With these tips, frozen berries stay firm and delicious.
The domestic strawberry season is usually at its hottest from mid-June to early August. TIINA SOMERPURO
The method of freezing has a decisive influence on how the berries can be used when thawed. Improperly frozen berries easily become watery and tasteless.
Temperance is a trump card when it comes to the amount to be frozen, but you shouldn’t skimp on the temperature.
Too large a number of products to be frozen at once and too warm air critically weaken the properties of the berries to be frozen.
The electronics and home appliance trade association Etko ry gives tips for successfully freezing summer berries.
Check the device
According to Etko ry, frost of more than 3-5 millimeters in the refrigerant piping weakens the freezer’s performance, slows down the freezing of the berries and thus deteriorates their quality.
So, if necessary, you should thaw the freezer before starting the berry talcum.
It is also worth checking the device’s freezing capacity. The freezing capacity is indicated on the rating plate of the device, i.e. on a sticker or plate attached to the device, which shows its most important technical data.
You can freeze up to the freezing capacity of the freezer in one day.
On time to go
It is recommended to switch on the freezing function of the freezer 6-24 hours before freezing, depending on the number of berries.
– This way, the products already in the freezer stay cold and the new berries freeze quickly, the announcement says.
Freezing takes 24 hours, and during this time you should not add new products to the freezer. Too large a quantity at once also slows down the freezing and reduces the quality of the berries.
Place correctly
Etko ry recommends using freezer shelves or boxes. Do not put new berries on top of previously frozen ones.
After the freezing function has been on for a day, it can be turned off to save energy.
READ ALSO
5 tips for freezing strawberries
1. After you have bought the strawberries, pick them as soon as possible, preferably on the same day, and immediately transfer them to freezer boxes.
2. Boxes are much more convenient for freezing strawberries than freezer bags, because the strawberries release a lot of juice when the berries melt.
3. You can put the strawberries in the boxes whole, but if you want to save space, slice the strawberries so that more berries can fit in one box.
4. Domestic strawberries do not need and should not be rinsed before freezing. If you wish, you can sprinkle a little sugar on top of the berries, a small amount is enough, as it improves shelf life. You can do without sugar.
5. Close the lids tightly and transfer the boxes to the freezer.