Frozen apricots are wonderful to use in smoothies, fruit leather, and jam. You can also let them thaw a few hours and eat them while they are still slushy and partially frozen as a side to a meal.
Can I freeze apricots before making jam?
You can freeze apricots in a certain way so that they are ready for you to make a jam at a later date. Cook your apricots down with some sugar then allow the mixture to cool. Once cooled bag it up and freeze. You now have the mix ready to make jam with.
What is the best way to freeze apricots?
How to Freeze Apricots
- Prepare. Wash, dry, remove pits and cut into desired size. Place on sheet pan and leave in freezer until completely frozen.
- Transfer. Transfer to a Freezer Zipper bag or FreezerWare™.
- Freeze. Remove as much air as possible if using bags and seal. Place in the deepest part of the freezer.
How do you blanch and freeze apricots?
Dip the apricots in ice-cold water after you blanch them, then drain and dry. After the apricots have boiled for 30-60 seconds, use a slotted spoon to remove the apricots from the boiling water. Plunge them into ice-cold water right away to immediately stop the cooking process, then drain them and pat them dry.
What can I do with too many apricots?
Dehydrated Apricots
One of the best ways to use up excess apricots is to dehydrate them. Dehydrators are very easy to use, but an oven set to the lowest possible temperature will work as well. When you are dehydrating fruit in an oven, you must open the door slightly so that the moisture can escape.
Do I have to peel apricots before freezing?
Can you freeze apricots with skins? Yes! There is no need to peel the skin off of the apricot if you are mostly using them for smoothies or fruit leathers. Having the skin on won’t affect those recipes.
Can I freeze fruit to make jam later?
Store the uncooked mixture in air-tight freezer containers or resealable plastic freezer bags and toss them in the freezer for up to 12 months. Down the road, when you’re ready to make the jam, simply thaw the pre-measured fruit and sugar mixture and proceed with the cooking and processing steps.
How do you keep apricots from turning brown?
Apricots will turn brown when exposed to air, even air in a sealed, sterile jar. To keep the fruit from turning brown, when you get a bowlful, sprinkle 1/4 cup lemon juice or Fruit-Fresh (which is just a mix of citric acid and vitamin C, perfectly natural).
How do you preserve fresh apricots?
Freeze the fruit as soon as possible after it is harvested. Wash, halve, pit. Peel and slice if desired. If apricots are not peeled, heat in boiling water for 1/2 minute to keep skins from toughening during freezing.
How do you dry apricots quickly?
Directions
- 1Wash apricots, cut in half, and remove the pits.
- 2In a large bowl add water and lemon juice.
- 3Remove apricots and pat dry.
- 4Push in backs of apricots and place on your Excalibur Dehydrator drying trays with skin side down.
- 5Dehydrate the apricots at 135ºF until pliable approximately 20-24 hours.
What can I do with tasteless apricots?
Cut the fruit into wedges, stew them in a sweet syrup (amysarah suggests, for flavorless apricots, using apricot nectar), and then eat as is, or purée the mixture and use it as a sauce on cheesecakes and custards or shake it into cocktails! Or cook the wedges down into a compote.
How ripe should apricots be for canning?
Step 1 – Selecting the apricots
Same with nectarines, and this doesn’t apply to cherries or plums. Don’t miss the apricot picking tips page! Choose ripe, mature fruit of ideal quality for eating fresh or cooking. They should not be mushy, but they also should not be rock hard: just as ripe as you would eat them fresh.
Do you thaw frozen fruit before making jam?
Get them into the jam pot before they thaw; the faster they defrost, the less juice escapes the fruits. This makes a thicker, tastier jam.
Does freezing fruit destroy pectin?
There are two types of pectin, liquid (usually made from apples) and dry (from citrus fruits or apples). Powdered pectin can be stored in the freezer from one season to the next. Freezing will destroy the gel-producing qualities of liquid pectin, but liquid pectin will keep for two years in a cool, dry place.
Does freezing fruit affect pectin?
Freezing fruit may reduce the jelling effect of the natural pectin. You may need to increase the amount of pectin added to the jam or jelly. You may experiment with different fruits and see if you need to add extra pectin, or you may add extra just to be sure your recipe jells properly.
Do Cut apricots turn brown?
Trapped inside the tissue of fruits are molecules known as enzymes. These enzymes help fruit ripen and turn brown. When fruit is cut or starts to break down, the enzyme is released from the tissue of the fruit and exposed to air which causes the fruit to rapidly change color. This is known as enzymatic browning.
How do you freeze apricots with sugar?
Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pack apricots into containers and press down until fruit is covered with juice, leaving headspace. Place a small piece of crumpled water-resistant paper on top to hold fruit down. Seal and freeze.
Can you dry whole apricots?
Plums and apricots can be dried whole but, if they are on the large size, they are better halved and stoned. Peaches need to be halved and stoned. Wash the fruit, pat dry with kitchen roll or clean tea towel and place the fruit in a single layer on the drying tray.
How long does it take to dry apricots in the oven?
Place wax paper onto a sheet pan and lay the fruit in a single layer. They must not touch each other. Place an additional sheet pan (with wax paper at the bottom!) on top to stop the fruit from curling up. Leave in the oven for 4 hours, makins sure to rotate the trays every hour.
Do apricots ripen after picking?
Apricots will ripen after they’ve been picked and there are a few advantages to picking them when they are still a little underripe: you can get the fruit before the wildlife do (including hungry neighbours); and the fruit is less fragile when picked and transported underripe.
How big is a ripe apricot?
Mature apricots vary in size from 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches in diameter. Apricots have a very short storage life, typically 1-2 weeks at 30-40° F degrees and 90% humidity, so make plans for their use before they spoil. Harvest peaches when the base color, or ground color, of the fruits changes from green to full yellow.
Marilyn Medina is a food expert with over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry. She has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world, including The Ritz-Carlton and The French Laundry.
What makes Marilyn stand out from other chefs is her unique approach to cooking. She believes that food should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget or dietary restrictions. Her recipes are simple, delicious, and healthy – perfect for anyone who wants to cook like a pro!