Preserving berries and fruits for the winter: 4 alternative methods

Traditional cooking, of course, remains a win-win option, but there are other, more modern methods of preservation that allow you to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients. Let's consider four such interesting and effective methods.

Dry pastila

One of the popular ways of preserving berries and fruits is the production of dry pastila. This product is especially in demand among supporters of healthy eating, as it allows you to significantly reduce sugar consumption. To make pastila, the fruits are crushed and then dried at low temperatures in a special dryer. This allows you to maximally preserve all the beneficial properties of the original raw materials - vitamins, enzymes, microelements. To give a balanced sweet and sour taste, date syrup, honey or mashed bananas can be used as natural sweeteners.

Dry jam (candied fruits)

Another old method of preserving fruits is the production of dry jam, or candied fruits. To do this, fruits and berries undergo a multi-stage process of cooking in sugar syrup, during which they are soaked in it, but do not lose their shape and density. Then the preparations are dried in the oven or a special dehydrator. Interestingly, dry jam was especially loved by Empress Catherine II.

Freezing

One of the simplest and most effective ways to preserve berries and fruits is to freeze them. This method allows you to preserve the beneficial properties of the fruits as much as possible without adding sugar or other preservatives. You can freeze both whole berries and fruits, as well as their puree mixtures, which can then be used in baking, cocktails and other culinary products.

Fig

Another interesting way to preserve berries and fruits for the winter is to make traditional Russian dry marmalade, known as fig. To prepare it, the fruits are boiled with sugar, then the resulting mass is crushed, rubbed and dried in a cooling oven. Today, fig can be made using modern equipment, such as dehydrators.

Thus, in addition to classic jam, there are a number of alternative methods for preserving berries and fruits that allow you to preserve the maximum of their beneficial properties. Pastila, dried jam, freezing and figs are just four examples of interesting and effective technologies that can enrich your winter supplies. Each of these methods has its own advantages, and by combining them, you can create a truly diverse range of preserves.