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BOTTLED BLUEBERRIES

Bottle fresh (or frozen) blueberries in water, honey, fruit juice or syrup to enjoy all year long! This recipe can be used for all types of berries, including blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, boysenberries, cape gooseberries, elderberries, gooseberries, huckleberries, mulberries, raspberries and redcurrants. Choose fruit that is fresh, ripe, sweet and fully coloured.
    
Ingredients for BOTTLED BLUEBERRIES

1 Litre (1 quart) batch
4.5L (9 pint) batch
7 Litre (7 quart) batch
Blueberries
800g (1 3/4 pounds)
3.6kg (8 pounds)
5.4kg (12 pounds)
Water, Honey Solution, Fruit Juice or Syrup
approximately 1 1/2 cups
approximately 6 2/3 cups
approximately 10 2/3 cups
      
METHOD:
1. Weigh fruit to determine the bottling yield.
2. Sterilise all equipment by washing in hot soapy water and rinsing well before use.
3. Wash fresh blueberries and drain.
4. Prepare jars by boiling in a pot of water for 10 minutes before filling.
5. Soak lids in hot water (not on heat) for at least 5 minutes before use.
6. Prepare syrup (if using), ensuring all sugar has dissolved. Refer to syrup chart below.
7. Dissolve honey into water (if using). Refer to syrup chart below.
8. Heat water, honey solution, fruit juice (i.e. apple or grape juice) or syrup until hot.
9. HOT PACK – heat blueberries in the hot liquid for 30 seconds.
10. Drain hot blueberries and set aside. Keep fruit hot. Repeat with remaining fruit.
11a. HOT PACK - pack hot jars with the hot fruit to 2.5cm (1 inch) from the rim of each jar.
11b. RAW PACK - pack hot jars with the raw fruit to 2.5cm (1 inch) from the rim of each jar.
12. Add hot syrup (or other hot liquid) into each jar, filling to 1cm (1/2 inch) from the rim of each jar.
13. Using a non-metal utensil, remove any bubbles and add extra syrup if required.
14. Wipe rims to remove any food residue.
15. Add warm lids and twist to secure.
16. Place sealed jars into a pot of boiling water and boil for the processing time stated below. Start the timer once the water comes to a full boil.
17. Turn off the heat source once the time is up. Remove jars from hot water after 5 more minutes. Cool jars overnight on a wood or fabric surface. Do not adjust lids during this time.
18. The next day, check jars have sealed before labelling and dating.
19. Store jars in a cool, dark and dry place for up to 12 months.
20. Refrigerate jars upon opening and consume contents within 2-3 days
    
FLAVOUR IDEAS:
Add a pinch of spice or a spoonful of juice (or liqueur) to a 500ml (pint) jar of bottled blueberries, process according to the recipe and taste when opening to check flavouring. Make in larger batches as desired.
  • Brandy
  • Brown Sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Ginger Ale
  • Ginger Beer
  • Honey
  • Honey + Port + Vanilla
  • Honey + Lemon + Lemon Thyme
  • Lemon Juice
  • Lemon Zest
  • Lemon Zest + Maple Syrup
  • Lime Juice
  • Lime Zest
  • Maple Syrup
  • Nutmeg
  • Port
  • Vanilla
    

   Syrup Chart for BOTTLED BLUEBERRIES
Syrup
Sugar %
1L (1 quart) batch
4.5L (9 pint) batch
7L (7 quart) batch
Very Light
10%
1 1/2 cups water
3 tablespoons sugar
6 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
10 1/2 cups water
1 1/4 cups sugar
Light
20%
1 1/3 cups water
1/4 cup
sugar
5 3/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups
sugar
9 cups water
2 1/2 cups sugar
Medium
30%
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup
sugar
5 1/4 cups water
2 1/4 cups sugar
8 1/4 cups water
3 3/4 cups sugar
Honey
Solution
varies
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons honey
6 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup
honey
10 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup
honey
Fruit Juice
varies
1 1/2 cups fruit juice
6 2/3 cups fruit juice
10 2/3 cups fruit juice
Water
0%
1 1/2 cups water
6 2/3 cups water
10 2/3 cups water
   
Processing Time for BOTTLED BLUEBERRIES in a Boiling Water Bath

Jar
Size
Altitude
≤ 1,000 feet
Altitude
1,001 - 3,000 feet
Altitude
3,001 - 6,000 feet
Altitude
≥ 6,000 feet
Hot Pack
≤ 1 Litre
(quarts)
15 minutes
20 minutes
20 minutes
25 minutes
Raw Pack
≤ 500ml
(pints)
15 minutes
20 minutes
20 minutes
25 minutes
≤ 1 Litre
(quarts)
20 minutes
25 minutes
30 minutes
35 minutes
    
Processing Time for BOTTLED BLUEBERRIES in a Dial Gauge Pressure Canner

Jar Size
Processing Time
Canner Pressure
at Altitude
≤ 2,000 feet
Canner Pressure
at Altitude
2,001 - 4,000 feet
Canner Pressure
at Altitude
4,001 - 6,000 feet
Canner Pressure
at Altitude
6,001 - 8,000 feet
Hot Pack
≤ 1 Litre
(quarts)
8 minutes
6 PSI
7 PSI
8 PSI
9 PSI
Raw Pack
≤ 500ml
(pints)
8 minutes
6 PSI
7 PSI
8 PSI
9 PSI
≤ 1 Litre
(quarts)
10 minutes
6 PSI
7 PSI
8 PSI
9 PSI
    
Processing Time for BOTTLED BLUEBERRIES in a Weighted Gauge Pressure Canner

Jar Size
Processing Time
Canner Pressure
at Altitude ≤ 1,000 feet
Canner Pressure
at Altitude ≥ 1,000 feet
Hot Pack
≤ 1 Litre
(quarts)
8 minutes
5 PSI
10 PSI
Raw Pack
≤ 500ml
(pints)
8 minutes
5 PSI
10 PSI
≤ 1 Litre
(quarts)
10 minutes
5 PSI
10 PSI
Acknowledgement 
Kaya Wanjoo. Food Preserving kaditj kalyakoorl moondang-ak kaaradj midi boodjar-ak nyininy, yakka wer waabiny, Noongar moort. Ngala kaditj baalap kalyakoorl nidja boodjar wer kep kaaradjiny, baalap moorditj nidja yaakiny-ak wer moorditj moort wer kaditj Birdiya wer yeyi.
Hello and Welcome. Food Preserving acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and play, the Nyoongar people. We recognise their connection to the land and local waterways, their resilience and commitment to community and pay our respect to Elders past and present.
 
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