Blackcurrant Harvest -- Can They Be Frozen?

[nickbug]

Hi

A newbie here. Been lurking around a little and found a lot of very useful info. Most of the stuff I have been growing has been in pots due t lack of space. Anyway last year I bought a Titania blackcurrant tree and I have just harvested from the tree for the first time. I have been trying to find out if I could dry the blackcurrants rather than freeze them so I could then add them to my cereals as I do with the dried cranberries I buy. Is it possible to do this? I would be grateful for any tips.

Many thanks

Nick

[OverWyreGrower]

I froze mine last year....

I gave them a quick wash, then spread them out on a tray in a single layer in the freezer.

Once they were frozen, I bagged them up. Means that you don't get a 'clump' of frozen berries, they end up free-flow!

[Flummery]

If you freeze them on a tray as OWG says, you can bag them up in small quantities so you've got enought in each bag for a batch of fresh blackcurrant muffins - which are delicious! (Just had one after lunch!)

[Two_Sheds]

I freeze them in summer, then add them to my porridge in winter. Yum.

[OverWyreGrower]

If you freeze them on a tray as OWG says, you can bag them up in small quantities so you've got enought in each bag for a batch of fresh blackcurrant muffins - which are delicious! (Just had one after lunch!)

Is there a recipe to go with this wonderful suggestion!?

[nickbug]

Many thanks for the quick replies. Looks like no one dries them so I better go for the freezing option. Thanks again.

[WrexTheDragon]

I freeze most of my fruit from what is over after making jams and eating them.

I have a big container in the deep freeze with the following:- Redcurrants, Blackcurrants,
Wild Strawberries, Goji, Cranberries and Blueberries.

Then another with Gooseberries and Strawberries.

I add a few from each with my cereals in the morning, normally I can get through a year until the next season.

I also freeze Rhubarb, Cooking apples, Cherry and Plums.

Yes, it is a big chest freezer in the garage.

[Snadger]

Welcome to the vine Nickbug!

I've just bought a Westfalia Food Dehydrator and haven't used it yet! Sounds like a good idea to me..........think I might give it a go! Wonder whether they will dry like tiny raisins?

[Sprocket*]

Get hold of the River Cottage Jam and Chutneys Book from Amazon. It tells you how to dry them, jam them, make drinks, bottle them and even make fruit leathers. A must have for any fruit grower!

[NOG]

I like the freezing on a tray idea. Thanks