When to collect rose hips for the winter. Gather rose hips for the winter!
Rose hips have a powerful bactericidal effect.
In Tibetan medicine they are used to treat diseases of the lungs, intestines, nervous system, atherosclerosis and as a multivitamin.
1. vitamin infusion. Pour 20 grams of rose hips into 500 ml of boiling water (can be in a thermos), take 100 ml per 30 minutes. Before meals 2 times a day. Cook for no more than 2 days.
2. decoction of dried rose hips.
100 grams of dried rose hips, 1 liter of water, 5-10 grams of sugar or honey. Pour water over the fruits, boil in a sealed container for 5-7 minutes, let steep for 2-3 hours, strain.
3. Rosehip decoction with lemon juice. 20 grams of dried rose hips, 20 ml lemon juice, 150 ml water. Rinse the fruits, add hot water and boil for 10 minutes. Let it brew and strain. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Pour in lemon juice.
4. rosehip syrup. 1 kg of rose hips, 1 kg of sugar, 6 glasses of water. Rinse fresh fruits, separated from seeds, thoroughly in cold water, then remove hairs and grind in a meat grinder. Pour water and boil for 10 minutes, add sugar and continue cooking for 15-20 minutes. Strain and bottle.
5. rosehip drink with blueberries. 3 tbsp. Spoons of dried rose hips, 1 tbsp. A spoonful of dried blueberries, 3 tbsp. Spoons of honey, 5 glasses of water. Mix crushed dry rose hips and blueberries, add boiling water, leave for 15-20 minutes. Strain the broth through cheesecloth. Pour boiling water over the pomace again. Combine both decoctions and add honey.
How to brew rosehip correctly
To extract the maximum beneficial properties from dry or frozen rose hips, you need to brew them.
For this, you can use a thermos, a multicooker, or traditionally a container of water and a gas or electric stove. Take 10-15 berries per 500 grams of water. If you insist the drink in a thermos, you need to wait about 7 hours. It must be strained before use. When the drink has cooled to 40-50 degrees, it can be sweetened with honey (at higher temperatures the beneficial properties of honey are significantly reduced) or sugar to taste. If desired, you can add lemon to the drink to give it a citrus flavor. Drink rose hip decoction throughout the day, in small portions.
If you brew rose hips in the usual way, on the stove, then you need 100 grams of berries for 1 liter of water.
After boiling, everything is boiled for half an hour. It is advisable to pre-chop the fruits. Before use, the decoction is filtered several times. The highest concentration of beneficial substances will be in rosehip decoction prepared in a water bath.
To do this, 50 grams of fruits are crushed and poured with 1 glass of boiling water. Everything needs to be simmered for 15 minutes, then cooled and drained.
To prepare rosehip decoction in a slow cooker, take 2 liters of water per 100 grams of berries. If desired, add 2-3 slices of lemon. The device is set to “quenching” mode for 1-2 hours. The richness of the drink depends on the preparation time. After cooking, the broth should be left with the lid closed until it has cooled completely. It is strained before use.
How to brew rosehip in a thermos correctly, video:
Is it possible to collect rose hips in winter? When to collect rose hips for winter preparations
Cinnamon rosehip may bloom in late spring, but it does not yet have the maximum number of beneficial properties. The greatest benefit will come from harvesting at the end of summer and the first half of autumn, until approximately October. There is a belief that it is necessary to harvest rose hips by October 1, and this day is called Arina Rosehip Day.
- Do not think that if you did not manage to finish the collection by this date, you will not be able to make the preparation. The ripening of each plant is individual, depending on the area of growth and climatic conditions, so the first day of October is only an approximate date for the end of the harvest.
- Although rosehip is very useful, this does not mean that it, like any plant, does not absorb environmental pollution. In order not to spoil the natural properties of the bush, it is best to choose ecological collection sites where there are no operating factories or highways nearby, i.e. away from the technological sphere of human activity.
Rosehip jam
You can make very tasty jam from rose hips. This dessert perfectly helps with colds and replenishes the lack of vitamins in the body. For jam you will need fresh rose hips, water and sugar. All ingredients must be taken in equal quantities.
Preparing jam:
- Rinse ripe fruits with water. Remove stalks and sepals. Then cut each berry in half and remove the seeds.
- Rinse the peeled rose hips well again and rinse with boiling water.
- Pour the berries into a saucepan, add sugar, water and place on a preheated stove.
- Bring the contents of the pan to a boil, remove the film that has formed on the surface.
- Cook the berries for five minutes, stirring all the time.
- Remove the jam from the stove, close the lid and let it brew.
- After 7 hours, the pan must be placed again on the preheated stove and the rose hips should be cooked for another 5 minutes.
- Pour the finished jam into pre-sterilized jars, close the lids and store in a cool place.
Harvesting rose hips after frost. When the rose hips ripen, we specify the time of collection!
When to collect rose hips for drying and how to dry them at home?
When the rose hips ripen, we specify the time of collection
The time for collecting rose hips depends on the desired end result and the region of residence, as well as the variety of shrub. The earlier the harvest occurs, the more vitamin C the berries contain; during further ripening, the percentage of sugar in the fruit increases, and the amount of ascorbic acid decreases.
In central Russia, the Moscow region, Leningrad, Pskov regions, the time for collecting rose hips begins in August and continues until October. It is better to collect rose hips for drying before the onset of frost; the first sign of plant maturation is protruding sepals, this is the time of the highest content of ascorbic acid. But picking rose hips in winter will provide you with sweet berries, but with a low content of vitamin C.
The fruit should have a bright orange or red color, be firm to the touch and show no signs of spoilage. If the bush grows near a highway or other polluted places, it is better to refrain from picking: the berry absorbs all harmful substances. In order to preserve as many vitamins as possible in the fruit, rose hips are collected together with the stalk and sepals, which are easily removed after drying, and the drying itself should not be delayed for more than three days, otherwise all the beneficial properties of the berry will become minimal.
According to the folk calendar, the rosehip harvest begins on October 1 - the day of Arina (Irina) Rosehip. It was believed that only after this date did rose hips have the most beneficial properties. Our great-grandmothers used the plant as a means to boost immunity; they made jam, marmalade and even marmalade.
How to properly collect rose hips - methods and equipment
When you need to collect rose hips is up to you, the main thing is to choose dry weather and put gloves on your hands so as not to prick yourself on the thorns. To facilitate the process of picking berries, use various devices for collecting rose hips:
A scoop is a simple device that resembles a home dustpan; it has teeth on the edge that can be used to quickly tear up rose hips.
A rake differs from a scoop in the position of the handle and is very similar to gardening tools; it helps to quickly collect rose hips without bending over, which greatly simplifies the process.
A manual harvester for collecting rose hips is a closed scoop with a valve that prevents the berries from falling out, one of the most convenient devices for collecting fruits.
How to properly dry rose hips - proven methods Before you start harvesting the berries, you should sort them out - weed out spoiled fruits, debris, and leaves. There is no need to wash the crop. Rose hips are dried naturally using heat treatment and the berries are frozen. You need to know how to dry rose hips in order to preserve all the beneficial properties as much as possible.
Natural drying
A simple method in which the berries retain the greatest amount of nutrients and vitamins. To dry, you will need a dry, dark room and a flat surface. To properly dry rose hips, you need to scatter them in a thin layer on cardboard or any other water- and breathable material and stir occasionally until the berries are completely dry and firm. The drying time is 2-3 weeks, depending on the room temperature. To speed up the process, the berries can be cut in half, but, as practice shows, the faster the fruits dry, the less vitamins remain in them. The shelf life of rose hips is 3 years: during this time, harvesting for the winter will retain all its beneficial properties.
Heat treatment
If it is not possible to dry naturally, use the so-called hot method - place the rose hips in an oven preheated to +100 °C for 10 minutes, turn the berries over, then set the temperature to +60 °...+70 °C and dry them for 8 hours with constant stirring. It is better to keep the oven door ajar at all times, and if the oven has a convection function, you can use it. The berries are considered ready when they acquire a rich color and the skin becomes springy. You should not allow it to dry out - such a preparation will crumble and contain virtually no useful substances. Oven-dried fruits should be kept at room temperature for several days, and then the rose hips should be stored in the main container.
Freezing rose hips
Is it possible to freeze fresh rose hips? Of course yes. With this method, the fruits retain the maximum amount of vitamins; rose hips can be stored for quite a long time, up to 2-3 years. When defrosted, whole fruits lose their appearance, so it is more logical to freeze rosehip puree. To do this, fresh berries are cleared of debris, seeds are removed and ground. You can store this puree in bags or plastic containers. It is recommended to defrost rose hips in the refrigerator.
Storing rose hips at home - features How to properly store rose hips? After drying the berries using hot or cold methods, they must be mixed to get rid of the stalks and sepals, and then only transferred to a storage container for the winter.
The container must be clean, dry and breathable; the best choice is cardboard boxes. They are well ventilated and will prevent the fruits from becoming moldy, extending the shelf life of dry rose hips to 3 years. You should not leave cardboard boxes near strong-smelling foods (they will absorb odors) or raw fruits and vegetables (they will absorb moisture). To save fruits, you can use fabric bags and paper bags.
You can also use jars and plastic containers. The main condition for preserving fruits in such containers is a ventilated lid. To supply air, you can make holes in the lid or cover the container with gauze folded in several layers; it’s a good idea to use paper. It is recommended to store rose hips in plastic bags only when frozen, otherwise they will suffocate.
In order to properly store rose hips, preserving all its beneficial properties, it is important to choose a place: it should be a dry room without access to direct sunlight. In urban conditions, it is better to choose the coolest zone of the apartment; the optimal temperature for safety is 0 degrees. Under such conditions, the workpiece will retain up to 100% of its beneficial properties. And don’t miss the time to pick rose hips, so as not to be left without tasty and healing tea in winter!
How to collect and dry rose hips
Before you start collecting fruits, you need to familiarize yourself with some rules. Well, firstly, the main one will be the time of collection. And it falls at the beginning of October, but before the first frost. Although some advise collecting rose hips immediately after frost. Claiming that it was at this time that the fruits were fully ripe.
Despite all these statements, each variety has its own harvest time. And it begins in August. Therefore, before purchasing a shrub, read the instructions. Or ask the seller to tell you more about it.
Well, suppose we have decided on the month, now the second task. How to pick berries correctly so that you can store them in the house for a long time. Of course, you should choose denser fruits. And they should be picked together with the sepals and stalk. Which you can easily remove immediately after drying. Avoid berries that have become rotten, blackened, or have various cracks.
Remember that you should wear thick gloves when picking berries from the bush. So as not to hurt your hands.
Pay attention to the weather. The day should be clear and sunny so that when picking the fruits they do not slip on your hands.
If I missed something, I suggest you watch a short and quite informative video.
Well, that the berries have been collected, now it’s time to start drying them. Take your time and first inspect them for appearance. Make sure once again that you do not come across fruits with defects.
There are several drying methods, of which two main methods can be distinguished. These include cold and hot. And each of them is good in its own way.
Let's start with the first option - cold. It is also called natural, and all because the berries are not subjected to any additional process. Our task is to lay them out on a hard and flat surface and line it with fabric (burlap). And put it in a dark, dry and sufficiently ventilated place. And stir periodically, thereby changing the position of the berries.
By the way, burlap can be replaced with any other material, for example using cardboard or plywood.
Let's move on to the hot method, I would also call it a backup option. If in your case drying naturally is not possible, then take note of this one with heat treatment. Of course, you don’t lose most of the vitamins in it. But it’s better than not having a handful of vitamins at all.
Take a baking sheet from your oven and lay out the berries in an even layer. They should lie in one layer, do not try to lay everything at once, the result will be sad. Place the sheet in the oven at a temperature of no more than 40-60 degrees. Average drying time is 7 to 8 hours. Be sure to stir the berries periodically, changing their position. Once the fruit is ready, you can tell by its springy skin and bright color, remove the leaf and leave it on the table until it cools completely.
To allow moisture to evaporate during heat treatment, open the oven door slightly.
Then remove the baking sheet to a place convenient for you and leave it in this position for another couple of days. Do not under any circumstances overdry the berries, otherwise they will simply lose all their beneficial qualities. That is why I try to harvest rose hips myself at home. I don’t buy it in pharmacy chains because I don’t know how they prepared it.
What are the benefits of rose hips? Vitamin composition of rose hips
The pulp of the plant's fruit contains up to fourteen percent ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Moreover, there is much more of this valuable component in rose hips than in currants. Vitamin C was also found in the leaves of the plant.
Rose hips, which grow in the northern territories and central Russia, can boast the highest content of this healthy component.
The fruits of the medicinal plant contain vitamins belonging to group B. Among them are:
How is rosehip useful for the vascular system? Flavonoids (group of vitamins P) contained in it. When combined with ascorbic acid, they significantly reduce the fragility and permeability of capillaries. These valuable components are necessary for the normal course of redox reactions in the body and are of great benefit in the treatment of kidney and liver pathologies.
The seeds of the medicinal fruit contain valuable vitamin E. How is rosehip beneficial due to this component? It is especially important for reproductive function and strengthening the immune system. This antioxidant is found not only in rosehip seeds, but also in the oil obtained from them.
Eating the fruits of a medicinal plant helps improve blood clotting. Rosehip normalizes metabolic processes in connective and bone tissues. All this work is done by vitamin K, which is found in the plant.
What are the benefits of rose hips for the body? Presence of beta-carotene. From this valuable component, the body produces vitamin A. Due to this, how is rosehip useful for the eyes? The use of infusions of a medicinal plant is an excellent prevention of twilight vision disorders.
Rose hips for the winter - recipes with photos, how to prepare and store preparations at home
Rosehip is the fruit of a plant of the same name, which belongs to the rose family.
Rosehip, also known as Russian or wild rose, is a deciduous (sometimes evergreen) shrub with many stems. In the wild it prefers a temperate climate. At the same time, the tropics have their own variety of wild rose, which is presented in the form of a vine. There are hundreds of varieties and species of this plant, bred both naturally and through selective breeding. Rosehip is undemanding to soil, so it is often planted in gardens. Rose hips have long been considered an incredibly useful and medicinal product. That is why it was grown and then, after harvesting, dried at home in a natural way. It is very important to have time to collect the fruits of the plant before the first frost, otherwise the cold will destroy all the vitamins in the berries. Why is rosehip so useful? First of all, it is worth mentioning that the product is superior in ascorbic acid content to both lemon and black currant berries. It is no secret that vitamin C in the body is responsible for strengthening and supporting the immune system, which is why it is worth collecting and drying rose hips for the winter. Essential oil extracted from the fruit can treat inflammation of the epidermis and even purulent wounds. Decoctions and infusions of rose hips are popular for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The micro- and macroelements contained in the product ensure stable functioning of the organs responsible for human life, relieve inflammation, and remove heavy metals and cholesterol from the body. A decoction of berries aged for 24 hours is recommended for use for hepatitis. The product is a natural analogue of modern multivitamin medications, replenishing the missing amount of essential substances in the body. At the same time, it does not harm the kidneys and liver; on the contrary, rose hips are used no less often to improve the performance of these organs. People with increased blood clotting are contraindicated to use rose hips, because there is a risk of blood clots. Due to its acidic base, the fruits of the plant are not recommended for consumption by those who suffer from gastritis or stomach ulcers. It is also worth remembering that for hypertensive patients, an alcohol-based rosehip decoction will only cause harm.
Most often, rose hips are dried for the winter using an oven or dryer. Of course, you can prepare the fruits naturally by placing a baking sheet with berries in the open air, but this will take much more time. When dried, the fruits of the plant will retain maximum of their beneficial qualities. You can sacrifice some of the beneficial qualities of the product and make delicious jam from rose hips. In addition, the fruits can be processed and prepared for the winter in the form of puree, frozen or canned. In the list below you can find the most popular recipes for preparing rose hips for the winter with step-by-step photos. With such instructions, stocking up on vitamins for the winter at home will not be difficult. Just be sure to follow the recommendations of the chosen recipe regarding how to store the prepared product, otherwise the useful supply may spoil prematurely.
How to harvest rose hips. Methods for preparing rose hips: harvesting for the winter
There are many ways to prepare rose hips for the winter. We’ve dealt with drying, so I suggest you move on to another interesting cooking option. We will prepare delicious rosehip jam. Why not, it’s a great idea to save the berries until spring.
We will need:
- Rosehip - 1.0-1.2 kg.
- Granulated sugar - 14 tablespoons
- Water
Preparation:
1. Let's first start preparing the fruits. Be sure to wash the collected berries. Remove the sepals and cut crosswise, then clean out the seeds.
2. Place the peeled fruits and seeds on a sieve and rinse under running water.
3. Then put the rose hips into a saucepan and fill with water. The volume of water should be equal to the volume of berries.
Cook the mixture over medium heat for 20 minutes. After a while, take out the rosehip and put it aside. Add sugar to the resulting syrup. While stirring, continue to boil it for 10 minutes.
After time has passed, add rose hips again. Bring the jam to a boil, skim off the foam and simmer for 5 minutes.
In the meantime, you can sterilize the jars. We will carry out this process in the oven. We do the same with lids.
Sterilization time is 15-20 minutes, at 150 degrees.
Now that the rosehip jam is ready, it’s time to put it into jars. Preferably hot. Then screw the sterile cap on tightly. Leave the jar of jam on the table until it cools completely.
It is preferable to store this vitamin preparation in a cool place. This dessert will not only go with any tea party, but will also charge you with energy for the whole day. And most importantly, it will save you from colds. By the way, it makes excellent fruit drinks.
Is it possible to freeze rose hips for the winter in the freezer? How to freeze berries for the winter
It is recommended to freeze ripe berries immediately after picking them from the bush. Which leads to a sad conclusion: berries bought at the market and left for at least a day before being put on the counter are absolutely not suitable for freezing. Berries from the supermarket are even less suitable for this purpose. As a rule, they are transported from afar and by the time they are delivered to the end consumer, there can be no question of any freshness.
It's a shame? Still would! But wait to despair. It is quite possible to buy freshly picked berries in the nearest village or holiday village.
Rosehip is considered an unrivaled source of vitamins and other beneficial substances that are almost indispensable for maintaining immunity. Rosehip is widely used in medicines, homemade decoctions and various tinctures for the treatment of vitamin deficiency and diseased kidneys, as well as for normalizing the digestive and circulatory systems.
For general strengthening of the body, rose hips are indispensable during periods of exacerbation of colds, mainly due to the rich presence of vitamin C. In autumn and winter, stocks of frozen rose hips will be an excellent help in maintaining the health of the whole family.
First, let's look at the question of whether it is possible to freeze rose hips for the winter. Like other berries and vegetables, rose hips are easy to freeze. This process allows all the nutrients of fresh berries to be retained immediately after harvest.
Naturally, the rose hips will first need to be subjected to special processing to ensure reliable preservation of the product and its benefits.
Of course, you can freeze rose hips. Despite the fact that many are accustomed to drying it, freezing is also a good way to preserve it. The main thing is to freeze the rose hips correctly so that the vitamins are preserved.
Of course it's interesting. But is there any point in freezing something that can be dried? Dried rose hips are stored for a very long time and well. This is usually how they treat him. People's freezers are not made of rubber. Therefore, consider whether there is a need to freeze it or whether it is easier to dry it.
Rosehip is a medicinal plant containing a large amount of vitamin C.
Rose hips are taken in the form of decoctions, tinctures, and syrups.
To make tea from rose hips in winter, they can be pre-dried or frozen in the freezer.
Rosehip can be frozen; it will not lose its vitamins from freezing, and you can store it in the freezer for a long time. Before freezing, you need to wash the berries and then dry them, only then put them in a plastic container or plastic bag.
Freezing rose hips for the winter is one of the best ways to preserve vitamins in nm. To freeze, rose hips must be processed. It is good to freeze rosehip puree, peel the rosehip fruits from seeds and grind them, then put them in containers and in the freezer and store for a year.
It’s not that you can, rose hips need to be frozen for the winter, because they are very good for health!
I remember even in childhood we found it in the winter and collected it, so it retained its properties in the cold.
Rose hips can also be dried.
Yes, you can. Then you can make a decoction from it - pouring water directly in its unfrozen form (water at room temperature or cold, but not boiling water).
If you have space in the freezer, you can freeze rose hips.
I once tried one year a little, I liked it better with ice cream.
But there’s not enough space, now I’m not only freezing berries, but also some vegetables, so I dry the rose hips the old fashioned way.
Rose hips can be frozen, but I would recommend drying them better. Simply place the rosehips on newspaper and expose them to a direct light source. This way you can preserve useful elements in rose hips.
Rose hips do not need to be frozen, they can be washed and dried until they become wrinkled and hard, and in this form the rose hips are perfectly stored. If you then lightly crush it (not into grains, but in large pieces), you can pour boiling water over it and let it sit for a while, you’ll get a tasty vitamin drink, like compote.
In nature, unpicked rose hips remain on the bushes for a long time; already dusted with snow, it is a healthy and tasty treat for both birds and people. I remember as a child, we dug it out from under the snow and ate it. It was very sweet and tasty.
If you have space in the freezer, then freezing rose hips is the right decision. It will almost completely retain its vitamins and nutritional value. The only thing you need to remember is that to preserve vitamins, you should defrost it not at room temperature, but in the refrigerator.
This rosehip can be brewed, added to various dishes (for example, porridge), and simply eaten.
How to dry rose hips outdoors or indoors?
The process of drying berries without forced heating takes quite a long time - approximately 14-28 days. However, such conditions ensure the safety of all the main useful elements contained in fresh raw materials.
- Place the sorted berries on a clean sheet of plywood or loose paper. Such materials will absorb excess moisture released by the fruits of the plant during the drying process. It is not advisable to use newspapers, because... Printing ink contains harmful substances.
- Place the raw materials in a well-ventilated place, protected from sunlight. This could be an attic, a shadow under a tree, or a dark veranda. It is important to provide low air humidity. Therefore, it is not recommended to start drying in rainy weather. Additional air access in the house (apartment) is provided by a conventional household fan. Turn it on 3-4 times a day for 30 minutes.
- Properly dried fruits will wrinkle, shrink by about 4 times, practically not change the color of the top layer, and will crumble when pressed strongly with your fingers.
The effect of dried rose hips on the body
Content:
- The effect of dried rose hips on the body
- Beneficial features
- Use in cooking
- How to choose the right dried rose hips
- Drying rose hips correctly
- Methods for storing dried rose hips
- Dried rose hips: brew in a thermos
- Dried rose hips: brew without a thermos
- How long to store dried rosehip infusion
- Infusion of dried rose hips - indications for use
- Infusion of dried rose hips - contraindications
Due to the high level of vitamins and minerals, dried wild rose fruits have a whole range of beneficial properties for the human body.
First of all, an infusion of them has a tonic, anti-inflammatory and restorative effect, “stimulating” the immune system. It is recommended to use it for infectious diseases, physical and emotional overload. In addition, dried fruits have a choleretic effect, stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and help speed up metabolism. An infusion of berries accelerates cell regeneration, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, preventing the development of atherosclerosis. It also effectively relieves skin itching from insect bites and promotes the healing of wounds and burns.
Summary
By choosing the most suitable method for storing rose hips for the winter, you can provide yourself with all the vitamins and beneficial components that the body requires during the cold season for the whole year.
Thanks to preparation in two ways, the fruits are added to many dishes, improving the functions of the immune system and protecting the body from various diseases.
Often, hawthorn is also harvested together with rose hips; you can find information on how to store hawthorn on the website.
Useful video about collecting and storing rose hips:
Features of storage of dried rosehip, its shelf life
It is recommended to store dried fruits in glass or tin containers until winter. To ensure access to oxygen, prevent the formation of mold and the proliferation of pathogens, do not seal the jars hermetically. It is advisable to use special plastic lids with holes or cover the containers with thick fabric folded in several layers and secure it with thread or an elastic band.
Another storage method is in cardboard boxes and paper bags. Cardboard will absorb excess moisture.
Rose hips are also well stored in fabric bags made of natural materials, with the neck securely tied.
With strict adherence to the rules of drying and storage, rosehip raw materials retain their medicinal properties for 2 years.
Collection and preparation of rose hips
It is believed that the largest amount of ascorbic acid and biologically active components is concentrated in rose hips, which can be consumed both fresh and dried, that is, all year round. Rose hips can be used to prepare medicinal restorative teas, they are added to medicinal preparations, and also made infusions and decoctions, which are prescribed by doctors of traditional and folk medicine for various ailments (we will tell you in detail about what diseases rose hips help with, we will tell you in detail in the following articles ).
Harvesting rose hips for future use is most advisable in September-October - it is during this period that the maximum amount of ascorbic acid accumulates in the fruits. It should be remembered that the very first frosts destroy the vitamin C in the fruits, so it is important to have time to collect rosehips before them. You also need to be guided by climatic conditions; sometimes rose hips ripen by mid-August. Ripe fruits acquire a rich red color and become soft. Slightly unripe berries with a shiny surface, hard and large are more suitable for drying and long-term storage. To minimize the loss of ascorbic acid during subsequent drying, when collecting rose hips, be sure to preserve the stalk and receptacle.
Favorable period for collecting rose hips, how to collect them correctly
For harvesting as medicinal raw materials, you can only use rose hips collected in ecologically clean areas, remote from highways, factories, factories, garbage dumps, etc. It is recommended to collect mature but strong fruits. Different varieties ripen at different times: from about mid-August to early September. It can be collected until October (the first frost). Dry, sunny weather is considered best for collection.
The fruits are carefully picked with or without pedicels. There is no need to wash them before drying. After collection, it is not recommended to store raw materials in a plastic bag, plastic container, or other containers that prevent the flow of air. The product will become damp and moldy.
Natural drying
This drying is the most popular, since all the beneficial substances are preserved in the rose hips.
Initially, you need to prepare a hard surface and a place that is well ventilated and not exposed to sunlight. The rosehip is laid out in a thin layer; you can use plywood or cardboard.
Every 2-3 days it must be stirred to prevent mold from appearing. Drying time is from two weeks. It all depends on the ventilation of the room and air humidity.
How to dry collected rose hips in a home (gas or electric) oven
Fast, simple, universal way. Follow a few rules to preserve the maximum amount of vitamins and other useful substances in the fruits of the bush.
- Before drying for the winter, be sure to sort out the collected raw materials. Throw away stains with blackness, rot, discoloration and other defects. It is allowed to dry both whole fruits and those cut in half lengthwise. In the second case, the rose hips will dry faster and it will be easier to brew. Place the selected fruits on a large metal baking sheet in one layer.
From 1 kg of raw berries, approximately 250 g of dried berries are obtained.
- The optimal drying temperature for raw materials is 40 degrees. If your oven cannot handle this low heat, open the door slightly. It is important to ensure constant air circulation and moisture outflow during the drying process. The convection mode or a slightly open oven door will cope with this task. After an hour of drying at this temperature, increase the heat to 50-60 degrees. In total, a whole rosehip should spend about 6-7 hours in the oven, cut into halves - 4-5 hours.
There is an alternative drying mode. Place the baking sheet with rose hips in an oven preheated to 100 degrees for 5-7 minutes. Then reduce the heating intensity to 65-70 degrees. Dry for 5-7 hours until the raw materials are completely ready.
During the heat treatment, the rose hips should not change color much. Then the fruits will retain the maximum amount of benefits until winter.
