How to Freeze Blackcurrants with Sugar for the Winter: Recipe + 7 Step-by-Step Photos

Blackcurrants are very popular with confectioners. Just a few berries can color and flavor any dessert. In my opinion, this is reason enough to preserve blackcurrants for the winter and continue to indulge in summer desserts year-round.

Nutritional value per serving

44 kcal

Proteins: 1 g
Fats: 0.4 g
Carbohydrates: 7.3 g

*Nutritional value is calculated per 100g of ingredients

Total time: 20 min
Time in the kitchen: 20 min
Complexity:

It will work even if you're making it for the first time. Not just this dish, but your first time ever.
Number of servings: 1

Harvesting currants for the winter This process must be carried out according to certain rules. The fruits must be medium-sized and ripe, with firm skin. Otherwise, when thawing, the water will tear the skin, and all the valuable juice and vitamins will leak out.

But it is better to use small and large currants for another recipe and make compote, jam or preserves from them. Freezing It won't take long if you separate the berries from the stems and twigs before starting the process. This is because this process takes a lot of time.

Recipe with step-by-step photos

How to freeze blackcurrants with sugar?

Ingredients

Servings

Black currant

2 kg
Sugar

1 kg

Preparation

Step 1

Rinse the black currants 2-3 times under running water and let them drain completely each time.

Step 2

Add sugar immediately. This will make the berries more flavorful. ground and the sugar will dissolve well.

Step 3

Mix well with a spatula using bottom-up movements.

Step 4

Blend everything with an immersion blender until smooth. Do this in batches or in one large batch, depending on the power of your blender.

Step 5

Puréed The blackcurrants are ready. Pour them into vacuum bags using a funnel and a mug or ladle. This will reduce the time it takes to distribute the puree and prevent it from spreading all over the table. Not a drop of this precious product will be wasted.

Step 6

Close the ziplocks tightly and place the bags on cutting boards. Refrigerate them for 4-6 hours.

Step 7

Frozen The currants will firm up nicely during this time. Remove them from the freezer and store them more compactly in a designated container. Be sure to label the packaging date and the name of the product to ensure all expiration dates are accurate.

Storage conditions for currants

The ideal temperature for storing blackcurrants is between -16 and -21°C. Under these conditions, the berries freeze quickly and reliably and can be stored for up to 9-12 months. At higher temperatures, from 0 to -8°C, the shelf life is reduced to 4-6 months.

Where to put currants?

Vacuum bags and rectangular containers are considered the most convenient for storage. They allow the product to be evenly distributed over the entire surface and easily stored in the refrigerator. It's recommended to choose the container's capacity based on your needs. Once thawed, berries should not be re-frozen.

How to defrost currants?

It's best to leave them in the main compartment of the refrigerator for several hours. Natural defrosting will do the least harm to the berries. It's best not to microwave or heat currants in hot water. Otherwise, you might end up with mush instead of smooth, beautiful berries.

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