Make Lip-Smacking Dishes All Year Longby Picking and Storing Fresh Blueberries

Berries are an essential part of your everyday breakfast, whether in their raw form or as jams and essence. Apart from morning ritual with these lovely fruits, you are sure to consume them as snack or as a part of desserts during the day. And why not, these bite sized fruits have all the possible nutrients packed in them, possibly.

As surprising as it sounds, these small berries are a powerhouse of vitamins like A, B complex, C and E. Not to mention the anti oxidants that may be one of the factors to cure and prevent major diseases like diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure and age related problems. Not to mention, the amazing effect they have on the skin! The weighting scale may also show positive results with regular consumption of fresh blueberries and strawberries.

During season time you may find tons of these beautiful, colorful berries in the market as well as in your backyard. They may be affordable and fresh. But what about off seasons? You may find that these berries are expensive and not as good as the ones available earlier. This is why you need to pick them and store them. So that you may enjoy yummy blueberry jam recipes anytime of the year, irrespective of the season!

The first part is to pick the right kind of berries for storage. Just like any other perishable fruits, berries too rot in a short period of time. So it’s best to pick firm, slightly raw berries instead of ripe and soft ones. These are likely to spoil faster than the raw ones even when placed in the fridge. Pick berries that have a natural light color, like strong blue or deep red as this would mean they are in semi raw form, which is just right for storing.

Next of course is to understand the right way to storing. You must keep berries refrigerated, unwashed, in a rigid container covered with clear wrap. Most freshly picked berries last up to two weeks, if they are kept away from water. Water, especially, hastens deterioration of berries. So don’t even wash them or spray before storing.This procedure is great for short term storage as well as long term. If you wish to keep them longer, place the berries in a rigid covered container with one inch of space for expansion.