Fruit does not stay fresh forever which means that we end up throwing away far more than we should. If you want to keep your fruit for longer than the usual few days or week, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to preserve it. Here are three fruit preservation methods you can try.

Canning

Canning is great if you have perfectly ripe fruit. Ripe fruit is sweeter than unripe fruit so make sure that your fruit is ready for canning. Wash and, if necessary, peel your fruit. You may need to remove seeds of stone fruit like cherries. This fruit preservation method is easy. Once your fruit is ready, you can cut it into smaller pieces before you boil them in some sugar water. If your fruit is very sweet, you don’t need to add too much sugar. Once the fruit becomes tender, you need to remove it from the heat and get ready to can them. Put them in jars and seal them. Store in a cool, dark place. Once you open a jar, you should store it in the fridge and consume within a couple of days.

Freezing

Fresh fruit can be frozen if done properly. This fruit preservation method begins much like canning. You need to wash, peel and cut your fruit before placing them on a lined baking sheet. Freeze on the baking sheet for about an hour. It doesn’t need to be frozen solid. Place the pieces of fruit in freezer bags and label each of them. Make sure you write the date on the bag too. You can keep them for up to 9 months.

Drying

This is another great fruit preservation method. All you need to do is prepare your fruit just as you would in any other preservation method. You can use a food dehydrator or use your oven on very low to dry the fruit out. Once you are happy with the results, you can remove the fruit and store in an airtight container for several months.

These are three simple fruit preservation methods you can try. The one you choose will depend on your preferences and how you want to use your fruit. Frozen fruit is great for smoothies while canned fruit can be used in cakes and tarts. Dried fruit makes a delicious and healthy snack.