Washing Blackberries

floyd

Id cover them with water, and add 1-2 tablespoons of salt and leave them overnight. Make sure to weigh them down with a plate or something otherwise they will float. Wash under plenty of running water the next day

floyd

If you don't fancy salting them, you can tell by sight whether they have 'occupants' as the white core will be slightly concave and more brownish whereas the cores with no bugs are white/cream and flat.
The bugs are usually raspberry beetle, Google for pictures of the sort of damage to look for, I'd rather salt them as the thought of eating one makes my skin crawl

Farway

I just rinse them in a colander under the tap prior to using them, but I do check as I pick them

hilstep2000

Soak them in a bowl of water with a bit of salt, gets rid of any bugs, then rinse and use.

hermum

I'm a salt in the water person. It kills the bugs & you'll be amazed at how many float to the top of the water.
Also while you're preparing your apples, have a large bowl with salty water to put the peeled cored apples in, stops them going brown.
I don't measure the salt, just heave some in.

Finefoot

I also say salt for about an hour or so. Then rinse in a sieve before cooking them.
Enjoy!

happy35

i used to love these when I was little but after seeing how many insects that come out of them when you soak them in salted water it has put me right off, i just cant eat them now

VfM4meplse

Again I agree with the salt tip, but then rinse, rinse and rinse!

I was put off picking berries after a friend went brambling and felt something brush against her foot - which turned out to be a rat!!

hex2

M0neysav3r wrote: »

Hi - Sorry to thread jump - How do you make your blackberry jam??

Ps - My mum says to soak blackberries in water for a few hours, then the bugs float to the top but a rinse and they can hang on!!

Great page here on bramble jelly, made it last year and very much enjoyed it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A7209920

[Deleted User]

I have always 'salted ' my blackberries .Usually in a bowl overnight and well rinsed in the morning