Cranberries are a very versatile fruit, high in nutrition and healthy properties.  They make fantastic sauces and chutneys and are easy to store.   Native to the USA they have been a main source of fruit for generations.  They are a good all round fruit, high in antioxidants and nutrition.

They are native to the USA they have been a main source of fruit for generations.  They are a good all round fruit, high in antioxidants and nutrition.

In the US they are most popular for Thanksgiving.  Here in the UK they are more traditionally used over Christmas.  However, you don’t need to have a celebration to make use of these little treasures.

They have a surprising amount of uses and can be stored in several different ways.

How to Store Cranberries

How to Store Fresh Cranberries

1. Fresh cranberries will keep in the fridge for several weeks (4-8 weeks maximum).  You need to put them into a bag and seal or store them in an airtight container.  You need to keep an eye on them and remove any of the ones that are going over to prevent them from contaminating the other berries.
2. You can also freeze the for longer storage by removing the debris and washing.  Dry them then place on a tray in the freezer, once frozen remove them and put them into a container. (Putting them on a tray prevents them from sticking),  This way you can store them for about one year. When you want to use them simply remove from the freezer and cook them from frozen.

How to Dry Cranberries Ready for Storage

1. If you grow your own, make sure you pick your cranberries when they are super fresh.  They will be very plump ad firm and shiny red. As cranberries get older they go soft and wrinkled (a bit like the rest of us really!) As always remove any debris and wash.
2. Now you need to pop them into a saucepan of boiling water for about 3 minutes until their skins split.
3. Remove the berries from the water immediately after their skins split and drain them well.
4. Pop onto paper towels and pat the berries dry.
5. You can use either your oven or a dehydrator to dry your cranberries.  I am tempted to use my Halogen Oven as I think this would dry them very well but I haven’t tried that yet.
6. If you are using your oven it will need to be heated to 175C (347F) if using a fan oven or Halogen drop the temperature by 20 degrees C (68F).
7. Now pop your cranberries in your heated oven and cook for 12 minutes.
8. Now you can turn off your oven and let your berries dry overnight.
9. Alternatively, you can heat at a lower temperature and cook them for between 6 and 10 hours.

How to Store Dried Cranberries

Remove your cranberries from the oven and let them cool down before placing them into an airtight container and then your freezer or fridge for storage.

Using a Dehydrator

If you want to use a dehydrator instead follow all the steps as above and then pop into your dehydrator for 10-15 hours instead, at the temperature advised by the manufacturer.

Note:  You can also dry Cranberries using sugar or syrup if you prefer.  

For Dieters and Diabetics: Remember that dried fruit has more intense sugars than fresh so will have more of an effect on your diets.  Diabetics may want to avoid dried fruit altogether depending on the advice of their health adviser.   

2 Quick and Easy Fresh Cranberry Recipes for Preserving

 1. Homemade Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe

 

Please see our easy to make sauce recipe, as it is a classic homemade cranberry sauce recipe.

2. How to Make Cranberry and Apple Chutney from Dried Cranberries

What I like about this video is that the recipe is from dried cranberries so you can make it over a longer period or if you are having difficulties in getting cranberries or want to use up your already dried cranberries you can use this.  You can get the recipe on YouTube below this video if you want and although it is a US recipe they have also included the grammes etc to make it easier.

FAQs

What is the nutrition of cranberries?

The Cranberry: Brief Nutrition Facts (per 100g)

• Cranberries are high in Vitamin C with 22%
• 100 g of fresh fruits are only 46 calories
• They have 0 zero fat

For Diabetics who need to know the Carbs:

• Thier Total Carbohydrate 12g or 4%
• Dietary fibre is 4.6g or 18%
• Of which Sugar is  4 g

Where Can I Get Fresh Cranberries?

Your local supermarket or market fruit stalls may have them in stock.

Where Can I Get Dried Cranberries?

Again you can get them locally.  Alternatively,you can buy dried cranberries online at places like Amazon.

When Are They Available Fresh?

Cranberries are available from October through to January

How to Grow Cranberries

This is a really interesting video on how to grow cranberries.  This is how the pros do it but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own locally you may just have to replace the water with fleece (all will become clear in the video)

Again you can buy cranberry bushes at your local garden centre or  you can actually get cranberry bushes on Amazon, good old Amazon.