Fresh Summer Blackberry Crisp Recipe - The Hungry Bluebird (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with freshly picked blackberries? ›

Blackberry: Pairs well with almond, apple, apricot, black pepper, blueberry, cinnamon, citrus, clove, ginger, hazelnut, lemon, mango, mint, peach, plum, orange, raspberry, strawberry, and vanilla. It mixes very well with berry liqueurs, brandy, Champagne, orange liqueurs, port wine, and red wines such as merlot.

You can turn the berries into a dessert, of course, like in this stunning blackberry and mascarpone crêpe cake or this summer peach and blackberry galette. But you can also pickle them, use them to make a conserva, and create a smoky barbecue sauce with them for your summer cookouts.

There is traditionally a date after which the berries should not be picked, most commonly taken to be Michaelmas (29 September) but later in some areas, after which time the devil is said to spit or stamp (or worse) on the berries, rendering them unfit.

Blackberries are really versatile – they're fantastic enjoyed fresh or incorporated into various culinary delights. Once picked, store fresh blackberries in the refrigerator if you plan to use them within a few days. Alternatively, freezing the berries preserves them for later use.

Berries have thin skins and are full of moisture, making them very susceptible to mold. Fortunately, common household vinegar is quite effective at killing the mold spores and bacteria that spoil fruit.

There are worms in them. Tiny white worms, almost transparent, that will ultimately blossom into fruit flies -- unless you eat them first. Scientists know them as Drosophila suzukii.

Macerating—soaking or steeping in liquid and/or sweetener—is one of the easiest and fastest ways to doctor up sub-par berries. Toss them in sugar, honey, or maple syrup, along with a little fresh juice or alcohol (an herbal liqueur, like elderflower spirit, would be great).

Puree blackberries with fruit juices and/or other fruits and freeze to use in recipes, like popsicles. Yogurt can be added to the mixture before freezing for extra flavor and nutrition. Orange, lemon, cinnamon and nutmeg flavors blend well with blackberry flavors.

Can you put blackberries in a Mason jar? ›

You can keep them fresh longer in the fridge with mason jars or freeze them. Freezing them allows you to have berries all year long as a snack, for smoothies, or even making homemade jam with. If you've washed them correctly, you know they are safe to eat. This is a great way to enjoy berries all year long!

Blackberries are in season from late July to October, depending on the weather. Blackberries tend to be at their best and most abundant in August and early September. The Latin name for the blackberry is rubus fruticosus. The small pink flowers on brambles look a little like wild roses.

If you've no apple cider vinegar you can use white vinegar or do a saltwater soak with a teaspoon of salt for every 500ml of water, just to help get rid of any bacteria and bugs.

Place the baking tray in the freezer and flash freeze the blackberries for a minimum of 3 hours, or until fully frozen. Transfer to a freezer safe container. We typically like to use plastic freezer bag or reusable silicone type bags, like Stasher. Freeze for up to 6 months for optimal freshness and texture retention.

Upon harvesting, how blackberries are stored significantly influences their shelf life. Room Temperature: Keeping blackberries at room temperature is only advisable if they are to be consumed within a day since they can quickly decay due to warm conditions and exposure to air.

Try to keep blackberries dry when storing and they should last for two to three days. If you're refrigerating them, they'll taste much juicier if you let them come to room temperature before eating.

Everyone says you shouldn't wash berries until just before you eat them because moisture shortens their shelf life. But the truth is, berries carry mold spores that cause them to go deteriorate very quickly. And that mold can spread through a whole basket of berries in a flash.