Tips to Buying Blackberries

Blackberries are in season now and will be available throughout the summer and all are very healthy sources of fiber as well as Vitamin C.  Most farmers’ markets will have Blackberries, boysenberries, loganberries, and olallie berries which are currently in season.  Fresh berries should be sweet and tart in flavor. When you are buying these type of berries be sure to find plump berries with no bruising or mold to get the freshest and healthiest berries available.

Tips to Storing Blackberries:

When storing blackberries be sure to pick out the overripe berries from the other berries.  The super ripe blackberries you will want to eat right away.  To avoid the berries from molding and bruising do not wash until you are ready to use them. If you will not be eating the berries the same day they store them best when, covered with a paper towel and refrigerated. When you are ready to eat the berries rinse them gently with cool water and drain on paper towel.

Best uses for Blackberries:

You can eat berries as a snack, as a topping for yogurt, in crepes, hot and cold cereals, waffles, pancakes, breads or on desserts.  You can make a delicious fruit salad incorporating them into it.

My favorite Use for Blackberries:

Blackberries are great for making preserves as well as freezer jam which is a quick method to making jam with less steps then your standard fruit preserves. Blackberry jam is great and can be stored in the refrigerator if you are going to eat it right away.  You can also freeze the jam to use when the blackberries are no longer in season.