smooth puree. It is important not to overuse sugar, since the berry mixture will not freeze in this case.
- The finished mass is laid out in small containers and put in the freezer.
Before serving, dessert can be decorated with fresh fruits and berries.
Freezing cherries in containers
It is recommended to use plastic containers for freezing cherries. The berries are laid out in a thin layer. A small amount of sugar is sprinkled on top. It is important not to fill the container more than 90%, as the cherries will increase in size as they freeze. Freezing in containers is convenient and practical.There is no need to defrost the entire stock of berries at once. It is removed from the freezer in portions as needed. It is advisable to use small containers.
The container lid must reliably protect the product from foreign odors
Blast freezing of cherries
To blast freeze cherries, use a special flash freezing compartment. In this case, the structure and taste of the berry are preserved, but some of the beneficial properties are lost. The finished product can be used to decorate desserts. Visually, it looks more aesthetically pleasing than berries frozen in a container or in their own juice.
The surface of the compartment is covered with cling film. The fruits are laid out one at a time, making sure that they do not touch each other. The cherry is placed in the compartment for several hours. The longer she stays like this, the better. Frozen berries are transferred to containers and covered with sugar. In this form they are placed in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
Do not use aluminum foil during the freezing process.
How long can cherries be stored in the freezer?
The shelf life of frozen cherries, if all conditions are met, is 6-9 months. It does not depend on the method of harvesting the berries. The optimal temperature is -16°C. It is necessary to store cherries in the freezer for the winter closed - under a lid or in a ziplock bag. Otherwise, it will absorb the smell of nearby products, which will also affect its taste.
How to defrost cherries correctly
To prevent the berry from turning into porridge, it must be properly defrosted.It is advisable to place it on the refrigerator shelf for 3-5 hours. Only after this the product is left at room temperature. You can quickly defrost cherries using a microwave. In this case, you need to place the berries in a special container and turn on the device to the “Quick defrost” mode. The duration of the process depends on the number of berries and the power of the microwave.
If you pour hot water over the fruit or place it in a too warm place, you can damage the structure. The berries in the bag should be placed in a container with cold water. This will speed up the defrosting process.
What can you cook from frozen cherries?
The shelf life of frozen cherries allows them to be used for a long time. There is a huge variety of applications. Most often, the berry is used for making desserts - preserves, jelly, jam, baked goods, etc. Cherries, frozen in cubes, are great for decorating cooling drinks. Berries in sugar syrup can be used as an independent dish.
In some cases, unfrozen fruits are used in cooking. Jelly desserts and soft drinks are prepared on their basis. It is not advisable to add them to baking fillings.
Conclusion
Freezing cherries in the refrigerator is not difficult at all. In order for the berries to bring maximum benefit, the freezing process must be carried out according to all the rules.
