How to Store and Keep Mulberries Fresh? A Full Breakdown of the Latest Methods
The mulberry is the fruit borne by the mulberry tree. Not only can the leaves of the mulberry tree be used to raise silkworms, but the fruit it bears is also very delicious. The fruit starts out green and relatively hard, then gradually turns red, and finally, once fully ripe, becomes jet black. At this point the flesh becomes much softer and spoils easily, so freshly picked mulberries need to be kept fresh through certain methods, or preserved for a longer time. Now let's take a look at what methods there are.
1. Low-temperature storage
If you bought them for home use, you can just put them in the refrigerator, but if you grew them yourself, the quantity is usually larger, so it is best to have a cold storage compartment for keeping them. The cold storage compartment generally needs to be kept at around 0 degrees or 1 degree, which can keep them fresh at low temperature without freezing, preserving the flavor of the fruit. Do not place the refrigerator setting on the freezer layer. Stored this way, they keep for a fairly long time.
2. Drying
After picking, you can dry the mulberries directly in the sun. Once dried, they can be put into airtight containers such as plastic bags, boxes, or glass jars. They can be stored for a very long time, and during that period you can take them out to eat at any time, or occasionally sun-dry them again to prevent moisture. You can also dry them directly with a dryer; drying is fast and effective, and after all they keep well for storage.
3. Preservation by processing
Fresh mulberries are hard to keep, so they can be processed into other foods for storage, such as mulberry jam, mulberry wine, dried fruit preserves and the like, which can then be stored for a relatively long time, but they no longer have the taste of fresh eating. If you like the flavor of these processed products, you can choose this preservation method yourself.
4. Freezing
Freezing can lock them solid directly; once frozen they generally will not spoil and can be kept for a long time, but when you want to eat them, some of the flavor may be lost. The longer the freezing time, the less good the taste. To thaw, just put them in warm water. After thawing, they must not be frozen again, as they spoil easily; eat them as soon as possible after thawing.
5. Preservative agents
Preservative agents are generally available for sale, and their effect is fairly good. Buy them from reputable sellers, and use them according to the recommended amount; do not use too much, as that is not good. Before eating later, wash them before consumption. Do not eat them directly. The main function of preservative agents is to prevent oxidation and block out air.
Mulberries can be picked when they are 90 percent ripe; do not pick too late, as they are then hard to keep and spoil easily, but also do not pick too early, as the fruit will not be ripe. The best preservation method is refrigeration. If you want to store them for a longer time, you can freeze them or process them.