Recipe Mutiny steals recipes from food blogs and recipe sites. Then we publish them. With credit (Naturally).
Monday, July 8, 2019
The Ultimate Guide to Picking, Purchasing, and Preparing Fresh Summer Berries
Berries are nature’s most convenient fruit. You don’t need to core them, peel them, or slice them to enjoy a sweet, refreshing snack. Now that it’s nearly summer, many varieties are at peak freshness and more abundant than ever. Whether you’re strolling through the farmers market or the produce aisle, you’ll want to take advantage of the bounty of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries that await.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at all the possibilities (Should I make a cobbler or a pie? Muffins or a smoothie?) or are just unaware of how or when to find the ripest batch, look no further. We break down the basics for each berry below.
Strawberries
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When should I buy strawberries?
Strawberries are one of the first signs of summer. They’re the second fruit (after their pie partner-in-crime, rhubarb) to come into season. Once they hit their farmers market peak in mid-April (through June), you know that a season of sunshine and jam is under way. With over 600 varieties, strawberries are the most cultivated berry in the country. They’re also grown in every single state and, as a result, sure to be plentiful no matter where you live.
How do I pick the best strawberries?
Generally speaking, the smaller the strawberry, the sweeter the flavor. Larger strawberries have a higher concentration of water and therefore have a more diluted taste. While size isn’t an indication of freshness, it is something to be mindful of when it comes to personal preferences. But here’s something to always be on the lookout for: Strawberries that still have their green-leafed caps in tact and are bright, plump, and dry are usually at ideal ripeness. Avoid shriveled and partially white ones, as those are telltale signs of unripeness.
What are the nutritional perks of strawberries?
These hearty berries contain tons of vitamin C, K, potassium, and fiber. Slice ’em up in your cereal for an extra boost of nutrients to help start your day.
Related Video: How to Store Strawberries
How should I use strawberries?
Given their larger size, strawberries are well suited for cakes. In fact, we’re pretty sure they were invented for multi-tiered shortcake purposes. Just layer them between fresh whipped cream and vanilla chiffon cake and you have this heavenly dessert. Get our Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake recipe. Or try Jessie Sheehan’s Raspberry Icebox Cake recipe. And if you’re not in the mood for cake, just dip them in chocolate, or check out these sweet and savory ways to use strawberries.
Blueberries
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When should I buy blueberries?
These indigo-colored berries are a summertime staple. Most of the blueberries you find in the supermarket are highbush blueberries. This variety is known for its plump size, vibrant color, and sweet taste. The peak season for fresh blueberries is mid-June to mid-August, with the earliest harvest in southern states, and later ones in northern states and Canada. While they are technically available year-round, you might want to consider heading to the freezer section beyond the summer season, since berries are usually picked and frozen at peak freshness.
How do I pick the best blueberries?
Much like strawberries, size isn’t a visible marker of freshness, but color is. Look for purplish-blue or bluish-black hues. And as obvious as it might sound, avoid anything red; those are underripe and won’t ripen once they’re picked. Anything soft and shriveled is also no-go.
Related Reading: How to Store Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
What are the nutritional perks of blueberries?
In terms of health benefits, they’re also antioxidant powerhouses. Though they might be overshadowed by the trendy acai berry, don’t ever forget about the loads of nutrients and fiber found in this deceptively ordinary fruit.
How should I use blueberries?
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One word: muffins. These bite-sized berries enhance the simplest baked good with their juicy tartness. Get our Almond-Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffin recipe. And check out these other blueberry recipes to up your breakfast game. But don’t forget about beautiful blueberry tarts. Throw some in a savory salad for a change, too.
Blackberries
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When should I buy blackberries?
Blackberries are the literal late bloomers of the bunch. They don’t peak until mid-July and August. But don’t let that stop you from stocking up on the dark jewel of the Rubus family. Much like their cousin, raspberries, they’re aggregate fruits, meaning each blackberry consists of multiple drupelets, each of which contain a seed. Unlike raspberries, their core remains intact as it grows, resulting in a heftier weight and more oblong shape.
How do I pick the best blackberries?
As usual, the darker the berry, the better. So be on the lookout for purplish-black colored berries. Also, avoid berries whose drupelets appear wrinkled or saggy.
What are the nutritional perks of blackberries?
A one-cup serving packs eight grams of fiber. Now you know how to supplement your bran flakes!
How are blackberries used in dessert?
Just look at the stunning hue of this chiffon pie. The flavor is just as swoon-worthy. Just be sure to carefully strain the seeds out of the blackberry syrup and you should be good to go. Get our Blackberry Chiffon recipe. Try making blackberries into a savory pan sauce for pork tenderloin or duck breast too. They’re also great in drinks like our Blackberry Caipirinha.
Raspberries
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When should I buy raspberries?
While there are over 200 varieties of raspberries, you’re probably most familiar with the red ones, though they come in lots of colors including gold, purple, and black. The bumpy, sweet fruit has a tart undertone, making it the perfect addition to all of your summertime cobblers and pies. While lighter in weight than their blackberry brethren, each berry has 100-120 seeds, so be mindful of the grainy texture if you choose to throw them in a smoothie. Raspberries hit their peak come mid-May.
How do I pick the best raspberries?
Be on the lookout for plump, bright red berries that don’t have any dents or bruises. That’s really all there is to it.
Related Reading: Why Brightly Colored Summer Fruit Is So Good for You
What are the nutritional perks of raspberries?
Raspberries actually have more vitamin C than oranges. Take that, citrus.
How are raspberries used in dessert?
This tart is super easy to make. All you have to do is blend the berries with some lime juice and sugar to make the filling. Get our Easy Raspberry Tart recipe. But they’re also great folded into other baked goods or blended into frozen treats: try our Raspberry Scones recipe and our Raspberry Sorbet recipe for proof. Like blackberries, they’re also great paired with poultry (especially duck) and pork.
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Blueberry Crumb Bars
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This Cuisinart Cast-Iron Enamel Cookware Is 46% Off (& Not for Long!)
We are freaking out over this pre-Prime Day deal on Cuisinart enamel cookware. Today only, you can grab an enamel cast-iron Dutch oven or frying pan from Cuisinart, each for only $69.99 on Amazon—that’s 46% off the original price!
Not only do they look a lot like a certain other brand due to the enamel finish, but they perform similarly, too. Cast-iron cookware is a solid long-lasting investment, known for being able to retain heat and provide even heat distribution, making them great for all of your cooking needs (and perfectly seared steaks).
Read More: Amazon Prime Day 2019 Is Coming: Here Are the Deals We Can Expect
Cuisinart Oval Casserole Dish
This Cuisinart oval casserole dish is perfect for stews, chilis, roasts, or braised dishes like beef Bourguignon. The decorative enamel coating also makes this pretty enough to double as a serving dish.
Cuisinart Frying Pan
This Cuisinart frying pan is great for all your searing, browning, roasting, and frying needs. Cook anything from chicken to steak with this easy-to-clean pan that is handsome enough to keep on your stovetop after using it.
These amazing deals are over soon and only available for Amazon Prime members, so act fast. Available today only, you won’t want to miss out on grabbing these Cuisinart cookware while you can.
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Halibut with Fennel, Peppers, and Tomatoes
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Amazon Prime Day 2019 Is Coming: Here Are the Deals We Can Expect
It’s official. Amazon Prime Day 2019 will be on Monday, July 15 at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET and run for a whopping 48 hours ending on July 17 at midnight (12 a.m.) PT, making it the longest Prime Day yet (last years was just 36 hours), and that’s not including pre-Prime Day deals of which we’re expecting many. And while we don’t know exactly what we’ll be on sale for Prime Day this year, we know it’ll be a whole lot.
Read More: Prime Day 2019 Details Leaked? (Plus, Best Prime Day Deal Predictions)
We’ll be updating this post with info on the best and latest Amazon Prime Day 2019 deals whenever they’re announced, but in the meanwhile, let’s speculate a little.
Last year, the Instant Pot was the best-selling kitchen item, and sold out in 19 hours—we’re guessing it’ll still be a hot item this time around, though perhaps it’ll have some competition from newer models or even other multicookers like the Ninja Foodi or the $1,000+ Vermicular?
Instant Pot 6-Quart 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker, $69.99 on Amazon
We don't know how low the price will go, but it's already almost $30 off right now.
While they’re not as obviously food-related, the Echo Spot, Echo Dot, and Echo Show are also helpful in the kitchen—from assisting with recipes and cooking questions to making it easy to time multiple things and update your grocery list (or just watch Netflix while you’re boiling pasta)—and we suspect they’ll sell just as well in 2019 as they did last year. Since they’re Amazon’s own brand, they’ll likely be more deeply discounted too.
Speaking of Amazon’s brands, now that Whole Foods is owned by the company, we’re sure to see some great deals on groceries in-store (and maybe also online). Amazon already recently lowered prices at Whole Foods on more than 500 items. And now through July 16, Prime members who spend $10 at Whole Foods will get a $10 credit to use online during Prime Day. (But that credit is not applicable toward alcohol, gift cards, stamps, or sales tax, and it must be used on July 15 or 16.)
Amazon
Of course, Prime Day should also bring some great deals on kitchenware and other appliances, whether you’re looking to replace one specific thing or totally refresh your kitchen arsenal. (Who wouldn’t want a brand-new cast iron cookware set?)
If you’ve been putting off spring cleaning, maybe you’ll be able to snag some of these Marie Kondo-inspired products for cheap on Prime Day so you can finally actually get your place in order. (Or pieces The Home Edit would love, if they’re more your style.) We bet there will be plenty of great deals on dining and entertaining essentials and accessories too.
No matter what you’re looking for, the best deals will likely be exclusive to Amazon Prime members, but other discounts will still be offered to all—check out The Cheapskate’s tips on making the most of Prime Day (and making sure you’re actually getting good deals), and see CNET’s Prime Day primer and deal predictions.
Stay tuned for more to come on 2019 Prime Day deals!
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Vegetarian Pad Thai with Tofu
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