How to properly freeze grapes for the winter in the freezer and is it possible to do it
Grapes serves as a source of vitamins, minerals, organic acids, polyphenols, important for maintaining health and ensuring the harmonious functioning of organs and systems.
The ripening period of grapes in nature is from July to October. At this time, fresh berries are eaten and stored for the winter using various methods. We will tell you in the article about whether it is possible to freeze grapes in the freezer for the winter.
The content of the article
Can grapes be frozen in the freezer
Dry freezing of food is artificial cooling of food (for example, grapes) in a freezer for the purpose of long-term storage. In this form, the berries retain their taste and useful properties. You can freeze any grape variety - and there are more than 3000 of them.
For reference... In winter and spring, frozen grapes are healthier than fresh ones grown in artificial conditions with the use of pesticides.
The advantages and disadvantages of this procurement method are presented in the table.
| Benefits | disadvantages |
| Preservation of freshness and appearance of berries | Berries can absorb unpleasant odors |
| Increased shelf life | The likelihood of damage to packaging for storage of products under the influence of low temperatures, which leads to a loss of the organoleptic properties of the product |
| The chemical composition remains virtually unchanged | Duration of thawing berries - 10-18 hours |
| Reducing the number of harmful bacteria, thus increasing health safety | Slight change in taste |
| Creation of optimal storage conditions for perishable varieties, reduction of waste | With a large harvest, the volume of frozen products is limited by the size of the freezer |
| Doesn't require time-consuming and special culinary skills |
Selection and preparation of berries
When choosing fresh grapes in a store or market, it is difficult to be sure that the purchased product will be useful.... Therefore, it is best to use grapes grown independently or in guaranteed safe conditions without the use of pesticides. The beneficial properties of grapes also depend on climatic and weather conditions, ripeness of berries, conditions and shelf life.
Freezing berries are harvested when they are ripe and contain the most vitamins. Berries in bunches should be elastic, without traces of damage by pests. Freshly picked grapes will have a green branch.
Sluggish skin is a sign that the grapes are overripe or have been stored for a long time at a low temperature. Such berries are not frozen, since they will not retain their taste and consistency during the defrosting process.
Depending on the chosen method of freezing, the berries individually or whole clusters are washed with running water, debris (leaves, cobwebs), rotten and overripe specimens are removed. The remaining moisture is removed with a paper towel or allowed to dry naturally.
Reference. If you plan to use the fruit for making compote, jelly, you can freeze it along with the seeds. For food, it is better to remove seeds or choose seedless varieties.
Freezing rules
There are several options for freezing grapes at home. Each housewife chooses a suitable option depending on the volume of the freezer, the number of berries, the method of further use.
Freezing in clusters
The freshly harvested crop is frozen. Each bunch is inspected for the presence of crumpled, damaged and rotten berries, and they are removed. Each brush is washed, left to dry for 1-2 hours so that the water is completely glass. In containers for freezing products, bunches are packaged in one or several pieces. Excess air is released from the bags and tied tightly.
Hotel berries
Freezing of individual berries takes place in two stages:
- Clean and dry berries are laid out on a flat surface (usually a kitchen board or shallow container with a flat bottom is used). They are sent to the freezer for 5-6 hours so that they freeze slightly and subsequently do not stick together.
- The berries are laid out in portions in containers or bags for freezing, tightly closed. They are sent to the freezer for further storage.
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Freezing grapes
We offer several ways to save grapes for the winter at home. You can prepare it in syrup, process it in puree, or freeze it in wine.
In sugar
The berries are tasty and sweet. But it should be borne in mind that grapes themselves contain a lot of sugar, and in this case, its calorie content increases.
The freezing recipe is simple: the berries are put in a container for storing fruits, sprinkled with sugar, and tightly closed with a lid.
In syrup
In this form, the workpiece contains a lot of sugar, so it is used with caution by patients with diabetes mellitus and those who follow the figure or seek to lose weight.
Procurement process:
- Prepare sugar syrup from 200 ml of water and 100 g of granulated sugar. Bring the syrup to a boil, simmer for 5-10 minutes, cool.
- Place the berries in a prepared plastic container, pour over chilled syrup, and close the lid tightly.
Puree
For the preparation of puree, seedless varieties are selected or removed before processing. Mashed potatoes are used as a dressing for cereals, cottage cheese, filling for desserts, or they are used to prepare a drink from it, diluted with hot water.
How to freeze grapes for the winter in the form of mashed potatoes:
- Grind the berries with a blender or meat grinder.
- Add sugar to the puree to taste. Leave at room temperature for 2-3 hours to completely dissolve the sugar.
- Fill clean containers with mashed potatoes, close tightly with lids and put in the freezer.
In wine
To prepare grapes in wine you will need: 400 ml of white wine, 100 g of sugar, 500-700 g of grapes.
Procurement process:
- In an airtight glass container, dissolve half the sugar in wine. Add grapes, close the lid.
- Leave the jar in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
- Drain the wine, let the grapes dry.
- Pour the remaining sugar onto a plate, add the berries and stir. Cover with parchment on top, send to the freezer for 3-4 hours.
- The product is ready to use. If you plan to store it for a long time, then pour the berries into a plastic container.
Storage periods
The shelf life of grapes, subject to all the rules for freezing the product, is 10-12 months. The berries are stored in the freezer until the next harvest - you can enjoy fresh grapes all year round.
It is interesting:
How and how to feed raspberries in the fall.
The best ways to freeze raspberries for the winter correctly.
How to defrost properly
It is forbidden to defrost berries at room temperature, as they will turn into a sticky mass. It is better to defrost them on the refrigerator shelf - the process will take 10 to 18 hours.
If the berries are used as a filling for desserts or you make compote, jam, preserves, jelly from them, then defrosting is optional - you can use them directly from the freezer.
Important! It is not recommended to defrost the bunches in the microwave, as this method loses vitamins.
Conclusion
Freezing grapes is the best way to preserve the nutritional and taste qualities of a product at home. The obvious advantage of freezing berries is simplicity, no additional costs (with the exception of bags or storage containers), the ability to harvest grapes in different ways, even with wine.