How to preserve fresh berries

While having an abundance of fruit on hand is a happy problem to have, keeping your berries from going bad does present a challenge. Here are four great ways to preserve them.

1. Make jam. To turn your berries into jam, all you need is a pot, your fruits, some sugar and pectin. Make certain you properly seal your jars to ensure the jam’s safe to eat for up to a year. Homemade jams are perfect for spreading on toast or slathering over a bowl of ice cream.

2. Dehydrate them. Turn your oven into a dehydrator. Place berries on a baking sheet on the middle rack, and set your oven to the lowest heat possible. In a few hours, you’ll have dried berries to snack on, mix into trail mix or even bake with.

3. Make freezer jam. Freezer jam is thinner than the cooked variety, but tastes more like fresh berries. First crush the berries and then mix them with sugar and no-cook pectin (available at most grocery stores). Spoon the mixture into small jars and freeze it.

4. Freeze them. Having frozen berries on hand is great for making smoothies, oatmeal and baked goods all year round. You can also try them thawed and topped with heavy cream and maple syrup for a decadent dessert. Before freezing, lay them out in a single layer in a freezer bag, making sure to remove as much air as possible.

These preserving methods will allow you to enjoy fresh berries long after the season has ended.