How to Use Currants. Fresh currants can be used like blueberries, and somewhat like blackberries or raspberries, in tarts and pies, and other desserts, such as sorbets and puddings. Use them fresh in fruit salads, particularly berry mixes, or to garnish desserts with their pretty color.
What to do with lots of currants?
It’s great to put on yogurt, oatmeal, or ice cream. Mix colors together for an attractive fruit salad. I’ve served this with whipped cream at a brunch party. Black currants are great as used above, but also work well in savory applications.
Can you eat raw currants?
While black currants have a strong taste, they’re delicious to eat raw when they’re ripe. You can also use them in a variety of recipes. Some ways to prepare black currants include: Cooking with sugar and other fruits to make a jam.
What can you do with dried currants?
Dried currants make good decoration for gingerbread cookies, and are delicious stirred into scone dough. In savory cooking, stir dried currants into rice pilaf, or into stuffing for chicken, turkey, or game hens, to add texture and subtle sweetness.
Are currants poisonous?
Black, white, and red true currants (Ribes nigrum and Ribes rubrum) are a type of berry and therefore considered non-toxic, but they may cause minor stomach upset in large quantities.
How do you preserve currants?
Dry Pack – Pack currants into containers, leaving headspace. Currants can also be frozen first on a tray and then packed into containers as soon as they are frozen. Seal containers and freeze. Syrup Pack – Pack currants into containers and cover with cold 50 percent syrup, leaving headspace.
Are all currants edible?
The berries of all species in the Ribes genus are technically edible (they are not poisonous), but some are grown particularly for their edible fruit.
Are currants healthier than raisins?
Currants and raisins are very similar in nutritional value. They closely match in carbohydrate count, protein, fiber, sugar, potassium and vitamins C and K. A one-ounce serving of raisins has 95 calories compared to the 79 calories in the same size serving of currants.
How do you know when a currant is ripe?
Fully ripe currants possess the characteristic color of the variety (red, white, or black), are slightly soft and juicy. For jellies and jams, harvest currants before the berries are fully ripe. Fruit harvested for jellies and jams should be well colored, but still firm.
What’s the difference between a currant and a raisin?
Raisins, sultanas and currants are all types of dried grapes. Raisins and sultanas are soft, sweet and juicy, while currants have an intense, sweet and tangy taste. Raisins are typically the largest of the three.
Are currants toxic to dogs?
True currants (including black, red, and white currants) belong to a different group of plants (genus Ribes) and are not considered toxic to dogs, though stomach upset could occur if a large amount is ingested.
Are currants similar to cranberries?
Vitamins. Currant and Cranberry are rich in different vitamins. Currants are an excellent source of vitamin C: they are almost three times higher in vitamin C (41mg per 100g) than Cranberries (14mg per 100g).
What are dried currants called?
Raisins, sultanas, and Zante currants are all sweet dried fruits that stem from different varieties of vine-grown grapes, while currants really are a fresh bush-grown berry that is tart rather than sweet. Currants are also sold dried, but they’re not as readily available as sultanas and raisins.
Are currants good for you?
Currants are excellent source of minerals, such as zinc, magnesium, iron and especially potassium. The latter is very important in several functions in mammals but especially in the sodium/potassium equilibrium in body and depression of high blood pressure.
How many dogs have died from eating raisins?
The median amount of grapes ingested was 448 g and the median amount of raisins ingested was 19.6 g/kg. Out of the 43 dogs that ingested the raisins and/or grapes, 23 survived and recovered, while 15 received euthanasia, and 5 died. In summary, the signs point to the fact that grapes are terrible for dogs.
Can dogs eat currants and raisins?
Overview. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants are all potentially poisonous to dogs. If eaten they can cause gut problems and in serious cases, kidney failure.
Do currants freeze well?
FREEZE THEM: Both RED and BLACK CURRANTS freeze well; just remove most of the stems and fill into freezer bags. If you haven’t washed the berries, they won’t stick together, and then you can just pour out as much as you want at a time.
How long do currants last?
Shelf life – Without refrigeration, currants do not have a long shelf life at all. However, when properly cooled and refrigerated, they can last one to two weeks. If frozen, they may last ten to twelve months.
What can I do with a glut of red currants?
Redcurrants, with their high pectin content, make beautiful jellies full of vigour that are perfect on toast or stirred into gravies and sauces to be served with lamb and game. Fresh redcurrants are essential in summer pudding, but also marry beautifully with strawberries for a cool, elegant, healthy dessert.
Are currants worth growing?
All currants have attractive flowers and maple-like leaves that make them desirable in the edible landscape. They can be planted in the understory of a permaculture food forest or hedgerow. They are one of many perennial crops that can tolerate moist areas.
Are currants illegal?
In 1911 it was made illegal to grow currants in the United States. They were banned by the US Department of Agriculture because they carried the white pine blister rust disease. This fungus threatened to wipe out the pines in the US, so all Ribes were banned to protect the logging industry at the time.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.