Rose hips are very popular in folk medicine. And well deserved! After all, it is capable of providing the human body with enormous benefits due to its high content of vitamins (especially vitamin C), microelements and other beneficial substances. Thanks to this, the plant strengthens the body, heart, blood vessels, helps with vitamin deficiency, has choleretic properties and much more. etc. Not only fresh berries are healing, but also dried ones. But to get the maximum benefit, it is important to properly collect, dry and store rose hips. Let's figure out how to prepare sour berries to preserve all the vitamins and beneficial properties.
It is important to observe the optimal timing for collecting rose hips for subsequent drying, storage and consumption. The quality of the berries, their composition and the benefits that they can give to a person after drying will depend on this.
- The fruits of the bush should be collected when they are fully ripe; at this time the plant contains the greatest amount of useful substances.
- You can tell that it is time to harvest rosehips by the protruding sepals. Also, ripe fruits are red or bright orange in color and are firm to the touch.
- Do not delay or delay collection, because over time the amount of sugar will increase and the amount of vitamin C will decrease.
- In any case, it is recommended to collect before the first frost.
- As for the approximate ripening times, they naturally vary depending on the climatic characteristics of the region. For example, in the middle zone (Moscow region) the optimal collection period is from mid-September, in the Leningrad region from the end of September, and in the South - already at the end of August-beginning of September.
It is important not only to know when to collect rose hips, but also how to do it. It is worth keeping in mind the following recommendations for collecting rose hips:
- It is recommended to collect rose hips when it is a dry, sunny day outside.
- You cannot collect fruits or any other parts of the plant near roads and railways, farms, any enterprises, chemical warehouses, landfills.
- For picking, you should choose firm berries, and they should be removed along with the sepals and stalks (they can be easily removed after drying).
- You should not collect fruits with any damage, cracks, blackness or rot.
- When picking rose hips, you must have thick gloves on your hands to avoid getting pricked or scratched on the thorns.
How to dry and harvest rose hips
Before you start drying, you need to carefully inspect the berries, choose bad ones, damaged ones, or those affected by disease. There are two main methods of drying - cold and hot, and you can also freeze.
Natural drying (cold method)
A very convenient and simple way of drying rose hips for the winter, which allows you to preserve the beneficial properties of the vitamin berries as much as possible, so this method of harvesting is preferable.
For natural drying, you must have a well-ventilated, dark, dry room without exposure to sunlight. To properly dry rose hips for the winter using this method, it should be placed in a thin layer on a hard surface, having previously placed material, for example, clean burlap, cardboard, or plywood.
After this, it is necessary to stir occasionally to avoid mold or caking. Rose hips should be dried under such conditions until they become hard and dry. As a rule, berries are dried in two or three weeks; the period is affected by the temperature conditions of the room.
Thermal drying (hot method)
It is not always possible to dry berries naturally. In this case, the hot method comes to the rescue, allowing you to dry the rose hips in the oven (both gas and electric). Of course, oven drying may not retain as many benefits as cold drying, but it can be a great alternative for those who do not have a suitable space (for example, apartment dwellers).
To properly dry rose hips in the oven, you need to:
- place the berries on a baking sheet in one layer;
- place the baking sheet in the oven at a temperature of 40-60 degrees (it is not recommended to preheat the oven in advance);
- when drying in the oven, the berries must be stirred constantly and dried for about 7 or 8 hours;
- In order for moisture to evaporate, it is necessary to keep the oven door slightly open; if there is convection in the oven, it is turned on during the process;
- Upon completion of hot drying, it is necessary to let the raw materials lie at room temperature for several days.
You can determine the readiness of the berries by their rich color, and the peel should also be springy.
Important!
You cannot overdry the berries, otherwise they will lose all their beneficial properties and will crumble.
Freezing
Freezing is also an excellent option for storing healthy berries. It allows you to preserve the healing properties of the product. You can store the berries either whole or in grated form. Berries should be placed in the freezer in a plastic container or bag. It is recommended to store berries in their whole form for up to a year, and in puree form for up to 8-10 months. Before storing in the freezer, berries should be rinsed under running water and allowed to dry completely.
How to collect and dry rose hips
Before you start collecting fruits, you need to familiarize yourself with some rules. Well, firstly, the main one will be the time of collection. And it falls at the beginning of October, but before the first frost. Although some advise collecting rose hips immediately after frost. Claiming that it was at this time that the fruits were fully ripe.
Despite all these statements, each variety has its own harvest time. And it begins in August. Therefore, before purchasing a shrub, read the instructions. Or ask the seller to tell you more about it.
Well, suppose we have decided on the month, now the second task. How to pick berries correctly so that you can store them in the house for a long time. Of course, you should choose denser fruits. And they should be picked together with the sepals and stalk. Which you can easily remove immediately after drying. Avoid berries that have become rotten, blackened, or have various cracks.
Remember that you should wear thick gloves when picking berries from the bush. So as not to hurt your hands.
Pay attention to the weather. The day should be clear and sunny so that when picking the fruits they do not slip on your hands.
If I missed something, I suggest you watch a short and quite informative video.
Well, that the berries have been collected, now it’s time to start drying them. Take your time and first inspect them for appearance. Make sure once again that you do not come across fruits with defects.
There are several drying methods, of which two main methods can be distinguished. These include cold and hot. And each of them is good in its own way.
Let's start with the first option - cold. It is also called natural, and all because the berries are not subjected to any additional process. Our task is to lay them out on a hard and flat surface and line it with fabric (burlap). And put it in a dark, dry and sufficiently ventilated place. And stir periodically, thereby changing the position of the berries.
By the way, burlap can be replaced with any other material, for example using cardboard or plywood.
Let's move on to the hot method, I would also call it a backup option. If in your case drying naturally is not possible, then take note of this one with heat treatment. Of course, you don’t lose most of the vitamins in it. But it’s better than not having a handful of vitamins at all.
Take a baking sheet from your oven and lay out the berries in an even layer. They should lie in one layer, do not try to lay everything at once, the result will be sad. Place the sheet in the oven at a temperature of no more than 40-60 degrees. Average drying time is 7 to 8 hours. Be sure to stir the berries periodically, changing their position. Once the fruit is ready, you can tell by its springy skin and bright color, remove the leaf and leave it on the table until it cools completely.
To allow moisture to evaporate during heat treatment, open the oven door slightly.
Then remove the baking sheet to a place convenient for you and leave it in this position for another couple of days. Do not under any circumstances overdry the berries, otherwise they will simply lose all their beneficial qualities. That is why I try to harvest rose hips myself at home. I don’t buy it in pharmacy chains because I don’t know how they prepared it.
How to store rose hips at home
The next equally important step after collecting and drying rose hips is storage. First of all, after drying, you need to remove the dried sepals and stalks (to do this, you can simply rub the dry berries in your hands).
After this, the berries should be placed in a container for storage. Glass and tin dishes are suitable. It is recommended to use double-layer gauze or cotton cloth as a lid. The container must be dry, clean, and, very importantly, breathable. This will help avoid mold and spoilage of the product.
Note!
It is not recommended to store rose hips in bags for the winter, as this may negatively affect the product. Storage in bags is allowed only when frozen.
It is necessary to store rose hips for the winter in a dark place, away from sunlight. It is necessary to choose the coolest place in the room. It is prohibited to store a healthy product near any odorous objects, heating appliances, fresh fruits, vegetables, or berries.
By the way!
When properly stored, the lifespan of such rose hips is up to two years.
How to use rose hips
And now, you have gone through all the stages, done painstaking work, and you have a healing source of vitamins, but the question probably arises - how to use this goodness so that it is tasty and healthy? There are many options, surely everyone can find something for themselves. From dried rose hips you can prepare:
- herbal tea;
- compote;
- jam;
- jelly;
- tincture;
- useful decoction for skin and hair.
But no matter how you use the dried product, you need to wash it thoroughly before using it. And after preparing any drink, you must pass the liquid through a sieve or a homemade filter consisting of three layers of gauze. This action will filter out unnecessary rosehip particles.
Let's look at the most delicious and healthy options for using dried rose hips:
Decoction
To prepare a pleasant and life-giving drink, you need to pour boiling water (about a liter or one and a half) into a handful of berries and cook over low heat for about fifteen minutes. After this, you need to let the drink cool and you can drink it. If desired, you can add honey and sugar.
Video: how to brew rose hips correctly.
Kissel
Another tasty option for using dried rose hips is jelly. It’s easy and simple to prepare: pour about 100 grams of berries with two liters of water, boil over low heat for about fifteen minutes. Then carefully strain the liquid, add one glass of sugar, and pour in 50 grams of starch, previously diluted in cool water, and bring the mixture to a boil. If desired, you can add a few slices of lemon.
Decoction in a thermos
A more gentle method of brewing berries, which allows you to preserve more nutrients than the first option. To make the drink, you must first grind three tablespoons of rose hips and pour them with a liter of boiling water. It is best to infuse in a thermos from night to morning.
Video: preparing a decoction in a thermos.
Decoction in a water bath
You can prepare a rosehip decoction as follows: 2 tbsp. l. crushed berries are poured with 2 glasses of hot water (but it should not be boiling!), after which you need to place the liquid with the berries in a water bath for 15 minutes. Drink the decoction strained and cooled.
Preparing rose hips for the winter is not so difficult, but there are so many benefits, benefits and pleasure! By following all the rules for collecting, drying and storing, you can use delicious berry-based drinks to replenish the balance of strength, strengthen the body and increase immunity without expensive medications and vitamins.
It is a perennial wild bush with beautiful and healthy fruits. The plant amazes with its healing composition of minerals and vitamins. It contains magnesium, potassium, carotene, phosphorus, and the concentration of vitamin C is 100 times higher than in southern citrus fruits. One way to store such healthy fruits is drying. The following tips will help you make preparations at home and preserve all the properties of the fruit.
How to dry rose hips
It is best to harvest before winter frosts, when the berries turn orange or red. As a rule, this period falls on September – October. The fruits must be cut with sepals: this way you can preserve all the useful substances when dried. Subsequent processing should occur no later than 3 days after picking the berries. Otherwise, the destruction of all important components will begin.
Did you know?
The oldest and largest rose hip bush grows in the USA and is called the tree vine Rose Banks.
It was planted back in the 18th century and occupies about 740 m²
.
This simple procedure can be performed in several ways:
Important!
You cannot pick berries near highways and industrial enterprises: despite the fact that rose hips do not absorb harmful substances, they still will not bring much benefit.
The method of drying rose hips is different for every housewife. But it is important to remember that the faster the process goes, the better the fruits will retain their beneficial composition.
Video: how to dry rose hips in the oven
How to brew rosehip in a thermos correctly?
To brew rose hips in a thermos, we need hot water and rose hips. It is believed that this method of brewing preserves all the vitamins in the drink.
The most important thing is to know how to properly brew rose hips in a thermos to preserve all the vitamins and nutrients.
When brewing rose hips in a thermos, I do not chop the fruits. Dried rose hips need to be sorted and washed.
I add a handful of washed rose hips to a liter of boiling water. I prepare this drink in the evening to let it brew overnight. Thus, the fruits give away all the vitamins. Approximate time from 6 to 12 hours. The longer the rose hips are infused, the more aromatic, tastier and richer the drink becomes. Moreover, the color of the drink also becomes much brighter.
You can add honey or sugar to taste, or drink the drink with honey.
What you can add: you can use cinnamon, ginger or hibiscus as additional components of the drink (especially when preparing it in a thermos).
Shelf life
The shelf life of healthy berries depends on the conditions and type of container. Experts recommend not using plastic bags, as due to lack of air, the berries may become moldy or even rot. The optimal storage containers are paper boxes or bags.
Each type of treatment has a different shelf life:
- Dried rose hips
can be stored for up to 2 years. Then it loses all its beneficial properties and becomes useless; - when frozen, the berries
retain their medicinal composition for up to 12 months; - Medicinal tinctures are kept in the refrigerator for up to 26 hours.
Everyone chooses the most convenient method for themselves. But in any case, the vitamin storehouse will be available to you all winter if you know how long to store such a product.
Shelf life of frozen rose hips
Secrets of proper storage:
- Frozen whole berries are stored for more than a year; when crushed, the shelf life is from 9 to 10 months. The leaves can be preserved until the next harvest;
- The ideal storage containers would be thick bags or plastic containers, which are good for defrosting berries in the microwave;
- The optimal temperature in the freezer is from -15 to -18 degrees.
IMPORTANT: It is not recommended to use glass containers, as they may crack.
Fruits frozen whole can be stored frozen for a little over a year, while crushed fruits can be stored frozen for only 9 to 10 months. The leaves also withstand long-term storage and can easily wait in the cold for a new harvest.
Storage rules
Dried rose hips can be stored for quite a long time. The most useful varieties in this regard are: “Vitaminny”, “Vorontsovsky”, “Besshipny” and “Russian”.
Following a few simple rules will help preserve all the properties of the plant:
- First of all, you need to remove the stalks.
- Next, you should prepare a well-ventilated container. Cardboard boxes with wax paper on the bottom, fabric linen bags, or glass dry jars work best. In the latter case, you should stop using plastic lids. It is better to cover the container with a layer of gauze and secure with an elastic band. This will protect the rosehip from mold and rot.
- It is better to store berries in a dry, cool and dark place. This will prevent the destruction of the greatest value of this fruit - vitamin C. The ideal storage temperature is 0°C.
- You should not leave the preparations next to vegetables and fruits, as the moisture they release leads to the appearance of mold on the rose hips.
Use of rose hips
The rose hip is considered the ancestor of the cultivated rose. Based on it, not only medicinal decoctions, tinctures and oils are prepared, but also successfully used in cooking (in the form of juices, liqueurs, jams, baked goods, etc.). Let's consider how berries can improve health and please gourmets. Use of rose hips in folk medicine:
- Cleansing the circulatory system and improving metabolism
. Recommended for diseases of the bladder, kidneys and liver. 5 tbsp is enough. l. crushed fruits, pour 1 liter of water and let boil for 10 minutes, wrap and leave to brew until morning. Drink as tea in unlimited quantities. - Strengthening the body
, providing an invigorating effect, treating atherosclerosis. 2 tbsp. spoons of dry berries are poured into 0.5 liters of water and boiled for 15 minutes over low heat. The fruits are infused for 12–16 hours and consumed with honey in the form of tea or water. - Treatment of rheumatism
. Adding dried rose hips to a warm bath will help relieve symptoms. - Help in the fight against skin diseases
. For dermatitis, ulcers and eczema, wipes soaked in oil based on rosehip pulp will help. - Elimination of anemia
and signs of exhaustion. It is recommended to eat a lot of fresh fruits or drink 0.5 cups of berry infusion 3 times a day. - Therapy for ulcerative colitis
. 15 mg is used daily as a microenema. The drug can be purchased at any pharmacy. - Prevention of acute respiratory infections
. The product is used in the form of a herbal tea (100 g of rose hips, nettle leaves, 50 g of raspberry and rowan fruits, 20 g of string). 2 tbsp. l. the mixtures are infused in 0.6 liters of water. It is recommended to take warm drinks 4-5 times a day, 50 ml. - Treatment of gout
. 20 g of crushed rose hips are brewed in 1 liter of boiled water for 3 hours. Then mix 1 glass of the mixture with 1 glass of cool boiled water and use it as a night compress for problem areas. - A cure for the symptoms of cystitis and gastrointestinal diseases
. It is enough to pour 1 tbsp. l. chopped red berry root 0.4 liters of boiling water. Then boil for 15 minutes, strain and let it brew for about 2 hours. It is recommended to take 0.5 cups 4 times a day before meals. - First aid for gastritis with low acidity
. An infusion of a mixture of rose hip root (3 tbsp), calamus rhizome (3 tbsp), evasive peony root (2 tbsp), plantain leaves, oregano (1 tbsp) and common sorrel will help well. (1 tbsp.) 2 tbsp. l. The collection is infused in 40 ml of boiling water (it is better to use a thermos) for 2 hours. Then you need to strain and consume 3-4 tbsp 30 minutes before meals. l. 3 times a day. - Useful in the treatment of hypotension
. The infusion contains 4 pieces of rosehip, zamanika, pink radiola, 3 portions of hawthorn, stinging nettle and 2 parts of St. John's wort. 2 tbsp. l. pour 0.4 ml of boiling water into the mixture and leave for 40 minutes. Recommendations for use: 0.3 cups 3 times a day before meals.
Use of berries in cooking:
- Rosehip is included in marshmallows, jams, marmalade and sweets.
- Combined with wild rose petals, it is the basis for making rose water and vinegar. This additive is used in the production of ketchup and caramel.
- The berries are used to make jam, jelly, wine, liqueur, and liqueur.
- As a food additive it is added to sauces and purees.
- Teas and compotes are made from healthy fruits.
The Swedes make a sweet soup called Nyponsoppa from rose hips, and the people of Slovenia produce a soda made from wild roses.
Rosehip is rich in vitamins C, B, K, E and P. It strengthens the immune system, treats many diseases and is effective in the prevention of acute respiratory infections. Did you know?
Excavations of ancient settlements carried out in Switzerland proved that rose hips were used as food by humans even at the end of the Ice Age.
It was used both for medicinal purposes and as food. Most gardeners strive to prepare the fruits, leaves and roots of the plant since the summer. However, observing all the nuances of storage and proper harvesting of fruits will help preserve the useful composition: this way you can provide yourself with vitamin preparations for the long autumn-winter period.
Fruits can usually be collected from the end of July
until the start of October. Only ripe berries that show no signs of disease damage are suitable for drying. It is necessary that they have an orange or bright red color and be quite hard.
Recipes
Below are several recipes.
Frozen berry compote with lemon
Ingredients:
- Frozen rose hips - 0.5 kg;
- Granulated sugar - 1 glass;
- Water - 2-2.5 liters;
- Lemon.
Frozen rosehip compote:
Cooking method:
- Fill the pan with water.
- Squeeze juice from half a lemon.
- Bring water to a boil.
- Add granulated sugar and lemon juice little by little.
- Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Wait until it boils again, add rose hips.
- Reduce heat and cook for no more than five minutes with the lid closed.
- Let the compote brew for 30 minutes, strain and cool.
General rules
How to store rose hips at home for the winter? To store dried rose hips, you must first prepare
clean, dry and well-ventilated containers. The best option is small bags sewn from dense natural fabric.
You can also use glass jars
, however, they should be covered either with a plastic lid with small holes or with gauze folded in three layers.
This is necessary so that the raw materials can breathe
.
How to store rose hips? As a rule, fruits are stored in glass containers. The room should be well protected from light. Thus, almost 100% preservation is ensured
one of the most important vitamins is C, because it is quickly destroyed under the influence of direct rays of the sun.
In addition, experts do not advise keeping rose hips in plastic bags.
, because air does not pass through this material, as a result
the raw material begins to “suffocate”
and becomes covered with mold.
For the same reason, you should not close a glass jar with a lid made of polyethylene. Better
Cover
the neck of the container folded in several layers, and then tie it tightly around the rim with a lace or elastic band.
How to store fresh rose hips for the winter by drying? Drying
rose hips at home is quite
an important process
. If cardboard boxes are chosen for storing it, then they need to be lined with waxed paper. Since they do not close tightly, it is better not to place them near objects and products that have a strong or pungent odor.
To dry rose hips at home, you can use household appliances: and of course, read about these methods in more detail on our website.
How to preserve rose hips for the winter? The containers containing the dried rose hips are stored in a place protected from moisture and direct sunlight. Otherwise, vitamins may be destroyed
and loss of beneficial properties. In addition, care must be taken to ensure that the workpieces do not absorb various foreign odors.
Shelf life
Dried rose hips, during which almost all of its medicinal properties are preserved,
is two years
. Then he gradually loses them and does not have the expected effect in the treatment of various diseases.
Storage methods
How to preserve rose hips for the winter? Rose hips can be stored dried or fresh. To ensure that they do not lose their properties when stored fresh, it is necessary to observe
some
rules
.
How to properly store rose hips at home for the winter? So, you need to take freshly picked fruits, thoroughly clean them of stalks and seeds, grind them to a puree-like mass, place them in a bag or plastic container and put them in the freezer. The medicinal plant in this form can be stored for no longer than twelve months.
.
Thanks to this method, rose hips
can be used as one of the components in the preparation of dishes such as jelly, jelly, compote and others.
In addition, like dried it, it is added to tea
.
Freezing rose hips at home allows you to take advantage of many options for its use, but the fruits after drying are stored for a longer time.
to dry or freeze rose hips.
? Let’s answer democratically, as you like, both methods have the right to exist.
You can find out how to properly store rose hips on our website.
Frozen rose hips: detailed instructions
The freezing process is quite troublesome and will require patience from the hostess. Compared to dried fruits, frozen fruits are stored for a longer period without losing their nutrients and beneficial substances.
There are different options for freezing rose hips: C
- Whole and cut fruits;
- With the core removed or retained;
- Grind into puree or grated together with the skin.
All options are suitable for preparing infusions or tea decoction, and seedless fruits are used for compotes and syrups.
Summary
By choosing the most suitable method for storing rose hips for the winter, you can provide for yourself for the whole year
all those
vitamins
and beneficial components that the body requires during the cold season.
Thanks to the preparation in two ways, the fruits are added to many dishes, improving the functions of the immune system
and protecting the body from various diseases.
Often, hawthorn is also harvested together with rose hips; you can find out how on the website.
Useful video about collecting and storing rose hips:
Vitamin juices, teas, and syrups are prepared from its fresh fruits. A drinking infusion of dried rose hips is healing. And by grinding it, you can prepare wonderful jellies, purees, preserves, jam, marmalade, the taste is no worse than, for example, the popular one.
Domestic pharmacists have found that ripe berries of the prickly bush are champions in vitamin C content. Incredible: its presence in rose hips is almost 100 times greater than in southern citrus fruits!
How and when to collect rose hips
Rosehip harvesting can begin as early as the end of August. The main criterion for this is the bright red color of the berries and slightly soft skin. However, one should take into account the fact that there are varieties of rose hips with orange fruits. Fruit harvesting continues until frost.
In order to avoid injury from the thorny thickets of this plant, it is better to carry out harvesting wearing cotton gloves and a suit that covers your arms and legs.
Sergei Roshka will tell you how to properly collect, store and brew rose hips in his video.
Preparing rose hips correctly
The bush is never left without berries, but rose hips bring particularly abundant harvests every 3-5 years.
The fruits should be collected before the first frost, when they acquire an orange or scarlet color (depending on the variety).
Harvesting usually occurs in September or October.
In unripe or overripe berries, the amount of vitamins decreases sharply.
For drying, be sure to cut off the fruits along with the sepals. It is advisable to process them immediately after harvesting. In any case, no later than 2, maximum 3 days after collection, otherwise valuable components will be destroyed.
How and for how long to store dry rose hips
It has been noticed that some varieties of rose hips are most useful in dried form: the concentration of vitamin C in them is simply record-breaking. Among these varieties: “Vitaminny”, “Vorontsovsky”, “Besshipny” and “Russian”.
Owners of dachas and residents of country farms usually dry the berries by scattering them on litter.
There are different opinions regarding the choice of place for drying, and opposite ones.
Some gardeners believe that it is better to dry rose hips in dry, shaded places under a canopy, for example, in an attic (this process usually lasts 2-3 weeks).
Their opponents prefer to keep the berries in the sun with a slight draft. At night they are carefully covered or taken indoors. This manipulation takes several days until the fruit is completely dry.
It is worth recalling that vitamin C does not like intense ultraviolet radiation and tends to be destroyed in the sun
.
With both methods of drying, the berries should be stirred and turned over from time to time.
There is not much variety in ways to store rose hips at home. Until spring, the fruits are stored well in paper bags, cardboard boxes, and bags made of natural fabric that has the ability to “breathe” (for example, linen).
In a city apartment, rose hips are usually dried in an oven:
- the fruits are laid out on a baking sheet in a low, even layer;
- simmer in the oven (+ 90... 100°C) for a quarter of an hour;
- then they dry for several days at a minimum temperature for 10-12 hours a day.
If you have an electric dryer, the process becomes much easier.
You can do this: after intensive (+ 100°C) drying, set the temperature to + 75°C and dry for 7-8 hours. During the heat treatment process, shake and turn the berries periodically.
There is also an opinion that drying should begin at a minimum temperature (+45 ° C), gradually increasing it to 75 ° C.
Choose a method that is convenient for you, but in any case, keep the oven door ajar: let the resulting moisture evaporate.
When squeezing, the skin of a well-dried rosehip does not wrinkle, but springs back, and a crunching sound can be heard inside.
After drying, the fruits are ground in hands, the sepals are removed, and kept at room temperature for 1-2 days.
It is convenient to store berries in paper or specially sewn fabric bags, cardboard boxes, the bottom of which should be covered with paraffin paper.
Do not place containers that are not tightly closed next to foods that have rich aromas: rose hips are very susceptible to foreign odors and are easily saturated with them.
It is also appropriate to use glass jars as storage containers, but they do not need to be hermetically sealed. Cover the jars with plastic lids, making small holes in them with a hot awl, or tie the neck with gauze folded in 3 layers.
How long can dried rose hips be stored if all these recommendations are followed? In a dry, dark room, dried rose hips can be stored for up to two years without losing their beneficial qualities. The optimal temperature for storing it is about 0 °C.
In a city apartment for storage, choose the coolest place where the sun's rays do not penetrate.
Can it be frozen?
Freshly picked fruits are convenient to freeze. Such storage also allows you to preserve the beneficial substances of the medicinal plant in full.
Jellies, aromatic purees and compotes are prepared from frozen crushed berries.
Just like dried, pureed rose hips are suitable for making delicious healing teas.
Ripe, plump fruits should be thoroughly peeled, cut into halves and seeds removed.
Using a meat grinder or blender, grind the berries so that a puree is formed.
Then this concentrate is transferred to plastic bags or containers and sent to the freezer.
It is advisable to store berries in portions
so as not to defrost in vain.
Healing rosehip puree can be stored in the freezer for about a year.
- It is not advisable to wash fruits before drying. This can be done immediately before use.
- Do not dry rose hips in the microwave. Checked: the berries can burn inside, although this will not be visible from the outside.
- It is not recommended to store dried rose hips in plastic bags, as this material does not allow air to pass through. The berries begin to “suffocate” and become moldy. The freezer ban on polyethylene does not apply.
What are the main methods of freezing?
Whole fruits
There are several ways to freeze rose hips. One of them is freezing whole fruits.
To do this, the berries are washed and thoroughly dried on towels. It is important that during the drying process the rose hips are not exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise it can destroy beneficial vitamins.
Dry berries are sorted, getting rid of damaged and spoiled specimens, and the stalk and sepals are cut off from the remaining fruits. It is convenient to use kitchen scissors or a small knife for this.
The prepared berries are laid out on a tray or baking sheet in one layer and placed in the freezer for a couple of hours. After the rosehip has set, the berries are poured into a separate bag.
Fruit halves
The berries prepared in the above manner are cut in half. In this form, they are laid out on boards and pre-frozen so that the freezing turns out to be crumbly. Halves of frozen berries are better steamed in infusions and release their beneficial substances faster.
Rose hip puree
The washed fruits are cut into halves, from which seeds and fibers are carefully removed. The peeled pieces of berries are placed in a ceramic plate and filled with cold water. In this form they should stand for no more than 3 days. During this time, the rosehip pulp will be completely soaked and will be easy to grind using a blender or sieve.
The puree is placed in ice trays and placed in the freezer. After the cubes are frozen, they are removed from the molds and transferred to containers or bags.
Rosehip leaves
Let's not forget about healthy herbal teas based on rosehip leaves. Before freezing, they are washed and dried on towels. Then the leaves along with the petioles are placed in bags and, releasing as much air as possible, are sealed tightly. It is convenient to use Zip bags for such freezing.
Useful video
You need to choose the right berries to get the maximum benefit. Here are some tips for choosing.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter
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The beautiful shrub called rosehip is known to everyone. But it is famous not only for its beautiful appearance, but also for the large supply of beneficial properties that the fruits possess. A cup of aromatic tea with the addition of red fruits will help you warm up on a cold evening, fill you with vitamins, boost your immunity, and protect against colds. How to prepare fruits? How to store rose hips so that they do not lose all their beneficial substances over the winter?
Rose hips contain organic acids, tannins, carotene, B vitamins, and large amounts of ascorbic acid. It also contains flavonoids, pectins, tocopherols, iron salts, phosphorus, manganese, calcium, magnesium.
Rose hips are used to prevent vitamin deficiency, to treat atherosclerosis, acute diseases of the liver, intestines, hemorrhoids, and nephritis. Oil is obtained from the seeds of the plant; it contains saturated fatty acids, tocopherols and carotenoids. It is used externally for bedsores, stomatitis, and dermatoses. Infusions and decoctions from the fruits of the plant have soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
How to prepare a decoction (infusion) of rose hips?
In addition to rosehip infusion and decoction, you can prepare delicious and aromatic rosehip tea with the addition of various dried berries and medicinal plants. Today we’ll talk in more detail about preparing the decoction, as well as how to properly brew rose hips in a thermos. But first things first.
1. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the ratio of rosehip and the water used to brew it. In general, it is not so important whether you are going to prepare an infusion or a decoction. The optimal proportion is considered to be the following: a liter of clean drinking water per 100 grams of rose hips.
For a more complete understanding: 100 grams of fruit is about 3 tablespoons if they are dry, and 4 tablespoons of the same volume if the fruits are fresh or raw.
Important! When rosehips are properly dried (in the shade in the open air, at a temperature of +20 - +28 degrees Celsius), they practically do not lose their healing properties and retain up to 90% of all vitamins and minerals.
Harvesting rose hips
Berries begin to be picked in September-October. By autumn, they have already accumulated a sufficient amount of useful substances, vitamin C. Collection time varies, depending on climatic conditions, collection can begin in August. But the collection must be completed before frost, frost will destroy the vitamins.
The fruits should have a bright red color and be soft to the touch. To dry, they must be collected while still hard, slightly unripe, when the skin is shiny and glossy. When drying, it is better to harvest fruits with sepals, which preserves beneficial substances. The collected fruits must be processed immediately; they can be stored indoors for no more than three days, otherwise they will be unsuitable for harvesting.
Description
Rosehip belongs to the genus of wild plants of the Rosaceae family. Currently there are more than 270 species. The rosehip got its name from the presence of thorns on the stems and branches. It blooms in May-June, the fruits ripen in September-October. Includes:
- Vitamins C, B1, B2, B9, P, E, K;
- Microelements: potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, zinc, copper;
- Beta carotene;
- Tannins;
- Pectins;
- Malic and citric acid.
HELP: Thawed berries should be eaten immediately; if they are re-frozen, they will lose most of the vitamins and their taste.
Beneficial features:
- Increases mental and physical activity;
- Stabilizes blood pressure;
- Has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system;
- Strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
- Prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques;
- Has a diuretic and choleretic effect;
- Improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Helps with kidney and liver diseases;
- Reduces cholesterol levels.
Rosehip beneficial properties and contraindications:
How to dry rose hips
In order to be able to use rose hips throughout the year, you should prepare it following certain rules. After harvesting, the fruits are sorted and damaged ones are removed. You should not wash the fruits, so as not to add even more moisture to them. You can dry rose hips for the winter using a convection oven, a special dryer, in a ventilated area or in the oven. Do not dry fruits in the open sun. Ultraviolet light can destroy beneficial microelements and vitamins in this healing plant.
Drying rose hips indoors
Drying rose hips without using electrical means is the easiest and most popular way. It is necessary to sort through the berries, remove damaged, wrinkled, and overripe ones. Spread them on a flat surface in a thin layer. They will dry in a well-ventilated, warm room for about 2 weeks. They need to be stirred periodically so that they dry evenly to prevent mold from appearing.
Dry in the oven
You can use a regular oven. The fruits are placed on a baking sheet, scattered in a thin layer. The oven is preheated to 50°C. The baking sheet is placed in the oven, after a while the temperature is increased to 60°C. In order for the moisture released from the berries to evaporate better, it is necessary to leave the oven ajar.
You shouldn’t forget about the fruits; you need to stir them periodically to prevent burning, and drying should occur evenly. The rose hips will dry in the oven for about eight hours. If the correct temperature conditions are observed, the berries will not change their color, they will just wrinkle a little. When you press on them, they should not wrinkle, but spring back. If overdried, the rosehip will crumble and break.
You cannot dry rose hips in a microwave oven. The temperature there is too high, the berries inside will remain raw and dry on top. They cannot be stored for a long time. But in an air fryer or a special dryer you can dry the fruits quite quickly, since the required temperature and time are set there.
After the rosehip has dried, it is still hot and placed in hermetically sealed boxes for a couple of days. It is necessary that they receive natural humidity, having “sweated” a fair amount.
How to freeze rose hips correctly
Whole berries
- To freeze whole fruits, all stems and leaves are removed, but the berries should be washed well and dried on a paper towel.
- Then place the prepared berries in one layer on a wooden board and put them in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
- Then the rose hips should be placed in prepared plastic bowls or durable bags for long-term freezing.
- It is best to label frozen rose hips so that they are only used within the expiration date.
- It is also necessary to observe the temperature in the freezer, it should be at 16 -18 degrees.
Fruit halves without seeds
If you want to freeze half berries, then the only difference from the above method is that before freezing, the rose hips are cut in half and the seeds are removed.
Rosehip puree
- To freeze ground rose hips in puree, you need to wash the berries, cut them in half and remove the seeds.
- Place everything in a plate and cover with water, leave it for several days, during which time the rose hips should soften.
- Next, we use a blender or sieve, with which it is easy to puree the prepared mass.
- Transfer the mixture into ice molds and place in the freezer for several hours. After a while, remove the frozen mixture and put it back into the freezer for long-term storage in tight bags.
Leaves
- When freezing rosehip leaves, they must first be washed and dried on a paper towel.
- Then put them on a wooden board and put them in the freezer for several hours.
- Next, move them into bags, be sure to release the air, and send them back for long-term storage.
- It is also possible to freeze crushed leaves; accordingly, after washing they need to be cut.
How to store dried rose hips
Dried rose hips should be stored in tin or glass jars. Airtight lids are not needed as the fruit may become moldy. It is better to cover the jars with a cloth or gauze folded in several layers. It is not recommended to store fruits in plastic bags.
Fabric bags and cardboard boxes are suitable for storage. Only they must be clean and dry, without foreign odors. You need to put a layer of waxed paper on the bottom. Pour dried raw materials onto it. For storage you should choose a dark place. During long-term storage, it is necessary to review stocks from time to time so that moisture does not get into the rose hips and mold does not appear. The fruits retain their healing properties for up to two years.
Note to housewives
- Rose hips that have black spots are not recommended for consumption.
- The quality of berries can be determined by their smell. The aroma should be sweet and sour, the taste of high-quality rose hips should be sour, pleasant to the taste.
- At room temperature, fresh rose hips can be stored for no more than three days.
- Frozen fruits should not be re-frozen after defrosting.
- Transportation of frozen rose hips is possible, but only in hard packaging of 20 kilograms.
- Some people make butter, jam, and syrup from rose hips. This is a labor-intensive process that is not accessible to everyone, but it can be regarded as another way to store a valuable plant.
Without a doubt, each storage method is good in its own way. After all, the main thing is to preserve the maximum amount of vitamins in rose hips and obtain high-quality raw materials for preparing a healing drink.
