When I was a kid growing up in the country, getting ready to pick wild native blackberries always meant pulling on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, regardless of how hot the day was. No matter how carefully we prepared, how delicately we maneuvered between arching canes and how gingerly we plucked the berries, those vines always seemed to reach out and scratch. But that didn’t keep us from the task, since these fragrant, intensely flavorful berries, tumbled into a Blueberry Blackberry Rustic Tart or heaped atop ice cream, were a delicious reward!
How to Pick Blackberries at a Farm
These days, a wide variety of commercially grown blackberries are thornless, making a blackberry expedition to a U-pick farm an enjoyable excursion in every sense.
Once you pick a blackberry, it doesn’t ripen or change in flavor. Because of this, it’s helpful to know what to look for. Perfectly ripe blackberries are deep purple/eggplant color or black (depending on variety). They should be plump, filled out and shiny. Pass up berries that are dull, shriveled, moldy, unripe (with red bits) or overripe (squishing when you pick them).
There’s one additional caveat: Never pick roadside blackberries: They may contain contamination from car emissions or herbicides.
How to Choose Blackberries at the Store
To buy perfectly ripe—but not overripe—blackberries at the store, look for berries that are plump, firm and shiny.
How to Store Fresh Blackberries
Blackberries are highly perishable, so only leave them on the counter if you’re planning on eating them that day. You don’t want to store the fruit at room temp for more than a few hours; it’s one of the most common berry mistakes that people make.
To refrigerate the blackberries, use a breathable container such as an empty clamshell with a paper towel on the bottom. Any shallow container will work well, though. Just be sure not to put a lid on it or seal the container with plastic wrap.
Before using, rinse the berries gently in a colander and then tip them onto a paper towel-lined sheet pan and tumble slightly to shake off some of the water.
How to Freeze Blackberries
Frozen blackberries work well in this Blackberry Crisp with a crunchy streusel topping, as well as jams, smoothies and pies. (Though if you’re using frozen berries in a pie, you’ll need to thaw them and drain the extra juice before proceeding.)
To freeze blackberries, rinse and gently dry the berries on paper towels, then roll them onto a baking sheet, taking care not to crowd them. Pop them into the freezer and let them chill for 4-6 hours before pouring the frozen berries into a labeled zip-close bag and re-freezing. They should be good for up to a year.
Blackberry Recipes Bursting with Flavor
1 / 45
Blackberry Crisp
I adapted this comforting dessert from a recipe my mother-in-law gave to me. Hers fed a family with nine growing kids who were never full, so there was never any left. There aren't any leftovers when I make my downsized version, either! —Marliss Lee, Independence, Missouri
Blackberry Apple Pie
My mother made this pie so often, she could do it with her eyes closed! We picked the berries ourselves, and the apples came from the trees in our orchard. I can still taste the delicious combination of fruits encased in Mother's flaky pie crust. —Fran Stanfield, Wilmington , Ohio
Blackberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Cups
I read that white chocolate intensifies the flavor of blackberries. It's true! The crunch of baking chips, the blackberry puree, and the sweet and salty pretzel crust make this a sensational mini dessert. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
Berry-Beet Salad
Here's a delightfully different salad that balances the earthy flavor of beets with the natural sweetness of berries. If you prefer, substitute crumbled feta for the goat cheese. —Amy Lyons, Mounds View, Minnesota
Midnight Cocktails
This variation on a mojito uses blackberry spreadable fruit, which gives it a deep purple color and adds a bit of sweetness to every sip. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Humble Bumble Crumble Bars
While developing a treat for my bingo group, I asked my husband for ideas. He suggested a fruity bar. This berry bar is lightly sweet and so easy. —Nancy Phillips, Portland, Maine
Berry Whirligig
Blackberries are an Oregon treasure. We love to go out and pick our own. Whatever we don’t eat fresh, we freeze to enjoy whenever we start dreaming of this irresistible treat. —Pearl Stanford, Medford, Oregon
Blackberry-Sauced Pork Chops
My family loved these chops from the first time I fixed them. They're as tasty in a skillet as they are grilled, so you can eat them all year long. The sauce is also fantastic with chicken. —Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
Blueberry-Blackberry Rustic Tart
My dad would always stop our car on the side of the road in Maine and say, "I smell blueberries." He had a pail ready. Then Mom would bake the wild berries in a cornmeal crust to make this homey tart. —Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
Blackberry Apple Jelly
August is the busiest month of the year on our small farm—that's when we're harvesting sweet corn, pumpkins and pickling cucumbers for our stand. But I always make time to put up this jelly. The apples come from our old-fashioned orchard, while the blackberries grow wild along our creek...and the jelly's usually gone by January! —Liz Endacott, Matsqui, British Columbia
Blackberry Frozen Yogurt
You could also use boysenberries, raspberries or strawberries for this delicious dessert. — Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
Pork Tenderloin with Three-Berry Salsa
My husband came home from a work meeting that had served pork with a spicy blueberry salsa. He was amazed at how tasty it was, so I came up with my own rendition without seeing or tasting what he had. It took several tries, but this is the delicious result. —Angie Phillips, Tarzana, California
Cookies 'n' Cream Berry Desserts
This sweet berry dessert makes an especially pretty final course in the spring. With berries, a creamy topping and a sprinkle of meringue cookies, it always earns praise. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Blackberry Beer Cocktail
This refreshing hard lemonade has a mild alcohol flavor; the beer adds just enough fizz to dance on your tongue as you sip. Sorry, adults only! —Ginger Sullivan, Cutler Bay, Florida
Wild Berry Freezer Jam
One year, I decided I wanted to make a wild berry jam but couldn't find a recipe, so I invented my own. — Barbara Hohmann, Petawawa, Ontario
Lemon-Berry Shortcake
This simple lemon shortcake is tender and not overly sweet. Enjoy this summertime classic with a generous layer of whipped topping and berries. —Meryl Herr, Overland Park, Kansas
Double-Berry Quick Bread
Healthy, fast and easy! This bread is a favorite of mine when prep time is tight and I have small amounts of different kinds of berries to use up. — Jennifer Coduto, Kent, Ohio
Rise and Shine Parfait
Start your day with a smile. This fruit, yogurt and granola parfait is so easy to make. If you like, use whatever favorite fresh fruits are in season and are looking best at the supermarket. —Diana Laskaris, Chicago, Illinois
Avocado Fruit Salad with Tangerine Vinaigrette
On long summer days when we just want to relax, I make a cool salad with avocado, berries and mint. The tangerine dressing is refreshingly different. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio
Berries & Cream Bruschetta
Sweet and satisfying, this bruschetta proves that cream cheese belongs on more than just bagels. The topping is delicious on morning toast, too—if you can keep it around that long. —Debbie Limas, North Andover, Massachusetts
Four-Berry Spinach Salad
Nature's candy abounds in the berry-filled salad. Its slightly tart dressing contrasts deliciously with sweet in-season fruit. —Betty Lise Anderson, Gahanna, Ohio
where the recipe is known as "Uncle Mike's pie." I use only fresh berries, apples and rhubarb that I grow myself. —Michael Powers, New Baltimore, Virginia
source https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-pick-blackberries/
Fresh Blackberry Pie
I grew up on a farm, and we always picked fruits in early summer and used them to make desserts. This blackberry pie is a real stunner. —Gladys Gibbs, Brush Creek, TennesseeBlackberry Cheesecake Bars
Sugar cookie dough is a speedy way to turn ricotta and mascarpone cheeses topped with blackberries into beautiful bars. — Terri Crandall, Gardnerville, NevadaBerry Granola Pancakes
My son and I like to make this breakfast favorite together. You can leave the berries out of the mix and sprinkle them on top, or sub in chocolate chips or nuts instead. —Elizabeth Stewart, Crab Orchard, West VirginiaBerry BBQ Sauce
On weekends, I jazz up our favorite BBQ sauce with berries. This blackberry-blueberry BBQ sauce makes a marvelous spread for basting and saucing grilled baby back ribs. —Janet Hix, Austin, TexasHoney-Yogurt Berry Salad
I wanted my family to eat more fruit but not more sugary ingredients. This berry salad lets you play with different low-fat yogurts and fruits. —Betsy King, Duluth, MinnesotaArugula Salad with Berry Dressing
My family enjoys this refreshing salad during the spring and summer months. Sweet strawberries balance the slightly tart balsamic dressing. —Jennifer Kunz, Troy, MichiganMixed Berry Sangria
This is a light, tasty beverage to serve with spoons so everyone can enjoy the fresh berries once the sangria is gone. — Linda Cifuentes, Mahomet, IllinoisBlackberry Nectarine Pie
Blackberries are a big crop in my area, so I've prepared this pretty double-fruit pie many times. I can always tell when my husband wants me to make it because he brings home berries that he picked behind his office. —Linda Chinn, Enumclaw, WashingtonOregon's Best Marionberry Pie
I believe Oregon marionberries make about the best berry pie in the world. And when you add some cream cheese and flavorings, you'll be making the best even better! —Frances Benthin, Scio, OregonBerry Coulis with Dutch Pancakes
My husband makes his mom's crepe-like Dutch pancakes with our kids on Saturdays. I came up with the berry sauce, and the dish is now our brunch standard. —Shannon Koene, Blacksburg, VirginiaBlackberry Lemonade
Here's a special drink that's perfect when blackberries are in season. It has a tangy, refreshing flavor. —Rich Murray, Nevada, MissouriFour-Berry Spread
For a big berry taste, you can't beat this tasty spread. With a flavorful foursome of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, this lovely jam brightens any breakfast. —Marie St. Thomas, Sterling, MassachusettsBlack and Blue Cobbler
It never occurred to me that I could bake a cobbler in my slow cooker until I saw some recipes and decided to try to make my favorite fruity dessert. It took a bit of experimenting, but the tasty results are "berry" well worth it. —Martha Creveling, Orlando, FloridaBlackberry-Orange Cake
My grandmother made luscious fruit pies and cobblers using blackberries from her garden. I decided to follow her lead and create a blackberry cake that's always lovely with a summer meal. —Lisa M. Varner, El Paso, TexasSweet-Chili Salmon with Blackberries
My garden is often my cooking inspiration. Because I have a large berry patch, I especially enjoy using just-picked berries in savory dishes to add natural sweetness and sometimes a bit of tart. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, CaliforniaCurry Chicken with Mixed Berries
The rich flavors of curry and sweet-tart berries marry beautifully in this colorful entree. Its creamy sauce thoroughly coats the tender chicken and rice. —Margaret Welder, Madrid, IowaMixed Berry Sundaes for 2
Before serving yogurt sundaes, get ready for requests for seconds. Our family enjoys them for breakfast, but they're sweet enough for dessert. What an easy way to get our fruit and calcium. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, UtahBerry Breakfast Parfaits
Expecting brunch company, but short on time? My quick, delicious and beautiful parfaits are the perfect solution. Feel free to mix and match your favorite berries. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, FloridaBlack & Blue Berry Grunt
If you’re looking for something different from the usual cakes and fruit pies, try this old-fashioned dessert. It features a delicious combination of blackberries and blueberries with homemade dumplings on top. —Kelly Akin, Johnsonville, New YorkMaple Blackberry Mojito
This refreshing blackberry cocktail is how you take advantage of prime berry season during the summer months. I've also used other types of fruit, including raspberries, kiwi and strawberries. —Donna Noel, Gray, MaineBlackberry-Topped Sponge Cakes
The recipe for my blackberry cakes is easy to play with. You can replace the sponge cake with angel food, pound cake or ladyfingers. And any fruit that has liquor with the same flavor can be used. —Karen Robinson, Woodbury, ConnecticutSlow Cooker Spiced Poached Pears
Some of the many reasons I love this dessert recipe are: it's on the healthy side; it's easy to make; the recipe can be mostly prepared in advance of company arriving; and the presentation is lovely.—Jill Mant, Denver, ColoradoBlackberry Brandy Sauce
Fresh ingredients make a rich-tasting blackberry brandy sauce to serve over ice cream, cheesecake, pancakes, angel food cake ... the possibilities are endless, and it makes everything look gorgeous. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, ColoradoThe post How to Pick the Best Blackberries appeared first on Taste of Home.
source https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-pick-blackberries/
0 Response to "How to Pick the Best Blackberries"
Post a Comment