Goji berries are small red fruits that are high in antioxidants and have therapeutic effects. Keeping these properly requires knowledge of how long goji berries last. They’re not only attractive, but they’re also delicious and flavorful. These berries are typically available in powdered or dried form. They’re included in some supplements and drink combinations. Goji berries (Lycium barbarum), sometimes known as wolfberries, are native to Asia. Some people are wary of them because of the issue of goji berries having lead content.
They’ve been employed in folk medicine for thousands of years and are known for their delicious, slightly tart flavor and brilliant red color. They’re even supposed to halt the aging process, keep your eyes healthy, and improve your liver, kidneys, and lungs. Goji berries, along with other fruits, herbs, and extracts, are commonly included in supplements and superfood mixes due to their expanding popularity. These berries are also available in dried or powdery form, which can be used in some recipes.
Do You Need to Wash Dried Goji Berries?
Although dried goji berries are lovely as is, some individuals find them challenging and gritty. If you’ve tried dehydrated goji berries previously and didn’t care for them, the best thing to do is rehydrate them with some water. You can do this by soaking your goji berries. All you must do to hydrate dried goji berries is soak them in water. Your goji berries will plump up again after just two hours of soaking in water, giving them a softer and juicier texture. Don’t toss the liquid away after draining your watery fruit! It will now include some nutrients from your dried goji berries, much like in the old Chinese legend discussed earlier, so why not add it to a smoothie or drink it to get the most out of the fruit?
If they aren’t organic, you may want to wash them with a produce wash to remove any remaining chemicals. Use white vinegar and water solution. Fill a bowl with 1 cup water and 14 cups white vinegar, or an equivalent combination for your needs, depending on how many goji berries you have to wash.
Place the goji berries and toss them around with your hands for a minute. After that, please give them an excellent rinse under flowing water to ensure there’s no vinegar flavor remaining. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
Freezing goji berries is one of the simplest ways to keep your fruit fresh for a long time. However, before you try to freeze them, make sure they’re entirely dry after they’ve been washed.
When freezing food, the most crucial goal is to reduce the size of the ice crystals that form and compromise the food’s integrity; therefore, placing it in the freezer wet is one of the worst things you can do.
The faster you freeze your berries, the better. This reduces ice crystal size. You’ll want to freeze each berry separately to speed up the freezing process. This is a simple process. Spread out your goji berries in a uniform, single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Please place them in your freezer in this manner, in the coldest setting possible.
It should only take half an hour to ensure that each berry is frozen separately. Pour them all into a single freezer-safe bag or container at this point. To keep the chances of ice crystals from forming, eliminate as much air as possible. Your frozen goji berries will last for three months or longer in your freezer if adequately wrapped. Write the date frozen on your bag or container so you know how long they’ve been frozen.
How Do You Clean Goji Berries?
Goji berries are most typically offered dried in the United States, but farmers’ markets, specialty stores, and your garden are all beautiful places to find fresh goji berries, so you might be wondering what to do with them. Goji berries are an excellent and nutritious addition to smoothies, cereals, salads, and anything else you can think of. They’re fun to eat and may be used in a variety of ways.
So, how do you use fresh goji berries? Goji berries can be dried, canned, frozen, and used in various dishes, including oatmeal and smoothie bowls.
Fresh vegetables, including goji berries, should always be rinsed before consumption. Before deciding how to preserve them for long-term storage, you should also cleanse them. If you want to keep some to eat right away, put them in the fridge without cleaning them to avoid becoming mushy, but wash them before eating.
Place your goji berries in a strainer with tiny holes, so they don’t go down the sink while being washed. Because they have cranberry-like skin rather than a raspberry’s, they’re pretty hardy. You can clean goji berries by running them under cold water and wiping them down with your hands.
Can I Eat Raw Goji Berries?
Goji berries are eaten whole, with seeds, peel, and all, whether fresh or dried. Goji berries can be eaten raw or used in recipes that call for a bitter, sour flavor with a chewy texture. Below are the most popular methods to consume raw goji berries:
- Scoop up a handful for a healthy on-the-go snack!
- Dried goji berries should be coarsely chopped and sprinkled on top of yogurt, acai bowls, trail mix, salads, or granola mix in the morning.
- Goji berries are known for adding a sour flavor, some protein, and plenty of antioxidants.
Goji berries can easily be substituted for other dried fruits or fresh berries in recipes that call for them. And just because they have a healthy reputation doesn’t mean they aren’t delectable! When things get hot, the acidic, cranberry-like flavor of the goji fruit bursts to life!
- Goji berries and rice blend well together, whether in rice pudding, pilaf, or biryani.
- Goji berries can be used to make sweets, cookies, cakes, and bread.
- The bitterness of the goji berry lends itself well to candy manufacturing, jelly-making, and jam-making.
- The flavor of goji berries holds up well in the oven for lengthy periods and may be used with various foods, from fish to chicken and red meats.
