Texas Fruits Perfect for Preservation
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Once you get used to the fresh, crisp taste of homegrown fruits, it’s impossible to go back to the store-bought kind. That’s why every Texan farmer worth their salt should also be an expert in fruit preservation. You can freeze or dehydrate almost any crop. But not all fruits are meant to be canned, and there are many factors to consider when choosing what to preserve.
To avoid artificial preservatives, you’ll want to stick to fruits and berries that are high in acidity. Acids naturally deter bacterial growth, so there’s no need for additives such as citric acid, (how long does citric acid last?) pectin (how long does pectin last?), or sugar (how long does sugar last?) . Things like the size, sturdiness, and texture of a crop play a major role as well. If you’re new to home canning, it makes sense to start with fruits guaranteed to come out delicious. So, without further ado, here are eight Texas fruits perfect for preservation.
Top 5 Fruits for Preservation
1. Allstar Strawberries
Freezing strawberries is about the only wrong way to preserve them. Due to their shape, you’ll never get all the air out of the freezer bag, even with a vacuum sealer. Ice crystals will form on the berries and, when thawed, the extra moisture will turn them to mush. Most folks like to add dried strawberries (how long do dried strawberries last?) to their cereal or use them as a dessert topper. Allstar strawberries are large and sturdy, so they’re also perfect for canning whole. Alternatively, you can mix them with some sugar and lemon juice, for a delicious jelly.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, there are even more options. You can pickle your Allstars in vinegar brine to bring out hidden flavor and harden them. Or you can even soak them in vodka for strawberry-infused cocktails.
2. Burbank Elephantheart Plum
Better known as the “Blood Plum”, for its scarlet flesh, the Burbank elephantheart plum is an heirloom variety that produces baseball-sized fruit. When canned properly, its sweet, juicy flavor can be retained for months or even years. The only trick is preserving them before they fully ripen and become soft to the touch.
If you don’t have the time or space for canning, we recommend freezing your blood plums whole. They make delicious prunes as well, but the dehydration process significantly alters the flavor.
3. Seckel Pear
Pear trees are prolific producers. Fortunately, their extremely high sugar content makes Seckel pears perfect for storage. They can be canned, dried, fermented, or frozen. In fact, if you pick them before they fully ripen, these pears can be stored at room temperature for up to five months. Just make sure to keep them in a dry, dark place.
The only issue that can ruin canned pairs is browning. While it doesn’t alter their taste, the change in color makes them far less appetizing. If you want to prevent the risk of browning altogether, simply add a cup of pineapple juice or a teaspoon of citric acid per gallon of water used.
4. Apples
If you’ve ever had an apple tree, you know there is always more than you know what to do with. Maybe that’s why people have come up with so many ways to preserve them. Aside from canning, freezing, and fermenting, apples (how long do apples last?) are ideal for dehydration. Dried slices make a delicious snack and a great dessert topper. Plus, you can never have too much applesauce.
The more obscure apple preserves are even more delicious. So we highly recommend you take the time to experiment with apple butter, puree, hard cider, and chutney - it’ll be worth the effort!
5. Golden Sweet Apricot
Golden sweet apricots are among the very few fruits that actually taste better preserved. Canning brings out hidden flavors and aromas that are very subtle in fresh apricots. The Golden Sweet variety is large, so you won’t spend a lot of time pitting them, and their sturdy consistency is perfect for long-term storage.
Another great way to preserve them is in a puree. Cooked apricot halves can be mashed using a blender or a food processor. That said, the fruit definitely loses some flavor in the cooking process. For a fresh apricot puree, you’ll need a chinois or a fine mesh strainer and a lot of elbow grease!
Top 6-8 Fruits Perfect for Preservation
6. Top Hat Blueberries
Though the Top Hat variety is preferred, any of the large-sized blueberries (how long do blueberries last?) are great for preservation. Frozen blueberries can retain their taste and texture for up to 12 months. To dry them properly, you’ll need to immerse the berries in boiling water for around 30 seconds before placing them in the dehydrator.
Of course, the most popular way to preserve blueberries is canning. Fresh berries fully retain their shape and flavor after pressure cooking. And because of their acidic pH, there’s no need for additives, even if you plan to store them long-term.
7. Cherries
There are dozens of local cherry varieties in Texas, and each one is an ideal candidate for preservation. That said, most Texans prefer the sweet Bing Cherry, the colorful Queen Ann, or the ornamental Star Cherry. Sour cherries (how long do cherries last?) are generally used in jams, while sweet varieties are canned.
But what really earned cherries the number two spot on our list are all the adult beverage options. Booze Cherry is an alcohol-based garnish that turns any beverage into a sweet and sour cocktail. Meanwhile, the Cherry Bounce is a Southern drink like no other, consisting of cherries, brandy, rum, and a dozen different spices. And if you really want to impress your guests, break out the spirit-infused Maraschino Cherries for a delicious treat that packs a serious punch.
8. Redheaven Peach
There’s a lot to be said about peach butter, jelly, and cider. But nothing beats the rich, authentic flavor of Texas-style canned peaches. And the Redheaven variety produces the biggest fruit on our list. Sure, you can jar them up with nothing but water and lemon juice. But, for a real treat, try our simple home-style peaches recipe. Here are the steps:
For a quart jar, you’ll need 8 cups of water, five tablespoons of raw honey (how long does honey last?), and a cinnamon stick.
First, boil your peaches whole for no longer than two minutes. This will make the skins loose and let you peel the entire batch in seconds.
You can then pit the peaches and half or quarter them to your liking.
Place them in the jar first, pitted-side down, then add the water, honey, and cinnamon.
Finally, just let the pressure canner cook for 30 minutes, and enjoy mouthwatering peaches all year ‘round
What are the Most Common Fruit Preservation Techniques?
1.) Storing
It's the easiest way to keep your harvest. But you should only store fully mature fruits. Bruised harvest must be eaten fresh. Or use other methods.
Before freezing, clean and let the outside of the fruits dry.
2.) Freezing
Most fruits keep well in the freezer. To retain nutrients, fruits can be blanched and frozen.
After packaging, freeze the fruits immediately.
3.) Canning
It's an ideal technique for preserving fruits with high water content. Process the fruits in boiling water. Or use a pressure canner for a certain period.
4.) Pickling
Many fruits, like apples and pears, can be preserved using this technique. But make sure to follow a tested recipe. Otherwise, it may still result in spoilage.
This must only be used for disease-free fruits. Make sure to wash the fruits properly before processing them.
5.) Jams and Jellies
To make jams and jellies, use only the freshest, sweetest fruits in Texas. Lemon juice can be added if you are using low-acid fruits.
Sugar is beneficial to preserve and get fruits. Thus, never alter the amount of sugar in recipes.
That’s it for our list of the top eight Texas fruits perfect for preservation the most common ways to preserve them. Do you agree with our ranking? Got questions about any of the preserves we mentioned? We’re always happy to help and we’d love to hear from you in the comments. And make sure you click that subscribe button to stay tuned for all our future videos, right here on TexasEats!
Sources:
https://commonsensehome.com/preserve-pears/#How_to_Keep_Cut_Pears_from_Getting_Brown
https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/fruit-preservation-round-up
https://www.annsentitledlife.com/recipes/moonshine-cherries-recipe/
https://www.growforagecookferment.com/12-ways-to-preserve-apples/
https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-review-melissa-clarks-d-58189
https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2013/08/simple-honey-cinnamon-canned-peaches.html
