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Ingredient - Cranberries
Updated December 12th, 2022
Cranberries are round fruits that grow on low, bushy, trailing vines. Their skins ripen from green to white, then to a glossy, scarlet red.
They can be used whole, fresh, or cooked. You will also find them dried or frozen whole, and are commercially canned or made into fruit juices and sauces.
Whole Cranberries are most often cooked with sugar and citrus or other winter fruits, and made into a sauce or chutney.
The acidity of the berries is delicious in both savory and sweet dishes. Cranberry sauce can be added to desserts and baked goods.
Whole berries are often halved and added to beverages like sangria, or chopped and added to salad greens or soft cheeses. Dried Cranberries can be added to salads, stuffing, breads, cookies and cakes.
Cranberries have a bitter, starchy and tart flavor. The best fresh Cranberries are not only firm to the touch but have a bouncy quality, that indicates ripeness. They are readily available in the fall through the winter months.
Cranberries are well known for their health benefits. The small, tart berries are rich in vitamin C and have high amounts of pectin that thickens when heated. They are a good source of dietary fiber, manganese, and contain vitamin E, copper and potassium.
The compounds in cranberries provide antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory benefits. Research has shown that Cranberries help prevent bacteria from adhering to the lining of the stomach and urinary tract.
To get the maximum health benefits from Cranberries they need to be eaten in a non-processed form.
To prepare cranberries, wash the berries and discard any soft, shriveled or sticky berries. They store well in the refrigerator for up to a week.
To freeze your cranberries, spread them in a single layer on a baking tray. Freeze for 2 to 4 hours, being careful not to leave longer than 4 hours since they will get freezer burn. Transfer the frozen berries to freezer bags or freezer safe containers and seal. Be sure to label and date your container.
Return to the freezer where they will keep nicely for up to one year.
Usually found in the Fruit Aisle.