Cherries - One of the most common, tasty and useful berries in our gardens. Winter harvesting can not do without them. Most recipes for preserving cherries for the winter are family ones and are inherited. But maybe someone will discover something new in the preparation of cherries. There are several ways to stock up on cherries for the winter: whole freezing, "vitamin", drying, drying, candied fruits. And, of course, canning - juice, compotes, preserves, jams, jam.
Did you know? Homeland cherry - Mediterranean. In Russia, homemade cherries have been known since the 12th century and almost immediately gained recognition and began to plant out entire gardens.
The benefits and harms of cherry fruit
Cherries are indispensable for improving performance and immunity. Berries are an excellent source of well-digestible vitamins, minerals, organic acids, and fructose. Cellulose, tannins, inositol, coumarin, melatonin, pectin, anthocyanins contained in it - normalize the metabolism and the functioning of the digestive tract, nervous, cardiovascular systems and the musculoskeletal system. In addition, a positive effect on memory and brain function.
Useful properties of cherries in the treatment of epilepsy, diabetes, anemia, angina pectoris, hypertension, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, insomnia are used. And also for colds - as antipyretic, expectorant, sedative. It has long been popular cherries - "rejuvenating berries" that prevent aging and contribute to the rejuvenation of the body. Their antioxidant and antimicrobial action has been proven.
Did you know? Cherry berries contain - vitamins A, C, E, PP, H, a group of vitamins B, calcium, iron, copper, sulfur, molybdenum, manganese, chromium, fluorine, sodium, zinc, iodine, cobalt, boron, phosphorus, rubidium, magnesium vanadium
There are some restrictions on eating cherries. With caution they eat berries with increased acidity, stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, gastritis, gastroenteritis, some chronic diseases of the intestine and lungs. In general, the approximate rate of cherries per day for a healthy person is 400-450 g of fresh berries. And if the season is over, then pre-harvested fruit.
Important! For the preparation of stocks are used only mature, carefully enumerated, whole, without signs of disease berries.
Various recipes for cherries for the winter are very popular.
How to dry cherries
Drying is the oldest, proven cherry preservation for the winter. Drying cherries in the sun will take about 6-8 days. Collected (you can wash, you can not wash) berries spread on the prepared surface, level, so that between them were short distances. Capacity with cherries is left in partial shade on the street in sunny hot weather. From time to time, the berries must be carefully agitated and turned over. Drying in an electric dryer or oven.
If you have a special electric dryer for berries and fruits, then the instructions should contain the parameters and the process of preparing the final product, then just follow the instructions. If they dry in the oven, then wash and dry the berries with a towel. The baking sheet is covered with parchment, cherries are poured into one layer and put in the oven. But the oven door does not close completely, it should be ajar. Drying temperature for the first 1.5-2 hours is 55-65 ° C, then 30-45 ° C.
ATThe cooking time may be different, therefore the finger will be pressed on the berry: if the juice is not released, then the cherry is ready. They also dry cherries and pits, just before drying, give time to drain the juice, and then blot berries with a napkin, towel. Finished berries are stored in linen or paper bags of small sizes at room temperature. Storing dried cherries is not allowed at high humidity - otherwise the fruit will grow moldy and deteriorate.
Dried Cherry Recipes
Preparations of cherries for the winter by drying are successfully used by many housewives.
Method 1. Bones are removed from the berries and boiled cherries in syrup - 1 liter of water for 700-800 g of sugar. Then the berries are taken out and completely allowed to drain to the syrup, and then they are also pro-blotted with a napkin. Dry in the oven, cabinet at a temperature of - 40-45 ° C until ready. Willingness is determined by pressing on the berries - no moisture should be emitted.
Method 2 Pitted cherries are covered with sugar - for 1 kg - 500 g. They are kept for 24 hours and the juice is drained. Berries pour the cooked syrup - 350 ml of water per 350 g of sugar. Heated almost to boiling to a temperature of 90-95 ° C and incubated for 4-5 minutes. Next, take out the cherries and allow to fully drain. Then dried, as in the first method.
Important! Dried and dried cherries should be resilient and elastic to the touch, but without wet areas of pulp and juice extraction.
Features freezing cherries, how to save cherries for the winter
If you have a large freezer, and even better - there is a freezer, then use the ways to freeze cherries for the winter. The main advantage of freezing is almost complete safety of all micro, macronutrients and vitamins in the berries. You can freeze cherries in a crowd - that is, rinse and put in a plastic container, bag, glass (with a lid) and put in the freezer. And you can individually freeze the berries and then fill them in the form for freezing. To do this, washed cherries are laid out on a tray and put in the freezer when the berries are frozen, poured them into the container, etc. - repeated several times.
Did you know? When frozen, the berries do not stick together during thawing, they do not break up and have a more attractive appearance.
If you want to freeze the cherries with removed bones, then take the pulp, put it in a container and pour it over the edge with cherry juice. To prepare the juice take pitted cherries and sugar in a ratio of 1: 1. Sugar is filled with berries, and the selected juice is poured into a container. It is even easier to freeze the "vitamin" - the cherry without the stone is twisted or glimpsed with a blender with the addition of sugar 1: 1, filled in containers - and in the freezer. The seedless frozen berries are great for baking, dumplings, making jellies, other desserts and, of course, for fresh consumption after defrosting.
Important! Pick up for freezing container of the required volume - already thawed cherries should be immediately used. It is not stored and re-freeze!
Cherry preservation
A lot of recipes, we give only a few - quite simple.
- Jelly - in the berries without stones add a little water and steamed under a lid for 5-6 minutes. Then rubbed to a puree and add fruit juice (usually apple, can be different) and sugar. Approximately 1–2 kg of berries contain 230–250 g of juice and 450–500 g of sugar. Boil until thickened and poured into jars.
- Jam - washed cherries prick with a needle (skewer, toothpick) and pour syrup. For syrup - water 200 ml and sugar 500 g per 1 kg of berries. Leave for 5-6 hours. After the separated juice is drained and another 450-500 g of sugar is poured into it per 200 g of liquid and boiled separately for 15 minutes. Then cherries are poured into it, kept for another 4-5 hours, then boiled down to readiness and sealed in banks.
- Compote - sugar is added to the seedless berries. The proportion is 1 kg / 400 g. They are set on fire, stirring constantly, adjusted to 85-90 ° C, kept for 5-7 minutes, and then immediately filled up with cans and rolled up.
Ground cherry with sugar
Or grated cherries with sugar is tasty and useful, since the useful properties of the berries are almost not lost, especially if you use non-metallic dishes for cooking. For grinding, you can use a meat grinder or blender, through a sieve - troublesome and long. Cherry sugar is a quick recipe. Berries without stones twist and fall asleep with sugar - 1: 2, mix well. Leave for 1 hour to infuse. Then it is thoroughly mixed again, laid out to the top in sterilized jars, from above 0.5–5 tbsp. l sugar and close the capron lids. Store in the refrigerator, a cellar, a cellar.
Did you know? Sweet viscous cherry puree of crushed cherries is an excellent remedy for colds. It is used immediately taken from a jar or added to teas and herbal teas.
How to save a cherry in the form of candied fruit
Home-made candied cherries are made quite simply and are often used as food instead of candy. Although they can, if desired, be added to baked goods and compotes. A very simple recipe. Seedless cherries 1.5 kg poured with cooled syrup of 100 ml of water and 1 kg of sugar. Gently mixed so that the berries are not torn, and insist 6-7 hours. Then they drain all the resulting juice, let the berries drain well and dry them in the oven until ready. Store in glass jars, plastic or heavy paper bags in a dark, cool, dry room, for example, in the pantry. Can be stored in plastic containers in the refrigerator.
Each hostess chooses what can be made from cherries for the winter. The blanks are so varied that it is easy to choose the right recipe. And you can use it at once in several ways - then the cherry variety will please both home and guests throughout the winter.
