Salt to preserve blueberries

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Last fall a question was asked about drying blueberries and a suggestion was given to use salt for the preservation instead of drying. Two questions.

1) Has anyone used this method and did it work?

2) As I understood the process it was to put 1 TBSP of salt in to a quart mason jar. Is this salt simply placed in the bottom of the jar and then the berries added on top, no mixing?

The wild blueberries are riping in southern Alabama! Thanks.

Randy

-- Randy Rowe (lonecrow@us.inter.net), April 25, 2001

Answers

I can't believe their riping already! We have a blueberry-u-pick in Eastern Oklahoma (Southern Half). Anyway, I dry quite a few blueberries each year and use them instead of cranberries or raisins and of course there are the receipes for dried blueberries (muffins) as well. I have boiled them slightly and dried - did not like. I have salted them- did not like. I have used citrus juice still didn't like. The best way for us was to clean and dry without anything. They look like rasins and taste good.

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), May 01, 2001.

Randy I am going to try and answer this since salting the berries makes no sense. Are you sure that they weren't just telling you to pressure can or water bath the blueberries with 1 teaspoon per quart? Pur the berries in jars with water added to the shoulder of the lid and 1 teaspoon of salt? Most fruit I can, I add a very light syrup, which is nothing more than water and sugar boiled then poured over the berries in the jars. I am not sure if I have just confused you more? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 01, 2001.

Believe it or not Vicky, the books say you can salt. It is horrible, like you I think it sounds (whatever). I like them canned in a very light syrup. I freeze quite a few and dry alot. Anyone interest in picking blueberries? They'll be ready in June. Debbie

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), May 02, 2001.

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