HOW TO FREEZE GRAPES, MANGOES AND BANANA
Get the most from your favourite summer produce with the help of your freezer. Once frozen, grapes mangoes and bananas last for up to 12 months, which means you can enjoy summer fruit right into winter.
Grapes
Wash and dry small clusters of sweet seedless grapes, then place in sealable plastic bags and store in the freezer. Or, remove the grapes from the stems and place, in a single layer, on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Freeze until firm, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer. To serve, simply remove the grapes from the freezer and eat them straightaway, still frozen, as a healthy snack.
Mangoes
Stock up on mangoes while they’re in season (October to March), then freeze them so you can enjoy them for longer. To freeze, remove the cheeks and peel. Wrap each cheek in plastic wrap and place, in a single layer, on a baking tray. Place in the freezer. When firm, transfer the wrapped cheeks to an airtight container. Return to the freezer. Once thawed, chop the flesh and add to your morning cereal or use it to make smoothies or cocktails.
Bananas
Ripe bananas only last for a few days before they go brown and soft. To freeze, place unpeeled bananas in an airtight container in the freezer. The skin will turn black but the flesh will retain its flavour. Thaw bananas, then peel and coarsely chop the flesh. Blend with milk, honey, cinnamon and ice-cream or frozen yoghurt to make a banana milkshake. You can also mash the flesh and stir it into cake or muffin mixtures before baking.
Freezing
Mangos
Preparation – Select firm, ripe mangos that yield to gentle pressure. Wash, peel and slice.
Syrup Pack – Pack slices in containers. Cover with a 1 ¾ cup sugar on 4 cups water syrup. Leave headspace. Seal and freeze.
Unsweetened Tray Pack – Arrange slices on a flat pan and freeze. When frozen remove and store in sealed containers.
Purée – Press mango slices through a sieve, blender chop or chop in a food processor. Pack into containers with or without sugar. Leave headspace. Seal and freeze.
Bron: Heiner Lange
