Monday, June 21, 2010

FREE Blueberries at Publix this Week and How to Enjoy This Fruit All Year!

Most of you by now may have heard about the $1.50 printable Publix coupon for blueberries currently available online! Right now, Publix has them for $1.50, making them free! How often can we say we got free produce?! Anyway, I thought it would be fun to add a little tidbit on how to freeze blueberries properly since they are so good for you. High in antioxidants, why not enjoy the health related benefits to this fruit year round!? This is also something that food banks in your local area may be in need of too. Rarely do they get fresh produce..so check to see if they allow cold/frozen items if you are interested in donating!

The following information was gathered from instructables.com:

Step One: Getting your Berries
For many of us, this may be as simple as finding a few boxes in the produce section with no mushy berries while they happen to be on sale. However, if you can visit a "pick your own" farm, they usually offer bulk prices. Also, you can be sure you're getting your berries at peak ripeness.

Step Two: Rinse and Arrange
Rinse your berries in a colander and remove any stems or stray leaves. Then pat dry and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet that will fit flat in your freezer. Place a clean, dry dish towel on the bottom of the tray so the berries do not stick to it.

Step 3: Place in Freezer
Place your baking sheet in the freezer, preferably flat against the shelf to prevent the berries from rolling into one another. Ideally, the berries should touch one another as little as possible. If you have many berries, feel free to stack two or more trays, so long as there's space for cold air to move through.

Step 4: Fill Containers
Once the berries are frozen solid, choose containers to keep them in. Many people prefer freezer bags or plastic containers, but glass tends to work better. If you use plastic, you can use a straw to suck out excess air before completely sealing to help prevent freezer burn. If you use glass, do not attempt to thaw contents by placing the container in hot or boiling water.

Step 5: Consuming the Berries
Blueberries are small and thaw quickly, so for most recipes, there is no need to thaw them before use. Any berries that are stuck together should be very easy to nudge apart. Shake the jar gently before opening. There are a ton of recipes that blueberries can be used in. From parfaits to syrups, to simply just adding them to cereal or yogurt.

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