Frozen blueberries: how to store berries in the freezer

What kind of berry is blueberry?

Blueberry is a shrub 30–50 centimeters high. Some varieties can reach 1 meter in height.

The fruits of this plant are quite large, juicy, dark blue in color with a bluish tinge. The berries are large, up to 1.3 centimeters in diameter.

Blueberries are very healthy. It is indicated for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system and digestive tract. Constant consumption of these fruits helps relieve tension in the eye muscles and restore vision.

Watch the video from the channel “Chan Kazan” - Very healthy blueberry

The difference between blueberries and blueberries

Comparing these two berries, it will not be difficult to find the differences between them. So:

• on a blueberry bush the stem grows woody almost to the very top;
• The blueberry bush has light-colored stems;
• The receptacle of blueberries is smooth, but the line of blueberries is not straight, broken.
• the taste of blueberries is brighter and more pronounced;
• The juice secreted by blueberries is light, while that of blueberries is dark purple with a red tint.
• blueberry juice is very difficult to wash off, and blueberries do not stain your hands;
• The pulp of blueberries is pink-red, while blueberries have a greenish tint.

How to freeze blueberries for the winter

Preliminary preparation

Blueberries should be picked in dry, sunny weather. Since the berry is very vulnerable, the picking must be done carefully so as not to deform the fruit.

If you bought blueberries at the market or in a store, you need to rinse them with water before freezing. It is best to do this in a large container, rather than exposing the berries to pressure from the tap.

Dry blueberries on waffle or paper towels. The key to quality freezing is a completely dry product.

Whole berries

The berries are placed in containers or trays in a layer of no more than 2 centimeters. In this form, the blueberries are sent to the freezer. It is advisable to set the freezer to “Super frost” a couple of hours before. After 4 - 6 hours, the blueberries can be taken out and poured into a common bag or container. Freezing this way allows you to freeze the berries in bulk.

Blueberries with sugar

Place the berries in containers and sprinkle them one by one with granulated sugar. The amount of sugar is taken according to your own taste, but experienced cooks advise using 3 - 4 tablespoons per half kilo of blueberries.

Blueberry puree for the winter

Puréed blueberries are a great option for freezing. If you like to feel the structure of the berries in a dish, then you can chop the blueberries with a regular wooden masher. If you want to see a more homogeneous mass, then a blender can come to the rescue. It is recommended to add sugar to this preparation.Its quantity depends on your taste preferences, but you should not add too much sand. For 1 kilogram, 200 - 250 grams will be enough.

Tanya Nikonova in her video will tell you how to make natural juice from blueberries or blueberries in a blender

Shelf life of blueberries in the freezer

Blueberries tolerate freezing very well, so the berries do not lose their taste and beneficial properties throughout the whole year in the freezer.

The optimal storage temperature for blueberries is -16…-18ºС and below.

In order not to confuse blueberries with blueberries or, for example, with grated black currants, the preparation must be labeled. On the tag you can indicate the type of berries, the method of freezing and the date of placing in the chamber.