Fresh Summer Blackberry Crisp Recipe - The Hungry Bluebird (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with freshly picked blackberries? ›

Preparation. Blackberries can be eaten raw and cooked. They are ready to eat raw after washing thoroughly; however, only wash what you are going to immediately eat, as washed blackberries begin to degrade quickly. Stove Top: You can make blackberries into a quick and easy sauce for desserts.

Blackberry: Pairs well with almond, apple, apricot, black pepper, blueberry, cinnamon, citrus, clove, ginger, hazelnut, lemon, mango, mint, peach, plum, orange, raspberry, strawberry, and vanilla. It mixes very well with berry liqueurs, brandy, Champagne, orange liqueurs, port wine, and red wines such as merlot.

Once you've brought your blackberries home, wash well with cold water and leave to soak with a little salt to kill any bugs. Fresh blackberries will last a day or two but blackberries ripen quickly - losing flavour and condition, so if you have a glut to use up it is worth freezing.

There is traditionally a date after which the berries should not be picked, most commonly taken to be Michaelmas (29 September) but later in some areas, after which time the devil is said to spit or stamp (or worse) on the berries, rendering them unfit.

Fill a bowl with tepid water, enough to cover the entire blackberry pick. Add a dash of apple cider vinegar or salt if desired, though this isn't needed. Swirl the blackberries around like you're washing rice. Remove the worms that have floated to the top (gross, I know)

When you're ready to serve your berries, place them in a colander and give them a quick rinse with cool, running water. Wash strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries in either cold or cool water. Doing so removes pesticides, dirt, and mold.

There are many, many types of wild edible berries, but blackberries and raspberries are by far the easiest to identify. Growing in those telltale tiny clusters, they don't have any lookalikes and are all safe to eat.

Puree blackberries with fruit juices and/or other fruits and freeze to use in recipes, like popsicles. Yogurt can be added to the mixture before freezing for extra flavor and nutrition. Orange, lemon, cinnamon and nutmeg flavors blend well with blackberry flavors.

Which fruit is a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry? ›

Loganberry. Loganberries are also a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry. They're the product of a happy accident in 1881 when James Harvey Logan, a Californian judge and horticulturist, found a cross between a North American blackberry and a European red raspberry growing in his backyard.

Blackberries are in season from late July to October, depending on the weather. Blackberries tend to be at their best and most abundant in August and early September. The Latin name for the blackberry is rubus fruticosus. The small pink flowers on brambles look a little like wild roses.

But the truth is, berries carry mold spores that cause them to go deteriorate very quickly. And that mold can spread through a whole basket of berries in a flash. Good news: You can easily kill off mold and bacteria with a quick vinegar and water bath, then dry off the berries before they go in the fridge.

Some common possibilities include: Fruit Fly: Fruit flies are small insects that are attracted to ripe or fermenting fruits. They are typically about 1/8 inch in length and have a tan or brownish body with red eyes. Aphids: Aphids are tiny insects that can be green, black, or other colors.

The center and seeds of blackberries can be bitter to some. But you can put the whole blackberry in your mouth and enjoy the full taste, including the center and the seeds. For the most health benefits, eat the entire blackberry. Blackberries are very high in Vitamin C and other essential nutrients.

Upon harvesting, how blackberries are stored significantly influences their shelf life. Room Temperature: Keeping blackberries at room temperature is only advisable if they are to be consumed within a day since they can quickly decay due to warm conditions and exposure to air.

Try to keep blackberries dry when storing and they should last for two to three days. If you're refrigerating them, they'll taste much juicier if you let them come to room temperature before eating.

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.

In short, YES, although it is advised you wash and freeze them before eating to kill any bugs that might be on them. However, if you aren't sure that what you're picking is actually blackberries, don't eat them as there are some poisonous look-alikes!