Table 2

FRUITS: How to Prepare and Pack for Freezer Storage

FruitPreparationType of Pack
Apples, slices Select firm, ripe, tart fruit.
Wash, core, peel, and slice
sirup in 16ths.
Cover with 40% sirup
Or do as indicated above
and then blanch slices in
steam for 3 minutes.
Pack plain or cover with
40% sirup.
Apples, as sauce Core, peel, and cut into
8ths. Simmer with water
until soft. Put through
sieve.
Add sugar to taste.
ApricotsUse fully ripe but not soft
apricots. Peel, halve, and pit.
Cover with 40 to 50% sirup.
Blackberries and dewberries Choose fully ripened, uniform
berries. Wash and sort
Cover with 40% sirup or add
1/2 c sugar to 1 qt. fruit
as dry pack.
Blueberries Use large ripe berries. Wash
thoroughly and discard
any that are soft.
Pack plain or cover with 30%
sirup or dry pack as for blackberries.
Cantaloupe Select firm ripe frut.
Remove seeds and rind.
Cut into small wedges.
Cover with 40% sirup.
Cherries, sweet Use firm ripe fruit. Wash,
and remove stems.
Cover with 40% sirup.
Cherries, sour Use firm ripe fruit. Wash,
and remove stems and pits.
Mix 1 c sugar with 3 c cherries.
Cranberries Choose bright, shiny, firm
berries. Wash thoroughly
and sort.
Pack plain or cover with 50% sirup.
Gooseberries Select green or ripe berries.
Wash, and remove stems.
Cover with 60% sirup.
Grapefruit Use firm, well-shaped fruit
which is heavy for its size.
Peel, separate sections, and
carefully remove the membranes.
Cover white sections with 40%
sirup; cover pink with 30% sirup.
Juice may be used in making sirup.
Grapes, seedless Discard any soft or bruised
fruit. Wash, and remove stems.
Cover with 40% sirup.
Grapes,seeded Sort carefully and discard
any soft fruit. Wash, and
remove stems. Cut in
halves and remove pits.
Cover with 40% sirup.
Honeydew melon Select firm ripe fruit. Remove
seeds and rind. Cut into
small wedges.
Cover with 40% sirup.
Peaches Use only firm ripe fruit.
Peel and slice enough for
one carton at a time. Pack
and cover with sirup immediately.
Cover with 50 to 60% sirup
or dry pack.
Pineapple Use ripe fruit. Slice, pare,
remove core, and cut into wedges.
Cover with 30 to 40% sirup
or dry pack.
Plums, prune Choose ripe, unbruised fruit.
Wash, halve, and remove pits.
Cover with 30% sirup.
Plums, red Select ripe fruit without any
soft spots. Halve, remove pits,
and then quarter.
Cover wtih 50% sirup.
Raspberries Choose ripe juicy berries
(purple or red raspberries
are better than black). Sort
and wash.
Pack plain; or (better) mix 1 c
sugar with 5 c fruit; or (best)
cover with 30 to 40% sirup.
Strawberries
Whole
Select firm ripe berries. Wash
and hull.
Cover with 40% sirup.
Sliced or crushed
Prepare in same way as for
whole strawberries. Then
slice or crush.
Mix 1 c sugar with 5 c sliced
or crushed fruit.
Watermelon Choose firm, ripe fruit.
Remove seeds and rind. Cut
into small wedges.
Cover wtih 30% sirup.

C = cup.