Frozen persimmon: benefits and harm to the body, loses its properties or not

Persimmon is an extremely healthy fruit, a valuable source of vitamins, macro- and microelements necessary for the normal functioning of the body. However, unfortunately, it is characterized by a pronounced “seasonality”. Fresh fruits appear on store shelves for literally 2-3 months, then again you have to wait another year. The problem of such a “deficit” can be solved if persimmons are frozen for the winter in a timely manner. In this case, its “presentability” will suffer, but the benefits will last for a long time.

Do frozen persimmons lose their properties?

If fruits are frozen, this will not affect the vitamins, macro- and microelements they contain. The benefits of this fruit remain fully intact after exposure to low temperatures. Characterized by the presence of high concentrations of vitamins A, C, group B, PP, phytosterols, as well as:

• potassium;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• iodine;
• gland;
• manganese;
• copper;
• chromium;
• molybdenum;
• cobalt

If the fruit is frozen, it retains not only the taste, but also the benefits.

With such a rich composition, the complex beneficial effects of the fruit on the body are as follows:

• increase in general tone, physical and mental endurance, resistance to stress, at the same time causeless irritability and anxiety disappear;
• strengthening the immune system, recovering quickly after a viral or infectious disease or surgery;
• strengthening the walls of blood vessels, restoring and maintaining their elasticity, clearing cholesterol “plaques” (extremely useful for varicose veins and atherosclerosis), normalizing blood pressure;
• activating the body's defense against the negative effects of environmental factors, neutralizing free radicals, preserving youth for a long time, improving the condition of skin, hair and nails;
• acceleration of tissue regeneration processes at the cellular level;
• combating iron deficiency in the blood, stimulating the synthesis of red blood cells; for women, the fruit helps maintain hemoglobin levels during menstruation;
• normalization of the gastrointestinal tract, removal of waste and toxins;
• prevention of the development of cancer; according to some data, the fruit can neutralize not only carcinogenic, but also radioactive, toxic substances, salts of heavy metals;

Important! For children under three years of age, fresh and frozen persimmons, despite all their benefits, are a categorical taboo. The astringent substances it contains can turn the remains of undigested food in the intestines into a dense sticky lump, causing obstruction.

Why freeze persimmons?

Persimmons are frozen for two main reasons:

1. To be able to eat this seasonal fruit at any time of the year. Some are simply not ready to accept the fact that persimmons appear on store shelves only for a few months a year. The fruit that has been in the freezer can be eaten just like that or replaced with fresh persimmon in any recipe that requires its presence.
2. To improve its taste. It is impossible to determine whether the fruit will be unpleasantly “knit” in the mouth by the appearance of the fruit (of course, if they are not completely green). In such specimens, not only the taste is affected, their consumption may well provoke stomach and/or intestinal upset. The tannin contained is “responsible” for the viscosity, which is destroyed under the influence of negative temperatures.

Important! Frozen persimmons retain their benefits, but lose their presentation, especially when their shelf life comes to an end. If the fruit is defrosted, the skin will darken, it will lose its shape, and the flesh will become jelly-like.

Persimmon in cooking

Cut the soft persimmon in half and eat with a spoon, like a soft-boiled egg, you can sprinkle with lemon juice. The pulp of ripe persimmons is tender, sweet, soft, but not watery and therefore ideal for making frozen desserts. It is enough to beat the frozen pulp with cream or thick yogurt, flavor it with nut or anise liqueur, and soft ice cream is ready.

Ripe persimmon puree is an almost ready-made sauce for lean chicken or dessert, just season it with lemon juice and spices to taste: black pepper, paprika, fresh ginger, cinnamon, zest. Crispy, not cloyingly sweet persimmons are good in meat and fish salads.

Persimmons successfully replace pumpkin, mango or banana in recipes for chutneys, jams, muffins and puddings. Baked goods with persimmons may turn out unexpectedly dark brown due to the reaction of the persimmons and baking soda. Replace baking soda with baking powder and the pudding will turn a nice orange. And, just in case: do not try to soak dried persimmons, they may return to their former viscosity. Enjoy it like dried fruit!

Use persimmon pulp in recipes for muffins, quick breads, and cookies. Even if the persimmons aren't very ripe, baking soda will neutralize the tannins and thicken the pulp while leaving the batter loose. To get a denser dough, reduce the amount of baking soda by half.

How long can persimmons be stored in the freezer?

If you keep frozen fruit in the freezer at a constant temperature of 18 ° C, its taste, nutritional and energy value, and beneficial properties will remain throughout the year. It must be remembered that once frozen, the fruit cannot be thawed and frozen a second time. After such manipulations, the persimmon turns into an unappetizing slimy brown pulp.

Frozen fruit should be sealed as tightly as possible to prevent air from entering. To do this, persimmons are wrapped in several layers of cling film or placed in special reusable freezer bags with a zipper.

If there is no seal, you will have to give the persimmons a separate shelf in the freezer. To avoid the transfer of pathogenic microflora, the fruit should be kept away from meat, poultry, fish, and mushrooms.

Step-by-step instructions: how to defrost?

Fast

To quickly defrost persimmons, you need to take them out of the freezer and, without removing them from the bag, place them in warm water. This method is quite fast, but after thawing the fruit may lose its shape and the pulp may spread.

In the microwave

Persimmons can be defrosted in the microwave , but to do this you need to know some subtleties.

1. It is recommended to pour a little water into the bottom of the dish and place frozen fruit there.
2. Set the mode to the lowest power and constantly monitor the defrosting process.

In natural conditions

But the most correct way is considered to be defrosting persimmons naturally . To do this, you need to free the frozen product from the film or bag and place it in a deep plate. Now we wait for the fruit to completely thaw.

How to choose persimmons for freezing

To maximize the shelf life of frozen persimmons, you need to choose suitable fresh fruits:

1. Ripe, but not overripe. The first can be determined by the shade of the skin (it varies markedly depending on the variety), its brightness and saturation. To understand that the fruit is overripe, just lightly press on it with your finger. Fruit that is not suitable for freezing will have a dent.
2. The absence of even minimal damage to the skin that violates its integrity. The shell should be smooth and “glossy”. Specimens with cracks, dents, or dark spots on the skin that look suspiciously like developing mold, rot, or other pathogenic microflora are not suitable for freezing.
3. Mandatory presence of leaves and stalk. They should be dry and uniformly greenish-brown in color.

The quality of the “raw materials” directly determines whether frozen persimmons will last for a long time and what their taste and appearance will be after defrosting.

The best choice for freezing is medium-sized persimmon. Too large fruits, if placed whole in the chamber, take up too much space. Small persimmons most often do not have a distinct taste or smell.

How to freeze persimmons for long-term storage

There are several ways to freeze persimmons for a long time. When choosing, they are guided by how much free space there is in the freezer. It is also important how the fruit is subsequently planned to be used.

Entirely

The easiest way is to freeze persimmons whole. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. Wash persimmons in cool running water. You should not make its pressure too strong, as you can damage the thin skin and delicate pulp. The area around the stalk needs to be washed especially thoroughly. It is not recommended to remove it in order to preserve the integrity of the fruit.
2. Place the fruits on paper or regular towels or napkins. Allow to dry completely. Even individual drops or a thin “film of water” on the surface of the skin in the freezer turns into ice crystals, “tearing” it and the pulp.
3. Place each persimmon in a regular plastic or special plastic bag for freezing, or wrap in 2-3 layers of cling film.
4. Keep in the freezer for at least 12 hours.

Important! It’s good if the freezer has a “shock” freezing mode. In this case, the process from 12 hours is reduced to several minutes. The specific time must be specified in the instructions.

Storing whole frozen persimmons requires a lot of space.

Pieces

If persimmons are frozen in this way, they will subsequently be ideal for those who plan to use them as a filling for baked goods or an ingredient for preparing salads and desserts. The preparation in this case is similar to that described above. Then proceed like this:

1. Remove the stem. Using a sharp knife with a thin blade, cut the persimmon into pieces of the desired size and shape, removing the seeds in the process. Most often, the fruit is divided into four, six or eight parts.
2. Place the pieces on disposable plastic trays or containers, lining the bottom with cellophane, foil or baking paper. Wrap them in cling film, being careful not to damage the contents. You can also use plastic food containers. In this case, no film is required; the container lid will provide a seal. Pieces cannot be stored in open containers and trays; they quickly absorb any foreign odors.
3. Freeze persimmons by placing containers with fruit in the freezer for at least 12 hours.

Important! Not every knife is suitable for slicing. A blunt tool with a wide blade crushes the fruit more than it cuts it.

Do not make the persimmon pieces too small, otherwise they will turn into mush when defrosted.

As a puree

If you freeze persimmon puree, you can then add it to porridge, smoothies, curd mass, and other desserts of a similar consistency. It is prepared like this:

1. The stem of washed and dry fruits is removed. Then they are cut in half, the seeds are removed, the skin is removed or the pulp is scraped out with a spoon.
2. Grind the pulp in a blender until it becomes a homogeneous puree. You can also mince it or even grate it.
3. Divide the puree into small disposable containers and thick plastic bags. Cover the top with cling film. Place in the freezer for 8-10 hours.

Important! You can also freeze puree in disposable plastic cups, silicone muffin tins, and ice cube trays.

If you freeze the puree, the persimmons will not take up much space in the freezer

What to do to prevent persimmons from knitting

The good news is that persimmons always ripen after they are picked from the tree. In fact, even those fruits that are ready to burst at the slightest touch and cost twice as much as their stronger counterparts were taken from the branches almost green. So, if space in the kitchen allows, feel free to buy strong, but orange persimmons.

Method No. 1

To make persimmons non-astringent, place the unripe fruits in one row on the windowsill or under the sofa, and they will “arrive” in 7-14 days. The process will speed up significantly if you put the persimmons in paper bags or in a container with a tight-fitting lid along with an apple, pear or banana. When stored in a container (as well as in a plastic bag), mold may appear on the fruits, watch out for this! Another option is to drop rum or another strong alcoholic drink onto each leaf (in fact, this is what is left of the persimmon flower).

Method number 2

If you need to get a lot of perfectly ripe persimmons at the same time, wrap each fruit in three layers of cling film and place in an oven preheated to 50 ° C (the light on is enough) for 18-24 hours. Store ripe fruits at room temperature or in the “zero” zone of the refrigerator. At a temperature of +7-13 °C, persimmons turn black.

Method number 3

There are some orange persimmons that are shaped like a tomato, but once you take a bite, it’s impossible to eat. To prevent persimmons from binding, put them in the freezer. Once it freezes completely, let it thaw and eat. The texture, of course, will not be the same, but sweetness will replace the viscosity. By the way, freezing is one of the ways to store persimmons. But why store it, it’s better to just eat it with pleasure while it’s in season.

How to freeze persimmons without knitting

In order for the persimmon to lose its unpleasant viscosity, it must be frozen entirely using the same algorithm as described above. The minimum “exposure” period is 2-3 hours. But it's better to wait 10-12 hours. Then not only will the unpleasant tartness disappear, the frozen persimmon will also become noticeably sweeter.

“Metamorphosis” is easily explained by the fact that tannin, which provokes the appearance of an astringent taste in the mouth, is destroyed at sub-zero temperatures. Thus, you can significantly improve the taste of even unripe persimmons.

How to stock up on valuable overseas fruit for the summer: secrets of properly freezing persimmons

Such an exotic fruit as persimmon is very beneficial for our health, because it contains a huge amount of vitamin C (much more than lemon). In addition, persimmon has a positive effect on vision, strengthening it and preventing the development of abnormalities. In other words, it can replace a whole range of vegetables and other fruits. But there is one more secret that not everyone knows about - persimmons can and should be frozen.

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What will freezing persimmons give us?

Someone will ask the question - why freeze it? Look at this question from the other side - we all freeze some fruits and vegetables for the winter. So why is persimmon worse than the rest? If this fruit has a positive effect on the body, then it will be equally useful in both summer and winter.

That is why there is nothing surprising in freezing persimmons. The only thing that can scare you away is the high cost of this fruit. However, it is not necessary to immediately buy a bucket of persimmons and freeze them - a couple of kilograms is enough.

First of all, freezing persimmons will allow you to provide yourself with this fruit throughout the year. The persimmon season itself is very short - only a few weeks, and the rest of the time it is almost impossible to find it on the shelves. And thanks to freezing, there will be no problems with this. In addition, freezing helps improve the taste of persimmons.

The fact is that if it is not ripe enough, an astringent taste will appear in the mouth. Not only is it unpleasant in itself, but it can also cause stomach upset. This taste is explained by the presence in persimmon of a substance such as tannin, which, however, is completely destroyed under the influence of low temperature. Therefore, even unripe persimmons will be sweet, without traces of an astringent taste.

Freezing options

At the moment, there are 3 options for freezing persimmons - whole, in pieces or in puree form. Which one to choose is up to everyone to decide for themselves. However, each of these options has certain features. Let's look at them in more detail.

Method No. 1. Freezing whole fruits

First, the persimmons need to be washed and dried. Please note that wet fruits should not be placed in the freezer - this will cause ice crystals to appear on their surface, which will begin to destroy the fruit. Such persimmons will not only lose their taste, but will also be practically unusable.

Therefore, first dry the fruits or wipe them with a towel, and only then put them in the freezer for 12 hours. After this, the persimmon can be eaten - the astringent taste will completely disappear. This option is ideal if you just bought a persimmon that sticks in your mouth and plan to eat it in its pure form.

Method number 2. Freezing in pieces

This method is suitable if in the future you plan to use persimmon as a component for various types of baked goods. Freezing time is also 12 hours. First, the fruit must be divided into 6 equal parts. This is not difficult to do, since each fruit consists of separate segments.

If you find seeds inside, you need to remove them. Next, you need to take a plastic food container, put cellophane on the bottom, and put pieces of persimmon on it. Close the top of the container, but make sure that air gets in (just don’t close it too tightly).

Method number 3. Persimmon puree

In this form, persimmon will be an ideal ingredient for various types of porridges and other dishes. It’s quite simple to prepare - you need to take a persimmon and divide it into 2 parts. If you find seeds inside, they need to be removed. After this, use a spoon to remove all the pulp from the fruit, place it in a container, and stir until smooth using a blender.

After that, you can put it in ice cube trays or disposable cups. Next, put it in the freezer to freeze. After the puree is completely frozen, you can put it in a container or plastic bag and put it back in the freezer. Use as needed as the puree can be stored for a very long time.

Eating frozen persimmons

In general, frozen persimmons can retain their properties for a year. You can use it at any time by simply taking the fruit out of the freezer and keeping it indoors for about 3 hours. During this time it will melt.

As for the sphere of consumption, there are a lot of options. Some even add persimmons to salads. This gives them a bright and original taste. Don't be afraid of experiments - in this regard they are completely safe.

Be sure to try freezing persimmons, and you can enjoy their taste whenever you want!

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How to defrost persimmons

It is important to defrost frozen persimmons correctly. There are also several ways to do this. And you will have to choose what is more important – speed or aesthetics.

Fast

Persimmons will quickly defrost if, without unpacking or even removing the cling film, you put them in a container filled with hot (40-45 ° C) water. It should cover the entire fruit. Change the water as it cools.

Whole frozen persimmons can be eaten after 1.5-2 hours. Pieces and small portions of fruit puree require even less time.

When whole fruits are quickly defrosted, they lose their shape and the pulp turns into mush.

In the microwave

The frozen fruit, having removed the cling film from the container, is placed on the bottom of a special deep dish for the microwave, pouring a 1.5-2 cm thick layer of water onto the bottom. Then turn on the “Defrost” mode (if available), focusing on the approximate weight of the persimmon. If the device does not have such a function, it is simply set to minimum power.

Important! Even with a special mode, the defrosting process must be constantly monitored, checking the condition of the fruit every 30-45 seconds. Otherwise, the fruit may simply boil.

In natural conditions

It will take about 4-5 hours to defrost a whole persimmon naturally. Remove the cling film from the fruits removed from the freezer, take them out of the bag, container, or other container and place them in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. The defrosting process is brought to its “logical conclusion” at room temperature.

After “natural” defrosting, the fruit retains its shape and benefits, the consistency of the pulp remains virtually unchanged

How long can frozen berries be stored?

Observing the temperature regime of –18 °C, feel free to store frozen sweet fruit for up to a year . To defrost the berries, it is enough to keep them at room temperature for 2–3 hours. An alternative method is to seal the persimmons in a sealed bag and simply place them in a container of warm water.

Mix thawed persimmons with cream cheese or yogurt, ice cream or pudding. The taste is simply incredible. Why, you can even add berries to vegetable salads. They become even more useful and original. And, mind you, no astringency. Do you have friends who freeze a wide variety of foods and no longer know how to fill the voids in the freezer? Give them an idea.

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What can you do with frozen persimmons?

Frozen persimmons, like fresh ones, are widely used in cooking:

• Mousses, jellies, and puddings are prepared from it;
• puree is added to ice cream, smoothies and other fruit cocktails, homemade yoghurts, curd mass, creams, desserts with cream cheese;
• turn the fruit into a filling for sweet pastries or a layer for cakes;
• prepare salads (persimmon goes very well with any green salad, cheeses, nuts).

A good addition to desserts with persimmons - mint, nuts and dark chocolate

Important! Persimmon does not go well with fish or any seafood. Also, you should not drink it with milk or large volumes of water, and eat it on an empty stomach.

The scope of use of frozen persimmons is not limited to cooking. Homemade face masks are made from it. The pulp is mixed in approximately equal proportions with:

• egg yolk;
• honey;
• any base oil used in cosmetology;
• homemade dairy products (cottage cheese, cream, sour cream, yogurt).

A course of such masks, consisting of 10-12 “sessions” with an interval of 3-4 days, provides the skin with intense nutrition, evens out its tone, and restores a healthy, fresh complexion. A pronounced lifting effect is also noticeable.

Persimmon is one of the most effective means for skin rejuvenation in the arsenal of home cosmetology