Can You Eat Raw Cranberries?
Short answer: Yes, but do you really want to?
Just before Thanksgiving, fresh, bright red cranberries start to appear in the produce aisle. You're used to making cranberry sauce with them, baking them into bread, or even cookies, but what about consuming them raw?
Like many of us, maybe you have plucked a single berry to sample on while cooking, expecting something sweet only to find they're fairly bitter and taste nothing like the cranberry juice or dried cranberries you're familiar with. It may have even made you wonder, are these even edible when raw? We'll tell you everything you need to know about fresh cranberries, from consuming them raw to how to store them.
Is It Safe To Eat Raw Fresh Cranberries?
Yes, raw cranberries are safe to consume raw, but you probably don't want to eat them that way.
"Cranberries are safe to eat raw. However, usually they are cooked and have sugar added because of the bitter and sharp taste they have when raw," says Kelly West Keyser, a registered dietitian in Alabama.
There's little health risk to consuming them raw, but consuming them cooked is certainly preferable in terms of taste, texture, and flavor. "I have seen that consuming too much of them can cause stomach upset, but I do not think very many people are over consuming them raw," notes Keyser.
Meet Our Expert
Kelly West Keyser, MS, RD, LD, CDE, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.
How To Purchase Fresh Cranberries
Fresh cranberries are typically sold bagged in the produce section of most major grocery stores starting in September and will usually be available until January, but there are always frozen cranberries to hold you over year-round.
According to Karen Cahill, marketing director for U.S. Cranberries, you should look for fresh cranberries that are firm and bounce when you're shopping. If you find squishy fresh cranberries, that's a sign they're well past ripe. Cahill also notes that fresh, ripe cranberries should float in water. In fact, they contain four air chambers inside them.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
How To Store Fresh Cranberries
Store fresh cranberries in the fridge for up to one month. For longer storage, you can freeze cranberries for up to one year. The best part? In most recipes they can be used straight from frozen and don't have to be thawed. Including in this Gooey Cranberry Crumb Cake.
You can freeze the cranberries directly in their original packaging if you like, or freeze them (after ensuring they are rinsed and thoroughly dried) in a single layer on a sheet pan until firm, before transferring to freezer bags for long term storage. This method can help avoid larger clumps of frozen cranberries from forming.
How To Cook With Fresh Cranberries
Over the years, we have developed many recipes that use fresh cranberries. From Sparkling Cranberries that we use as decor on winter desserts, to a Classic Cranberry Salad. Keyser also shared her go-to cranberry sauce, one of her favorite ways to utilize the fresh berry. "This refreshing cranberry orange relish recipe is a family favorite of ours, it is best prepared a day in advance for best flavor, which makes it an easy prep ahead dish for holiday meals!" she says.
Ingredients
1 bag fresh cranberries
1 large navel orange, cut into quarters (Do not peel the orange)
1/4 cup granulated sugar or sugar substitute, to taste
Instructions
Add half of the cranberries and half of the orange to a food processor and process until finely diced. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
Repeat step 1 with the remaining cranberries and orange.
Combine all the finely diced cranberry and orange mixture in the large bowl and mix in sugar to taste.
Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least two hours, preferably overnight.
Related: 47 Festive Cranberry Recipes That Aren't Cranberry Sauce
For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Southern Living.
