6 best ways to preserve strawberries for the winter without cooking

Many people wonder how to preserve strawberries for the winter without cooking them. Currently, there are many popular methods that allow you to preserve the fruit with the maximum amount of nutrients. Strawberries can be frozen whole or pureed. They can also be stored in the refrigerator or used to make jam. Dried strawberries are also a healthy option.

Benefits of storing strawberries without heat treatment

Berries preserved without heat treatment retain the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients. This is considered the key advantage of these fruits. Another significant advantage is the ease of preparation. They generally require little time or effort.

Selection and preparation of fruits

Any whole berries can be used for preserving. After picking strawberries, carefully examine the condition of the fruit. There should be no mold, insect damage, or other signs of damage. Small and not very sweet fruits are acceptable for processing. However, larger berries can be eaten fresh.

Before preparing preserves, it's recommended to sort and wash the berries thoroughly. Keep in mind that strawberries may contain small beetles, larvae, and slugs. After this, it's recommended to remove the stems. The subsequent steps depend on the processing method.

What kind of container is recommended for storing the preparations?

For freezing strawberries, it's best to use plastic containers or bags. It's recommended to pour chopped strawberries and jam into glass jars and store in a cool place.

When storing berries in the refrigerator, use wide containers. The wider the container, the longer the berries will stay fresh.

In general, strawberries can be stored in any container. Plastic bowls and glass jars are ideal. Aluminum or enamel containers are also excellent options. The material of the dishes does not affect the shelf life.

Methods and options for storing berries

Today, many methods for storing strawberries are known. The fruits can be frozen, dried, or used to make jam. Depending on the method chosen, the taste of the berries varies significantly.

Freezing

The easiest way to keep berries fresh is by freezing them. Before freezing, sort them. It's important to discard any moldy or damaged ones.

In its entirety

To freeze whole strawberries, place them in a colander and rinse under running water. Then, drain off any excess liquid. Spread the berries on a towel and let them rest for half an hour. Once they're dry, transfer them to freezer bags.

To prevent the berries from sticking together during freezing, you can spread them individually on a tray and freeze them for 24 hours. Then transfer them to a plastic bag and return them to the freezer.

Grated

One of the most common methods for preparing preserves is frozen puree. To do this, simply puree the strawberries with sugar and freeze them in individual bags. For every 500 grams of strawberries, use 150 grams of sugar. It is recommended to puree the product using a blender. You can also strain it through a sieve.

It's best to freeze this mixture in individual portions, using plastic bags or ice cube trays. The finished product can be added to various dishes, such as a milkshake.

Long-term storage in the refrigerator

The shelf life of fresh strawberries in the refrigerator is directly affected by the temperature. The lower the temperature, the longer the berries will stay fresh. At 6°C (41°F), the fruit will last for several days. At 0°C (32°F) to 2°C (32°F), the shelf life increases to 1 week.

It's important to remember that fruit should not be stored in a plastic bag. This will cause condensation to accumulate, which will lead to rapid mold growth.

Grind sweet berries with sugar

Strawberries can be pureed with sugar. If left unheated, the resulting mixture will taste just like fresh strawberries. The finished product can be stored in a cellar or frozen.

To make useful mass, you should do the following:

1. Take fresh strawberries and sugar to taste.
2. Wash the berries thoroughly, remove the stems, and discard any damaged fruit. Let them sit for a while to allow the water to drain.
3. Grind the strawberries using a blender or meat grinder.
4. Add a little sugar. To avoid feeling the grains while eating, it's better to use powdered sugar.

Place the resulting mixture in jars. The crushed strawberries and sugar can be frozen all winter. If you plan to store them in the refrigerator, it's best to eat them as quickly as possible. Otherwise, there is a risk of fermentation processes developing.

Drying

Drying is considered an effective and healthy way to preserve fruit. This process helps preserve the berries' flavor and nutritional value.

In the oven

After washing and drying, it's recommended to cut the washed and dried berries into slices and place them on a baking sheet. Bake in an oven preheated to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) for 40 minutes. Then, dry the berries on a windowsill or other sunny spot.

In the dryer

The prepared strawberries should be cut into 5-millimeter-thick pieces and placed on trays. Each tray can hold 300-500 grams of berries. You can use 5-9 trays. Dry the strawberries for 14 hours. The resulting fruit will be strawberry chips. Their weight should not exceed 10% of the original fresh fruit weight.

On the balcony or attic

To dry strawberries outdoors, lay out a layer of newspaper, then cover it with 1-2 sheets of thick paper. Place thinly sliced ​​strawberries on top. This will release juice, so change the newspapers every 4-6 hours. This method is recommended for drying berries for 4 days.

We vacuum

To keep strawberries fresh, you can freeze them using vacuum packaging. To do this, sort, wash, and clean the berries. This process requires a special device called a vacuum sealer. Place the berries in a bag and use the device to remove excess air. Then, immediately place the berries in the freezer.

"Live" jam

When choosing a method for making this jam, consider the consistency of the strawberries. Firm berries don't require any heat; simply sprinkle them with sugar. For 3 cups of strawberry, use 4 cups of sugar. Soft berries can also be stored fresh in syrup, but the fermentation process will begin much earlier.

What can you make from these strawberries?

Dried strawberries can be used in desserts and baked goods. They are also often added to tea. Freshly frozen strawberries are used as a pie filling. They can also be made into tea or compote.

There are many ways to preserve strawberries for the winter. Avoiding heat treatment allows you to preserve maximum vitamins and excellent flavor.