After the gooseberries have been harvested, the work really begins. In order to be able to process the fruits further, they must be cleaned carefully. We explain how to do it right.
How do you clean gooseberries properly?
To properly clean gooseberries, wash them in lukewarm water and use your fingernails or small scissors to remove the stems and brown appendages. Prick each berry with a thin needle to withstand temperature changes and protect against bursting.
What to remove from a gooseberry?
Ripe gooseberries usually have a smooth, more or less thick skin. After picking, there is still a remnant of the fruit stalk at one end. The dried remains of the flower hangs at the other end. Neither dissolves even after cooking for a long time and would noticeably reduce the enjoyment as jam or cake topping. Therefore, gooseberries should be thoroughly cleaned before processing. This is how it works:
- wash the fresh gooseberries in lukewarm water
- use your fingernails to clip off the stems and brown appendages
- alternatively cut with small scissors
You can also put the gooseberries in the potato peeler and have them cleaned.
Effectively prevent bursting gooseberries
Cleaning gooseberries is the best opportunity to prevent bursting fruits with a simple additional step. This applies to berries that are boiled or frozen and are therefore subject to temperature fluctuations. Each gooseberry is pierced with a thin needle so that the pressure can escape later.
This trick also works with berries that go into the oven as a cake topping. The effort is worth it, because the eye always enjoys eating gooseberries.
Don't clean too early
Gooseberries do not last long after harvest. If left uncleaned, they will stay fresh in the fridge for about 2 weeks. However, this shelf life is shortened dramatically if the fruit is first cleaned and then stored. In this case, they will deteriorate after just 2 days in the vegetable compartment. Therefore, always clean gooseberries immediately before eating or preparing them.
Tips & Tricks
Are the gooseberry bushes full of berries and threatening to collapse under the weight? Then simply harvest some of the half-ripe fruit. They are ideal for preserving. The remaining gooseberries remain on the bush to be eaten fully ripe and fresh.
