Freezing and thawing blueberries: this is how they keep

The delicious blueberry season, which is also known as the blueberry in some regions of Germany, begins in July. New fruits continue to ripen over a period of several weeks. The sweet fruits do not keep for long, which is why you have to preserve larger quantities quickly. If you have a freezer, you can easily preserve the berries. If properly frozen, they won't get mushy even after thawing.

Local superfood

The small blueberries are a real superfood: In addition to vitamins A, C and E, the blue mini balls contain many vitamins from the B group as well as minerals, Tannins and anti-inflammatory anthocyanins, which, according to recent research, slow down the aging process and even prevent cancer to a certain extent should. So it's no wonder that the sweet berries are not only delicious, but also healthy.

Freeze blueberries

Why should you freeze blueberries?

However, blueberries do not last long and should be used after buying or selling. after the harvest be preserved as quickly as possible. This can be done quickly and easily by freezing in the freezer, especially since this method best preserves the valuable ingredients as well as the taste and consistency. When properly thawed, they can then be used like fresh fruit and have hardly lost any of their aroma.

In addition to freezing, there are of course other options for preserving fresh berries for a longer period of time. For example, blueberries are wonderfully suited to:

• Drying B. in the food dehydrator)
• Cooking jam or jelly
• Preserving canned food
• Squeezing juice

However, the disadvantage of all these methods is that the many healthy ingredients of the blueberry are due to the They are destroyed by heating, and fruits processed in this way are no longer as versatile as fresh ones respectively. frozen. They also lack the crunchy bite that is so typical of the popular berries.

Harvest properly

To properly freeze blueberries, they must neither be too unripe nor overripe: unripe berries have neither the characteristic aroma is still full of important vitamins, minerals and Co. at this point in time pronounced. Overripe berries, on the other hand, tend to lose their bite, they become soft and lose their taste after thawing. You should therefore precisely schedule the right harvest time by regularly checking the bushes and shrubs. The best way to harvest is as follows:

• if possible in the early morning
• Store the berries loosely in a basket or other airy container
• handle carefully, do not squeeze
• Blueberries are very sensitive to pressure and then mold quickly
• do not store too many berries on top of each other
• Use as soon as possible after harvest
• Store in the refrigerator for a maximum of one or two days

tip: Forest blueberries are much more aromatic than the large cultivated blueberries from the garden. However, you should always rinse them off thoroughly and then heat them to render any fox tapeworm eggs harmless. Freezing them does not kill them!

preparation

Before freezing, read the fruits carefully so that only undamaged and fresh berries find their way into the freezer. Take this opportunity to pluck any stems that are still attached. Carefully fill the selected blueberries into a large sieve and rinse them carefully under clear, running water. Then dry them just as carefully with and on a kitchen towel, because moist frozen fruits tend to burst when thawed and can become mushy.

Freeze

After washing and sorting, freeze the blueberries, first placing the fruits on a tray. be pre-frozen on the baking sheet. This will prevent solid clumps of frozen berries from forming later. That's how it works:

• Carefully clean and dry the tray
• Spread the blueberries on top
• may only lie next to each other, not on top of each other
• do not put too many berries on the tray
• prefer to use multiple trays or start multiple runs
• Place the tray with the berries and uncovered in the freezer
• Let freeze for about one to two hours
• Transfer the berries in portions into a sealable container
• freeze properly

Blueberries preserved in this way keep for around six months.

Tip: If you don't have a freezer, but only a freezer or small cubes, you can pre-freeze the blueberries on a small plate.

Thaw blueberries

If you want to use the frozen blueberries for cooking or baking, you do not need to defrost them beforehand. The frozen fruits can also be used wonderfully for smoothies or mixed milk drinks. For muesli or snacking, pour warm (not boiling!) Water over the berries. If the water cools down, pour it away and pour over the fruit again if necessary. Then they are like fresh, only the skin may have become a bit tough.