Content
Low-growing berry shrub with dark blue fruits, grows throughout the territory of the Russian Federation. Fruits of universal use, well suited for homemade preparations: compote, jam, preserves. During heat treatment, some of the useful microelements are lost; to preserve the vitamins and active substances in the berry, blueberries can be frozen in the freezer or in the refrigerator compartment with a low temperature.
Can blueberries be frozen
The culture 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. Avitaminosis and micronutrient deficiencies occur in winter, weakening the immune system. At this time, the value of culture, more than ever, by the way. So that the fruits do not lose some of the active substances in processing, they can be frozen.
Freezing fruits is an effective way to preserve the energy and biological composition. The process is quick, not laborious, the taste, aroma and presentation are preserved. The frozen product is suitable for raw consumption. If the berry is harvested or purchased not for making a dessert, but because of its beneficial qualities, freezing is the best option in order to preserve it until next year.
Benefits of frozen blueberries
Frozen fruits completely preserve organic acids, fiber, flavonoids, vitamin and mineral complex. They are used for the prevention of viral infections, used as a component in the complex treatment of a number of pathologies.
Benefits 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 the capillaries, making 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 decrease in vision, night blindness.
- Vitamin C and the activity of glycosides prevent the appearance of diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, and aging of the body.
- Thanks to the concentration of antioxidants in frozen fruits, the activity of the brain rises, degenerative changes are prevented, and memory, including short-term memory, improves.
- Frozen berries are used for cosmetic purposes: masks are made from them that improve the appearance of the epidermis.
- Frozen shrub fruits have antibacterial properties, enhance the action of enzymes involved in digestion, normalize bowel movements, relieve constipation, and prevent gastritis and ulcers.
Fiber in frozen berries normalizes digestion, 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 blueberries need to be washed before freezing
Berries are chosen fresh, ripe, of good quality. Freezing is carried out as soon as possible after collection or purchase, blueberries quickly lose their presentation, wither. Leaves, particles of branches and fragments of the stalk are pre-removed.
There is no need to wash self-picked berries, they are frozen after cleaning from debris. If in the future blueberries are subjected to heat treatment, they are washed before processing. Excess moisture during freezing is undesirable. Under the influence of water, the integrity of the shell is violated, the berry can be deformed.
Store-bought product is washed in small portions with 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 in the freezer for the winter
Freezing blueberries for the winter at home is carried out in several ways. The traditional way is with whole berries in plastic bags. You can grind until smooth with or without added sugar, then place in the freezer. The squeezed juice retains all active substances, it is frozen in compliance with certain rules.
How to properly freeze blueberries in bags
For harvesting for the winter, pre-cleaned and dried fruits are taken. Algorithm of actions:
- Put a dry, clean canvas napkin on a baking sheet.
- Spread out the blueberries in a thin layer.
- Placed in a freezer turned on at maximum mode.
- Leave for 2-3 hours, during which time the berries will become hard.
- Take out a baking sheet, pour the fruits into packing bags, about half.
- Let the air out and tie.
Primary freezing can be carried out without additional storage. Spread cellophane or baking paper at the bottom of the freezer. Blueberries are laid out in a thin layer, removed together with the lining material and packed in bags. With a large volume of product, pre-freezing manipulations are performed several times. Packaged berries are removed to the refrigerator compartment with a temperature of at least -150 C.
How to freeze blueberries with sugar
When the berries are frozen whole, there is a risk that they will freeze to each other. To avoid this, use a method using sugar. For 1 kg of blueberries, 0.5 kg of sugar is needed. The method involves preliminary washing of raw materials.
After the berries are completely dry, they are poured into a plastic container. The layer of fruits is sprinkled with sugar, the container is closed and immediately put to freeze in the chamber.
You can freeze the fruits in this way, if in the future they are used for culinary purposes, the method is not suitable for dietary use.
Freezing blueberries for the winter as mashed potatoes 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. The ratio of ingredients is selected to taste. To obtain sweet puree for 1 kg of fruit - 1 kg of sugar. To preserve the taste of the culture, 0.5 kg of sugar is enough.
Cooking sequence:
- Mix raw materials with sugar.
- Beat with a mixer, blender or grind with a fine-mesh meat grinder on a grid.
- Packaged in portioned containers.
- Plastic cups with mashed potatoes are covered with cling film on top, containers - with a lid.
- Freeze in a refrigerator compartment.
Frozen puree is used in cooking for desserts or as a filling for baked goods.
Freezing sugar-free blueberry puree
Freeze sugar-free blueberry puree for feeding babies from 6 months.The berry does not cause an allergic reaction, while it contains a large amount of nutrients necessary for the development of the child and normal digestion.
The process of making puree for freezing:
- Blueberries are pre-washed in a colander under hot running water.
- Lay out on a paper napkin, dry.
- Beat the berries with a blender so that there are no peel fragments in the mass.
- Poured, frozen.
How to properly freeze blueberry juice in the freezer
Freezing juice is prepared immediately after harvesting the fruit. Or they choose freshly picked, firm, dry berries when buying. They are washed, allow the water to drain well, you do not need to dry it. Squeeze the juice for freezing in the following way:
- Pound the fruit with a pestle for mashed potatoes. Gauze is pulled onto the pan in 2 layers, the mass is poured, squeezed.
- Interrupt with a blender and squeeze through cheesecloth.
- Pass through a meat grinder twice, squeeze 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 fast execution of work at the lowest possible temperature. Defrosting whole berries, on the other hand, 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 out the berries for complete defrosting at room temperature.
If the workpiece frozen for the winter is taken for the purpose of further heat treatment, it is not necessary 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. Eliminate proximity to meat, fish and semi-finished products from them. However the storage container is hermetically sealed, there is a risk that the blueberries will absorb the smell of nearby foods. After use, the remainder is not placed in the freezer, previously frozen berries will lose most of their beneficial properties, lose their taste.
Conclusion
Freezing blueberries is convenient for harvesting berries for the winter while preserving their biological and chemical composition. During heat treatment, the fruits lose some of the active substances, except for gastronomic dignity, they are of no value. You can freeze the berry as a whole, make mashed potatoes or juice. Add sugar if desired. Blueberries are stored for a long time, do not lose their taste, the concentration of trace elements and vitamins does not decrease.
