Blueberries are a member of the heather family and are related to cranberries, bilberries, and huckleberries. I have two different varieties of blueberries planted into a little space next to my strawberries (against the fence) and raised herb beds. It provides a little green in a crushed-granite area we set aside for the dogs to use. One bush provides very large fat berries (a high-bush), the other (low bush) produces smaller berries. Harvest started this year (2021) at the end of May and lasted through the end of July. This post explains why they are so important, and how I harvest, clean, store, and eat these berries.
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Blueberry Magic
Blueberries are a fantastically nutritious food, and contain an amazing number of antioxidant-based health benefits.
Fantastic Nutrition
When we planned our back yard, it was important to me that we had blueberry bushes for two very important reasons. First, was that they are a very nutritious fruit that is easy to grow, harvest, eat and store, and second was that they are relatively easy to grow.
HealthLine notes that they are high in nutrition, nutritional compounds, and antioxidants, while low in calories.
- 1C = is 85% water and has 84c, 15k, 1.1p, 4f and 1mg sodium
- 1C contains (RDI %) Vit C 24% , Vit K 36%, Magnesium 25%
- 1C contains 15g sugar
Wondrous Health Benefits
There are some general comments regarding blueberries that all my usual sources agree are critical to blueberries. So the second reason for me wanting blueberries in my back yard is that they are one of the best and easiest way to use food to augment our health.
- They are a member of a limited number of fruit that have the highest antioxidant capacity of all USA-popular fruits and vegetables (1).
- These antioxidants prevent oxidative damage to “bad” LDL cholesterol (2).
- Studies show regular consumption lowers blood pressure (3).
- The antioxidants benefit our brains by aiding brain function, and delaying mental decline (4, 5).
- Blueberry supplements may lessen damage at a molecular level, minimizing soreness and reduced muscle performance after very strenuous exercise (6, 7).
- Studies show they improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels. The anthocyanins in blueberries positively effects insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism (8).
- They contain substances (anti-adhesives) that prevent certain bacteria from binding to the wall of our bladders, which may help prevent UTIs (9).
Personal Story
The third reason for planting blueberries, was my history with this particular fruit. As I have said before, when in the USA from age ~9-12 years, my family was extremely poor living in an urban setting. With limited funds, I had to work the fields in the summer (as this was the only job I could get during the day, to augment babysitting). I worked picking mainly blueberries, and occasionally strawberries, in order to have enough money to buy next year‘s school supplies, and any new-to-us clothes. So blueberries are tied in my mind with going to school, which was my way out of poverty.
The work was hard, the bushes were high, and a busload of children (mainly people of color) were bussed from our pickup point in town to the farm. We were given coffee cans with metal loops to fit over our belts and sent down a row of bushes. We would pick all the ripe berries we could reach until our cans were full, then return to the truck at the head of the bush-line to dump. The adults would review that there were no unripe berries, weigh, and document how much we picked. At the end of the day (or week) we could convert the amount we picked into cash.
During the day you could eat your fill of the berries, so many of us had the blueberry dust all over our faces, but especially our mouths and nose. It was easy to see who ate the most by the amount of the dark dust covering our faces. It was hard work, we ate our sack lunches in the field while they provided the water to drink. Restrooms were portable outhouses and I do not remember any sinks to wash our hands (although there would be now).
Blueberry Storage + Use
Fresh Berries
I place the cleaned berries into a container and in the fridge for immediate eating. The fresh berries can last easily two weeks. (Do not put in the crisper drawers but on the shelf as they will stay cooler.)
I use fresh berries directly in cooked oatmeal, breakfast cereal, with yogurt + granola, in pancakes or waffles, and in fruit salads. Others add them to overnight oats, cobblers, pies, jams, crisps, shakes, etc.
Frozen Berries
Blueberries are easy to freeze and reuse frozen or thawed.
Folks say frozen blueberries can last a year, but I have used packages older and they were fine. Important is to freeze your thoroughly-dried and picked-through berries, place in a freezer container, and date with month/year; then store in the freezer so the oldest is visible first.
I do cook with frozen berries, but only when baking. Since I have both an active lemon and lime tree, I make citrus and blueberry loafs, and scones.
- Lime Blueberry Loaf
- Lemon Blueberry Loaf (same recipe as above, just use lemons for limes)
- Blueberry Scones
- Blueberry + Lemon Scones
Otherwise, frozen blueberries can be used in shakes, heated up to make a blueberry compote
Oven Dried Blueberries
Making dried blueberries is as easy as making dried apple slices.
- Turn oven to 225F.
- Rinse blueberries, pick through them for moldy, green berries, and leaves or stems.
- Blanch the berries in boiling water for ~30 seconds to release the waxy exterior a bit and introduce smallish cracks in the shell so the interior can dry well.
- Place on a paper-towel lined large baking sheet and let air dry on the counter for an hour.
- Then gently hand dry with paper towels as you remove the berries from the baking sheet and into a bowl.
- Replace the layer of paper towels with parchment paper in the same baking sheet.
- Spread the blueberries across the parchment.
- Place in the oven for 3 hours.
- At 3 hours check to make sure they are dry, if not continue to cook.
- Tap or squeeze to see if there is any moisture remaining.
- If leathery hard and not squishy they are done.
- Once done, remove and cool berries before placing in an airtight container.
- You can place dried fruit in the fridge to keep dry and cool if you have a tight fitting lid. This will last the longest.
- You can also add a de-moisture packet to the container if being kept in the pantry; read labels to make sure it is food grade.
- Keep away from heat, light, and moisture.
- Be sure to date the container.
I keep an eye on the containers the first few days to see if any condensation appears. If there is condensation then the berries in that container need further drying in the oven.
Dried blueberries look a bit like dried grapes, or raisons. They can also be used in place of raisons if you want.
Happy cooking!
—Patty
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