Recipes Using Fresh Cranberries (2024)

FAQs

What are fresh cranberries good for? ›

Many people consider cranberries to be a superfood due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content. In fact, research has linked the nutrients in cranberries to a lower risk of urinary tract infection (UTI), the prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure.

When baking biscuits, it's enough simply to stir the cranberries through. However, if you're planning on using these beautiful red fruits in larger baked goods - like cakes, breads or muffins - you may wish to coat them in a little flour before adding them to your mixture and stirring through.

Fresh, raw cranberries can add a pleasant bite and burst of color to any dish. You can eat them whole like blueberries, toss them into a salad, add them to oatmeal, or blend them into a smoothie. If they're too tart for you, you can chop them and add a little sugar or any other sweetener.

They're not dissimilar to raisins, but with a sweet-tart flavor that pairs well with cheese, like in our cranberry cheese ball bites or our sweet potato feta salad; with white chocolate, like in our copycat Starbucks cranberry bliss bars or our oatmeal cranberry cookies; or with citrus, like in our mandarin orange ...

Is it safe to eat cranberries raw? Cranberries are generally considered safe whether they are cooked or raw. However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries.

"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 really not much you need to do to prepare fresh cranberries for baking. I just soaked and rinsed my berries to wash them off and then folded them into my cranberry orange pound cake batter. Pro tip: toss your fresh cranberries with a little flour so they won't sink in the batter!

Your recipe should specify whether to use chopped cranberries or not. If it doesn't, be sure to measure your cranberries before chopping them. Follow this guide: If the recipe says to use "1 cup (250 mL) cranberries" chop the cranberries first, then measure them.

Place plastic bags of cranberries directly in the freezer for up to twelve months and use without thawing—just run cold water over them to rinse before using. Because some bruised and soft berries and some stems and leaves are often in the bags, you might prefer to sort and wash the berries before freezing them.

Or you can purchase already frozen cranberries in your grocery store. If you're wondering how to use cranberries in your diet, some healthy ideas are to throw fresh or frozen cranberries into smoothies, oatmeal, salsa, or granola.

How many fresh cranberries should I eat a day? ›

HOW MUCH CRANBERRIES TO EAT DAILY? Studies confirming the health-promoting properties of cranberries have typically used doses of 100-300 g of fresh cranberries, equivalent to 7-10 g of dried cranberries, and 100-150 ml of 100% cranberry juice.

Prevention of Stomach Cancer and Ulcers

Cranberries contain unique plant compounds known as A-type proanthocyanidins, which may cut your risk of stomach cancer by preventing H. pylori from attaching to the lining of your stomach ( 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ).

Cranberries (particularly in juice form) are very effective at settling digestive problems and stomach aches. This is due in part to the fruit's high acid content.

Blueberries contain more thiamin, niacin, and folate, while cranberries have more pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid helps turn the food you eat into the energy you need. Cranberries have a total antioxidant capacity of 8,983 per cup.

Possibly Effective for

Infections of the kidney, bladder, or urethra (urinary tract infections or UTIs). Taking certain cranberry products by mouth seems to help prevent UTIs in adult females, children, and people at risk for developing UTIs due to certain surgeries or radiation treatment.

Consuming cranberries can prevent tooth decay and gum disease, inhibit urinary tract infections, reduce inflammation in the body, maintain a healthy digestion system, and decrease cholesterol levels [2,5,9,10].

Both forms of cranberries will offer you the same nutritional benefits and medicinal value. However, dried ones are high in carbs, calories, and sugar than fresh ones, but they still contain most of the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in fresh ones.