Contents
How to keep lingonberries for the winter at home
Lingonberry is a northern berry known for its many medicinal properties. Both the leaves and berries of lingonberry are a real storehouse of useful vitamins and microelements. To preserve vitamins and enjoy the excellent sour taste and berry aroma all winter long, you need to know how to keep lingonberries from spoiling. There are several proven ways.
How to keep lingonberries at home? Frozen, dried, in its own juice or sugar syrup
Lingonberries, even fresh, can be stored for a very long time: benzoic acid contained in berries is a strong natural preservative. You can enjoy the taste of fresh lingonberries for several weeks by simply storing them in the refrigerator. But in order for lingonberries to retain their beneficial properties throughout the long winter months, they need to be prepared and processed.
How to keep lingonberries at home?
Lingonberries are stored frozen, dried, in their own juice and sugar syrup.
Freezing. The berries should be sorted out, removing the wrinkled and spoiled ones, then washed in cold water and dried. Then pack in portions into containers and bags and place in the freezer, and defrost before cooking.
Drying. You can dry lingonberries in the oven, sprinkling them in one layer on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. The berries are dried at a temperature of 55-60 degrees for several hours, until they stop secreting juice. When the berries have cooled, they are packaged in sealed glass jars.
Lingonberries in their own juice can be stored in the refrigerator for a very long time. Wash the berries and place them in a jar in layers, carefully crushing each layer so that the juice stands out. When the jar is full, cover it with a lid and place in the refrigerator.
Soaked lingonberries in sugar syrup are both a treat and a medicine. How to keep lingonberries in syrup for the winter? Pour clean, dry berries into a jar and cover with warm 5% sugar syrup, place in the refrigerator and enjoy the sweet and sour taste of forest lingonberries all winter.
Lingonberries can be used to cook compotes, fruit drinks and preserves, as well as add berries to tea or sauces.
How to keep lingonberries for the winter? The easiest way is to freeze berries in containers or bags.
How to prepare and store lingonberry leaves?
Lingonberry leaves are no less useful than fruits: they have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, diuretic properties. If dried correctly, they retain their healing properties for a long time.
Leaves should be harvested in the fall, after or during fruit picking.
Lingonberry leaves are leathery and dense, so they dry for a long time. Dry them in a well-ventilated area, spreading them in one layer on sheets of paper. Those leaves that have turned brown during the drying process will have to be thrown away; the rest are stored in paper or cloth bags, away from moisture and direct sunlight.
Lingonberry is a storehouse of vitamins, valuable fruit acids and microelements. Choose the storage method that is most convenient for you and in winter strengthen your immunity with lingonberry juice or jam.