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Berries Preserved in Water

A method for keeping fresh berries in water: clean, dry bottles are packed tightly with sound berries, filled with cold water, corked, and sealed with a plaster slurry, then stored in a dry cellar. Suitable for blueberries, cherries, rhubarb, black currants, gooseberries, and lingonberries.

Source: Henriette Schønberg Erken, Stor kokebok, 1914-utg. s. 605 (falt i det fri)

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About the dish

This simple sugar-free preserving method was common before canning and freezers became widespread. The berries are kept fresh underwater in airtight bottles, sealed with cork and plaster.

How to make it

  1. 1

    Choose the berries

    Use only fresh, dry berries with no trace of fermentation.

  2. 2

    Prepare the bottles

    Make sure the bottles are dry, clean, and ready.

  3. 3

    Fill the bottles

    Pack the berries tightly into the bottles and pour over cold, fresh water.

  4. 4

    Seal

    Insert the cork. Stir powdered plaster into cold water to a thick slurry and dip the top of the bottle neck into the plaster.

  5. 5

    Storage

    Store the bottles in a dry cellar.

Changes from the original

Modernized language in the method. The plaster seal is kept as the original describes, but a modern alternative of tight-sealing preserving jars is noted; the original gives no quantities, so the ingredients are listed without measures.

Tidsmaskin – hva endret seg?

Velg to utgaver og se hva Henriette Schønberg Erken la til, fjernet eller endret mellom dem.

1914 (korrekturlest, s. 605)1949 (korrekturlest, s. 725)~95% av teksten endretfjernetlagt til
Bærene maa være friske, tørre og ikke vise spor av tegn til gjæring. Flaskerne tørre, rene og klare. Bærene fyldes tæt paa flaskerne, paaheldes koldt, friskt vand, korkes og gipses. Dyp det øverste av flaskehalsen i pulveriseret gips, utrørt Ha bærene i koldt vand til en tyk velling. — Opbevares bedst krukke, sett denne i en tør kjelder. Blaabær, kirsebær, rabarberstilker, solbær, stikkelsbær, tyttebær opbevares paa gryte med vann. Sil alt i sileklædet når bærene har saftet sig, mål saften. Sukkeret opløses i saften før denne maate. koker; kok 4 å 5 minutter, skum og fyll saften på flasker.

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Frequently asked questions

Which berries can be preserved this way?
The recipe mentions blueberries, cherries, rhubarb stalks, black currants, gooseberries, and lingonberries. Rhubarb is bottled as stalks.
How do I go about it?
The berries must be fresh, dry, and free of any sign of fermentation, and the bottles dry, clean, and ready. Pack the berries tightly into the bottles, pour over cold, fresh water, cork, and seal: dip the top of the bottle neck into powdered plaster stirred into cold water to a thick slurry.
Where should the bottles be stored?
Best in a dry cellar, according to Schønberg Erken's "Stor kokebok" (1914), p. 605.

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