About 3 or so years ago, we planted a cultivated, large fruiting blackberry (Bramble) in our fruit cage. Last year was its first proper year of fruiting. This year, despite near drought conditions, it has performed well. Below is a pan measuring 12" x 5":
This is the 4th one we have filled and frozen for later use. The one above has a few gaps in it as the bush is now slowing down. It still has lots of red fruits to ripen yet, but they are gradually getting smaller.
After picking, the fruit is soaked for a few minutes in cold water with a good dash or two of vinegar. This usually either kills any wee beasties in or on the fruit and they and other debris rise to the top to be scooped off. A quick rinse finishes this stage of the job.
They are then laid briefly on kitchen roll before being frozen. All this happens within 10 minutes of picking, hopefully keeping as many vitamin in them as possible.
MY dad does the same - he now had a huge big bag of them in the freezer, destined for jams and crumbles, etc. They're delicious!
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Frozen individually they can be used by the handful. Opens up more uses. Good for your dad.
DeleteI'd never eaten blackberries before a Blogger friend introduced them. Now, I enjoy them at every opportunity. Yours look big and delicious.
ReplyDeleteThey are about the length of thumb tip to first joint and about as wide. Some are sweeter than others.
DeleteI must admit I do miss the hunt for the blackberries since moving.
ReplyDeleteDon’t they grow up there? Maybe you could grow one?
DeleteI have a good stash for Winter use in our freezer here at home and a smaller, stash picked at the caravan as we walk along the river for adding to breakfasts when I'm there. Nobody else seems to be picking them, so I thought sod it I'm not leaving them there to rot. Suky the Pug has realised how delicious they are and is frequently found nibbling the ones at doggy height ... the ones I avoid for obvious reason ;-)
ReplyDeletePerhaps less people nowadays know what to do with them or even if they can eat them. Before growing them, we used to gather them plus crabapples, elderberries, bullaces, wild plums and sloes.
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