Perserving your summer berries

August 14, 2013

Summer brings a bounty of sweet, delicious berries. As the summer winds down you might want to preserve those summer flavors for the upcoming fall and winter months. Berries can be preserved in many different ways; Freezing, Dehydrating and in Jams! Read below for preserving techniques that are easy and will leave you with a taste of summer well into the chilly months!

 

Freezing:

  • Use berries that are UNwashed and completely dry.
  • Discard any berry that looks bruised or shriveled.
  • Remove any stems (hull strawberries)
  • Place the berries on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper, or try using an ice cube tray, and store in freezer for 24 hrs. Transfer the frozen product to a air-tight container or resealable freezer bag.
  • Berries will freeze individually and you can remove just the portion you need.
  • Remember to rinse them before using and enjoy!

Dehydrating

  • Wash the berries, as outlined above.
  • Place them in a single layer on a tray and dehydrate at 135 degrees F. until completely dry. To test for doneness, pinch a berry. No sign of moisture should appear.
  • If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can use the warming drawer of an oven, at its lowest temperature setting, or even the oven itself, also at its lowest temperature setting. Begin by placing a wire cooling rack over a baking tray. Place a sheet of parchment paper over the wire rack, then top with a single layer of berries.
  • Store the dried product in a glass jar with a metal lid in a cool, dry, dark location. Dried berries may be eaten as is, or you may soak them in water for up to 30 minutes before using.

Instructions from Gourmet Heartbeat

Canning – Making Jam

Check out this video for instructions on making a three berry jam.

Video from Hungry Youtube series