Frozen cranberries: useful properties and recipes

Wild cranberries are a real source of vitamins and trace elements. Our ancestors knew about this and therefore actively used the fruits of the plant for the preparation of various prophylactic and therapeutic compositions. Currently, cranberries are no less common in folk and traditional medicine. Even when frozen, the berries retain their nutrients. For this reason, cranberries are often used to create blanks for the winter.

Before you get acquainted with the recipes for cooking frozen fruit, you should understand what is a wild-growing cranberries. This shrub with small red berries is widely distributed in the European part of Russia, in Siberia and in the Far East. The population of the northern regions makes extensive use of cranberries for both domestic purposes and for the large food industry.

Such popularity of the berries due to the content of a large number of nutrients in its biochemical composition. Fruits are saturated with organic acids, pectins and vitamins of different groups. For this reason, cranberries and its extract are widely used in medicine.

Berries in fresh and frozen form are used to prepare various healthy drinks. Cranberries make fruit drinks, jelly, juice and even kvass. Berry also found its distribution in the confectionery industry, as it is used as a filling for sweets.

Frozen cranberries are no less beneficial to the human body than fresh fruit. The composition of the berries is rich in such a specific substance, like tannin. Natural antibiotic has a pronounced effect and destroys the structure of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms at the cellular level. In the course of numerous clinical studies, it was proved that tannin enhances the effect of synthetic antibacterial drugs. It is worth saying that it is this substance that gives the berry a bitter taste.

The shell of the berry contains a large number of binders and components that have a tonic effect. These substances act as strong antioxidants that charge the body with energy. The shell of the berries contains in its composition prebiotics, contributing to the normalization of intestinal microflora. These substances stimulate the digestive processes.

Cranberry pulp contains a large amount of ascorbic acid. The action of this substance allows you to strengthen the vascular walls, there is an improvement in the liver and spleen. Ascorbic acid has a beneficial effect on the human cardiovascular system.

Fresh-frozen cranberries are actively used to prepare various beverages during the spread of colds. The fruits of the shrub can cope with such problems:

• avitaminosis;
• anemia;
• withdrawal syndrome;
• prostration;
• depressive states.

Cranberry-based formulations are also effective in treating urogenital diseases.

There are many different simple recipes for how to use frozen cranberries to make healthy formulas.

Red fruits can be used as a base for compote in winter. For cooking you will need cranberries (300 g), pure water (1.5 l) and granulated sugar (160 g). The process of cooking compote is not complicated, so anyone can handle it.

To start the berries need to fall asleep in a saucepan, pour in water and add sugar. Compote well boil, after boiling the fire must be reduced, and leave the drink for another 3 minutes. Then the pan is removed from the stove and left for some time. If desired, the finished compote can be drained.

To improve the taste, cranberries are often combined with various fruits. Berries are combined with apples, which are also useful for the body in the winter season. For cooking will need cranberries (200 g), water (1.5 l) and granulated sugar (4 tbsp. l.). As for apples, for the preparation of compote, you must use 200 g of this fruit.

At the initial stage, water is poured into the pan and sugar is added. The container is set on fire and while the liquid reaches the boil, the peels are removed from the apples and the core is removed. The fruit is finely chopped, and then added to the pan along with the cranberries. The fire is somewhat reduced, and the composition is boiled for about 20 minutes with the lid closed. This drink can be consumed hot, especially with a cold or similar ailment.

Berries are used not only to create drinks, but also for the preparation of healthy dishes. One of these options is cottage cheese casserole with cranberries.. In order to make such a dish, you will need frozen berries, previously cleared of all that is superfluous. Also, the basis of the casserole includes crumbly cottage cheese (400 g), granulated sugar (3 tbsp. l.) and eggs (3 pcs.). For cooking you will need semolina (3 tbsp. L.).

So, first you need to knead cottage cheese and sugar in a deep bowl, using a fork. Add eggs to the resulting mass, and mix everything thoroughly until a uniform consistency is obtained (it is best to use a mixer or a blender). Please note that the composition should be a beige tint. Add cranberries to the container with the ingredients, and mix everything again (it is necessary to use a fork). The oven is heated to a temperature of 180 °, the form with the dough is placed into it. The optimal cooking time is 15-20 minutes.

Despite the amazing benefits of cranberries for the body, There are some contraindications and, if available, it is best to stop using berries.

• The fruit of the plant can cause harm in the presence of gastritis. This is due to the fact that a large amount of organic acids in the composition of the berries provoke the development of negative processes in the gastrointestinal tract. Also, the berries are not recommended to use with stomach ulcers and intestinal inflammation.
• Fruits can harm the body if there are problems with the liver.
• Berry is not recommended for the preparation of beverages and dishes with allergic reactions.
• Also, the use of fruits without consulting a doctor must be abandoned to pregnant women.
• Red berries can not be given to children who are not 4 years old.

Cranberries stored in the freezer practically do not lose their beneficial properties. But this happens only in those cases, if you follow some simple rules.

• To begin with, it must be said that it is impossible to use the method of shock freezing for cranberries. Because of this, the berries will lose their beneficial properties and will not bring any benefit to the body.
• Before putting the cranberries in the freezer, it should be sorted and sorted by size. Wash berries is not worth it, because it can violate their integrity.
• The optimal shelf life of cranberries is up to 6 months. But some people leave berries in the freezer for several years.

All about the proper freezing of cranberries, see below.