Five Great Ways To Preserve Your Garden's Summery Fruit Flavours For The Winter

This month you may well find yourself with more fruit on your hands than you know what to do with. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to make sure that none of it goes to waste and to ensure that you can enjoy delicious summery fruit flavours all winter long. Here are a few fun ways to prepare and preserve the produce of your fruit garden or orchard:


Jams and Other PreservesJams and Jellies


Making jams and jellies is the traditional way to preserve your fruit for later in the year. There are plenty of different recipes out there and some are easier than others. With a pot, a stove and a spoon to stir with, anyone can make jams or jellies that can give you a taste of late summer even when there is snow on the ground. It is easier than you might imagine.


Cordial


Making a cordial is also a good way to use a glut of fruit. To make a cordial simply boil down fruits in a small amount of water, strain off the pulp, reduce and add sugar or honey. Sealed in sterilised bottles, this should keep, refrigerated, well into the winter.


Quince fruit leathersFruit Leathers


If you have kids, they will love these dehydrated fruit purée coils. Simply purée fruit (a couple of apples added to the mix will help with the set) and leave in a baking tray lined with lightly oiled greaseproof paper overnight on a low temperature. The fruit leathers are done when it feels dry and leathery to the touch.


Fruit Crisps


Firm fruits such as apples can be dehydrated in the oven to make delicious crisps that will keep for months and help you satisfy your cravings for a snack and a fruity taste. Store dry crisps in an airtight jar and they will keep for a long time.


Frozen RaspberriesFrozen Fruit:


Of course, if you do not have much time and do have some space in your freezer then you could always just freeze some fruit. Soft fruits such as raspberries and blackberries can be frozen for later use in pies or crumbles, but will not hold their shape when defrosted. Apples can be frozen in slices (with lemon juice to stop browning) or, more simply, as a purée of stewed fruit. Remove the stones from stone fruit before freezing.


However you decide to preserve the fruit from your garden, be sure not to let it go to waste. Tasting fruity tastes in the winter is a real pick-me-up over the coldest, bleakest months.