Fresh Cranberry Recipes for 2023! (2024)

FAQs

Can I freeze fresh cranberries? ›

Place plastic bags of cranberries directly in the freezer for up to twelve months and use without thawing—just run cold water over them to rinse before using. Because some bruised and soft berries and some stems and leaves are often in the bags, you might prefer to sort and wash the berries before freezing them.

How Long Fresh Cranberries Will Last. If stored correctly, fresh cranberries will last in the refrigerator for three to four weeks. If you opted to freeze them, they'll keep well for up to a year. When frozen, you can use them straight from the freezer without defrosting.

Weather again hurt cranberry harvests across the country in 2023, with drought, excess snow, freezes, and hailstorms harming crops in many regions. As a result, yields in individual states were down anywhere from 5% to 12% compared to the already reduced yields of 2022.

Fresh U.S. cranberries are only harvested in the fall and are available at your local grocery store from September through January.

Fresh cranberries are harvested in the fall and are usually only available at your local grocery store from October through December. Fortunately, cranberries can be frozen for up to a year, so remember to stock up with an extra bag or two around the holidays to use throughout the year.

If you absolutely need to thaw the frozen cranberries, place them in a strainer and run cool water over them until thawed. Do cranberries get mushy after freezing? If you thaw the frozen cranberries, they will be pretty mushy.

Cooking Cranberries on the Stove-Top: Simmer whole cranberries gently in a small amount of water, uncovered, since too much steam might cause them to swell and explode. No Need to Thaw Your Cranberries: You don't need to thaw frozen berries before using in a recipe—just give them a quick water bath.

Avoid cranberries that look bruised or shriveled. Before use, rinse fresh or frozen cranberries and discard any that are damaged. It is not necessary to rinse before freezing, and there is also no need to clean dried cranberries. When cooking, heat cranberries just until they pop.

Both fresh and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many can lead to an upset stomach.

However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries. Tannins are a plant compound also found in high amounts in coffee, wine, and dark chocolate ( 2 , 4 ).

What 2 states grow the most cranberries? ›

Most cranberries come from Wisconsin and Massachusetts

Just five states grow almost all of the country's supply of the tart berries: Wisconsin produces more than half of all cranberries in the United States, Massachusetts harvests another third, and New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington produce much of the rest.

During this period, cranberries are at their peak freshness and availability, leading to lower prices due to the abundance of supply. However, as the harvest season ends, the availability of fresh cranberries decreases, causing prices to rise.

To get the highest levels of beneficial nutrients from cranberries, choosing fresh cranberries is best. Cranberries are at their peak from October to December. So if you can find them, you can purchase them fresh during this time and then freeze them and consume them all year.

Nature's Pick Cranberries 300g | ALDI.

Cranberries are a tart and unique fruit often associated with Thanksgiving. This lip-smacking berry is in season between September to December.

When in sealed packaging, they can be placed directly in the freezer. You can also place them on a metal baking sheet to freeze them, then transfer them to individual bags and return them to the freezer for future use. Cranberries will not stick together once they are frozen.

In the store

Give a bag of cranberries a thorough once-over to make sure there aren't any soft or mushy berries, or liquid that hasn't collected inside the bag. At home, keep cranberries cold. In the fridge, they'll stay fresh for a good month.

Yes, Craisins® Sweetened Dried Cranberries work well in baked goods; however, there is a 1/4 cup (60 mL) difference in measurement. If a recipe calls for one cup of fresh cranberries you should use 3/4 cup (175 mL) of Craisins®. Craisins® should not be used in cooked sauces.

Cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator up to three (3) months if they are kept in their original plastic packaging or in an airtight, sealed container. Left in the open air, at room temperature, cranberries quickly lose their freshness.

Homemade cranberry sauce takes about 30 minutes to make and it freezes better because it uses fresh cranberries. (The fresher the fruit you use, the better the taste!) If you plan on freezing fresh cranberry sauce, it's ideal to freeze it within a day of making it.

What to use frozen cranberries for? ›

Some simple ways to use frozen cranberries include: Blend into smoothies. Make your own cranberry sauce (and then see our post regarding cranberry sauce uses) Make sweet or savory salsa.