Preservation of products by freezing has recently become increasingly popular. Most often, berries and fruits are subjected to such a procedure. Frozen cherries, currants or strawberries will not surprise anyone. But I wonder if it is possible to freeze grapes for the winter? And will such a berry be suitable then?
Types of Freezing
People began to stockpile for the winter since ancient times. The desire to always have the right product on hand makes the housewives use a variety of methods: drying, canning and, of course, freezing. The latter option is less time-consuming, so it is increasingly used in everyday life. In addition, experts have proved that it is freezing that maximally preserves not only the taste, but also the nutritional value of the product. Take grapes, for example. Being an excellent tonic and restorative, it contains a huge amount of fiber, sugar, enzymes, organic acids, trace elements and vitamins. Such a product must be constantly consumed. In the form of compotes, preserves and dried fruits, he loses a large share of his beneficial substances. Therefore, many are interested in the question of whether it is possible to freeze grapes for the winter and how to do it correctly. To begin with, it is worth noting that there are 3 main types of freezing fruits and berries:
1. In kind.
2. Fruits previously sprinkled with sugar.
3. Products poured with sugar syrup.
The first option is the simplest and most acceptable. In this case, the berry after defrosting is no different from the one that has just been picked from the branch.
Basic Rules
Having figured out whether it is possible to freeze grapes for the winter, it is necessary to clearly understand the basic rules for freezing. Work is usually carried out sequentially, step by step:
- Inspection of the source product. Collected clusters of grapes need to be carefully examined. It should be remembered that only high-quality fruits are subject to freezing, and it is better to put aside overripe, spoiled or unripe.
- Raw material processing. Separate the grapes from the branches, rinse well under running water, and then dry them by spreading them on a terry towel. Sometimes housewives are interested in whether it is possible to freeze grapes for the whole winter. Of course, the berries can not be removed from the bunch, but it is not very convenient for storage and further use.
- Pre-cooling. Put the berries on a tray in one row and refrigerate for 3 hours.
- After the set time has elapsed, place the tray in the freezer.
- Pour frozen grapes into a plastic bag and send to a special compartment in the freezer for long-term storage.
Freezing options
The pre-cooling procedure significantly slows down the harvesting process. Therefore, scientists became interested in whether it is possible to freeze grapes without this intermediate stage. Can. And now there are two options for freezing food:
To understand them, you need to understand the physics of the process itself. In the first case, the berry cools gradually. The moisture contained in the intercellular tissues is first cooled, slightly condensed, and then freezes in the form of large crystals inside the berry. This leads to the destruction of internal tissues. As a result, after thawing, the fetus may lose its appearance, or even leak. In the second case, crystals of much smaller sizes are formed. This does not lead to serious internal damage, and berries after thawing are no different from fresh fruits. The method of quick freezing is now widely used in the food industry.
Homemade Cold Billets
Harvest products for the future in almost every family. The only difference is that some do it for the sake of interest, while others try to process as many products as possible. After all, if you are not too lazy in the summer and autumn, then in the winter you can live happily ever after. And this means that on the table every day there will be not only vitamins, but also a delicious dessert. Working with grapes, the housewives try to choose the fastest and easiest option. And what could be easier than cold processing? It remains only to clarify whether it is possible to freeze grapes in the freezer. But the answer to this question is obvious. The temperature of the freezer compartment inside a single-chamber refrigerator is between -12 and -3 degrees. In more modern models, in a separate freezer, the temperature is from -24 to -16 degrees. And this is quite enough for freezing and long-term storage. Frozen berries can be found and other applications. Among other things, they can easily replace ice cubes. A glass of drink with grape balls inside will look very impressive.
Every little thing matters
Almost everything is useful in grapes, starting from juicy pulp and ending with skin and even seeds. In addition to the entire periodic table and the widest range of various nutrients, grapes contain unique antioxidants. A lot of them are in the bones. These unusual elements allow you to overcome premature withering of the body. And the use of grapes throughout the year can practically lead to its general renewal. Therefore, do not even think about whether it is possible to freeze grapes with seeds. It even needs to be done. Pitted grapes are used only for drying and further use in the form of sweet raisins. But it is best to lay berries with acidity for storage, and such they are only with seeds. The color of the fetus itself does not matter. Experts argue that the bones do not even need to spit out. They should be chewed with pulp and swallowed. Only in this case the human body will be able to get from them all the most necessary.
Further application
Having figured out whether it is possible to freeze grapes, it is worth considering where and how to apply it in the future. There are many different options. First, the berries must be properly thawed, holding for some time in ordinary cold water at room temperature. The ice inside should gradually melt completely. After defrosting, these berries are practically no different from fresh fruits. You can also make fruit juice from them, boil compote, mix a cocktail or just squeeze the juice. There are other areas of their application. Grapes can be useful for preparing various desserts, sauces, salads, various sweet dishes. Sometimes they are also used for decoration. And if you want, you can just eat them whole. You just need to remember one golden rule: you should never re- freeze a product. This can very badly affect both its appearance and nutritional value. The product will lose its unique properties and become almost useless.