A step-by-step guide to preserving blueberries
1. Wash the blueberries thoroughly.
First, rinse the blueberries under cold, running water. This will remove dirt, debris, and pesticide residue. Drain the blueberries thoroughly in a colander and pat them dry gently with a clean towel.
2. Prepare clean jars and lids
Use sterilized jars with new, tight-fitting lids. The jars can be sterilized by boiling for 10 minutes or by washing them in the dishwasher. Make sure they are completely dry before using.
3. Fill the jars with berries.
Carefully add clean berries to each jar, filling to about 2-3 cm below the rim. Do not crush or mash the berries – they should remain whole.
4. Add lemon juice to each jar.
Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to each 750 ml jar. This step is important because lemon juice increases acidity and creates an environment where harmful bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum (the botulism bacteria) cannot thrive.
Blueberries in lemon water jars
5. Fill the jars with water.
the recipe on the next page
