Cranberries are seasonal and the availability of Cranberries is for a very short period of time when they are fresh. There is a long story behind the Cranberry cultivation and celebration in American culture. Many people believe that Cranberries grow underwater, but it’s not. Water is used during harvest to float the fruit and protect the plant from freezing. Cranberries have lots of health benefits. It helps to fight heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. so, enjoy the advantages of Cranberries.
We know that Cranberries have lots of health advantages as well as it’s a good ingredient in many recipes. You can make lots of sweet dishes also. We know that some people get stuck here because they don’t know how can they make recipes using Cranberries? They don’t know how to cook Cranberries properly?
Table of Contents
How to Cook Fresh Cranberries?
There are three methods to cook fresh Cranberries. You’ll need different ingredients for different kinds of methods to cook Cranberries.
1. Stovetop Whole Cranberry Sauce:
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12 oz (340 g) of fresh or frozen cranberries
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1 cup (200 g) of white granulated sugar
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2 US tbsp (30 ml) of water
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1 strip of orange or lemon zest
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Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
Makes about 4 servings
Empty 340g of fresh or frozen cranberries into a large saucepan. Dump the cranberries into a colander and rinse them off through plain water. Now, place a large saucepan on the stove and pour all the cranberries into it to get cooked. Take about 60g of Cranberries out of the saucepan and set it aside. Add sugar (200g), lemon zest (accordingly), and water (30ml) to the saucepan.
Heat the mixture over low heat for 10 mins. and stir occasionally with the help of a wooden spatula. Continue heating the mixture until the sugar dissolves completely. Now, turn the heat to medium and cook for 12 mins. Keep stirring so that it won’t stick to the surface.
Turn down the heat to low and grab those Cranberries you set aside earlier. Dump them into the saucepan and stir the mixture to combine the ingredients. According to you, you can add salt and pepper to taste Now, remove the cranberries and let them cool before you serve.
2. Baked Brandied Cranberries:
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1 pound (453 g) of fresh or frozen cranberries
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2 cups (400 g) of granulated white sugar
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1 tablespoon (28 g) of orange zest
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Pinch of kosher salt
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1/4 cup (60 ml) of brandy, Grand Marnier, or orange-flavored liqueur
Makes about 4 servings
First, you have to preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Put 453g of Cranberries in a colander and rinse them off with plain water. Dump the Cranberries into a baking dish. Now, add 400g of white sugar and pour it into the Cranberries along with 28g of orange zest. Then, add a pinch of Kosher salt and stir well to combine all the ingredients.
Cover the mouth of the baking dish with Aluminium foil and fold it over the edges. Let the bake Cranberries for half an hour. When it’s done, uncover the dish, stir the mixture and bake it for 10 more mins to thicken the mixture. Take out the dish and pour 60 ml of brandy, Grand Marnier, or other orange-flavored liqueur over the Cranberries. Stir the mixture gently and let them cool for a few mins.
3. Roasted Cranberry Sauce:
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24 oz (680 g) of fresh or frozen cranberries
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1 shallot, thinly sliced
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1 cup (200 g) of light brown sugar (packed)
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1 teaspoon (4 g) of finely grated lemon zest
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1 teaspoon (4 g) of finely grated orange zest
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1/4 cup (60 ml) of fresh orange juice
Makes 6 to 8 servings
You have to position a rack in the upper third of your oven and preheat it to 350 °F (177 °C). Dump the cranberries into a colander and rinse them off through plain water and pour them into a baking dish. Thinly sliced 1 shallot and drop the slices into the dish. Then, add light brown sugar along with lemon and orange zest. Add 60ml of fresh orange juice and stir to combine together.
Place the baking on the top rack of your oven and leave it for 1 hour to roast. After completion of 20 mins., give a good stir to the mixture and again let it cook. Remove the Cranberries once they get soft and juices thicken the dish.
You may see the Cranberries get too hot after 1 hour of roasting, so give them time to cool off. During this cooling period, the sauce will also thicken up a bit more.
How to Cook Cranberries without Sugar?
You have to ready some ingredients to cook Cranberries without sugar.
- 18 oz. fresh cranberries
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 3 Tbsp. fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- Zest from ½ orange
- 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp. ground ginger
- Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
Empty 18oz. of fresh or frozen cranberries into a large saucepan. Dump the cranberries into a colander and rinse them off through plain water. Now, place a large saucepan on the stove and pour all the cranberries into it to get cooked. Add applesauce, Orange Juice, honey, and water (30ml) to the saucepan.
Heat the mixture over low heat for 10 mins. and stir occasionally with the help of a wooden spatula. Now, add ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. It’s time to turn the heat to medium and cook for 12 mins. Keep stirring so that it won’t stick to the surface. According to you, you can add salt, and pepper to taste Now, remove the cranberries and let them cool before you serve.
FAQ:
Can you Freeze Fresh Raw Cranberries?
Yes, you can freeze fresh raw cranberries and enjoy them all year long. Cranberries freeze well when stored properly. Home frozen Cranberries can retain their quality for 8 to 12 months if the freezer is kept at 0°F.
What are the Healthiest Ways to Eat Cranberries?
Cranberries are more than just making a sweet sauce. You can also add them to smoothies or salads or eat them whole. It’s a very easy method to eat Cranberries, but you have to clean or rinse them off through water before eating raw or adding them into any recipe.
