Ways to Use Fresh Blueberries

Blueberries are small but mighty! Fresh blueberries provide vitamins, such as vitamin C and K, minerals and pigments such as anthocyanins, which may help prevent or slow down the development of certain diseases.

Additionally,

• Dried blueberries were added to stews, soups and meats.
• Dried berries were also crushed into a powder and rubbed into meat for flavor.
• Blueberry juice was used to cure coughs.
• Blueberry juice was also used as a purple dye for cloth and baskets.
• A tea made from the leaves of the blueberry plant was believed to be good for the blood.

When is Blueberry season

One of my favorite parts of summer is exploring new ways to use up fresh blueberries. I love going to the local U-Pick orchard for fresh blueberries. Blueberries are at the height of their season in zone 7 around May through July. However, you can utilize these sweet treats year-round with recipes, freezing them or canning them as we’ll discuss below.

Keeping Blueberries Fresh

There’s a couple of ways to keep your blueberries fresh.

First, you can store berries in paper towel-lined sealable container, with layers of paper towels between each layer of berries. Keep the lid slightly open to allow excess moisture to escape. Place in the refrigerator to store.

Or you can fill a large bowl with one cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and three cups of water. Add your blueberries to the bowl, swish them around, and let them soak for five to ten minutes. The vinegar will kill most of the bacteria.

Best Tasting Blueberries

Any blueberry that comes off of the Southern or Northern Highbush will be sweeter than most other blueberries. All you have to do is check the box or packaging for a label. The label should explain where the blueberry was grown.

Sometimes the packaging does not explain what bush the berry comes from but rather what cultivar it is. If this is the case, all you have to do is check which bush it comes from.

If your blueberries are overripe or just not sweet enough, you can cut them in half and add a little touch of sugar to the blueberry. This obviously takes away from some of the health benefits and not typically a favorite solution, but it works.

A more healthy option, add the blueberries to a fruit salad with some cranberry juice or make a smoothie. Either way, you will be adding sweetness to the blueberry while still keeping most of its health benefits.

Are Blueberries Acidic?

Blueberries, along with lemons, limes, plums, grapes and grapefruits, are among the most acidic fruits.

Blueberry Recipes

I love to make my own fruit jams, and homemade blueberry jam is no exception. You can also check out the Cooking Channel for their favorite blueberry jam recipes.

Blueberry Breakfast Casserole

I’ve recently found a simple breakfast casserole that is both yummy and filling called Dark Chocolate Berry Baked Oatmeal. It’s sweetened naturally with banana and maple syrup and truly tastes like dessert for breakfast! I can cook it on the weekend and have leftovers all through the week. They use blackberries and raspberries, but blueberries are a must when they’re in season.

Mini Tart Recipe with Blueberry Filling

Mini tarts are little pies without a top crust. They are a great way to serve individual desserts or make something REALLY special for mom on mother’s day or for any special occasion.

Lemon Tart with Blueberries

This simple lemon curd tart with blueberries on top is sweet, and tangy with a buttery crust. It’s a great spring or summer dessert that’s special enough for Father’s day, Mother’s day, Easter, Memorial day or whatever day you feel like feeling extra fancy.

Healthy Toddler Friendly Blueberry Muffins

These healthy toddler blueberry muffins are made with healthier ingredients and lightly sweetened to help develop your little foodie’s taste buds. Not just for toddlers, everyone’s going to love them. But they are great for picky toddlers!

Healthy Blueberry Peach Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies are a great place to hide add fruits and veggies to kids diet. This peach blueberry smoothie is yummy and fun for kids to make.

Blueberry Lemon Blondies

Blueberry Blondies filled with tangy lemon flavor will be a winner with any fan of lemon desserts. The ultimate healthy lemon and blueberry blondies are the combination that everyone is going to be obsessed with. And they’re not just amazing, they are a healthy lemon dessert too!

Blueberry Cobbler Recipe Easy

This Blueberry Crumble recipe is super quick easy, making it perfect for any summer gathering or potluck.

How to Preserve Blueberries

Blanch Blueberries

Blueberries have a waxy film on their skin, which impedes heat penetrating their interiors for efficient and even drying. Blanching them causes cracks in the waxy surfaces as the berry swells, which allow the dehydrator’s heat into them more readily. Check out these tips for blanching blueberries.

Dehydrating Blueberries

Have you every had dried blueberries? They make awesome snacks in mixes, on top of ice cream or just by themselves. Check out these tips on dehydrating blueberries.

Dehydrating blueberries is really simple. You’ll need to check your specific dehydrator for instructions, but you can also continue to check on them and dry them to the texture you like. Check out this COSORI Food Dehydrator if you don’t currently have a dehydrator.

Freeze Blueberries

You can take advantage of numerous benefits and freeze blueberries during their peak season. They’re one of the easiest fruits to freeze, but if not done properly, they could freeze in one big clump. Check out these tips on how to freeze blueberries.

How to Grow Blueberries

If you want your own source of fresh blueberries, consider growing your own. Check out these tips on how to grow your own blueberries. The OSU Extension has a great fact sheet about Blueberries, including the varieties that do well in Oklahoma and the conditions they need to thrive.

Related Life Skills for Good Living

Are you interested in other content related to fresh blueberries? Check out What to Do with Fresh Blueberries and Seasonal Eating Guide with Blueberry Crumble recipe.

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