How to properly freeze dogwood at home for the winter and is it possible?

The berries have a pleasant sweet-tart flavor with a slightly astringent aftertaste. They have gained popularity due to their valuable medicinal properties. To reap the full benefits during the winter, they need to be preserved properly. Freezing dogwood is an ideal winter option. Preserving it will help protect the body from vitamin deficiency, and the natural flavor will lift your spirits on cold days.

Can dogwood be frozen for the winter?

Dogwood contains numerous vitamins and nutrients. In winter, it helps the body cope with seasonal illnesses. Compotes and jams are often made from the fruit for the winter, but cooking destroys its beneficial properties. Therefore, freezing the fruit for the winter is the best option. This storage method not only preserves the vitamins but also improves the taste.

After freezing, the berries are used in the same way as fresh ones.

Product selection and preparation

The most important rule to follow when freezing is the correct selection of dogwood.

• Freshly picked berries are best for winter preservation. The berries are harvested in early autumn. They ripen gradually, so the harvest will take several days. Only fully ripe berries are suitable for winter preservation. If you encounter unripe berries, spread them out in a single layer on a dry cloth and wait until they ripen.
• A quick way to harvest ripe dogwood is to spread a blanket under the bush and shake it. All the ripe berries will fall off, leaving the unripe ones on the plant. The downside of this method is the potential for damage to the fruit. When dropped, they may become crushed, which is unacceptable for freezing.

• You can determine the degree of ripeness by color. Ripe fruits turn a bright red, similar to ripe cherries. The flavor becomes tart and sweet-sour.
• Once harvested, don't delay preparing the fruit. It spoils very quickly.
• Before freezing, the berries are sorted. Only suitable specimens are kept. All debris is removed. Only fully ripe, firm-to-the-touch berries with no damage or discoloration are frozen.

• The sorted dogwoods are placed in a colander and rinsed. They are then poured onto a paper towel and dried. Another drying method can speed up the process. To do this, place the dogwoods on a cloth and gently wipe each berry, removing excess moisture. Removing moisture prevents the fruit from freezing over.

If frozen with sugar, it is permissible to use slightly overripe fruits, but only without signs of rot.

Preparing the freezer

Before freezing, follow simple recommendations.

1. The freezer compartment is thoroughly cleaned. If meat products were previously stored there, wipe it with a weak vinegar solution to completely remove the odor.
2. The initial freezing time depends on the refrigerator's temperature setting. The recommended freezer setting is -12 degrees Celsius. Spread the dogwood in a layer and let it sit for 15 minutes. Seal into bags. Remove all air and seal.
3. The freezer mode is switched to -18 degrees and stored for 10-12 months.

You can use the quick-freeze function. In this case, turn it on 5 hours before freezing. The faster the dogwood freezes, the more vitamins it will retain.

How to freeze dogwood at home

Depending on the degree of ripeness, different methods are used to freeze dogwood.

In bulk

1. Picked or purchased berries are sorted, removing debris, twigs, and damaged fruit. Only firm, undamaged dogwoods are retained. Soft specimens are set aside. In this method, the fruits are harvested with pits.
2. The dogwood is washed and dried. It is then spread in a single layer on a tray and stored in the freezer.

Packaged

1. The berries are sorted, washed, and dried. Only the firm and ripe ones are left.
2. Properly prepared dogwood is placed in any container: a plastic cup, container, or plastic bag. The container is sealed with a lid, and the bag is tied tightly.
3. The easiest way to package dogwood is to place it slightly frozen. To do this, place the berries on a tray in a single layer and freeze for 15 minutes. Then quickly distribute them in individual portions into prepared containers. Ziplock bags are suitable for winter storage.
4. It is recommended to package in small portions so that in winter you only have to defrost the required amount of product.

Grated

1. After sorting the dogwood, many overripe and soft berries remain. They cannot be frozen whole. Therefore, the dogwood is mashed through a sieve.
2. The resulting mixture is formed into small cakes, wrapped in cling film, and frozen. This method is convenient for portioned consumption. Defrost and use immediately, without any leftovers, as directed.

With sugar

1. The amount of sugar is chosen based on taste preferences.
2. Place the prepared berries in a sieve and mash. All the seeds and skins will remain in the sieve.
3. The mashed pulp is sprinkled with sugar and mixed. Transfer to any freezer-safe container. Ice cube trays are also suitable. Pour the resulting mixture into the freezer compartments and freeze for an hour and a half. Then, portion into bags. The resulting portions are neat and easy to add to porridge or tea.

Storage rules

Store the product at temperatures below -18 degrees Celsius. The shelf life depends on how the berries were prepared:

• frozen grated dogwood is stored in the freezer for 3-4 months;
• whole packaged berries are suitable for consumption for 10-12 months;
• The shelf life of bulk dogwood is no more than 4 months.

How to defrost dogwood

To preserve all the nutritional properties of the berries, you need to defrost them properly:

1. Remove the required amount. Do not refreeze the product.
2. Remove the berries from the bag or container they were stored in and place them in a bowl. Place them on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. This process is time-consuming, but it preserves all the vitamins.
3. You can defrost the berries at room temperature. However, this will cause them to lose more juice and vitamins. This method will also impair their appearance.
4. It's not recommended to defrost fruit in water, as this will cause it to lose many of its nutrients and most of its juice.

If you need to defrost the berries quickly, place them in waterproof packaging and immerse them in cold water. This will preserve the juice from the berries.