Saturday, August 24, 2013

All about strawberries

Thawing Berries
Frozen strawberries are suitable for use in many recipes. Berries tend to lose their texture and soften when thawed, the appearance of the dessert may change somewhat, depending on the recipe. When substituting for fresh berries, use the same measure of frozen berries. If your berries were packed with sugar, reduce the amount of sugar called for in the recipe. A rule of thumb: for every pint of frozen, sweetened berries, reduce the amount of sugar called for by 1/2 cup. For berries frozen in a sugar syrup, reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe accordingly.
Picking Strawberries
The strawberry probably tastes best when eaten freshly picked off the vine as you kneel in the middle of a strawberry patch on a bright sunny morning. Second best - any other way you eat it!
Strawberries are not only delicious but they are good for you. They supply vitamins A and C, fiber and calcium at only 55 calories.
When picking strawberries, try and pick early in the morning when when the fruit is still cool. Gently twist the berry off the stem - don't pull. Whether picking or buying, look for bright red, well-shaped fruit without hard green areas. Also, very large berries tend to be less flavorful than the small or medium ones (not always).
Strawberries are best used within 1 to 2 days of picking. Cover and store them unwashed in the refrigerator. Do not crowd or press.

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