Using Fresh Cranberries | Ocean Spray® (2024)

FAQs

Can I use fresh cranberries instead of frozen? ›

Yes! Fresh cranberries freeze for up to a year and can often be substituted in recipes that call for fresh cranberries. When cooking with frozen cranberries, do not thaw before using.

Avoid cranberries that look bruised or shriveled. Before use, rinse fresh or frozen cranberries and discard any that are damaged. It is not necessary to rinse before freezing, and there is also no need to clean dried cranberries. When cooking, heat cranberries just until they pop.

You'll probably want to use about 1 cup of fresh cranberries for every 1/2 cup of dried cranberries called for in the recipe. You can also look for recipes calling for fresh blueberries and use cranberries instead. Since they're similar in size, fresh blueberries and cranberries can be substituted one-for-one.

It's 100% juice made with the crisp, clean taste of real cranberries straight from the bog. Plus, it has no added sugar, a daily dose of vitamin C, and one cup of fruit, so it tastes good and it's good for you, too.

Sort berries and remove stems; then wash and drain thoroughly. Blot dry with a clean towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Water remaining on the skin of the cranberry will cause the berry to blister when frozen and the berries to stick together.

"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.

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.

People should thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before cooking or eating them. Produce that the manufacturer has prewashed does not require further rinsing, however. There are two main risks of eating unwashed fruits and vegetables: bacterial contamination and pesticides.

How Long Fresh Cranberries Will Last. If stored correctly, fresh cranberries will last in the refrigerator for three to four weeks. If you opted to freeze them, they'll keep well for up to a year. When frozen, you can use them straight from the freezer without defrosting.

Refrigerator. Cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator up to three (3) months if they are kept in their original plastic packaging or in an airtight, sealed container. Left in the open air, at room temperature, cranberries quickly lose their freshness.

Are cranberries and craisins the same? ›

Dried cranberries may be marketed as craisins due to the similarity in appearance with raisins, although the word "Craisin" is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray. Craisins were introduced as part of a packaged cereal produced by Ralston Purina in 1989.

There are three cups (750 mL) of cranberries in a 340 g bag of Ocean Spray® Fresh Cranberries.

Ocean Spray is facing a class-action complaint for misleading advertising of its Craisin and Greek yogurt cranberry bites. The plaintiffs claim the products are advertised as a healthy snack. The plaintiffs claim they would have never purchased the snacks if they had known about the added sugar.

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Ocean Spray Cranberries over claims that the labeling of its juice products falsely say they contain “no preservatives,” but they are allegedly made with citric acid—a preservative used in food and beverage products. This complaint was first surfaced by Law.com Radar.

Although cranberry juice is safe to consume in moderation, drinking too much can cause side effects such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and blood sugar spikes. In the past, it was believed that cranberry juice can slow the growth of bacteria and therefore is useful in treating urinary tract infections.

If cooking your berries into a pie filling, you may need to add additional thickening agents because frozen berries tend to release more liquid than fresh and will lead to a runnier consistency. For best results in your baking, don't defrost the berries before use but instead toss them in flour.

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.

Raw cranberries should be firm. You don't want soft cranberries. If they are mushy they are bad and should be tossed.