2 Diets and healthy eating 03.10.2017
Dear readers, many of us love aromatic and healthy drinks. One of them is the wild rose, a miracle plant, a healing wild rose. For many years, it has been used to strengthen the immune system and keep the body in good shape. Rosehip contains many vitamins that have a beneficial effect on our health. However, in order to preserve the maximum of nutrients, it is important to know when to collect the rose hips, how to dry them for the winter at home and how to store them properly.
How to dry rose hips at home. Drying Rose Hips Easily at Home: Different Methods
There are several simple methods on how to dry rose hips at home in order to preserve all of its beneficial qualities as much as possible.
On open air
Drying time: 2-4 weeks.
This drying method will take a long time because the skin of the rose hips is very dense. Moisture evaporates poorly through it. If the fruit remains under-dried, then the entire product will become moldy. But slowly dried berries retain more nutrients.
The temperature outside should be at least 18-20 ° C. The weather is windy, but dry, with a minimum of precipitation.
- Arrange the rose hips in one layer, being careful not to touch each other. Inverted wooden crates, pallets, large sieves or grates work well. You can use baking trays from the oven, covering them with paper.
- Place the rose hips in the shade. In the sun it will dry out more quickly, but under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, some useful compounds will be destroyed. Therefore, it is better to choose a shady place (attic, awning, balcony). It is important that ventilation is good.
- Cover the dryer with a light cloth or gauze to keep insects out.
- Stir the fruit several times a day.
The readiness of the fruit is easy to determine "by eye". They should break in your hands with minimal effort. It is undesirable to overdry so that they do not crumble, crumbling from the slightest touch. If you pre-cut the berries, taking out the middle, then you can make rosehip powder, which is added to various drinks or dishes.
In the oven
Drying time: 7-8 hours.
A gas and electric oven will do, the only difference is in the door gap. For the first, about 15-20 centimeters of free space should remain, and for the second, 4-7 is enough.
- Line your racks or baking trays with baking parchment or special paper to prevent the berries from sticking.
- Arrange the rose hips in one layer.
- Preheat the oven to 45-52 ° C.
- Set the baking sheets inside, keep the fruits with the door closed for 2-3 hours.
- Increase the drying temperature gradually by opening the door. As a result, for the last 1.5-2 hours, the rose hips should be dried at 58-65 ° C.
- Stir the berries periodically to dry evenly.
If the berry has changed its color to a darker one, then the temperature is too high. The rose hips should wrinkle, but remain bright in color.
In an electric dryer or dehydrator
Drying time: 8-13 hours.
For such devices, it is recommended not to pre-wash the rose hips. If you have already done this, the fruit must be freed from excess moisture.For example, it is good to leave the berries in one layer outdoors for 24 hours.
- Place the berries on the grates of the device so that they do not touch. Otherwise, from the released fructose, they can stick together, and this will slow down the drying process.
- Set the temperature to 45-52 °. If you want to speed up the process, then you can bring it up to 65 ° C, but keep in mind that the loss of nutrients will then be greater.
- Swap the grates every two hours for a simple dryer. The dehydrator will programmatically set the humidity and temperature in the optimal mode.
Readiness is checked by breaking the already cooled fruit.
Drying temperature and determination of product readiness
Drying rose hips in electric or gas appliances does not imply any difficulties, the only thing that requires attention is the temperature.
With an incorrectly selected mode, the fruits will lose all useful properties and become useless. Too high values will spoil the berry, depriving it of vitamins and nutrients in the composition.
Too low values can harm the shell of the rosehip, and also at this temperature, the process will take a long time.
How to dry rose hips on the balcony. How to dry rose hips
Rosehip fruits are used as an effective antioxidant, medicinal and vitamin remedy. Drying makes it possible to use these berries for three years. Read on for information on how to properly dry berries and preserve their beneficial properties.
why do we value rose hips so much
rosehip berries tone up the immune system, stimulate the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract, and activate metabolic processes. positively affect the urinary, vascular, hematopoietic and musculoskeletal system. the health benefits of rose hips are incomparable with other berries. regular use improves the functioning of the liver, heart, slows down the aging process. prevents the occurrence of oncological and venous diseases, stimulates the brain, prevents the development of atherosclerosis, relieves inflammation, removes cholesterol. For these purposes, doctors recommend using dried berries for prevention and treatment. On their basis, decoctions, infusions are prepared, used for the preparation of drinks, syrups.
procurement of raw materials
in the middle regions of russia, rose hips are harvested at the end of August, the harvesting process continues throughout the fall, until the first frost. if you need berries for drying, then do not take overripe fruits, you will only need semi-ripe fruits. they are determined by their firm structure, astringent, sweet and sour taste and shiny surface. It is in such a berry that a high concentration of vitamins is contained, and when dried, the mineral composition remains unchanged. Therefore, for blanks, the August, September collection would be the best option. Of course, later dates can also be used.
It is important to remember that you should not harvest after rain, wet rose hips create big problems for drying. Harvested berries should not be left in an unprepared place for more than three days due to the possible onset of rotting, the development of mold. Such a product will be damaged and cannot be stored or recycled. Of the 250 species, half are decorative and have no medicinal value, for example, dog rose is practically useless in this regard. Choosing from European varieties of rose hips, the most valuable are the brown ones. At the upper tip of the fruit, the sepal is directed forward, in the ornamental, it tightly fits the walls of the fruit. Most useful: Far Eastern, wrinkled, Asian.
how to dry rose hips
the key to successful drying is the exclusion of direct exposure to the sun. experts say that it is better to organize the process in a room isolated from light. if this is problematic, then you need to at least ensure that there is no sunlight.In the old days, dried blanks were made in ovens. Today, for many, this is an inaccessible technique and one has to choose other rational methods. The country house uses an attic. On pieces of plywood, for better ventilation and moisture absorption, paper or natural fabric is laid out. It is important to create a thin berry layer and shake frequently to ensure "breath" and good evaporation. This eliminates the development of rot / mold. If you decide to harvest outdoors, then place the crop on a tray in a low bowl and put it in the shade. Stir / turn the berry several times a day. From night dampness, you need to take it into the house or cover it with plastic in the evening. This method is quite long and lasts 2-4 weeks.
the easiest and most correct way
having an electric dryer, there will be no problems - the berry does not dry out and remains useful. a gas or electric stove also helps to quickly and efficiently dry the berries. the harvested crop must be cleaned of foliage and injured berries, so as not to violate the integrity of the skin, the stalk cannot be removed, if desired, long ones can be cut with scissors, leaving a slightly noticeable tail (this is important). When the preparation process is complete, pour the fruits onto a mesh or ordinary baking sheet. Bring the temperature in the oven to 40 C and place the berries there. The door remains ajar to allow moisture to escape. After an hour, increase the temperature to 60 C. The complete process depends on the size of the fruit and the density of the skin and takes 7-10 hours. It is important to stir the rose hips periodically.
When to collect rose hips, features and timing
The collection of the fruits, petals, roots and foliage of the rose hips takes place at different times. For each position there is a specific period in which the raw material contains the maximum amount of useful elements. To obtain a therapeutic effect, it is important to observe the collection period and select the right material for drying.
When to pick rose hips
Many housewives ask themselves the question: "What kind of rose hips are harvested for the winter for drying?" It turns out that different degrees of ripeness of berries have a different therapeutic effect. During ripening, rose hips acquire bright shades of red and become soft when pressed. Such fruits are not suitable for harvesting. It is recommended to pick berries that are not yet ripe, which can be identified by a hard surface with a glossy or matte skin. Choose large pieces for drying.
In healthy fruits, the sepals are directed in different directions. If in the rosehip they are densely located near the berry, then such specimens are not suitable for collection. The fruits must be given more time to ripen.
What kind of rose hips need to be picked? Feel free to send fruits to the basket without visible damage, as well as together with the cups and tail (peduncle). You don't need to cut them off right away. In this state, put the fruits to dry. So during drying, vitamins will be preserved as much as possible in the rosehip, the amount of which decreases during the drying process.
It is necessary to plan the collection of raw materials on a warm and sunny day. In rainy weather, the berries can become saturated with moisture, which will adversely affect the drying quality of the rose hips. The time for procurement of raw materials falls on the end of September - mid-October. It all depends on the region of residence. Therefore, observe the weather conditions and check the ripeness of the fruit.
Important! To collect rose hips, take woven gloves with you, as the bush has thorns and can be scratched on them.
It is a mistake to believe that the collection of rose hips should take place after the first frost. Scientists have shown in the laboratory that when berries are exposed to cold, some of the nutrients and vitamins in them are lost.
The fruits of different rosehip bushes have a different vitamin composition. They differ in the appearance of the berries. The maximum amount of nutritional components is found in rose hips with sepals pointing up.If you sharply tear off the cup on such a berry, then a round hole will form in its place.
The second type of shrub with a low percentage of vitamins in the common people is called "dog rose". The fruits of such a plant have sepals that are directed downward and are densely located to the surface of the berry. If the cup falls off, a hole with five corners will appear in its place.
When to collect rosehip leaves
Rosehip leaves are also useful for valuable nutrients. They are harvested in summer when the leaves are fully developed. Such specimens have a rich green color. It is advisable to cut off the raw material so as not to damage the process.
Each leaf is collected separately from the twig and put into a basket. The collection container must be kept in the shade during the entire collection process. Otherwise, the sun's rays, falling on the leaves, can ruin their delicate surface.
During the period of harvesting the leaf plates of the rosehip, pay attention to their external condition. Discard specimens with traces of rot, yellowing and darkening; any damage by insects or disease.
When to collect rosehip petals and flowers
Wild rose petals are used not only in folk medicine, but also in cosmetology, and are also widely used in cooking. Both rosehip petals and small flowers are harvested separately. The bud of the plant has a small inflorescence, which consists of 6 and 8 petals of a white or pink hue. Some rosehip varieties have a more lush bud.
It is necessary to harvest flowers and rosehip petals during the period of active flowering of the plant. This time falls on the month of June. Unopened buds are not used for drying, as they contain few nutrients.
For collection, the rosehip flower is trimmed along with a small part of the peduncle. Do not cut off all the flowers on the bush at once, let the plant form fruits. The petals are cut from the flower by hand and transferred to a collection container. Such raw materials must be dried immediately.
In which month to collect rosehip roots
The root of the plant is more widely used in medicine than the rest of the raw materials. The side roots are of the greatest value. They contain more nutrients than the core of the root system. Therefore, it makes no sense to try to dig up the thickest roots of the rosehip.
It is necessary to harvest the roots of the shrub in the spring before the period of bud formation. This time falls in March - April. Also, the end of autumn (mid-October - November) is suitable for collecting roots, after the shrub stops bearing fruit.
It is not necessary to dig up a whole bush, one or two shoots will be enough. To do this, bend a side branch towards the soil, cut off and dig up. For raw materials, only the root shoots on the sides are cut, the central core is left. The shoot can be dug back for the growth of the bush, having previously processed the sections with wood ash.
Dates of collecting rose hips in central Russia
For the middle zone of the country and in the Moscow region, the collection of blanks begins in August and can continue until October. It is necessary to have time to prepare raw materials before the onset of the first frost. According to the popular calendar, the collection of rose hips begins after October 1. Our grandmothers believe that only the field of this day, the fruits of the plant contain a large amount of vitamins.
When to collect rose hips in Siberia
For the northern regions of the country and Siberia, the time for collecting plant blanks falls on the beginning and middle of August. Autumn here comes much earlier than in other regions, which means that the ripening time for berries is reduced. But this period for harvesting is conditional, it is necessary to monitor the weather and the ripening process of the rose hips. Check the degree of maturity by the density of the berries and their color.
Do I need to wash the rose hips before drying.Do you know how to brew the fruit correctly?
Rosehips, the medicinal properties of which are quite wide, are most often brewed. But do you know how to brew such a healing drink correctly? There is nothing complicated here, but nevertheless certain conditions must be observed.
In total, there are two brewing methods that allow you to preserve the uniqueness of all vitamins. The first is that you need to take whole berries and place them for infusion in a regular thermos. The proportions are taken as follows: two handfuls and half a liter of boiling water. The berries are poured with boiling water, after which they are left for about 7-8 hours. After the mass is passed through cheesecloth or a sieve, a teaspoon of sugar is added to the liquid.
The second method is a little more complicated, although it gives more effect. Rosehip, the benefits and harms of which depend on whether there is an intolerance to berries, must first be chopped. It is better to remove hairs in advance. For grinding, you need to use an ordinary meat grinder so that all the seeds come out, they have a large percentage of vitamins. After that, the mass is poured with water (300 ml is enough), put on the fire and cooked for about 15 minutes. Next, the drink must be filtered, after which it is ready to use.
Rosehip, the medicinal properties (contraindications) of which depend on many circumstances, should be drunk every day two or three times. It is recommended to use it before meals, half a glass is enough. As for contraindications, you need to be very careful. You cannot drink the broth for too long, plus you need to take into account whether there is an individual intolerance.
For those outside the city
Those citizens who live outside the city or just have a summer cottage will find it easier in this situation. After all, it is very convenient to harvest fruits, for example, in the attic. To do this, the rose hips must be spread out in an even thin layer on pieces of plywood or sheets of newspaper and placed in the attic. The only condition is that the place should be regularly ventilated, be sure to keep an eye on this.
Another way to dry rose hips is also great for the aforementioned category of people. To do this, the collected fruits must be poured into a basin with low sides or laid out on a large board, a tray. The main thing is to distribute all this in an even thin layer over the surface. Make sure that there are not too many fruits, otherwise the lower part will not be able to dry out properly, and then it will start to rot altogether.
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After that, the berries are placed in the air, but only in the shade. It is important that the location you choose is protected from strong winds. During the day, all this mass must be regularly mixed, and at night it should be hidden in a room and covered with polyethylene film. The main disadvantage of this method is the drying time, which takes 2 to 4 weeks. And this is provided that the weather does not deteriorate during this time.
Freeze rose hips for the winter. Rosehip cooking methods: harvesting for the winter
There are a lot of ways to prepare wild rose for the winter. We figured out the drying process, so I suggest you move on to another interesting cooking option. Let's make delicious rosehip jam. Why not, it's a great idea to keep the berries until spring.
We will need:
- Rosehip - 1.0-1.2 kg.
- Granulated sugar - 14 tablespoons
- Water
Preparation:
1. Let's first start preparing the fruit. Be sure to rinse the collected berries. Remove the sepals and cut them across, then clean out the seeds.
2. Put the peeled fruits from the seeds on a sieve and rinse under running water.
3. Then put the rosehip into a saucepan and fill it with water. The volume of water should be equal to the volume of the berries.
Cook the mass over medium heat for 20 minutes. After a while, we take out the rosehip, put it aside. Add sugar to the resulting syrup.While stirring, continue to boil it for 10 minutes.
After the expiration of time, add the rose hips again. Bring the jam to a boil, remove the foam and boil it for 5 minutes.
In the meantime, you can sterilize the jars. We will carry out this process in the oven. We do the same with the lids.
Sterilization time 15-20 minutes, at 150 degrees.
Now that the rosehip jam is ready, it's time to put it in jars. Preferably hot. Then screw the sterile cap tightly. We leave the jar of jam on the table until it cools completely.
It is preferable to store such a vitamin preparation in a cool place. Such a dessert will not only go with any tea drinking, but will also charge you with energy for the whole day. And most importantly it will save you from colds. By the way, excellent fruit drinks are obtained from it.
Storage rules for dried berries
Subject to the storage rules, dried rose hips can be used even for up to three years. Consider how to preserve the quality and benefits of the fruit for such a long period.
- Immediately after you take the berries out of the oven, peel them off the stalks. This is very easy to do, because when rubbing, the plant part of the rosehip simply crumbles.
- After that, you need to properly cool them at room temperature. I put the berries in a special wooden box for a couple of hours. Small cloth or paper bags are also suitable for storage. After a few days have passed, the rose hips can be decomposed into long-term storage places, such as glass or tin cans.
I hope I have answered your questions about how and when to harvest rose hips for the winter. Harvesting berries is not difficult, the main thing is to follow the advice of more experienced people and pay special attention to the place and time of collection and harvesting. In this case, your berries will be stored and benefit for a long time. In the winter cold, do not forget to add rose hips to your meals and drinks so that the body is enriched with vitamins, and you do not catch colds and get sick much less!
Is it possible to freeze rose hips. Is it possible to freeze rose hips for the winter to preserve vitamins
Rosehip is a plant that has a huge number of beneficial properties for the human body. Consider whether it is possible to freeze rose hips for the winter and preserve the maximum amount of its beneficial properties.
Which is healthier: dry or freeze?
For long-term preservation of the rose hips at home, they can be dried or frozen. An interesting question is, which rosehip is more useful, which is better to dry or freeze? It is believed that freezing is more effective because more vitamins are retained in the product. Both fruits (whole, halves, in the form of mashed potatoes) and rosehip leaves are frozen.
How to properly freeze rose hips
- Before freezing, the rose hips are subjected to a special treatment.
- First you need to pick the berries, and, at a certain time of the year, from the end of the summer period to the beginning of the first frost.
- The berries should be of the same red color, only ripe, in no case spoiled or wrinkled.
- Leaves are harvested in the same way, they must be whole and without flaws.
Whole berries
- To freeze whole fruits, all the tails and leaves are removed, while the berries should be rinsed well and dried on a paper towel.
- Then put the prepared berries in one layer on a wooden board and put them in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
- Then the rose hips should be laid out in prepared plastic bowls or sturdy bags for long-term freezing.
- It is best to label frozen rose hips so that you can use them only during the expiration date.
- It is also necessary to observe the temperature in the freezer, it should be at the level of 16 -18 degrees.
Halves of fruit without seeds
If you want to freeze half berries, then the only difference from the above method is that before freezing, the rosehip is cut in half and the seeds are removed.
Rosehip puree
- To freeze mashed rose hips, wash the berries, cut them in half and remove the seeds.
- Transfer everything to a plate and fill it with water, so leave it for several days, during this period the rosehip should soften.
- Next, we use a blender or sieve, with the help of which it is easy to make mashed potatoes from the prepared mass.
- Transfer the mass to ice-making trays and send to the freezer for several hours. After a while, take out the frozen mixture and transfer for long-term storage in tight bags back to the freezer.
Leaves
- When freezing rosehip leaves, they must first be washed and dried on a paper towel.
- Then put them on a wooden board and put them in the freezer for several hours.
- Then move them into bags, be sure to release the air and send them back for long-term storage.
- It is also possible to freeze the crushed leaves, respectively, after washing, they need to be cut.
Whole rose hips are stored for 1 - 1.5 years frozen, pureed and cut for up to 10 months, whole and chopped leaves - for about 1 year.
How to drink frozen rose hips
For the preparation of infusions and decoctions, all of the above options of frozen rosehip are used, for syrup and compote - mainly whole berries.
How to brew and drink frozen rose hips in winter?
A healthy infusion can be made from frozen rose hips. For which you should put a handful of fruits in a thermos, pour freshly boiled water, after 6 hours the infusion is ready.
It is especially good to use it in winter during epidemics as a prophylactic agent. It is worth noting that you need to drink no more than 200 ml per day.
Rosehip contains:
- ascorbic acid (moreover, in a larger volume than in lemon and black currant),
- vitamins E, K, P, B,
- iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, carotene, manganese, lycopene.
Thus, it can be confidently asserted that rose hips are a natural remedy.
The plant helps with inflammatory processes, is a diuretic and choleretic agent, has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal part of the body, strengthens the immune system, reduces blood cholesterol, can help stop diseases such as atherosclerosis, and lowers blood pressure. To get rid of such ailments, you can use decoctions, rosehip infusions, as well as its tea from the leaves.
Of course, you can easily freeze rose hips for the winter and enjoy their wonderful taste and beneficial effects until the next harvest.
The nutritional value
| Vitamins | number | Norm |
| Vitamin A | 817 μg | 900 mcg |
| alpha carotene | 62 mcg | ~ |
| beta carotene | 4.9 mg | 5 mg |
| beta Cryptoxanthin | 960 μg | ~ |
| Lycopene | 13000 mcg | ~ |
| Lutein | 4001 mcg | ~ |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.07 mg | 1.5 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.3 mg | 1.8 mg |
| Vitamin B4 | 25 mg | 500 mg |
| Vitamin B5 | 1.6 mg | 5 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.6 mg | 2 mg |
| Vitamin C | 1000 mg | 90 mg |
| Vitamin E | 3.8 mg | 15 mg |
Preparation phase
Remove the bones carefully so as not to injure your fingers.
Berries require careful processing, and you should not delay with this stage, since rose hips are a perishable product. After harvesting, you need to start drying on the same day or the next. Otherwise, the fruits will begin to lose their beneficial properties.
All collected fruits must be carefully sorted out, discarding all rotten, crumpled and spoiled ones. For drying, it is better to leave only large and clean berries. Then the entire crop must be poured into a colander and rinsed under a strong stream of running water, washing away the street dirt.Manipulations must be carried out with extreme care so as not to damage the sepals, which keep all the nutrients sealed inside. Then let the berries dry.
After that, the rose hips are poured onto a paper towel, straightened and laid out more freely so that they can dry out faster from moisture. Enough 1 hour for the berries to become dry on the surface and ready for further processing. Some housewives prefer to cut the fruit and take out all the seeds, which takes a very long time. But this will allow the berries to dry faster. Each housewife chooses how best to dry the fruits and whether they require additional processing.
