14 Best Step-by-Step Recipes for Preparing Sea Buckthorn for Winter

Sea buckthorn ranks high among berries beneficial and therapeutic for the human body. Its healing properties have found application not only in cooking but also in traditional medicine. Step-by-step recipes for preserving sea buckthorn for the winter will be easy, even for those who are canning this fruit for the first time. It's important to properly prepare the container and berries and then create optimal storage conditions for the preserves.

Benefits of harvesting sea buckthorn for the winter

Sea buckthorn is one of those berries that's inexpensive in season. Therefore, even a family with a moderate income can prepare some for the winter. The berries contain a complex of valuable vitamins and minerals that help fight various illnesses and strengthen the immune system during the viral season. Sea buckthorn oil is considered one of the best wound-healing remedies.

Preparing berries

Before preserving sea buckthorn berries, prepare them. If they were purchased on the branch, carefully separate them to prevent them from releasing juice. Next, sort the sea buckthorn berries, removing any damaged or rotten ones. Rinse them under cool running water and spread them on a dry towel to allow any remaining liquid to evaporate.

Also, properly prepare containers for future canning: wash them with baking soda and be sure to sterilize them over steam to disinfect them.

Cooking methods

Over the long period of using sea buckthorn berries in cooking, a treasure trove of the best recipes has been collected. There's nothing complicated about the step-by-step preparation; the main thing is to maintain the specified proportions of ingredients and strictly follow the instructions. Having chosen a recipe they like, they study the instructions and begin cooking.

Drying the harvest

The easiest and most inexpensive way to preserve sea buckthorn for the winter is to dry it. There are several ways to do this, depending on the kitchen utensils you have.

Sun and wind will help dry the berries. The sorted and washed sea buckthorn is spread evenly on a tray and exposed to the sun. To prevent insects from damaging the berries, they are covered with gauze. The sea buckthorn is turned occasionally to ensure even drying.

The process takes about 3-5 days depending on weather conditions.

Another way to dry berries is to use a regular oven, which is common in every home. Place the washed sea buckthorn berries on a baking sheet, set the oven to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit), and wait for the berries to dry. The process usually takes no more than two days. Periodically, turn off the oven for a few minutes and ventilate.

If you have a special electric dryer, you can speed up the sea buckthorn harvesting process. Lay the berries out in a single layer on the dryer's trays and set the drying mode accordingly. Drying typically takes about 10 hours, no more.

The dried fruit is cooled and transferred to linen bags or clean, dry jars. Sea buckthorn should be stored in a location protected from sunlight and with humidity between 50-60 percent. The berries are periodically inspected for mold and insects, and any damaged berries are removed immediately.

Freeze with sugar in the freezer

Freezing the berries will help preserve their rich vitamin content. Cold exposure doesn't destroy the beneficial substances, as it does during heat treatment. To freeze, mix sea buckthorn with granulated sugar in a 1:1 ratio.

The berries are sorted to remove leaves and debris, rinsed with cold water, and spread on kitchen towels to dry. Then, they are ground in an enamel bowl with sugar or put through a meat grinder. Mix thoroughly and then placed in plastic containers. storing sea buckthorn ground with sugar They also use cut-off plastic bottles, covering them with plastic wrap and tying them to keep out air. They're then placed in the freezer and used as needed.

Sea buckthorn jelly recipe with sugar

Amber sea buckthorn jelly makes a wonderful addition to tea on cold winter evenings; it's a healthy alternative to store-bought sweets.

The ingredient list is as follows:

• 1200 grams of berries;
• 1.5 kg of granulated sugar.

Since the jelly won't be cooked, it's important to wash the berries thoroughly. Afterward, dry the sea buckthorn as usual. Mash the berries in an enamel bowl with a wooden masher until they form a puree.

After this, strain the berries through a regular sieve. Add the required amount of granulated sugar to the resulting juice and stir thoroughly until it is completely dissolved. Pour the resulting jelly into sterilized jars and seal with metal lids. Since the product has not been exposed to heat, store the jars in the refrigerator only.

Making sea buckthorn syrup without cooking

A syrup made from vitamin-rich berries is prepared in a similar manner and then added to tea. Sea buckthorn juice is extracted using any convenient method, then strained through cheesecloth several times to remove any remaining skins and seeds. Mix with sugar at a ratio of 1 liter of juice to 500 grams of sugar and pour into sterile containers. Seal with metal lids and refrigerate for storage.

Sea buckthorn assortment with apples

To complement the flavor of sea buckthorn, apples are added to the recipe. It's best to choose sweet varieties, as sea buckthorn itself is quite a tart berry.

Recipe components:

• 2 kg of sea buckthorn berries;
• 3 kg of apples;
• 2 kg of granulated sugar.

Remove the berries from the branches, rinse gently under cold water, and spread them on a clean towel. Using a food processor, squeeze the sea buckthorn juice and strain it through cheesecloth. Add half the sugar, stir, and then begin working on the apples. Wash them, peel them, and remove the cores and seeds. Grind them using the same food processor. Place the enamel pan with the sea buckthorn juice on the stove and add the apples.

After boiling, simmer on the stove for 20 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Add the remaining sugar and simmer for another 20 minutes. While hot, pour into jars and seal tightly with metal lids. After cooling, store in a pantry or cellar.

Sea buckthorn preparation with citrus

The jam will be delicious if you add orange to it. To prepare it, you need a minimal set of ingredients:

• 1 kg of sea buckthorn berries;
• 1 large orange;
• 1.3 kg of sugar.

Sprinkle the sea buckthorn berries with granulated sugar and let them sit for about 6 hours. Wash the citrus and grind it, peel and all, in a meat grinder. Add it to the sea buckthorn and simmer over low heat. After 15 minutes, pour the berries into sterilized jars and seal with steamed metal lids. Store at room temperature.

Sea buckthorn jam without sterilization

If you choose the right ratio of berries to sugar, you can prepare your sea buckthorn infusion without sterilization. Typically, a 1:1 ratio is used. The berries are covered with sugar and left to sit for several hours. After boiling, place them on the stove and simmer for 10 minutes. Set them aside and let them cool completely. Return them to the stove and simmer until the desired consistency is reached. Then, arrange them in steamed jars.

Important! Keep in mind that the jam will thicken after cooling, so don't overcook it.

Berry compote in jars

Housewives often make a vitamin-rich compote from sea buckthorn for the winter. To make it, you'll need the following ingredients:

• 2 kg of fruit;
• 1.5 kg of granulated sugar;
• clean boiled water.

Wash three-liter jars with baking soda, rinse, and sterilize using any convenient method. Pour the prepared berries into the jars, filling them to a third of the capacity. Make a syrup from water and granulated sugar. Pour the hot syrup over the sea buckthorn and cover with lids.

Allow the compote to cool completely, pour it into a saucepan without the berries, and bring it back to a boil. Pour the compote over the fruit again and this time immediately seal with a seaming wrench. Turn the container upside down, wrap it in a warm blanket, and let it cool completely. After this, the compotes are ready for storage.

Sea buckthorn, mashed with hawthorn

Hawthorn berries are known to be very beneficial for strengthening the heart. Preserving the vitamin content of both berries without heat treatment will help preserve their vitamin content.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of sea buckthorn berries;
• 600 grams of hawthorn berries;
• 500 grams of granulated sugar.

Rinse and dry the sea buckthorn berries and press them through a sieve. Blanch the hawthorn berries in boiling water and then mince or blend them. Mix the two ingredients and add the required amount of sugar. Heat the mixture to 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit), just enough to dissolve the sweetener. Place the mixture in containers and sterilize.

If you're making half-liter jars, you'll need 20 minutes; if you're making liter jars, you'll need 30 minutes. In winter, you can spread the mixture on bread, pour it over pancakes, or dilute it in water to create a vitamin-rich drink.

Sea buckthorn juice

The juice from this berry is quite tart, so you'll need to stock up on sugar. You'll need 1 kg of sugar per 1 liter of liquid. Use a juicer to extract the juice from the fruit. Strain it through cheesecloth and add the required amount of sweetener.

Place an enamel saucepan on the stove and bring to a boil. Pour the mixture into sterile jars and seal with metal lids. Wait until the mixture has cooled completely and then store in a cool cellar.

Berry puree

A delicate vitamin puree, which is also suitable for feeding babies, is prepared as follows:

1. Take a kilogram of sea buckthorn berries, sort them, wash them and dry them.
2. Rub through a sieve to remove seeds and skins.
3. Add 700 grams of sugar and mix thoroughly.
4. Place on fire and keep until boiling.
5. Place into prepared containers (it’s better to take half-liter ones) and sterilize for 15 minutes.
6. After this, seal it hermetically and allow it to cool completely.

Amber Jam

To add aroma and a pleasant flavor to the jam, lemon is used as an additional ingredient. For every 1 kg of berries, add 1 kg of sugar. Grind the lemon peel in a meat grinder, and press the sea buckthorn berries through a sieve. Cook until the desired consistency is achieved. This jam can be sealed immediately with metal lids, rather than sterilized.

Sea buckthorn with honey without cooking

Honey serves as a sweetener and preservative in this recipe. For 2 kg of sea buckthorn, you'll need one and a half liters. Rinse and dry the berries and mince them. Add the honey, stir, and let them sit. After three hours, place them in sterile, dry jars and store in a cool place.

Morse

This vitamin-rich drink is especially beneficial during the winter cold. Place the berries in a deep enamel saucepan. Fill with water, add 500 grams of sugar, and simmer for 5 minutes after boiling. Pour into glass containers, seal, and let cool under a warm cover.

Storage conditions and periods

It is important not only to prepare sea buckthorn correctly, but also to preserve the prepared products in winter. For recipes that do not require heat treatment, only the refrigerator is suitable. Jams and preserves can be kept in a pantry or in a basement. Just make sure they're out of direct sunlight.