Rose hips question.

[selfraising]

I would like to try cooking some rose hips for jelly and syrup. Do I need to remove the hairs and seeds first and can I use any rose hips?

[Jeanied]

To make the syrup you just use the chopped hips. They apparently are better after the first frosts. The syrup is strained through a jelly bag which gets rid of the seeds and the itching powder!
The more palatable varieties tend to be the wild and old roses.

[Glutton4...]

If they're better after a frost, and you can't wait, do what I do with Sloes - Freeze 'em!

[selfraising]

If they're better after a frost, and you can't wait, do what I do with Sloes - Freeze 'em!

So how long should I freeze them for before using them?

[Glutton4...]

So how long should I freeze them for before using them?

Blimey - I dunno. I pick 'em when they're ready, and I freeze 'em until I remember I haven't made the stuff! That's more because I'm disorganised than anything else!

Seriously, I would guess that once they've been frozen for a day or so it must be at least the equivalent of a frost. The good thing with freezing Sloes, is that they split, which saves an hour pricking the little blighters!

Good luck!

[Hilary B]

Blimey - I dunno. I pick 'em when they're ready, and I freeze 'em until I remember I haven't made the stuff! That's more because I'm disorganised than anything else!

Seriously, I would guess that once they've been frozen for a day or so it must be at least the equivalent of a frost. The good thing with freezing Sloes, is that they split, which saves an hour pricking the little blighters!

Good luck!

I've never bothered pricking sloes, I just shake them up in a jar with dry sugar, then let it stand (preferably somewhere warm, we have a windowcill that catches whatever sun there might be) for a day or so before adding the gin. It seems to work well enough!