Content
Probably, there are already few people who need to be convinced of the undeniable benefits of birch sap. Although not everyone likes the taste and color. But its use can significantly alleviate the condition, or even cure so many diseases that it does not collect it in the spring, unless only completely lazy. But as always, the problem of preserving a healing drink for a long time becomes urgent. You can, of course, preserve it, prepare kvass and wine, but in recent years, more and more people prefer to freeze birch sap.
Of course, this trend is associated primarily with the appearance on the free sale of a huge number of practically industrial-type freezers. And the freezing procedure itself does not present any particular difficulties.
Is it possible to freeze birch sap
People who have collected birch sap for the first time in their lives and do not at all imagine how it can be preserved, most of all are interested in the question of how to freeze it.
Thinking about this question, the easiest way is to imagine how this process occurs in nature. After all, in spring the weather is very unstable. Today the sun has warmed up, the snow has begun to melt. And the next day fierce winds blew, frost crackled, and winter tried to regain its rights back. And in the birch, the process of sap flow has already begun with might and main. So it turns out that even in not too severe frosts (about -10 ° C), which may well happen in the springtime in the Middle Lane, birch sap freezes right in the tree. And it also happens that at night - frost, everything freezes, and in the daytime the sun will melt the bark with its warmth, and the sap again ran through the veins of the birch. That is, in natural conditions, even repeated freezing-freezing does not greatly harm it and does not reduce its useful properties.
Does frozen birch sap lose its properties?
Of course, the situation is a little different with freezing birch sap artificially in the freezer.
Firstly, this natural product has such a high biological activity that its natural shelf life is a little more than a few days. Even when stored in the refrigerator, after a few days, it begins to wither slightly. The symptoms of this phenomenon are the turbidity of the drink and a slightly sour taste. Moreover, if the weather is hot during the collection of sap, then it begins to wander, while still inside the tree.
This means that if the freezer does not have enough power to instantly freeze large volumes of this healing drink, then during the freezing process it may begin to acidify and become a cloudy yellowish hue. Do not be surprised in such cases if after freezing the birch sap turns dark beige or yellow.
Secondly, in the tree the sap circulates through the thinnest channels, therefore, its freezing occurs almost instantly, due to the minimum volume. Hence, it should be concluded that if the freezer does not have a shock freezing mode, which guarantees instant freezing of any volumes of liquid, then it is better to freeze the valuable birch elixir in containers of the smallest size.This will ensure its best preservation.
In the usual freshly mined state, birch sap in consistency and color resembles ordinary water - transparent, liquid, colorless. But occasionally, due to the special composition of the soil or an unusual variety of birch, it can acquire a yellowish or even brownish tint. In any case, you should not be afraid of this - sap from any birch growing in ecologically clean area is harmless and unusually nutritious.
Freezing birch sap is considered the most effective way to preserve its beneficial properties, among all possible. Indeed, with any heat treatment or the addition of preservatives, such as citric acid, a significant part of the vitamins is lost. And, hence, many useful properties of the product. When using the instant shock freezing mode, the beneficial properties of birch sap are preserved completely after it. Therefore, this method can be safely recommended for preserving this healing drink in any quantity. Of course, if the freezer is not equipped with this mode, then some of the nutrients can be transformed during the freezing process. But in any case, this method preserves the healing substances of birch sap better than any other.
At least the reviews of people who actually use frozen birch drink confirm that it is capable of:
- Support the body in the fight against depression, winter fatigue and vitamin deficiency. Helps to feel the vigor and energy of life.
- Help strengthen the immune system and resist many seasonal infectious diseases;
- Dissolve kidney stones imperceptibly and remove toxic substances from the body;
- Improve the condition of the skin and hair with age-related changes, allergic manifestations, diseases such as eczema, acne and others.
But you can easily freeze birch sap for future use and use all of the above properties throughout the year.
How to freeze birch sap at home
The biggest challenge when freezing birch sap will be choosing the right containers. Especially if we consider the most common option, when there is no shock (quick) freezing mode in the freezer.
A variety of plastic forms, containers, bottles are best suited.
It is necessary to freeze the juice almost immediately after collection. After all, even a few extra hours spent in the warmth can start the process of its fermentation.
By the way, fermented juice itself is not a spoiled product, because even after defrosting, you can make very tasty and healthy kvass from it.
How to freeze birch sap in cubes
Cube-shaped molds are usually included with any freezer. And on sale now you can find small containers for freezing of any convenient shape.
In such containers, the freezing of juice occurs quickly, easily and without loss of useful properties, even in a conventional freezer compartment of a modern refrigerator.
After collection, the birch elixir must be filtered and, after filling prepared clean molds with it, they are placed in the freezer compartment. After a day, pieces of frozen juice can be removed from the molds and placed in tight bags with fasteners for more convenient and compact storage. The molds can be used many more times if there is a fresh drink available.
Ready-made frozen cubes made from birch sap are perfect for a variety of cosmetic procedures. If you wipe your face, neck and hands with frozen birch sap daily, you can solve many age-related and allergic skin problems. Pigmented spots, freckles, acne will disappear quickly and imperceptibly.
Defrosting a few cubes and adding the juice of half a lemon to them is a terrific rinse to give your hair shine and vitality and remove dandruff. For greater effectiveness, you can directly rub this elixir into the scalp, adding more burdock oil to it.
Freezing birch sap in plastic bottles
In large plastic bottles (1.5-5 liters), it is better to freeze birch juice if you have a freezer with a shock freeze function.
Small 0.5-1 liter bottles can also be used to freeze birch sap without loss in conventional freezers.
Whichever bottle is used for freezing, do not fill it completely, otherwise it may burst. Leave about 8-10 cm of free space at the top.
Shelf life
Birch sap, frozen in any container, can be stored for up to six months in modern chambers at a temperature of about -18 ° C. At lower temperatures, you can keep it throughout the year. The main thing is that you should not try to freeze it again. Therefore, containers should be used such that they are enough for exactly one use.
After defrosting, it is also stored for a short time, up to 2 days. It is best to consume it directly after defrosting.
Conclusion
If you freeze birch sap every spring, then you can provide yourself with a unique healing elixir for almost the whole year, which will help both strengthen your health and preserve beauty.
