TOP 6 ways to properly freeze red currants for the winter
Currant harvesting period is short. In addition to making jam, they close it in a cold way, simply stirring with sugar in equal proportions. But the disadvantage of this method is the large amount of the sweet component. It is much more beneficial to freeze red currants, since the minimum amount of sugar is required. If the berry is harvested whole, sugar may not be used. Such preparations are ideal for desserts, ice cream, smoothies, cereals, muesli.
Can currants be frozen for the winter?
Harvesting berries in the freezer is a suitable way to preserve the maximum vitamins and valuable elements.
The harvesting process involves pre-freezing. The fruits are laid out on a flat surface, frozen, then folded into containers for storage. If the currants are dry, fresh, with intact skin, they can be immediately folded into a polyethylene bag or other container.
Important! You cannot freeze food a second time.
The blank must be made on a one-time basis. It is recommended to use small plastic bags, plastic containers. In addition, such portions go through the freezing process faster.
How to choose and prepare berries?
In addition to freezing red currants, you can prepare white, black and other berries. You get a delicious berry mix. It is important to observe the rules for preparing fruits and the freezing process itself.
What berries are suitable:
- fully ripe;
- the harvested or purchased crop must be sorted out, leaves, other garbage, spoiled berries must be removed;
- it is necessary to collect and wash with twigs;
- wash under running water, placing them in a colander;
- then dry it, spreading it out on a cotton cloth, then pick it up, otherwise the loss of juice is inevitable.
Ways to freeze currants at home
Freezing recipes are varied: it is harvested whole, ground with granulated sugar or in the form of juice. It is recommended to prepare not only one red, but to make a multi-component blank: diversify with black, white currants, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries. This berry cocktail is used for cooking compotes, jelly, added to muesli.
With twigs
The branches with fruits are well stored in the freezer. For procurement you need:
- Sort out the fruits, wash, distribute dry for serving.
- Fold in plastic containers or bags.Place in a freezing chamber.
From such blanks in winter, you can make smoothies, juice, boil compote, add to muesli and other cereals.
With sugar
Such freezing involves two ways: whole berries or chopping with a blender, meat grinder. If the fruits are frozen whole, they must be put in a container or bag, sprinkled with sugar layers.
Cooking scheme:
- Chop the washed fruits.
- Add granulated sugar. The classic ratio of berries and sweet components is 5 to 1. But each housewife changes the sugar rate depending on the taste preferences of family members.
- Divide the berry mass into small containers and put into the freezer.
Puree
If the fruits lie in the refrigerator, crumpled, and the process of separating the juice has already begun, it is recommended to freeze them in the form of puree. Berry cubes are ideal for desserts, cereals, ice cream.
Scheme of actions:
- Bring the fruits to a puree state with a blender. If desired, the mass can be wiped through a sieve, then the skins and seeds will separate, it will be homogeneous.
- Pour in granulated sugar, the amount of which is used, taking into account the type, ripeness of the berries and the taste preferences of family members.
- Fold the mass into an ice container, send to freeze.
- Transfer the hardened cubes to a storage container, send to the freezer.
Whole berries can be added to the puree if desired. After defrosting on desserts, ice cream and muesli, they look beautiful and appetizing.
Blackcurrant smoothie with milk
For smoothies, you can freeze currant cubes in advance. Such preparations are mixed with milk, yogurt, and now a tasty, healthy drink is ready.
To prepare cubes:
- Grind the fruits with a blender.
- Put the mashed potatoes in an ice container.
- When the berry cubes have hardened, put in a bag or storage container.
Preparation for compotes, fruit drinks, jelly
For the preparation of compotes and jelly in winter, berry mixes are harvested, the composition of which is at the discretion of the hostess. For such purposes, crushed berries that have lain for a while are suitable. They must be packaged in plastic bags.
Their size should provide for one-time use.
For fruit drinks, it is recommended to prepare berry juice, freeze in the form of cubes and use in the winter during the preparation process.
Currant juice
Juice can be added when preparing smoothies, jelly, jelly desserts. It is frozen according to the scheme:
- Pass the prepared fruits through a juicer.
- Pour juice into plastic containers, put in the freezer.
Do not throw away the juice field. You can cook compote or berry mass from it, you can freeze it for making compotes, jelly.
Some housewives dry currant cake and brew it with tea.
Black currant is very popular. It turns out a fortified, aromatic, healthy drink, since a large amount of vitamins and minerals are stored in the peel of the berries.
How and how much can you store?
Refrigeration equipment experts say: the optimum temperature for storing berry blanks is from 18 o to 23 o. Vegetables, fruits and berries are frozen faster, stored for up to 12 months. If the temperature is 10 o and higher, under such conditions the shelf life is up to four months.
How to defrost properly?
Berry blanks need gentle defrosting. To do this, transfer the container or package from the freezer to the refrigerator, use it after complete defrosting. When defrosting in a microwave oven, most of the vitamins are lost from temperature changes. Defrosting at room temperature is faster, but the berries lose their attractive appearance.
When preparing compotes, fruit drinks, jelly, the blanks are immediately filled with water.When added to baked goods, the curd casserole can be added immediately to frozen fruits during the cooking process.
