When people talk about preserving their home grown fruit, they usually mean using a pressure canner or bottler. Preserved fruit is a really nice thing to get out in mid winter, but this is only one way of enjoying your produce out of season. Did you know that it is actually very easy (much easier than canning or bottling) to make your own fruit juice cordials which will keep for several years? The process one uses is called steam juicing, and although it does require one piece of equipment, this being a steam juicer, it is a very cost worthy investment to make.
Homemade juices and cordials are much better for your health than bought ones. All commercial products have preservatives, stabilizers, colors and flavors added to them so they maintain their appearance for a long time. Apart from spoiling the original taste, these additives are increasingly linked to health disorders. Some people are very sensitive to chemicals, and may experience bad reaction to commercial drinks. If you or someone in your family has such sensitivity, then making you own cordials is a really good option.
Using a steam juicer is very easy – you just put it over a heat source, fill the bottom (steam) pan with water, then load up the top pan and fill the colander or basket with your desired mix of fruits. Sugar is required to make most juices taste good, and also helps with preserving (bacteria find it very hard to grow in sweet foods). Most people just pour the dry sugar in on top of the fruits to juice, so that it can dissolve in the steam and mix in evenly.
You can expect to pay about $35 for a basic steam juicer appliance. Although not many people bother to preserve their own foods in this day and age, you can easily find these juicers in online stores. You may even find a second hand bargain on Ebay. If you do choose to buy a second hand one, do be aware of any rust – this is a sure sign that the relatively thin walls of the boiler are not going to last much longer.
Most new steam juicers are now made of aluminum or stainless steel, both of which are impervious to corrosion and can literally last a lifetime if well cared for.
Related posts: