Rules and best ways to preserve blueberries for the winter at home

During the winter, the human body experiences vitamin deficiencies. Therefore, many people stock up on them in advance. Blueberries are a treasure trove of vitamins. They are collected in the wild and grown in gardens. People face the dilemma of how to preserve wild blueberries for the winter with minimal loss of nutrients. To achieve this, they dry and freeze the berries, and make jams and compotes.

When to pick blueberries: timing

Blueberries are harvested during the ripening phase, which occurs between July and September. Unripe fruits do not ripen fully after being picked, so it's best not to pick them. Harvesting continues until frost.

According to the lunar calendar, it is recommended to pick berries for eating on the new moon, and for canning on the full moon.

Criteria for selection and preparation of fruits

Blueberries will last longer if the fruits:

• ripe. Unripe and overripe berries are not allowed;
• washed under water only before processing;
• collected in dry weather;
• Protected from sunlight during delivery. Otherwise, the product's flavor and nutritional value are lost.

Before storing, the fruits are sorted, leaves, suspicious and rotten berries are removed.

Rules for storing fresh berries

You can store berries longer if you follow a few rules:

• the fruits are sorted immediately;
• select the right containers;
• set the desired temperature and humidity in the room;
• take care of sanctification.

During storage, the berries are inspected periodically.

Capacity

Fruits keep well in wooden boxes and baskets. For the refrigerator, use resealable plastic bags and plastic containers with lids.

Temperature and humidity

At home, fresh fruits are stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of +5 degrees Celsius.

When storing fruits indoors, the temperature should be between 10-15 degrees Celsius and humidity – 60%.

Illumination of the place

For storage, the collected berries should be placed in a dark, dry, cool place: a basement, a pantry, or a ventilated bathroom.

Product expiration date

Blueberries will spoil after 3 days at room temperature. However, with optimal storage conditions, their shelf life can be extended. Refrigerated, they last for 7 days, and frozen, 12 months.

Making blueberry preserves

Preserving blueberries for a long time can be done by drying, freezing, and canning.

Drying

To dry berries, special electric dryers and ovens are used. The fruits are pre-prepared for the process: sorted and washed.

Place the blueberries in a single layer on a tray and place in a warm place. Set the temperature to 40°C (104°F). Open the oven door while drying. If using a dehydrator, rotate the trays every two hours.

Freezing in the refrigerator

New refrigerator models allow berries to be frozen. This involves sorting, washing, and drying the fruit.

Place the dried berries in a single layer on a tray. Set the freezing temperature to -18-21 degrees Celsius. After 4 hours, the products are ready for storage. Transfer the blueberries to plastic bags, seal them, and store them in the freezer.

Canning or water soaking

The simplest way to store blueberries is to soak them in water. To do this, prepare the berries and sterilize the containers. Fill a half-liter or liter jar with berries up to the waist, then fill with room-temperature water. The water should be boiled and cooled beforehand.

Prepare a large saucepan, line it with a cloth, place the full jars inside, and fill with water. After boiling, sterilize the half-liter jars for 10 minutes, and the liter jars for 20 minutes.

The rubber bands are removed from the lids during heat treatment, then replaced. After sterilization, the jars are sealed.

Let's prepare aromatic jam

The berries are inspected, removing leaves, spoiled, and rotten specimens. They are rinsed under running water and dried.

Ingredients:

• blueberries – 1 kilogram;
• sugar – 1.2 kilograms;
• water - glass.

Preparation: Pour water into a heavy-bottomed saucepan, add sugar, and cook until thickened. Pour the resulting syrup over the berries. Let the blueberries soak for 3 hours. Then return to the heat and cook for another 20 minutes. Skim off any foam periodically.

Pour the jam into sterilized jars and quickly seal. Covering the jars is not necessary, as the mixture is thick and takes a long time to cool.

An exquisite aroma is achieved by adding spices: cinnamon, cardamom or star anise.

Blueberries with sugar

Blueberries are kept fresh by adding sugar.

Ingredients:

• blueberries – 1 kilogram;
• sugar – 2 kilograms.

Preparation: Sort, wash, and dry the berries. Grind 1 tablespoon of berries and 2 tablespoons of sugar through a meat grinder, and continue grinding until the pulp is completely gone. This technique helps evenly distribute the sugar throughout the pulp, making the grinder easier to operate. Let the resulting mixture sit for 30 minutes to release the juice and dissolve the sugar.

Prepare the jars in advance: wash, sterilize, and let cool. Place the mixture in dry, half-liter containers. Cover the containers with paper and tie them with a rope.

Duration and rules of preservation

Jams can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 years. Blueberries soaked in sugar can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.

Frozen blueberries The berries have a long shelf life. They only need to be defrosted once, after which they should be used. Dried berries are packaged in airtight containers. In this form, the products will keep in the refrigerator or cellar for a long time.