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Autumn preserves for winter – a great way to save the harvest and cut food osts
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Autumn preserves for winter – a great way to save the harvest and cut food osts

In autumn, markets and gardens are full of fresh vegetables and fruits, and many families wonder: should we make homemade preserves to enjoy natural products in winter?

Canning and making jam is not only an old tradition but also a modern method of saving money. Food prices in stores keep rising, while homemade preserves cost almost twice less.

For example, a jar of pickled cucumbers (720 g) in a store costs about €3–4, while homemade cucumbers for the winter turn out almost twice as cheap. The same goes for jam, juices, and pickled mushrooms. A little time and effort – and your pantry will be filled with tasty and healthy jars, the contents of which you know 100%.

Recipe for Pickled Cucumbers for Winter

Ingredients:

  • 2 kg fresh small cucumbers
  • 1.5 l water
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 100 ml vinegar (30%)
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • dill umbels, horseradish leaves, blackcurrant leaves
  • peppercorns, mustard seeds

Preparation:

  1. Wash the cucumbers and place them in sterilized jars along with dill, horseradish leaves, currant leaves, and garlic.
  2. Make the brine from water, salt, sugar, and spices, then add vinegar.
  3. Pour the hot brine over the cucumbers, seal with lids, and pasteurize for 10–15 minutes.

This amount makes about 6–7 liters of crunchy cucumbers for winter, tastier and cheaper than store-bought ones.

Classic Apple Jam Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 kg sour apples (Antonovka or autumn varieties)
  • 500 g sugar (adjust to taste)
  • 200 ml water
  • optional – cinnamon or vanilla

Preparation:

  1. Peel the apples and cut them into pieces.
  2. In a pot, combine water, sugar, and apples, simmer over low heat.
  3. When the apples become soft, blend them with a hand blender.
  4. Add spices to taste and simmer for a few more minutes.
  5. Pour the hot jam into sterilized jars.

You’ll get 5–6 jars of fragrant homemade apple jam, costing three times less than store-bought.

Useful Tips for Preserving

To make preparations easier, use kitchen gadgets:

  • a juicer for juices and purees,
  • a food processor for slicing,
  • a sterilizer for jars.

Such appliances quickly pay off and save time. It’s best to store preserves in a dry, cool, and ventilated place at +5…+12 °C.

How Can Laen.ee Help?

If you need a new freezer, sterilizer, or even cellar repairs for your preserves but your budget is limited, you can use a consumer loan or credit line from Laen.ee.
Flexible terms and no application fees will help cover expenses immediately without straining the family budget.

Why Make Preserves?

You save money on groceries.

You know exactly what’s inside – no preservatives or dyes.

Preserves let you keep the taste of summer and autumn until spring.

Thus, homemade preserves for winter are not only a tasty tradition but also a smart solution for families in times of rising prices.