Despite the fact that delicate blueberries can easily be damaged during washing, this step should not be skipped – even if you picked the berries yourself in an ecologically clean area..
The procedure is needed in order to get rid of parasites, insects, dust and other dirt, explains expert of the BelNovosti network publication, cook Yulia Arkhipova..
The only exception is the storage of berries: after picking or purchasing, blueberries should be stored in a dry state until you are ready to eat them, having first gotten rid of bad, wrinkled and rotten berries.
How to wash blueberries
We repeat: you need to wash blueberries before you are going to eat them.This should be done carefully, trying not to crush the fruits.
Fill a bowl with water and place the berries in it, then carefully rinse them and remove.
Then wait until the water drains and the blueberries dry out a little.Now you can start eating: you shouldn»t put it off even for a few hours, since washed blueberries quickly deteriorate and rot.
Should I wash blueberries before freezing?
Before freezing, blueberries must be thoroughly washed – this will not be possible after defrosting.Rinse the berries in the manner described above, and then dry.
If you freeze the berries while they are wet, the water will expand and damage the skin, causing the berries to turn into mush after defrosting.In addition, wet berries will stick together and become deformed, which will negatively affect their structure and taste.
When the berries are completely dry, distribute them into containers or bags and place them in the freezer.
