You have a sour cherry in your garden and you harvested all of it at harvest time? Now you don't know what to do with the masses of fruit? Here are a few ideas for preserving the sour cherries.

to be noted in advance

The sour cherries should be picked when they are fully ripe and preferably without the stalks. If the cherries are picked with their stalks, the bark on the twigs is quickly damaged because some of it is torn off as well.

Immediately after harvesting the sour cherries, you should get to work and start processing. Fresh tart cherries do not keep for long. You can also use the less visually appealing specimens.

Boil sour cherries

One method that older generations especially appreciate is to boil the sour cherries. They can be used to make jelly, jam and compote, among other things. Here is a recipe for jam or marmalade:

  • If necessary, clean and de-stalk and pit the sour cherries
  • Boil with a little water and (gelling) sugar
  • Let cook for 1 hour
  • puree the mass
  • for compote: Fill in the whole

Care should be taken to use sterilized glasses for filling. A saucepan is ideal for this. Furthermore, the ratio between the sour cherries and the sugar should be 2:1 so that the preserves are properly preserved.

Drying and freezing tart cherries

Methods to preserve the vital substance content of tart cherries are drying and freezing. To dry the sour cherries:

  • pit and halve beforehand
  • puree if necessary and spread on baking paper (fruit leather)
  • Dry in the dehydrator at 35 to 50 °C for 2-3 days

Freezing is uncomplicated. It is advisable to pit the cherries beforehand. Then they go in a freezer bag. Later they can be surfaced and used for cakes, tarts, muffins, fruit sauces or smoothies.

Juice the sour cherries and set aside

Furthermore, the sour cherries can be juiced and pasteurized or used to make wine, schnapps and liqueur. The sweet and sour varieties with dark juice are particularly suitable for this.

tips and tricks

Before pitting the sour cherries: Put on old clothes or an apron. Line your kitchen with newspaper and ditch wallpaper!

KKF

Category:

Vegetable garden