[Is it more nutritious than raw? ] Introducing recipes and how to preserve frozen blueberries

Did you know that if you freeze blueberries, you can preserve all of their nutrients from freshly picked blueberries?

Blueberries lose their nutritional value little by little after they are harvested, but when frozen, their nutritional value may be higher than when they are fresh.

Here are 3 reasons why you should freeze blueberries, 3 tips for freezing them, and easy recipes using frozen blueberries.

3 reasons why you should freeze blueberries

Freshly harvested nutrients can be frozen as is.

Did you know that frozen blueberries can be more nutritious than blueberries sold fresh?

If blueberries are left raw after being harvested, their nutritional value will gradually decrease over time. Blueberries sold at supermarkets and greengrocers may be several days old after being harvested, so their nutritional value has decreased accordingly.

On the other hand, blueberries that are frozen immediately after harvest retain their nutritional value. As a result, frozen blueberries can have higher nutritional value than fresh blueberries.

In fact, research conducted by the University of Chester and the Leatherhead Food Research Institute in the UK has proven that frozen fruits and vegetables are more nutritious than their fresh counterparts.

A study compared the nutritional value of frozen and fresh fruit and found that two-thirds of the varieties had higher levels of vitamin C and antioxidants.

Table showing whether fresh or frozen food is more nutritious

Freezing increases anthocyanin content

Freezing some fruits not only preserves their nutritional value when fresh, but also makes them more nutritious than before freezing.

A representative example of this is blueberries, and results show that the anthocyanin content in the fruit is higher after freezing than before freezing.

You can enjoy blueberries throughout the year

Blueberry shipments increase from around May and reach their peak around July.

Therefore, you can only eat fresh raw blueberries for a few months from early summer to midsummer, but by freezing them, you can enjoy the seasonal taste all year round.

3 tips for freezing blueberries

Freeze blueberries immediately after harvest if possible.

The nutritional value of blueberries decreases as time passes after they are harvested. Therefore, if possible, freeze fresh blueberries immediately after harvest to lock in their rich nutrients.

For example, even if you buy frozen blueberries at the supermarket, you can make fresher frozen blueberries if you buy them in the morning rather than in the evening.

Drain thoroughly and freeze

When freezing blueberries, you can place the washed blueberries in a commercially available freezer pack and freeze them directly.

Before freezing, wash them with water to remove any debris. After washing, it is important to thoroughly wipe off the moisture with a paper towel.

If you freeze the blueberries while they are still wet, the blueberries will stick together and be difficult to remove for cooking.

Easy to use when frozen in small portions

If you want to freeze blueberries in several batches, it is convenient to divide them into smaller freezer packs and freeze them from the beginning.

You only need to take out and thaw the amount you need when you want to use it, and you can avoid deteriorating the quality by repeatedly freezing and thawing unused portions.

Tips for thawing and storage period

Defrosting method according to purpose

When defrosting, it is a good idea to choose the defrosting method depending on how you will use the blueberries. When cooking things like blueberry jam, it is best to thaw it at room temperature for about 30 minutes before using it to save time when heating it.

On the other hand, if you want to use it in something like a blueberry smoothie, you can enjoy the crunchy texture by using it frozen.

Also, when using it as a topping for cakes, etc., thaw it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, so it will be just the right amount of cold when you eat it.

Storage period of frozen blueberries

By freezing blueberries, you can basically preserve them without worrying about their expiration date. However, freezing it will gradually dry it out, so it should be eaten within a year.

By freezing the seasonal flavors each year, you can enjoy fresh flavors every year.

5 easy recipes using frozen blueberries

easy blueberry jam

☑材料
・冷凍ブルーベリー　300
・砂糖 100g
・水　80cc
・レモン搾り汁　大さじ2

<How to make>
1) Thaw blueberries at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then put sugar and water in a pot and boil until boiling.
2) Once it boils, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes, carefully removing the scum.
3) Finish by adding lemon juice and bring to a boil.

The blueberries will fall apart naturally, so it's okay to boil while stirring gently. The shape of the remaining blueberries will vary depending on the boiling time, so adjust it to your preference. If you want to put it on yogurt, it will be delicious if you boil it down enough so that it retains a little bit of its shape, and if you want to put it on bread, it will be delicious.

Easy muffins made without butter

☑材料（16個分）
・卵　2つ
・砂糖　１００g
・サラダ油　１００ｃｃ
・牛乳　２００ｃｃ
・冷凍ブルーベリー　２００g
・ホットケーキミックス　４００g
・トッピング用ブルーベリー　少々

<How to make>
1) Preheat the oven to 180℃
2) Put the eggs and sugar in a bowl and mix well until the egg whites and yolks are thoroughly mixed.
3) Add salad oil, milk, and blueberries and mix.
4) Add the pancake mix and mix until it is no longer powdery.
5) Pour the batter into the cup and top with blueberries as desired.
6) Bake at 180℃ for 20 minutes and it's done.

It's easy to make, just mix the ingredients and bake! It's delicious to eat freshly made, but if you let it cool down and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight, it becomes moist and even more delicious!

Blueberry smoothie with calpis

☑材料(2人分)
・冷凍ブルーベリー　１００g
・バナナ　１本
・「カルピス」　６０ｍｌ
・牛乳　２００ml

<How to make>
1) Mix all ingredients with a mixer
2) Pour into a cup and top with blueberries, mint, etc. as desired.

The key is to use "Calpis" to improve the sweetness and mellowness! Make it a great snack for the upcoming hot season!

Yogurt with frozen blueberries

☑材料
・プレーンヨーグルト　１００ｇ
・砂糖　小さじ２分の１
・冷凍ブルーベリー　２０ｇ

<How to make>
1) Top the yogurt with sugar and frozen blueberries and it's done.

It's easy to make and nutritious, so it's recommended as a breakfast.

cream cheese blueberry scone

☑材料（二人分）
・ホットケーキミックス　２００ｇ
・クリームチーズ　１００ｇ
・牛乳　大さじ２
・冷凍ブルーベリー　大さじ３～４

<How to make>
1) Mix pancake mix, milk, and cream cheese until well blended.
2) Add frozen blueberries and mix
3) Make two 2cm thick disks and divide them into 6 equal parts.
4) Bake in an oven preheated to 170℃ for 13 minutes and it's done.

Adding cream cheese to blueberry scones gives it a slightly different taste and is delicious.
It's easy to make, so it's recommended for snacks!

Conclusion

What did you think. You might be surprised to find that frozen blueberries are more nutritious than fresh ones.

Everyone, please take advantage of the nutrition of frozen blueberries and live a healthy life.