What I love:
Freeze Dried Blueberries make my “top 5 favorite freeze dried fruit” list. My kids love them, I love them. They are fabulous. A few reasons:
- At $1.72 per 6 oz pint, they are less expensive than fresh or frozen blueberries. (I can occasionally get a fresh 6 oz pkg for $1.50, but not all year long!)
*Based on Winter 2012 pricing
- They are easier to use in baking than frozen or canned blueberries
- They turn your mouth blue when you eat them right out of the can my kids LOVE it, and it makes eating them so fun!
Health Benefits:
Based off the top 10 health benefits of blueberries from Women’s Fitness
- Promote the immune system and neutralize free radicals that affect aging (b/c they are full of more antioxidants than any other fruit!)
- Promote urinary tract health
- Help reduce belly fat!
- Preserve vision
- Keep your brain healthy by preventing and healing neurotic disorders
- Dissolve “bad cholesterol”
- Improve digestion
- Reduce cancer risks
- Work as an antidepressant
After reading that list, is there anyone who wouldn’t want to eat a good amount of this fabulous fruit? Remember, the freeze dried version still has all the nutrient of fresh blueberries!
Tips:
- 1/2 cup freeze dried = about 3/4 cup fresh (one 6 oz pkg). I figure this out by counting the number of blueberries in each.
- When baking, you do not need to hydrate them first, just add 1 T. water for every 1/4 – 1/3 cup dry blueberries. Then, let the batter sit for 10-15 minutes before baking. I’ve found that using this method make the blueberries “leak” their blue color less than canned or frozen blueberries. For example:
- If a recipe called for 1 cup fresh blueberries, that is equivalent to about 2/3 cup dry blueberries. So, I would add the 2/3 cup blueberries plus 2 T water, mix the batter and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before baking. The blueberries will absorb the extra water and your muffins (or whatever) will bake up just fine!
- If you prefer to hydrate them first, simply soak 1 cup blueberries in 1 c up water (or 1/2 cup in 1/2 cup) for 5-10 minutes and then drain.
Recipes:
Here are a few recipes to try your freeze dried blueberries in:
 |
Blueberry Truffles |
 |
Upside Down Blueberry Cheesecake |
 |
Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins |
Becky is a wildlife enthusiast and pet and livestock care expert with a diploma in canine nutrition. With over a decade of experience in animal welfare, Becky lends her expertise to Simple Family Preparedness through insightful info about pets, livestock, bee keeping, and the practicalities of homesteading.