In Season: Blueberries
Photo by Jeff Kubina on Flickr
In season May through October, it's only been in the last couple of weeks that blueberries have appeared at the farmers' markets in New York City. Look for fresh blueberries that are firm, dry, plump, smooth-skinned, deep-purple blue to blue-black in color, and relatively free from leaves and stems. Note that size is not an indicator of maturity. Fresh berries should be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 10 days and washed just before using.
To freeze fresh berries, use berries that are unwashed and completely dry. Store in your freezer in an airtight container or re-sealable plastic bag. Or, arrange dry berries in a single layer on a cookie sheet, freeze, then transfer berries to airtight container or re-sealable plastic bag.
Here are a few recipes we think are worth trying this blueberry season:
Blueberry Recipes
- Ricotta-Berry Muffins
- Lemon Blueberry Pancakes
- Blueberry-Peach Cobbler
- Blueberry Cake with Blueberry Sauce
- Blueberry Mojito
What are some of your favorite blueberry recipes?
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15 Comments:
I just bought a pint from Lyman Orchard near me. I think a Blueberry Buckle is going to be good for half of them.
TastyNewEngland at 4:16PM on 07/20/08
How timely...I just picked 10lbs of blueberries at a local farm this morning. A total bargain at $1.95 a pound.
I'd like to hear arguments for and against washing them before freezing. I always wash mine and dry them thoroughly before freezing them on sheet pans. I think it's easier to wash them fresh versus after thawing.
Discuss.
kurteye at 4:34PM on 07/20/08
The blueberry pancakes with wild blueberry maple syrup, Bon Appetit
Feb. 2008 They are really good (who
The whole grain pancakes with wild blueberry maple syrup were a big hit
in my house. ( Bon Appetit feb. 2008)
stacemace at 10:18PM on 07/20/08
when i was a kid in RI my grandmother and I used to spend almost all our time driving back roads and picking wild blueberries, it was a trick because you had to remember where the high bush ones grew and where the low bush ones were. I can still feel the 2lb chock fullo nuts can we had punched holes in and put on strings, around my neck. Just about everyone in the house prefered my mom's blueberry pie, but my favorite was what she called blueberry slump, she would cook down the berries with a tiny amount of water, and sugar, untill it was a syrup, long cooking time low heat, and when everything was cooked perfectly, she would mix small dumplings on top and let them cook in the syrup, add a little splash of lemon juice just before serving and that was a favorite summer treat for me. Thanks for reminding me or wonderful times!
huneybumper at 7:26AM on 07/21/08
I beg of you, please fix the link to the lemon blueberry pancake recipe . . . it sounds divine but the link does not work!!!!!!!!!!!
And by the way, my favorite blueberry recipe is for blueberry pancakes and from the Silver Plaate New Basics. However, as per the above, I am looking to branch out . . .
Mizbee at 12:13PM on 07/21/08
@ mizbee:
Scroll down -- Lemon Blueberry is third from the bottom
Wally East at 2:32PM on 07/21/08
Mmmm...me and the DH just picked 57 lbs at a local u-pick....today is freezing, baking and jam day.
I ALWAYS wash my fruit before freezing. No way would they wash well after being frozen and I like to be able to pull them out to use right away, or let them thaw in the bag they are in (which would be icky if they weren't washed) or just grab a couple frozen to munch on.
I also don't bother with the baking sheet thing....maybe for a few lbs, but 35?? No way. I do use a Food Savr though, and that gets the air out. I never have trouble with mushy berries or anything.
The recipes look great! Always adding more to my berry arsenal!
sadiepix at 5:50PM on 07/21/08
I always just rinse them and freeze in ziplocks. I use them for my scones- yum, now I just need to find a day to pick here. We have had a ton of rain recently I wonder how the crop will be -although the humidity has been unbearable I hope the buleberries like it!
joanpieroni2 at 10:33PM on 07/21/08
The Oakland Farmers Market (downtown) has a good organic blueberry vendor. I've been eating bowlfulls with banana slices. My guy adds yogurt. We also had buckwheat pancakes with blueberries last Sunday.
I just bought THE JOY OF HOME WINEMAKING by Terry Garey, and I'm thinking about making blueberry wine. If so, it's back to the Farmers Market this Friday!
kathy in oakland at 4:29PM on 07/22/08
@kathy--I gotta tell you, make the wine!!! Blueberry wine (homemade) is great!!! I don't have that book, thought it sounds fun.
Such a fun experiment if you have never made any, and really tasty!
Be sure to let us foodies know if you do!
sadiepix at 7:30PM on 07/22/08
This might sound stupid on a discussion of a food, but I'm deathly allergic to blueberries and wonder if anyone else has ever met anyone with this strange allergy. I'm allergic to no other food (but hesitate over huckleberries which are related to blue, I think) but became severely ill twice in my life and after analyzing the 2 events (some years apart, maybe 2 or 3?) could only come up with one thing in common in both meals- blueberries. I'd eaten them as a kid without problems but this happened when I was a teenager and I've never eaten another - just in case. Does anyone recognize this? I know most of you are here to talk about eating the things but i thought I'd ask. It can be gotten around but i have to avoid a lot of "mixed berry" foods, just in case.
Oh and Kathy? Terry Garey is a long time friend of mine so I'm delighted to see you mention her. Both she and I used to live in the bay area.
Fluffnik at 5:58PM on 07/23/08
http://www.gemoscan.com/food_intolerance_test/food_allergies_blueberry_allergy.html
Here is a page I found about blueberry intolerance. It is possible that you are sensitive to them for sure.
It has a bit about re-introducing them at a later time than the allergy symptoms happened, so maybe if you are older than a teen now (I assume) you could try a small amount and see? (Talk to a doc though).
I would be sad not to eat them! Maybe your system can handle them now? If not, there are lists of related plants just in case you want/need to avoid them too. Good luck!
sadiepix at 8:16PM on 07/23/08
Sadie - interesting but not helpful in my case. In my case, i was violently sick and it wasn't the hives/itchy allergic reaction but severe gastro-intestinal pain and illness, so I've no interest in trying ever again to eat one. It's something one can certainly live without (i'd be so dismayed if it were a raspberry allergy as those are my idea of heaven) but I'm never going to test my system to see - it's simply not worth it. The memory of how sick i felt has lasted a lifetime (i've over 50) and I can manage. I was just curious if anyone else had encountered this.
Fluffnik at 6:16PM on 07/24/08
I have to add a comment on blueberries. Last night I awoke thinking a mosquito had had it's way with my whole body. I itched in various areas, but especially the soles of my feet, and hands. When I couldn't find a bite, I used an old tube of an itch cream (left over from chicken poxs my son had years ago...) on anything that itched, and it finally calmed down. I can still feel it, hours later. The only thing I can think of is that I had two pieces of fresh blueberry pie, which I made, and a smoothie with blueberries, all within 24 hours. I'm really hoping it's NOT blueberries, but that is all I can come up with. I'm approaching 58 and have never had anything like this with any food. Yuck!!
Michele Beesley at 8:59AM on 07/29/08
Around a month ago my 8 year old daughter ate half a butter dish of wild blueberries. Within 30 minutes she broke out in hives, got a dry cough which progressed to a croup sounding cough, vomitting and her throat swelled shut. She was admitted into hospital given epinephrine and stereroids and kept on these meds for a week. Scary thought! The school has banned peanuts and now blueberries. We are going to find out next week for sure if the blueberries were the actual cause. The specialist ordered in the blueberry serum to do the test. Even the hospital never heard of an allergy to blueberries.
clogorman at 2:21PM on 09/28/08