Welcome to our new series where we’ll let you know what fruit and vegetables are market fresh this week, give you handy storage tips and recipes to make the most of seasonal produce.
Native to North America, blueberries are one of very few foods that are naturally coloured blue. Small in size with smooth dark skin, these delicious morsels are a great source of vitamin C and dietary fibre and provide your body with beneficial antioxidants.
Last year, Australian farmers grew 17,000 tonnes of fresh blueberries with an approximate farm gate value of $300 million. The peak of availability for the berries is from October to February with three common varietal families produced - lowbush, highbush and rabbiteye.
When buying, you are looking for berries that are dry and plump and have a white coating on them called 'bloom'. Bloom is really important in maintaining blueberry freshness, it is nature’s way of keeping the berries fresh – so the more bloom the better!
Your blueberries are best stored in the fridge. When stored fresh and correctly, you can enjoy your blueberries for 5-7 days. You can also freeze blueberries to use later on in things like smoothies and baking - just don’t rinse them before freezing.
There are three ways to freeze the berries – loose, by the whole punnet, or in ice cube trays. If freezing loose berries, cover a large baking tray with baking paper; spread the berries out so they are not touching each other and freeze below -18 C.
If you want to keep it super simple, pat the fruit with a paper towel to make sure it is dry and then stick the whole punnet straight in the freezer. Grab it out when you want it and use the blueberries just like fresh ones.
Alternatively, pop a couple of blueberries into each hole of an ice cube tray and top up with water, freeze overnight until cubes are solid. FYI: frozen blueberries are great cooling treats for dogs!
Tip: berries are better just given a gentle rinse before eating them.
Here are three ways to incorporate these delicious berries into family meals:
Maple and blueberry protein smoothie - packed with fresh blueberries, creamy coconut milk and a scoop of protein powder, this smoothie is naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup. Perfect for a quick and nutritious boost or a great start to the day.
Blueberry muffins - contrasting textures of sweet and sour make these blueberry muffins the perfect lunchbox treat.
Five-spiced kangaroo fillet, macadamia mousse, pickled beetroot and blueberry reduction – surprisingly, kangaroo and blueberry are a match made in heaven!
