Freezing cherries for the winter in the freezer at home: with and without a stone

Freezing cherries in the refrigerator is necessary in accordance with certain rules. Under the influence of low temperature, it will retain useful properties for a long time. If the freezing technique is violated, the berry will change its structure and taste.

Is it possible to freeze cherries for the winter

Cherry is the fruit of a plant belonging to the rose family. Due to its rich composition and pleasant sweet and sour taste, it is in great demand in cooking. Harvesting is carried out from June to August. During this period, fresh berries become available. In the cold season, the probability of buying a quality product is reduced. In this case, you can freeze cherries at home. It is convenient to use for making compotes, pastries and various desserts. So that even after freezing, the cherry remains tasty, you need to follow a number of rules when choosing and harvesting it.

Is it possible to freeze cherry leaves for the winter

Not only the fruits, but also the leaves of the cherry tree have a lot of useful properties. They contain phytoncides, vitamins, natural antioxidants and tannins. Based on the leaves, herbal teas and decoctions are prepared to strengthen immunity and treat various diseases. Their useful properties include:

• hemostatic action;
• normalization of water-salt metabolism;
• diuretic effect;
• increase in working capacity;
• strengthening the body’s defenses;
• getting rid of toxins;
• antifungal and antiviral action;
• slowing down the aging process.

In order to preserve the benefits of the leaves for a long time, they are not only dried, but also frozen. It must be remembered that their structure is quite fragile. Before freezing, the leaves should be thoroughly washed and rid of excess moisture. They are placed in a plastic container with a tight lid. In this form, the leaves can be stored in the refrigerator all winter.

Before use, the leaves should be thawed by shifting from the freezer to the refrigerator shelf. It is not recommended to put them in hot water. This will destroy the leaf structure.

Due to its astringent action, the leaves are often used for diarrhea.

Benefits of frozen cherries

Not all types of thermal effects have a detrimental effect on the berry. When frozen, the product does not lose its shape and characteristic taste. Unlike other berries, it does not become watery. If you freeze cherries properly for the winter, you can preserve its rich composition. It is represented by the following substances:

• ascorbic acid;
• iodine;
• phosphorus;
• cobalt;
• sodium;
• pectin;
• coumarins;
• iron;
• copper;
• sulfur;
• vitamins of groups B, E, H, PP and A;
• fructose and sucrose.

Replenishing the supply of essential substances in the body strengthens the immune system, which, in turn, helps to cope with viral and colds. Due to the presence of pectin in the composition of the cherry stimulates the intestines. Thanks to coumarin, the product reduces blood clotting and cleanses the cavity of blood vessels from harmful cholesterol. Therefore, it is often used to strengthen capillaries. Benefits of frozen berries include:

• bactericidal action;
• calming effect;
• stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract;
• preventing the growth of malignant cells;
• normalization of metabolism;
• strengthening immunity;
• blood thinning;
• expectorant action;
• anemia prevention.

Frozen cherries are used not only in cooking, but also for medicinal purposes. In combination with other traditional medicine, its effectiveness is markedly increased. It helps to cope with colds and flu, replenishing the supply of vitamins in the body. It contains substances that have an antipyretic effect. By stimulating the metabolism, the berry can contribute to weight loss. In addition, it can be used as an alternative to pastries and high-calorie desserts. Cherry is able to reduce the body’s need for sweets. Due to the content of pectin, it can be used in the fight against constipation.

How to freeze cherries in the freezer

Freezing cherries for the winter at home is carried out according to a certain algorithm. When choosing fruits, special attention should be paid to visual analysis. There should be no damage or dents on the surface of the berry. The elasticity of the cherry is checked by pressing. Soft fruits are considered overripe. An important factor is the presence of the petiole.

For freezing, it is advisable to use ripe berries that have not been in the refrigerator for more than two days. When choosing a variety, it is necessary to give preference to a copy of dark colors. To remove worms and insects, the fruits are soaked for 30 minutes in a saline solution prepared in a 1: 1 ratio.

The choice of the method of thermal exposure is carried out taking into account plans for the further use of the berry. If it must remain intact, then gentle methods are preferred. Before freezing, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the cherries and remove the tails. The bone is taken out at will. To do this, use a special tool or a pin. It is impossible to pull out a bone without changing the structure of the berry. If you freeze the fruits with it, then the shelf life of the product is reduced to a year. This is due to the release of amygdalin, which has a detrimental effect on health.

How to freeze cherries for the winter in a bone-in freezer

Frozen cherries are not recommended.

The process of removing seeds from fruits is quite laborious. Therefore, many housewives exclude this stage of preparing berries. Before being placed in the freezer, the fruits are sorted and washed. Then they are dried and laid out in one layer in any container. You can use a plastic container or a special freezer bag for this purpose. If the cherry is placed in several layers, then after each of them it is sprinkled with a small amount of sugar. This allows you to add sweetness to the berry without turning it into porridge.

How to freeze cherries in cubes

You can freeze cherries for the winter in the refrigerator and in the form of cubes. This option is perfect for making drinks. In ice, the berries look unusual and very attractive. Freezing will require special molds. They are not only square, but also in the form of a heart, berries and other shapes. One berry with a petiole is placed in each cell. Then they are filled with boiled water at room temperature. If there is no cover on the form, it should be carefully rewound with plastic wrap. In the freezer, the berries are kept until the ice is completely solidified. This may take several hours.

Cherries in cubes are taken out of the freezer just before adding to the drink.

How to freeze pitted cherries

There are several options for harvesting pitted cherries in the freezer for the winter. The berry in this case loses its shape, so it is often mixed with sugar. After defrosting, they are used to prepare fillings for pastries, fruit drinks, dumplings and other dishes.

Manual pitting can take several hours.

How to freeze cherries in sugar for the winter

If you want to preserve the structure of the fruit, they are placed in a bag with a zipper, lightly sprinkled with sugar. The container is removed into the freezer immediately before the juice stands out. Instead of a container and bag, you can use plastic cups with a lid. In this case, the product is sprinkled with sugar after each layer is laid out.

The berry covered with sugar inside remains sour

How to freeze cherries in your own juice

Bones are removed from the fruit with a pin or a special device. Then the berries are covered with sugar in a ratio of 1:1. The mass is crushed with a blender, and then laid out in the cells of the form for freezing. This variant of cherries is suitable in the preparation of desserts and pastries. Cherry in its own juice has a homogeneous structure and retains its taste properties. It is great for children to use as a dessert.

Sugar can be replaced with sweet powder

Freezing cherries in sugar syrup

This method of harvesting berries is considered more gentle. It allows you to save not only the taste, but also the rich aroma of the product. Cherries frozen in sugar syrup can be considered a real dessert. But we must remember that its calorie content is much higher than the product prepared without the use of syrup. In order to lose weight, it is not recommended to use it. Components:

• 1,5 kg of sugar;
• 1 L of water;
• 1 kg of cherries.

Freezing steps:

1. Sugar is poured into water and put on fire. The container is removed from the stove only after the crystals have dissolved.
2. The fruits, previously washed and pitted, are laid out in a plastic container. Top them with syrup. In this form, they should stand for three hours.
3. After the specified time, the containers are closed with a lid and put in the freezer.

The taste of the product in sugar syrup is as close as possible to fresh

How to freeze cherries for cocktails

In the preparation of cherries for making cocktails, the visual component is important. This version of the product is perfect for hot weather. You will need the following ingredients:

• mint leaves;
• cherry;
• boiled water.

Cooking process:

1. Ice molds are thoroughly washed with warm water.
2. A mint leaf and a berry are placed in each cell. Then fill with water.
3. The form is removed in the freezer for one day. After the specified time, berry ice can be used for its intended purpose.

Mint leaves should be washed thoroughly before freezing.

How delicious to freeze cherries in the form of mashed potatoes

Fresh cherries can be frozen and mashed. This option is suitable if the berries are overripe.

Components:

• 1 kg of cherries;
• granulated sugar – to taste.

Stages of preparation:

1. The berries are removed from the seeds and immersed in a blender.
2. After each whipping, sugar is poured into the container. The end result should be a smooth puree. It is important not to abuse sugar, since the berry mixture in this case will not freeze.
3. The finished mass is laid out in small containers and cleaned in the freezer.

Before serving, dessert can be decorated with fresh fruits and berries.

Freezing cherries in containers

For freezing cherries, it is recommended to use plastic containers. They spread the berries in a thin layer. Sprinkle a small amount of sugar on top. It is important not to fill the container more than 90%, as the cherry will increase in size during the freezing process. Freezing in containers is convenient and practical. There is no need to defrost the entire stock of berries at once. It is taken out of the freezer in portions as needed. It is advisable to use small containers.

The lid of the container must reliably protect the product from foreign odors.

Shock freezing cherries

For shock freezing cherries, use the special flash freezer compartment. In this case, the structure and taste of the berry are preserved, but some of the useful properties are lost. The finished product can be used to decorate desserts. Visually, it looks more aesthetically pleasing than a berry frozen in a container or its own juice.

The surface of the compartment is covered with cling film. The fruits are laid out one at a time, making sure that they do not touch each other. Cherries are placed in the compartment for several hours. The longer she stays like this, the better. Frozen berries are transferred to containers and covered with sugar. In this form, they are placed in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

Do not use aluminum foil during the freezing process.

How long can you keep cherries in the freezer

The shelf life of frozen cherries, subject to all conditions, is 6-9 months. It does not depend on the method of harvesting berries. The optimum temperature is -16°C. It is necessary to store cherries in the freezer for the winter in a closed form – under a lid or in a bag with a zipper. Otherwise, it will absorb the smell of nearby products, which will also affect its taste.

How to defrost cherries

So that the berry does not turn into porridge, it must be properly defrosted. It is advisable to place on the shelf of the refrigerator for 3-5 hours. Only then is the product left at room temperature. You can quickly defrost cherries in the microwave. In this case, you need to place the berry in a special container and turn on the device in the “Quick defrosting” mode. The duration of the process depends on the number of berries and the power of the microwave.

If you pour hot water over the fruit or place it in a place that is too warm, you can break the structure. The berry in the bag should be placed in a container with cold water. This will speed up the defrosting process.

What can be cooked from frozen cherries

The shelf life of frozen cherries allows you to use it for a long time. There is a huge variety of applications. Most often, the berry is used to make desserts – jam, jelly, jam, pastries, etc. Cherry, frozen in cubes, is great for decorating cold drinks. Berries in sugar syrup can be used as an independent dish.

In some cases, unfrozen fruits are used in cooking. On their basis, jelly desserts and soft drinks are prepared. It is undesirable to add them to the filling for baking.

Conclusion

Freezing cherries in the refrigerator is not difficult at all. In order for the berry to bring maximum benefit, the freezing process must be carried out in accordance with all the rules.