What is useful frozen currants

Currant is a healthy and tasty fruit and berry crop, which can be consumed fresh only during 2 summer months. But in order to preserve the harvest and receive vitamins throughout the winter, it is necessary to make preparations. The beneficial properties of frozen black currants are preserved for 3 years, so on cold days you can cook a variety of dishes from it that will not only boost immunity, but also enrich the body with essential vitamins.

Is frozen currant good?

Frozen blackcurrant is a healthy, low-calorie crop. It consists of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Due to the low calorie content, berry dishes are recommended for those who follow the right diet.

In terms of benefits and chemical properties, frozen blackcurrant is not inferior to fresh. After defrosting, the fruits retain all the substances, so they are as useful as freshly picked ones.

What is useful frozen currants

Frozen currants have beneficial properties. The composition of the product includes:

• vitamin C;
• antioxidants, which are necessary for rejuvenation of the body;
• potassium – normalizes the work of the heart muscle, restores the water-alkaline balance;
• vitamins of group B – soothe the nervous system, remove toxins;
• vitamin PP – gets rid of toxins and bad cholesterol;
• vitamin H – reduces blood sugar, so the berry is necessary for people who suffer from diabetes;
• manganese – strengthens the immune system.

Benefits of frozen blackcurrant

Fresh and frozen product is often used in alternative medicine for the prevention and treatment of many diseases.

Doctors recommend adding frozen black fruits to the diet in the following cases:

• for the prevention and treatment of the gastrointestinal tract;
• with colds;
• to enhance immunity;
• in the postoperative period for a quick recovery of the body;
• in cardiovascular diseases, to lower blood pressure;
• blackcurrant is recommended to be used to improve vision, it helps with kidney and liver diseases;
• dishes prepared from frozen blackcurrant restore brain function and improve mood.

The benefits and harms of frozen blackcurrant are manifested not only in fruits, but also in leaves. They are brewed to obtain a fortified and toned drink that relieves thirst on hot summer days.

The benefits of frozen red currant

Frozen red currant also has useful properties, as it contains vitamins, trace elements and a rare substance – coumarin. It reduces blood clotting, eliminates the appearance of blood clots, stops the growth of cancer cells.

Vitamins C, A and P are able to strengthen blood vessels, immunity, have a positive effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nails.

Since the pulp is enriched with iodine, it helps with thyroid diseases. The benefits of red currant:

1. The pulp contains a low glycemic index – the feeling of hunger is dulled, sugar is slowly absorbed into the blood, due to which insulin is released gradually.
2. Helps to get rid of colds. Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant that fights inflammation and infections.
3. Improves mood, relieves depression.
4. Restores red blood cells. Copper, calcium and iron will help to cope with anemia, strengthen bone and muscle tissue.
5. Normalizes the work of the heart. Due to the high content of trace elements, arrhythmia is stopped, the heart muscle is strengthened, moisture is quickly removed from the body, thereby eliminating edema and lowering blood pressure.
6. Improves the functioning of the digestive system. The composition of the berries includes pectin, which removes toxins and toxins, normalizes the intestinal microflora, and improves digestion.

Harm of frozen currants

Despite the large number of useful substances, black and red currants should not be abused, since berries can bring not only benefits to the body, but also harm. Before use, you must familiarize yourself with the contraindications and side effects:

• in large quantities, the berry is not recommended for children, as it can cause an allergic reaction;
• excessive consumption exacerbates gastrointestinal diseases;
• frozen product is prohibited in pre-infarction and pre-stroke conditions;
• not with hepatitis;
• it is necessary to limit the use during pregnancy and lactation;
• use with caution in thrombophlebitis and varicose veins.

When eating frozen black and red currants, it must be remembered that a large number of berries can lead to an allergic reaction, cause bloating, diarrhea and dehydration.

How to freeze currants for the winter

In order for the crop to retain vitamins, it is necessary to follow the rules of collection and preparation.

The berry is removed from the bush in dry, warm weather. Then it is sorted, removing the stalks, small, dry and damaged fruits. Whole, ripe fruits with a dense, dry surface are used for freezing; overripe specimens with damaged skin are not suitable, as such fruits will quickly begin to turn sour and rot.

Blackcurrant is a healthy, tasty crop that can be consumed fresh for several months. Therefore, in order to enrich the body with vitamins in the winter, it is necessary to freeze the harvested crop. To do this, you can use one of the following methods:

• freezing without sugar;
• grated black and red currants;
• whole berry with sugar.

All methods are good and easy to prepare:

1. Whole berries without added sugar. Whole berries make a great garnish for desserts, ice cream or cakes. To freeze the berries, they are scattered in one layer on a tray or flat dish and put in the freezer. When the currant freezes, it is packaged in portions in bags or plastic containers and put back in the freezer.

   

2. Currant with sugar. The berries are placed in a container, sprinkling each layer with a small amount of sugar. After the end, the container is closed with an airtight lid and put in the freezer.
3. Currant puree. The berries are sorted and crushed to a puree state. Add sugar to taste and mix thoroughly. Then they are laid out in containers and cleaned in the freezer. Cooked mashed potatoes cannot be re-frozen, so the cooked dish is frozen in small portions.

   

Before freezing, you need to listen to useful tips:

1. Blackcurrants can be frozen whole, sliced ​​or mashed.
2. The frozen crop retains its beneficial properties, but after thawing it can be watery and lose its original appearance.
3. Frozen berries cannot be used to make jelly, as the moisture released will become an obstacle to solidification. Frozen currants make delicious cocktails, sauces, compotes and berry salads.

Rules for defrosting berries

In order for the frozen crop to retain its beneficial properties and decent appearance, you need to know how to properly defrost the berry. Currants can be defrosted in several ways:

1. If the crop was frozen in a container, then to defrost the container is placed in cold water for 10 minutes.
2. The frozen crop is scattered in 1 layer on a tray and left to completely thaw at room temperature. This method is long, in order to reduce time, it is better to spread the berry on a paper towel so that it absorbs moisture and the resulting juice.
3. Blackcurrants can be thawed in the microwave. To do this, the timer is set to the “Quick defrost” mode. Every minute it is necessary to ensure that the berry does not start to heat up and release juice.
4. You can quickly defrost blackcurrants under running cold water. To do this, the sealed bag is placed under water for 10-15 minutes. If the package has mechanical damage, then the fruits will be able to quickly draw water.

   

5. Frozen fruits are removed in the refrigerator until completely defrosted. This process is lengthy but effective. The black berry retains its color, appearance and rarely sags. A kilogram is defrosted in 6 hours.
6. If the harvest is used as a filling for pies or muffins, then frozen currants can be put in the dough. It will melt during cooking and give the useful juice to the confectionery. It can also be used without defrosting for the preparation of jelly, compotes, fruit drinks.

The use of frozen currants

The frozen harvest can be used to make compotes, jelly and fruit drinks. It is ideal as a filling for open pies and pies.

Options for frozen blackcurrant dishes:

1. Refreshing and toning fresh. For cooking, you will need 250 g of cherries, black currants and watermelon pulp. All ingredients are mixed in a blender, poured into glasses, an ice cube and a mint leaf are added.

   

2. Currant currant cookies. This dish is very useful for pregnant women, as it contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Fatty cottage cheese is mixed with berries, sugar, egg and flour. The cooked mass should have the consistency of cheesecakes. The dough is spread with a spoon on a baking sheet or in figured molds, baked at a temperature of 180 ° C, for 15-20 minutes.

   

3. Medicine that lowers blood pressure. 2 tbsp. crushed fruits are mixed with 5 tbsp. l. honey. To obtain a liquid consistency, the berry mass is diluted with mineral water. Consume in small portions several times a day.

Terms and conditions of storage

To preserve vitamins in frozen blackcurrant, you must follow the rules and terms of storage:

• place the frozen product on the top shelf or in the greenery compartment;
• stick a label with the date of packaging on each package or container;
• it is better to store currants in portioned bags, since the thawed product is not subject to secondary freezing;
• the shelf life is 3 years.

Conclusion

The beneficial properties of black frozen currants are known to every gardener. Since the fortified berry is grown on a personal plot, in order to preserve its beneficial properties, it is frozen for the winter. The thawed crop can be used to make compotes, fruit drinks, jelly, and also as a filling for pies. Before use, it is necessary to consult a specialist, black berry has not only useful properties, but can also cause irreparable harm to the body.