Looking for a recipe to preserve fresh strawberries, then you have come to the right place. This homemade strawberry crush is easy to make and needs just 3 main ingredients - fresh strawberries, sugar and citric acid or lemon juice.
Strawberry juice concentrate is great to have on hand to make smoothies, cocktails, and mocktails. The best part is there are no artificial flavors or colors. And it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
About the Recipe
I love preserving fruit so that I can enjoy them longer. Jams, juice concentrates are perfect for that purpose. Like this mango juice concentrate or this peach mango jam. So, if you have extra fruit to use up, don't worry - just make one of these recipes.
Strawberry crush is a concentrate made with fresh strawberries and sugar. Fruit crush are quite popular in India and many varieties are available commercially. They are quite versatile and can be used to make smoothies, mocktails etc. Check out the Tips section for more strawberry crush uses.
The flavor for this strawberry concentrate comes entirely from the fresh strawberries. There are no artificial flavors or colors in the recipe. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 month in an airtight container.
This is the perfect recipe to preserve that big batch of fresh strawberries. Even if they are a little bruised or don't look their absolute best - it is OK. This recipe works well with all of them.
Recipe is from my dear blog friend Vaishali, who blogs at Ribbons to Pastas. She has a wealth of knowledge that she shares generously. Check out her space for amazing recipes from all over the world.
Ingredients
For the details of the exact quantities of each ingredient and the list of ingredients needed, check the printable recipe card below.
This strawberry crush recipe needs just 3 main ingredients and water:
- fresh strawberries - the riper the better. It is OK if they are a little bruised. But chop off parts that are rotten or moldy.
- granulated sugar - the amount of sugar added is quite a lot. But along with adding sweetness, it also helps in preserving the concentrate by inhibiting microbial activity. So do not reduce the quantity of sugar by too much. Note that this is a concentrate and needs to diluted before serving. So in the end it is not a lot of sugar per serving.
- citric acid - is used for flavor and also as a preserving agent. You can substitute citric acid with lemon juice.
Instructions
For the detailed instructions on how to make the recipe with exact timings, check the printable recipe card below.
Thoroughly wash the strawberries and dry them. Cut the tops off and depending on the size of the berries, either halve or quarter them.
Place the chopped berries in a large bowl. Add the sugar and mix well. Cover and put the bowl in the fridge overnight.
Next day take the bowl out of the fridge. Using a slotted spoon remove the strawberries out of the sugar syrup and place them in a food processor or blender. Blend into a smooth puree.
Transfer the strawberry infused sugar syrup to a medium size saucepan. Add water and mix well. Put the pan on medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool completely, about 45 minutes ~1 hour.
Once the sugar syrup is completely cool, add the strawberry puree and mix well to combine. Strawberry crush is now ready to use.
Pour the crush into clean glass or plastic jars and store in the refrigerator.
To make juice using the strawberry concentrate syrup, simply add the crush and dilute it water or soda. Mix well. Serve over ice and enjoy!!
Expert Tips
- Keep in mind that this strawberry concentrate recipe needs a little bit of pre-planning because the strawberries need to macerate overnight in sugar. So plan accordingly.
- Make sure to store the strawberry juice concentrate in clean glass containers.
- Since the recipe does not have any preservatives, it will keep well in the refrigerator for only a 1 month.
- Here are some strawberry crush uses:
- as a sauce for desserts like on this vegan bread pudding
- make popsicles
- make smoothies
- use as a base for cocktails or mocktails
- add lemon juice to make strawberry lemonade
- dilute with either water or soda to make a refreshing summer thirst quencher
- Sky is the limit on how you can use this concentrate. Get creative and use wherever you need a quick fresh fruit taste.
You might also like
Few more fruit based recipes that you might like:
I love hearing from you!! If you’ve tried this and liked it, then don't forget to let me know. Give a star rating and let me know in the comments below. Also tag me in your creations on Instagram @cooks_hideout. I love sharing photos when people make my recipes. You can use the hashtag #cookshideout too.
Strawberry Crush
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs (~750 grams) Fresh Strawberries
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Citric Acid*
- 2 cups Water
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash the strawberries and dry them. Cut the tops off and depending on the size of the berries, either halve or quarter them.
- Place the chopped berries in a large bowl. Add the sugar and mix well. Cover and put the bowl in the fridge overnight.
- Next day take the bowl out of the fridge. Using a slotted spoon remove the strawberries out of the sugar syrup and place them in a food processor or blender. Blend into a smooth puree.
- Transfer the strawberry infused sugar syrup to a medium size saucepan. Add water and mix well. Put the pan on medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in citric acid, mix well to incorporate. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool completely, about 45 minutes ~1 hour.
- Once the sugar syrup is completely cool, add the strawberry puree and mix well to combine. Strawberry crush is now ready to use.
- Pour the crush into clean glass or plastic jars and store in the refrigerator.
To make Strawberry Juice:
- To make juice, combine 1 part strawberry concentrate with 1~1½ parts water. So for 1 cup of concentrate, add about 1~1½ cups of chilled water or soda. Mix well and enjoy!!
Video
Notes
- Keep in mind that this strawberry concentrate recipe needs a little bit of pre-planning because the strawberries need to macerate overnight in sugar. So plan accordingly.
- Make sure to store the strawberry juice concentrate in clean glass containers.
- Use 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon or lime juice instead of citric acid.
- Since the recipe does not have any preservatives, it will keep well in the refrigerator for only a 1 month.
- Here are some strawberry crush uses:
- as a sauce for desserts like on this vegan bread pudding
- make popsicles
- make smoothies
- use as a base for cocktails or mocktails
- Sky is the limit on how you can use this concentrate. Get creative and use wherever you need a quick fresh fruit taste.
Srivalli
Pavani, those pictures are so so stunning!. trust you to make us all drool over this!..great one..
Jason
Hello. Could this same process be used to make orange crush? Would the recipe still call for citric acid or lemon juice?