Rules and methods for storing sea buckthorn berries for the winter at home

Sea buckthorn berries contain a large number of beneficial substances essential to the body. These delicious fruits are used not only for nutrition but also for treating various ailments. People have devised numerous ways to preserve sea buckthorn for long-term use. Below is information on berry harvesting, home storage methods, and winter preparation options.

Harvesting berries and preparing for storage

The harvesting period for sea buckthorn berries depends on the gardener's purpose for growing it. Before frost, the berries contain the most vitamin C; afterward, the amount decreases, favoring the oil.

The berries are difficult to separate from the branches, so the following collection rules must be observed:

1. If sea buckthorn is transported over long distances, the branches are cut and then the berries are picked on site.
2. Overripe fruits are cut off with manicure scissors.
3. The berries are collected starting from the top.
4. If you need sea buckthorn to make oil, you can place a container under the branch and run your hand over it.
5. The harvest is collected in dry weather.

The container for storing the harvest is prepared in advance, lined with paper.

Is it possible to store sea buckthorn on a branch?

To prevent sea buckthorn from turning soggy when harvested, you can pick a branch with the berries still covered. Whole berries have a significantly longer shelf life when fresh.

Conditions for lying down

Sea buckthorn branches should be kept in a cool, dry place. A basement or refrigerator is suitable for this purpose. The berries can also be separated from the branches, placed in a sealed container, and then stored in a cool room. Carefully separate the berries, otherwise there is a greater risk of rot.

Shelf life of fresh product

Sea buckthorn will not spoil for 4-5 weeks when stored at a temperature of +3…+4°C. It is inspected regularly, as even one spoiled berry can rot all the others. Placing the berries in a plastic bag and pumping out the air will significantly extend their shelf life. Without oxygen, the berries' respiration slows.

How long can fruits be stored at home?

There are different ways to store goods.

Freezing berries

This is one of the popular methods of preserving produce. To maintain the fruit's consistency after defrosting, it is flash-frozen. This prevents ice crystals from forming in the flesh, which would subsequently cause the shell to rupture. The procedure is as follows:

• the fruits are washed;
• spread out in one layer to dry;
• placed in the freezer for 24 hours;
• are poured into containers and placed into long-term storage.

Plastic bags are best suited as a container.

Drying

To dry products in the oven, follow these steps:

• the berries are washed and dried;
• Preheat the oven to 35-40° and place the sea buckthorn on baking sheets;
• after 3 hours the temperature is increased to 60 °.

The dried fruits are left for a day, then poured into jars and covered.

Important! The oven door must not be closed during drying.

Keep in a cold place

Fresh sea buckthorn can be preserved in two ways:

• pick branches with berries from the tree and put them in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator;
• remove the fruits, place them in a plastic bag, and pump out the oxygen from it.

With the second method, the shelf life of the fruit increases to 6-7 weeks.

In the water

To preserve sea buckthorn in water, use clean glass jars. Place the berries in the jars, add boiled water, and cover tightly with a lid. Store the jars in a cool place. Only whole, undamaged berries are selected for this method of storage.

In sugar

To preserve the berries in sugar, they are first washed and dried. Then, the sea buckthorn is mixed with sugar in a 1:1 ratio and placed in prepared glass jars. The mixture is poured to three-quarters of the container's capacity. The remaining space is filled with granulated sugar, the jars are sealed, and they are placed in the refrigerator.

Sea buckthorn preparations for the winter

In addition to the above-mentioned methods of storing sea buckthorn, it can be preserved. It can be used to make juice, jam, pickled fruit, and even extracted into oil, which is used to treat various ailments.

Juice

The sorted and washed sea buckthorn is juiced using a juicer. The pulp is covered with just enough water, left to steep for about an hour, and then pressed. The juice and pulp are then combined, strained, and heated to 75°C. The resulting liquid is poured into a glass container, pasteurized at 80°C, sealed, and stored in a cellar.

Soaked sea buckthorn

Place the unwashed berries in sterilized jars and cover with boiled and cooled water. Cover the jars with plastic wrap or a lid. Transfer the jars with the soaked berries to a cellar or refrigerate.

Jam recipes

To cook sea ​​buckthorn jam, perform the following actions:

1. Prepare syrup from 0.5 liters of water and 1.5 kilograms of sugar.
2. They pour it over 1 kilogram of berries and leave it to infuse for 4 hours.
3. The syrup is drained, boiled for 15 minutes, then the fruits are added and simmered for half an hour over low heat.

The finished jam is poured into glass jars, sealed, and placed in the cellar.

Preparing the butter

At home, the oil is prepared as follows:

1. The fruits are ground in a meat grinder. The juice is used for preserving.
2. The cake is placed in a jar and filled with vegetable oil.
3. The container is covered with a lid and placed in a dark, cool place for a week.

After the specified time, the oil is filtered and used as intended.