You want to enjoy fragrant fresh strawberries not only in summer, but all year round. Harvesting berries without heat treatment helps a lot in this.
What do we know about strawberries?
Almost every gardener on his land plot necessarily allocates several beds for growing such a familiar and beloved berry as strawberries. In our country, it is very widespread and popular. However, most knowledge about strawberries is limited to describing the gastronomic characteristics and methods of caring for them. Meanwhile, the history of this culture is very interesting. South America is considered the homeland of strawberries, from where it was later distributed throughout the world. Scientists say that there are facts indicating that this berry grew more than 60 thousand years ago, and already in Medieval Europe it was widely consumed by people. Interestingly, from a scientific point of view, strawberries cannot be classified as berries. The presence of a large number of small seeds on the pulp of strawberries defines the culture as a false berry and allows it to be attributed to multi-roots. Nevertheless, for most lovers of this culture, strawberries invariably remain a berry.
Despite the efforts of breeders to create frost-resistant and long-term fruiting varieties of strawberries, it remains one of the whimsical crops that require care and proper attention to themselves, the fruiting season of which is very fleeting. Perhaps this explains the high cost of this berry even in the summer.
Useful and harmful properties of the berry
Strawberries are very rich in various trace elements and vitamins, the consumption of which has a beneficial effect on human health. Vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2, B6, potassium, magnesium, iron, sodium, sulfur - this is not a complete list of valuable compounds that make up its composition. Daily consumption of a small amount of berries helps to normalize eye pressure, prevents the development of cancer, slows down skin aging, lowers blood cholesterol levels and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Vitamin B9 in combination with iron, which is also a part of the berry, is excellent for preventing the development of anemia and possible cardiovascular diseases. B vitamins have a beneficial effect on the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Vitamins K has a beneficial effect on red blood cell formation and blood clotting. Vitamin E, also known as the "beauty vitamin", ensures good condition of nails, hair, skin, and promotes cell renewal.
However, one should not forget that everything needs a measure. Strawberries are a strong allergen. Therefore, the berry should not be consumed in large quantities, and children and people prone to allergic reactions should completely abandon it. In addition, there are a number of diseases in which the use of this berry is also not recommended. These include diseases of the urinary tract and the digestive system, hypertension and diseases associated with the joints.
Obviously, when serving this tasty and aromatic berry to the table, you need to remember that strawberries have a sufficiently rich composition of trace elements that can bring a person not only benefit, but sometimes harm.
Step-by-step recipe for mashed strawberries with sugar
The classic recipe for grated strawberries is very easy and simple. To begin with, for long-term storage and obtaining good taste of the finished product at home, it is necessary to use whole, rot-free strawberries. The berries, peeled from the stalk, must be doused with boiling water. This will not only avoid the development of unwanted microorganisms, but will also make the final mass more homogeneous.
So, we take strawberries and sugar in the following proportions. For one kilogram of berries, you need to add one kilogram of two hundred and fifty grams of sugar. Having filled up both components in a previously prepared clean container, you can start grinding the berries. For this, it is very convenient to use a blender, which allows you to get a homogeneous, mushy mass. But if there is none, you can use a potato grinder. Perhaps the final mass will not be as "smooth" as when using a blender, but it will not spoil the taste. The resulting mass must be left until the sugar is completely dissolved. In order to speed up this process, strawberries with sugar should be mixed well from time to time.
At this time, we prepare jars and lids for pouring grated strawberries. You should use not just clean containers, but also pre-sterilized ones. This will prevent the development of harmful microorganisms. After making sure that the mass is absolutely homogeneous and the sugar is dissolved, pour it into the jars, close the lid and send it to the refrigerator for storage. This way of preserving berries preserves the excellent taste of strawberries. Even after a few months it seems that they have just been collected from the garden. The absence of heat treatment does not destroy the beneficial trace elements and vitamins contained in the berries. In general, this storage method will provide you with a storage of berry stock for six to eight months. Strawberries grated with sugar are excellent not only for direct consumption, but also for preparing various sweet pastries with a filling.
