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Probably, there are few people who need to be convinced of the undeniable benefits of birch sap. Although not everyone likes the taste and color. But its use can significantly alleviate the condition, and even cure so many diseases that it is not collected in the spring, unless it is completely lazy. But as always, the problem of preserving a healing drink for a long time becomes relevant. You can, of course, preserve it, prepare kvass and wine, but in recent years an increasing number of people prefer to freeze birch sap.
Of course, this trend is connected, first of all, with the appearance on the free sale of a huge number of practically industrial-type freezers. And the freezing procedure itself does not present any particular difficulties.
Is it possible to freeze birch sap
People who have collected birch sap for the first time in their life, and have no idea how it can be preserved, are most interested in the question of how to freeze it.
Thinking about this question, it is easiest to imagine how this process occurs in nature. After all, in spring the weather is very unstable. Today the sun warmed up, the snow began to melt. And the next day, fierce winds blew, frost crackled, and winter tried to regain its rights back. And in the birch, the process of sap flow has already begun with might and main. So it turns out that even in not too severe frosts (about -10 ° C), which may well happen in the spring in the Middle lane, birch sap freezes right in the tree. And it also happens that at night it’s frosty, everything freezes, and in the daytime the sun will melt the bark with its warmth, and the sap again ran through the veins of the birch. That is, in natural conditions, even repeated freezing-freezing does not greatly harm it and does not reduce its useful properties.
Does frozen birch sap lose its properties?
Of course, the situation is slightly different with freezing birch sap artificially in the freezer.
Firstly, this natural product has such a high biological activity that its natural shelf life is a little more than a few days. Even when stored in the refrigerator, after a few days it begins to ferment slightly. Symptoms of this phenomenon are the turbidity of the drink and a slightly sour taste. Moreover, if the weather is hot during the collection of juice, then it begins to wander while still inside the tree.
This means that if the freezer does not have enough power to instantly freeze large volumes of this healing drink, then during the freezing process it may begin to sour and become cloudy yellowish. In such cases, you should not be surprised if, after freezing, the birch sap turns dark beige or yellow.
Secondly, in the tree, the juice circulates through the thinnest channels, and therefore its freezing occurs almost instantly, thanks to minimal volumes. From this it should be concluded that if the freezer does not have a shock freezing mode that guarantees instant freezing of any volume of liquid, then it is better to freeze the valuable birch elixir in containers of minimum size. This will ensure its best preservation.
In its usual freshly extracted state, birch sap in consistency and color resembles ordinary water – clear, liquid, colorless. But occasionally, due to the special composition of the soil or an unusual variety of birch, it can acquire a yellowish or even brownish tint. In any case, you should not be afraid of this – the juice from any birch growing in ecologically clean areas is harmless and extremely nutritious.
Freezing birch sap is considered the most effective way to preserve its beneficial properties, among all possible. Indeed, with any heat treatment or the addition of preservatives, such as citric acid, a significant part of the vitamins is lost. And, therefore, many useful properties of the product. When using the mode of instant shock freezing, the beneficial properties of birch sap after it are completely preserved. Therefore, this method can be safely recommended for preserving this healing drink in any quantities. Of course, if the freezer is not equipped with such a mode, then some of the nutrients may have time to transform during the freezing process. But in any case, this method preserves the healing substances of birch sap better than any other.
At least, the reviews of people who actually use the frozen birch drink confirm that it is capable of:
- Support the body in the fight against depression, winter fatigue and beriberi. Helps to feel vivacity and energy of life.
- Help strengthen immunity and resist many seasonal infectious diseases;
- Discreetly dissolve kidney stones and remove toxic substances from the body;
- Improve the condition of the skin and hair with age-related changes, allergic manifestations, diseases such as eczema, acne, and others.
But you can easily freeze birch sap for future use and use all of its above-mentioned properties during the year.
How to freeze birch sap at home
The biggest problem when freezing birch sap will be choosing the right containers. Especially if we consider the most common option, when there is no shock (quick) freezing mode in the freezer.
A variety of plastic molds, containers, bottles are best suited.
It is necessary to freeze the juice almost immediately after collection. After all, even a few extra hours spent in the heat can start the process of its fermentation.
By the way, fermented juice itself is not a spoiled product, because even after defrosting, you can make very tasty and healthy kvass from it.
How to freeze birch sap in cubes
Molds in the form of cubes are usually included in the package of any freezer. And on sale now you can find small containers for freezing any convenient shape.
In such containers, juice freezing occurs quickly, easily and without loss of useful properties, even in a conventional freezer compartment of a modern refrigerator.
After collection, the birch elixir must be filtered and, having filled the prepared clean molds with it, they are placed in the freezer compartment. After a day, pieces of frozen juice can be removed from the molds and put into tight bags with zippers for more convenient and compact storage. Molds can be used more than once if a fresh drink is available.
Ready-made frozen birch sap cubes are perfect for a variety of cosmetic procedures. If you wipe your face, neck and hands with frozen birch sap daily, you can solve many age-related and allergic skin problems. Age spots, freckles, acne will disappear quickly and imperceptibly.
If you defrost a few cubes and add the juice of half a lemon to them, you will get an amazing hair rinse to add shine and vitality to your hair and remove dandruff. For greater effectiveness, you can directly rub this elixir into the scalp, adding more burdock oil to it.
Freezing birch sap in plastic bottles
In plastic bottles of large volume (1,5-5 l), it is better to freeze juice from birch trees in the presence of a freezer with a shock freezing function.
Small 0,5-1-liter bottles may well be used for freezing birch sap without loss and in conventional freezers.
Whichever bottle is used for freezing, it should not be filled completely, otherwise tears may occur. At the top, leave about 8-10 cm of free space.
Best before
Birch sap, frozen in any container, can be stored for up to six months in modern chambers at a temperature of about -18 ° C. At lower temperatures, you can keep it for a year. The main thing is that you should not try to freeze it again. Therefore, containers should be used such that they are enough for exactly one use.
After defrosting, it is also stored for a short time, up to 2 days. It is better to use it immediately after defrosting.
Conclusion
If you freeze birch sap every spring, then you can provide yourself with a unique healing elixir for almost the whole year, which will help both strengthen health and preserve beauty.
