Frozen cherries for the winter at home: how to freeze with and without pits? Frozen cherries: calorie content, cooking rules and recipes How long can frozen cherries be stored in the freezer

Frozen berries are rich in organic acids, vitamins A, PP and C, folic acid, magnesium, calcium and iron. The energy value of 100 g is only 53 kcal. It can be used for baking, preparing main courses and desserts, juices and compotes, and decorating drinks.

General rules for freezing

The quality of berries purchased in the store often leaves much to be desired. Squashed unsightly fruits or a large amount of ice are signs of improper freezing and storage.. Therefore, it is better to make the blanks yourself. It's simple and cheap. The main thing is to follow the basic rules:

Freeze the berries a maximum of 2 hours after picking.

Take products of consumer maturity.

Carefully sort the raw materials, discarding all spoiled and deformed fruits.

Use clean, dry, hermetically sealed containers.

Prepare food in small portions.

Before the main freezing, put the prepared cherries, laid out on a plate or baking sheet, in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.

Maintain a temperature range from -18 to -27˚С (depending on the brand of the refrigerator).

Blanching will preserve the color. To do this, you need to heat the water to 80-100˚C. Quickly dip the berries into it. And immediately plunge them into cold water. Dry.

Do I need to remove the seeds?

Freezing with a bone will cause fewer problems:

takes less time - the products only need to be washed and sorted;

Disadvantage: limited use. The preparation is good for making drinks and decorating. For baked goods, dumplings, and desserts, it is better to use pitted cherries.

Preparing for freezing

The process begins with thorough washing and sorting. All deformed and unfit for consumption berries, inedible parts are thrown away. The fruits are washed under running water. Dry on a sieve or cloth. Slightly frozen.

Five ways to freeze

Cherries can be frozen with or without pits, in bulk, with sugar, grated or in the form of juice.

Method 1

Place the prepared raw materials in a dense, even layer in a plastic bag;

gently release the air (it is important not to press too hard on the workpiece - this can crush the fruit);

Close tightly and put in the refrigerator;

When the berries are frozen a little, you can place other bags on top.

At the preparatory stage, you can remove the seeds, put it in a bag and add a little sugar. Then do all the steps described above.

Method 2: with a bone in a glass, container, jar

Place the berries on the bottom in an even layer. Lightly sprinkle with sugar. Repeat these manipulations until the container is 90% full. Close. Place in the refrigerator. It is important not to fill glass containers to the very top.. Frozen products increase slightly in volume. This means that the jar or glass may burst.

Method 3: Ice cubes

This type of freezing is a great garnish for cocktails. The ice tray is washed well. Place one berry in each cell. Fill with cold boiled water. Cover with a lid or wrap with cling film. Freeze.

Method 4: in its own juice

Prepare the cherries. Remove the seeds. If there is no special device, use a needle or pin. Place the fruits in a container. There should be 2-3 cm left to the edges.

Prepare syrup from fresh fruits and sugar. Beat the ingredients in a blender. When the mixture becomes homogeneous, pour it into a container. Close tightly. Place in the freezer.

Method 5: mashed

Prepare the raw materials and remove the seeds. Grind with sugar. Place in cups with lids or plastic containers. To freeze. This preparation can be used for making fruit drinks, jams, and pies.

Photos

How to store

The shelf life at a temperature of -18˚C is approximately 8-12 months. At a temperature of -6˚C no more than 3-4 days. It is not recommended to put defrosted products back into the freezer. The fruits lose their beneficial properties, become overgrown with ice, and become tasteless.

Defrosting

Proper defrosting greatly affects the quality of the product and its taste. The basic rule is to avoid contact with air and prevent juice from leaking out.

Options:

in a sealed bag under running cold water (30-45 minutes);

using a fan (1 hour);

In the refrigerator at - 4˚С (5-8 hours).

Defrosting at room temperature takes a couple of hours and requires minimal intervention. But it has many disadvantages. Leads to significant loss of vitamin C and juice. Rapid growth of microflora.

Defrosting using heat or hot water significantly reduces the quality of the product. Turns it into “porridge”.

Video "Freezing cherries is an excellent proven method for the winter"

Summer time has come. Grocery stores are full of an abundance of fresh fruits and berries. It's time to think about preparations for the cold season. Cherries, beloved by many, are considered the most popular berry for freezing for the winter, and here's why. In addition to their taste, cherry fruits are very healthy. They improve digestion, boost immunity, and calm the nervous system. These properties are preserved even when frozen.

In winter, you often want to treat yourself to aromatic pastries with sour berries or eat cottage cheese with delicious cherry jam. In order to enjoy sweets in cold weather, you need to take care of supplies in advance. Freezing cherries for future use is the best option for preserving vitamins and nutrients.

You can prepare it in several ways: with sugar or in syrup, peeled or not. Many people wonder whether it is possible to freeze pitted cherries. If you are going to cook compote in winter, then you can leave the bone provided that it ends up remaining in the pan and does not end up in the mouths of children.

Important: Please note that the seeds release hydrocyanic acid when they enter the intestines. It can cause poisoning if consumed in excess.

But for dumplings, donuts, pies, cheesecakes, cocktails, and fruit drinks, it is better to freeze peeled cherries.

Recipe for freezing pitted cherries

Ingredients

Servings: – + 1

• cherry 1 kg

Per serving

Calories: 35 kcal

Proteins: 1.0 g

Fats: 0.5 g

Carbohydrates: 7.7 g

40 min. Video recipe Print

Rinse the berries thoroughly, removing dry leaves and twigs. Throw away rotten cherries.

Peel the berries.

Place the pulp in a colander and leave for 15 minutes so that the juice flows out of the cherries.

Then transfer the berries to a plastic container. Place the cherries layer by layer. Close the container lid tightly. Stick a note on top with the date of freezing.

Place the container in the freezer.

Recipe for freezing cherries with pits




Number of servings: 1

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Energy value

Per 100 grams:

• calorie content – ​​46 kcal;
• proteins – 0.9 g;
• fats – 0.4 g;
• carbohydrates – 11.0.

Ingredients

• cherry – 1 kg.

Step-by-step preparation

1. Rinse fresh ripe cherries in cool water. Remove dry leaves and twigs. Throw away rotten, green berries.
2. Place on a clean kitchen towel. Allow to dry completely.
3. Place the dried fruits on a cutting board or tray so that they do not touch each other. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
4. Then remove the cherries and transfer the berries to a thermal container for storage. Cover it tightly with a lid and place it in the freezer compartment. Attach the date of preparation to the container.

Freezing secrets

To prevent the cherries from sticking together, before placing them in plastic thermal containers, you need to spread them out and put them in the freezer for several hours. Only after this can the berries be poured for permanent storage. You can’t immediately collect cherries in a bag. It will release juice and stick together, which will cause inconvenience to the owner in the future.

How long can you store

In what container should I store it?

Plastic containers, ziplock bags, plastic containers and bags, and cups with a lid are suitable for freezing cherries. The main condition: the container for freezing berries must be clean and tightly closed.

Freezing cherries correctly and quickly for the cold season is easy and simple. Dark red sour berries are indispensable in the kitchen. You can use them to make a wonderful aromatic sauce for meat, cook a minor compote, prepare fragrant pastries, or use them as an independent dessert. Freeze the berries and in winter you can enjoy healthy, tasty, juicy dishes using them.

Very often frozen cherries have an unattractive and unappetizing appearance., and sometimes you even have to pay for the ice that has grown tightly around the berries. Therefore, it is better to prepare the cherries yourself. Oh, are cherries frozen and how to freeze pitted cherries next.

Is it possible to freeze at home?

Almost everyone who likes to eat berries and fruits all year round is interested in the question of Is it possible to freeze them yourself? Of course you can, the main thing is to be able to do it correctly.

Cherries can be frozen both with and without pits. It depends on what dishes you do it for. For example, pitted cherries are not suitable for pies and other baked goods., here it is better to use pitted.

Cherries with pits are used for compotes and other drinks. When choosing a method for freezing cherries, consider how you will use them.

Most housewives prefer to freeze pitted cherries. This method definitely has an advantage, because when using you do not need to carry out any additional manipulations, but only defrost it.

Cherries can also be frozen with pits., it is good because its structure is not disturbed, the pulp is not damaged and juice does not leak out. Such a cherry will be beautiful from an aesthetic point of view.

But after defrosting, it will not be so easy to remove the seed, because the berry itself may lose its shape and elasticity.

Benefit

When frozen, almost all the beneficial properties of the product are preserved., as opposed to boiling or any other method of heat treatment where high temperature is used.

Frozen cherries retain minerals and vitamins almost like a fresh product. Cherries contain vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, zinc and iron. These vitamins and minerals are essential for humans for normal life.

Cherries contain coumarin, a substance that reduces blood clotting. The cherry itself has an antipyretic and antibacterial effect..

Cherries, due to their rich mineral composition, are used for anemia.

Frozen berries are almost as valuable as fresh ones, so cherry lovers can safely freeze them for the winter and pamper themselves all year round.

During the cold season, you can hardly find fresh berries and fruits anywhere except citrus fruits. Frozen cherries are a must will come in handy in winter. Read more about how many calories are in frozen cherries.

Calorie content

The calorie content of frozen cherries depends on the freezing method. If you have frozen fresh cherries without any additives or sugar, the calorie content of such cherries is 53 kcal per 100 g of product.

If you add sugar or other additives to cherries, do not forget to also take into account their calorie content.

Freezing rules

In order for the berries to be tasty and the quality of their freezing to be good, there are several simple rules that must be followed when freezing cherries at home:

• the berries must be clean. Before you start freezing, cherries must be washed thoroughly. We remove stems and excess leaves from the berries. Wash in warm water. You need to rinse so much that the water coming out is clean;
• containers for freezing must be clean and hermetically sealed to avoid foreign odors;
• when freezing cherries at home spread loosely on a plate (so that the berries do not touch) and freeze for 30 minutes to an hour before the main freezing in the container. This procedure is necessary to ensure that each berry is as fresh as it is and that they do not stick together;
• it is necessary to place the berries tightly so that less air remains;
• Suitable as a container for freezing: Ziploc bags, vacuum bags, plastic containers or cups with lids;
• Cherries are frozen in one container for one serving. After all, after defrosting, the berries are not re-frozen.

See frozen cherry photo below.

Read on to find out whether it is possible to freeze pitted cherries and frozen cherry recipes.

Methods and recipes

Recipe 1. Frozen cherries with pits

How to freeze cherries for the winter in the refrigerator? To freeze you need to take cherries, rinse and clear of debris, leaves and legs. Frozen cherries with pits, these cherries are best frozen in a bag. Spread the berries in a dense, but one layer. No need to overlap rows of berries one on one, so they can choke and turn into mush.

After you have packed the cherries in the bag, try to release all the excess air, but carefully so as not to damage the berries.

Close the bag tightly. In the freezer, bags can be fold one on top in an even layer.

Cherries with pits can be frozen in a glass or container. Prepared cherries for this Place on the bottom of the container and sprinkle with sugar, don't add too much sugar. Then repeat layers until the container is full. Now you know how to freeze pitted cherries for the winter.

These cherries are perfect for compotes.

Recipe 2. Cherries with pits in cubes

This type of frozen cherries is perfect for cocktails. The cherries look aesthetically beautiful and are portioned.

Prepare the cherries and mold. Take a mold for ice cubes. Rinse it thoroughly, place a cherry in each cell and fill it with clean boiled water., pre-cooled.

If the mold does not have a lid, wrap it with cling film. Place in the freezer until the water is completely frozen..

Recipe 3. Pitted cherries in their own juice

The cherries need to be prepared and pitted. To remove the seeds, use a special device or pin. Place the finished cherries in a container or glass., but not to the very top, leave 2-3 cm.

Prepare the syrup for pouring. Take some pitted cherries and add sugar (half the volume of cherries) and blend everything in a blender until smooth. Pour the resulting syrup into containers with cherries. Cover with a lid and place in the freezer.

Frozen cherries according to this recipe are perfect for baking and cakes, for fresh consumption, and for making jam.

Recipe 4. Pitted cherries

Prepare the cherries by removing the pits. Take a ziplock bag. Carefully place the cherries in it. You need to add a little sugar, sprinkle it on the cherries. Close tightly and place in the freezer.

Recipe 5. Grated pitted cherries

This recipe is very easy to prepare, and the finished product is versatile in use.

Prepare the cherries by removing the pits. Place the cherries in a blender along with the sugar.. Grind well and you can package it in containers.

Containers or cups with a lid are better. Place packaged cherries in the freezer.

Shelf life

How long can frozen cherries with pits be stored? Cherries prepared in any way must be stored in the freezer. at a temperature not higher than – 16 ◦C. Cherries can be stored for no more than 6-8 months.

Thawed cherries are not re-frozen. Repeated freezing turns the berries into porridge, and the beneficial properties are lost.

Conclusion

Freeze cherries at home correctly. Then it will retain all its beneficial properties., and you will provide yourself with fresh berries all year round.

Useful video!

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

In those areas where cherries grow, all people, young and old, are familiar with them. And how wonderful it would be to eat it not only during the fruiting period, but also in winter, when you really want vitamins. And it is possible. The freezer available in every home will help us with this. Let's figure out why cherries are useful and how to prepare them in the freezer for the winter.

REFERENCE: Scientists have found that 20 berries have the same effect as an aspirin tablet.

Cherry berries beneficial properties

The benefits and harms of cherries are determined by their composition.

This berry contains:

• Organic acids – folic, ascorbic, succinic, citric;
• Macro and microelements – potassium, calcium, copper, iodine, iron, phosphorus, magnesium;
• Vitamins – A, B1, C, E, PP, N.
• Sugars – fructose, sucrose, glucose;
• Plant fiber;
• Inositol is a compound that affects human metabolism;
• Anthocyanins;
• Pectins.

Cherry benefits and harm:

Is it possible to freeze at home?

Of course, it is possible and even necessary. After all, frozen berries retain the entire composition of nutrients, unlike preparations in the form of canned compotes and jams. You can buy frozen berries in a store, but there is no guarantee that the product is of high quality, especially since manufacturers are tricky and freeze water along with the fruits, and you can overpay for pieces of ice.

There are several ways to freeze cherries at home:

• With bones;
• Pitted and cut into slices.

Benefits of frozen cherries

Let's take a closer look at the beneficial properties of these red sour berries.

The effect of cherries on the human body:

• Has expectorant properties;
• Increases immunity;
• Helps with high temperatures;
• Strengthens bones and joints;
• Relieves pain from arthritis;
• Due to the presence of B vitamins, it has a positive effect on the human nervous system and, when consumed regularly, helps cope with stress;
• Folic acid improves a person's memory and concentration;
• Helps improve vision;
• The composition contains iodine, which has a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland;
• It is a preventive product for oncology;
• Improves bile flow;
• Cleanses the kidneys from small stones and sand;
• Prevents early aging.

Calorie content of frozen cherries

Cherries are a low-calorie product. Therefore, those who are in pursuit of weight loss can safely consume this storehouse of vitamins and nutrients without harming their diet, because the berries contain only 52 kcal per 100 g of product. This also applies to fresh frozen fruits. If freezing took place with sugar or other additives, then the product will have more calories.

Freezing rules

There is nothing complicated in this process, but still You need to follow a few simple rules when freezing cherries:

• Only berries that have been previously washed in warm water, from which stalks, leaves and excess debris have been removed, are frozen;
• Storage containers are required, they must be sealed and clean;
• To prevent the berries from sticking together, first pre-freeze them, and then pour them into a container and put them in the freezer. To do this, lay the berries on a plate so that they do not touch each other and leave them in the freezer for half an hour;
• Next, they take out and put the cherries, caught by frost, into a common container. The fruits are arranged tightly so that there is no excess air space between them;

Vacuum bags or zip-lock bags, plastic containers and cups with lids can be used as containers.

ATTENTION: It is important to place the berries in containers in portions for the procedure, because after defrosting it is not recommended to freeze them again.

Methods and recipes

There are several options for storing cherries in the freezer. Below you will learn more about them.

With a bone

This is the fastest way that helps preserve cherry juice, and with it vitamins.

Algorithm of actions:

• Sort, wash and dry the berries;
• Arrange the cherries in a single layer and place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes;
• We take it out, put it in a container, close it tightly and put it in the freezer.

Seedless

This method is suitable for preparing pies, dumplings or pies with these berries. It differs from the previous one only in the preparation process.

For this freezing you need:

• Prepare the berries;
• Next, squeeze out the seeds;
• Place the cherries in a colander and let the juice drain;
• Freeze in the same way as in the method with seeds.

In syrup

Recipe for this sweet method:

• Boil the syrup. To do this, gradually pour 1.5 kg of sugar into 1 liter of water. Bring until thickened, stirring over low heat;
• Place the cherries in a container and fill it halfway. Pour in syrup and let sit for a couple of hours;
• Close the container tightly and place in the freezer.

Grinded with sugar

This method is also called raw jam, but in this form the berries retain much more useful substances.

Cooking method:

• Prepare the fruits for the procedure;
• Grind the seedless berries in a meat grinder;
• Mix with sugar 1:1;
• Pour the mixture into a container and close the lid well;
• Place in the freezer.

Shelf life

Cherries can be stored in the freezer for about a year.

If frozen without pitting, the berry can be consumed after more than a year, but its beneficial properties will disappear by this time.

If it was frozen with a pit, it is not recommended to use it after six months because the pit contains toxic substances that can harm a person over time.

You can prepare healthy and tasty cherries for yourself for the winter so that you can delight yourself and your body with vitamins all year round. But for this you need to know the rules for freezing and storing berries.

How to properly freeze cherries for the winter:

I want to show you how to freeze cherries for the winter in the refrigerator. This is the easiest way, but at the same time your berries will remain beautiful, will not lose juice and will not stick together when frozen.

Below I tell you in detail how to properly freeze cherries for the winter, so that later you can add them to various compotes, pies, pies, dumplings and much more. After all, in winter we have access to a rather small assortment of different fruits, so pre-made preparations will definitely come in handy.

Freezing cherries at home is mandatory for me every year, as I really love these berries and use them in many ways. And the most delicious sponge cakes are made with them. So, I advise you to take my advice and freeze the cherries for the winter. I also advise you to look at it, which is called five minutes and cook quickly and easily. It is quite economical to prepare and any housewife can handle this process.

Necessary:

• Cherries - any quantity
• Freezer bags or plastic food containers

How to freeze cherries for the winter with pits

First of all, I’ll tell you how to choose berries and whether you need to wash cherries before freezing. I always choose berries that have tails. They are always denser and the juice remains inside. Then I transfer them to a colander and rinse them well under running water.

After that, I tear off the tails and place the berries on paper towels to dry. Tear off the tails carefully so as not to damage the integrity of the berries. There is no need to remove the bones. Also at this time I remove those that I don’t like in appearance, if they have any damage or are not dense enough.

When they are already dry on all sides, I transfer them to a food-grade plastic container or freezer bags. Then I put them in the freezer until completely frozen. As you can see, freezing cherries for the winter at home is a simple and short process.

Now you know how to freeze cherries for the winter in the refrigerator so that they retain all the juice and freeze as individual berries. I will use them in various baked goods in the future. I advise you to freeze more of it.