How to cook cherry compote for the winter?
Even a young housewife can prepare 2-3 jars of cherry compote for the winter. Despite the fact that this is an extremely exciting process, it still requires seriousness and responsibility, since it is necessary to choose and prepare the berries correctly, and strictly follow the conservation algorithm. You can learn more about them and find out what the benefits and popularity of this drink are in this article.
Calorie content and composition
The calorie content of cherry compote is quite low, which allows this drink to become a dietary drink. With a small amount of sugar used in conservation, the use of cherry compote will not harm the figure of a person who adheres to a strict diet.
100 g of cherry compote contains:
- proteins - 0.38 g;
- fats - 0.12 g;
- carbohydrates - 13 g.
It also contains a small amount of fiber. There is no cholesterol in cherry compote.
The chemical composition of compote is largely due to the vitamins and microelements found in cherries, which do not lose their beneficial properties even after conservation. Cherry is an irreplaceable source of vitamin C and chromium. Most of us know that vitamin C is a member of the redox reaction, helps the immune system to function properly, promotes better absorption of iron.The lack of this vitamin in the human body adversely affects the gums, namely, it makes them loose and provokes their bleeding. The same thing happens with the nose. There are frequent bleeding associated with high permeability and capillary fragility.
Chromium is an active participant in the regulation of glucose levels in the human circulatory system. It promotes the production and enhancement of the action of the protein hormone of the pancreas, more familiar to us under the name insulin. The lack of this element in the human body affects the decrease in the absorption of glucose. Most are familiar with such a disease as diabetes, and are aware of the dangers of sugar. But not everyone is aware of the danger of glucose deficiency in the body, which "hit" the vital organs, and above all the brain. Regular consumption of cherry compote will help saturate the body with useful glucose. By the way, 100 g of cherry compote contains 6 g of glucose.
What is useful?
The chemical composition of cherry compote is characterized by the presence of a huge amount of substances necessary for the human body, including vitamins A, C, E, B. The benefits of this canned drink are also found in the composition of potassium, iron, magnesium, beta-carotene, sodium and phosphorus . In addition to the vitamin-rich chemical composition, cherry compote is famous for several other features that significantly distinguish it from other types of compote.
First of all, this is a favorable preventive effect on the most important element of the blood - hemoglobin. It is thanks to him that oxygen and carbon dioxide are transferred from our lungs to all cells and vice versa.Hemoglobin is not only one of the main participants in gas exchange, it is also responsible for the acid-base balance in the human body. Regular consumption of cherry compote will normalize the level of hemoglobin in the blood and help to cope with anemia.
Few people think about the calorie content of compotes, but it is worth mentioning that a cherry drink is practically a dietary product. One hundred grams of cherry compote contains only 57 kilocalories. The rather low calorie content of this product allows it to be used even by people who are actively fighting extra pounds. However, do not forget that a sufficiently large amount of granulated sugar is used to prepare the drink, which can significantly affect its composition.
However, recipes are good because they can be subject to minor changes. For example, granulated sugar can be replaced with more healthy food sweeteners - honey, molasses, or already prepared cherry syrup.
Fresh cherries are recommended for people with diseases of the lungs, respiratory tract, liver and nervous system. This also applies to the use of cherry compote, as fresh, dried, frozen, in compote, juice, jelly or any other cherry helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Such a compote is useful during pregnancy and a nursing mother. It is worth noting that when breastfeeding, it must be consumed in small portions. You can also make a simple drink with 3 apples and strawberries.
Harm
As a rule, compotes are the favorite treats of kids.They willingly agree to drink them, which cannot but please caring parents, since a huge amount of vitamins and microelements have a positive effect on the proper growth and development of the child. But it is important when making compote at home to strictly follow the recipe and carefully approach the choice of raw materials, in this case it is cherry. Then you will need to remove the seeds from all the berries, as the drink is prepared for children. But there is another reason for such careful processing of berries. The fact is that in the composition of the cherry seed there is a rather impressive amount of a substance such as amygdalin. After some time, it turns into hydrocyanic acid.
Hydrocyanic acid (or hydrocyanic acid) is an extremely dangerous and potent poisonous substance. Poisoning it can even cause death. Acid poses a danger in case of transformation into hydrocyanic compounds, that is, being in a gaseous state, since a person is poisoned due to volatile poisons.
Recipes for the winter
There are several rules that must be followed when preparing blanks for the winter.
Ignoring them is not recommended, as this can significantly affect the quality and taste of the future compote.
- Compote should be cooked exclusively from dense, not overripe berries. At high temperatures, damaged berries begin to spread, turning into gruel. This does not affect the taste, but the consistency will more resemble undercooked jam.
- The question of removing seeds from berries is up to you. But it is worth noting that it is advisable to drink compote made from berries with seeds within 12 months.Otherwise, hydrocyanic acid begins to affect the composition of the compote.
- A three-liter jar before filling should be thoroughly washed with baking soda and sterilized in a water bath or in an oven.
- The lid is boiled well before rolling and wiped dry.
in a saucepan
Cherry compote can be prepared in two different ways. The first is characterized by the preparation of syrup. Cherries are initially poured with boiling water, after which the boiling water is drained and syrup is boiled from it, which is subsequently poured into a jar and rolled up. The second method involves cooking compote without syrup. Fresh cherries are poured with water and sugar and immediately rolled up in a jar. As a rule, regardless of the cooking method you choose, the ingredients remain the same, only the proportions change.
For the traditional cherry compote recipe, you will need:
- a glass of berries;
- 2.5 liters of water;
- a glass of granulated sugar.
First, rinse the cherries thoroughly under a strong stream of running water. Then place it in a steamed jar and pour boiling water up to its very neck. After 5-7 minutes, pour the water from the jar into a saucepan with a thick bottom and walls. Add sugar to it and boil well. Pour the resulting boiling water into the same jar where the berries are. Then roll up the jar with a pre-boiled lid. Place the resulting compote on the floor so that the bottom of the jar is at the top. Do not forget that the jar of cherry compote should cool down gradually, so it is recommended to wrap it with a warm blanket or terry towel.
The next recipe will require sterilization.
Required Ingredients:
- 1 kg of berries;
- 500 g of granulated sugar;
- 2 liters of water.
Do not be lazy to sort out the berries for their worminess. Then rinse the cherries thoroughly in running water and place in a clean jar. Next, you need to boil the syrup with water and granulated sugar. The resulting syrup is slowly poured into a clean jar of cherries and pasteurized. It will take 20-25 minutes to pasteurize a 500 ml jar. For a one liter can, a little more time is needed - 30-45 minutes. Then the bank is rolled up. Don't forget to check the container for leaks. After that, the cherry compote is wrapped and placed upside down until it cools completely.
In a slow cooker
To prepare a summer compote of cherries does not take much time and effort. All you need is a multicooker. Of the ingredients, you need to get a glass of cherries and a glass of granulated sugar. First of all, it is recommended to carefully sort and rinse the berries. Make sure none of them are wormy or rotten. Then pure cherries are poured into the capacity of the multicooker, granulated sugar is added to it. The content is filled with water. Next, the “extinguishing” mode is turned on for 60 minutes. After the time has passed, a delicious and healthy compote will be waiting for you. Let it cool for a few minutes, after which you can fill a jug with it and treat the household.
Conservation rules
In order to avoid the unpleasant consequences of conservation, as well as to preserve winter preparations for a long time, It is recommended to follow a few simple rules.
- Be selective when choosing raw materials. In this case, carefully select the berries for future canning. It is desirable that the cherry is fresh, clean, whole, without wormholes.
- Choose sealed containers. It is necessary that the “throat” of the cans be without chips, and the lids should be even.It is advisable to check the jar for leaks every time. To do this, pour a small amount of water into it, close the lid and shake well. Leakage of water indicates a lack of tightness, therefore, this container is not suitable for conservation.
- All containers must be well rinsed.
- Sterilization is important in the canning process, as it contributes to the destruction of all harmful microbes located on the walls of the jar. Be careful and careful, as there is a high risk of getting burned. Sterilization is inevitably accompanied by high temperatures.
- The jar must be thoroughly dried from the inside. It is enough to put it on a gauze napkin upside down and leave for a few minutes.
When deciding to pour hot syrup or jam into a jar, it is recommended to preheat the container. To do this, you can leave the jar for 2-3 minutes in a preheated oven.
- After filling the jar with compote, it needs to be re-sterilized. First of all, you need a wide pan, at the bottom of which should be a clean cloth. Next, place a jar of cherry compote in a saucepan and cover with a lid (do not roll up, just cover). Then fill the pot with water so that it does not touch the "throat" of the jar. Heat the water over low heat until it starts to boil.
- In canning, the tightness of the container plays an important role. After you roll up the jar, turn it upside down. Make sure the content doesn't leak. If necessary, roll up the jar of cherry compote again.
- It is important that the rolled up jar cools down gradually. Otherwise, cherry compote will start to mold and ferment. Therefore, in no case do not put the jar in the refrigerator.Put ready-made compotes on the floor and wrap them with a terry towel or a warm blanket.
- The ideal place for storage is the basement or cellar. Their happy owners can store canned jars for quite a long time. Those who do not have access to a cellar or basement should carefully consider the place for future winter preparations. Ideally, it should be dark and cold, since at warm temperatures, canned berries in cooked compote begin to mold or ferment.
It is recommended not to store blanks for more than 12 months, but try to use them before the expiration of this period. Due to the fact that changes occur in the composition of canned berries every day, you run the risk of not getting the full benefit of the vitamins and minerals they contain.
How to cook cherry compote for the winter, see the next video.