The best recipes for homemade apple and plum compote for the winter in a saucepan

Homemade compote is a drink whose flavor can be easily customized by adding additional ingredients or adjusting the proportions. Compote made from apples and plums is popular, quenching thirst in the summer heat and delighting with its pleasant summer flavor and aroma in the winter cold. This drink also contains beneficial ingredients that, if prepared correctly, can be preserved for winter storage.

Cooking Features

Of course, there are many different types of compote on store shelves. But it's hard to find anything healthier, more aromatic, and more delicious than a drink lovingly prepared at home.

In order to begin the actual preparation, you need to know the most basic rules:

• Apples should be selected as sweet and sour types that are ripe but not yet overripe.
• Only apples of one type can be placed in one container.
• The fruits must be free of damage.
• It is advisable to select only large-sized fruits.
• Small fruits do not need to be chopped further.

• Peel large apples, remove the core and seeds, and divide them into 8 pieces with a knife.
• Before you begin preparing the preserves, it is worth soaking the fruit in a slightly salted or acidified liquid for half an hour.
• To ensure that the apples retain their original shape and color, it is advisable to blanch them for several minutes.
• The water used during blanching should be saved for subsequent preparation of sweet syrup.

Please note! Fruits that have undergone all processing stages before cooking and are preserved in their original condition can easily be used in pies and other similar desserts.

Which plums and apples to choose for compote

It's no secret that only by choosing the right ingredients for any dish or drink can you achieve something truly worthwhile. So, how do you choose the right ingredients for a plum and apple drink?

• apples should be selected from fresh stocks, and must be firm and sour;
• Do not allow damaged fruits to be used;
• You can use any kind of plum, you can even add prunes;
• It is desirable that one of the products has sufficient acidity, and the other has sweetness, since such a contrast will have a positive effect on the taste characteristics of the future compote.

By following all the rules and recommendations, a housewife can create a delicious and healthy compote that's perfect for both drinking and storing for winter weather.

How to make apple-plum compote for the winter

To prepare the drink, you need to first prepare the following list of ingredients:

• 2 kilograms of granulated sugar;
• 2 kilograms of plums;
• 3 kilograms of apples;
• 2 tablespoons of citric acid;
• 12.5 liters of purified water.

Detailed recipe for preparing compote:

• Wash the apples very thoroughly.
• It is also important to rinse the plums well, while selecting any that are too soft.
• Cut the apples into slices, removing the seeds and tough core.
• Fill prepared 3-liter jars one-third full with prepared fruit.
• Bring the water in a saucepan to a boil and immediately pour it into the jars containing the fruit. Let it simmer for 10 minutes.

• Then pour the mixture back into the container, place it on the stove, bring to a boil, and add the prepared sugar and citric acid. Cook the syrup, stirring, until it reaches a boil and the granulated sugar crystals are completely dissolved.
• Pour the hot syrup over the fruit in the jars, seal the lids tightly, and wrap them in a warm cloth until completely cool.

Please note! Making plum and apple compote is easy. However, to ensure the fruit stays whole and doesn't overcook, it's important to strictly follow the instructions above.

How to store

To keep the compote fresh, you should refrigerate it. A balcony is also suitable during cold weather. Don't store the drink for more than seven days, as storing it longer will cause it to spoil. It's also important to note that the compote will lose more and more nutrients with each passing day.

As for winter storage, dark, dry, and cool places are generally used. A basement is ideal for this.

Conclusion

During the colder months, it's always a good idea to remind yourself of summer with delicious and healthy preserves. Apple-plum compote is a perfect option, delighting you with its pleasant taste and refreshing summer aroma.