Freezing has proven to be the best way to store elderberries for a long time. We have compiled the best tips for preserving aroma and vitamin content for you.
It is this preparation that counts
The fresher the fruit, the easier it is to freeze. At the same time, this creates the best conditions for later processing the fruit into jam, jelly or syrup. If you follow the checklist below, elderberries will be optimally prepared:
- harvest the fruit umbels and immediately clean them under running water
- Scrape the berries with a kitchen fork and pat dry
- Sort out unripe and overripe fruit
- Mix the fruit with the sugar in a bowl
Studies have shown that sugared fruit can be stored in the freezer for 12 months. Unsweetened elderberries can be processed within 6-8 months. Since the fruit can only be eaten after it has been boiled down, some of the required sugar can already be added during freezing.
Suitable packaging for freezing
The perfect packaging for the freezer does not let air in to the berries, nor does moisture penetrate to the outside. Airtight bags or freezer boxes are therefore highly recommended when freezing elderberries. In contrast, conventional see-through bags are completely unsuitable. In this case, the dreaded freezer burn is inevitable.
Step-by-step instructions
Immediately after the preparatory work, the elderberries are frozen. This is how it works in no time:
- fill the cans or bags with the sugared berries so that 10-15 percent air remains
- this is where the freezing liquid will later spread
- the cans can be stacked in the freezer
- First place the freezer bags next to each other so that the fruit is not pressed
- do not stack until the berries are frozen solid
As the elderberries gradually freeze, ice crystals form in the cells. These puncture the cell walls, which causes a softened consistency when later thawed. The lower the temperature, the smaller the ice crystals. Therefore, freeze the fruit as quickly as possible down to -17 degrees Celsius or lower.
tips and tricks
If elderberries are vacuumed before freezing, this measure prevents freezer burn even more effectively. With the help of a special vacuum sealer, all air is removed from stable foil bags and the seam is sealed. At the same time, this protects against loss of aroma and saves space in the freezer.
The garden journal freshness ABC
How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?
The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:
- as a free PDF file to print out yourself