Currants

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by Julie Cascio

Currants (Ribes spp.) are translucent berries clustered on a small branch just below the lobed, toothed leaves. Several currants grow in Alaska, with either red or black fruit. Habitat ranges from moist woods to open areas, along stream banks and in meadows. Berries ripen in mid- to late summer. They can be eaten raw or dried or made into jams and jellies, syrups, pies and cobblers.

American red currants (Ribes triste Pallas) are smooth, red, translucent berries found on the straggly brown branches of shrubs. Flowers are in clusters 1 to 2 inches long on old wood just below the leafy tufts. Red currants are found widely in Alaska in cool woods, swamps and subalpine ravines. They are found from the head of the Lynn Canal in Southeast Alaska east and north to Valdez, Seward, Matanuska, Copper River, Anvik, Kuskokwim River country, the Seward Peninsula and the Kobuk River area.

Trailing black currants (Ribes laxiflorum Pursh) are hairy black berries with a bluish tinge, and are found in Southeast Alaska north to Skagway and Yakutat, on the Kenai Peninsula and in central Alaska. Bristly black currants (Ribes lacustre), or swamp gooseberries, are bristly purplish-black berries with a very sour flavor. Northern black currants (Ribes hudsonianum) are smooth berries that are very sour and somewhat bitter. In addition, there are several other barely edible currants that grow in Alaska.

Nutrition and Health

Currants are a rich source of antioxidants, a group of biochemicals shown to be an important part of the human diet. The oxygen radical absorption capacity test (ORAC) shows overall antioxidant activity. Scores above 40 are considered very high. Alaska grown red currants had the following ORAC values when tested:

Black currants are rich in vitamin C and fiber, and are a good source of manganese and potassium.

Storage and Preservation

How to Clean and Store

Spread a clean, dry terry cloth towel over a slanted surface, such as a cutting board with one end propped up a few inches above the other. Gently roll the currants down the towel; most of the debris and leaves will cling to the towel, while the berries roll off. Currants may be stored covered in the refrigerator for five to seven days.

How to Freeze

To freeze currants, arrange dry, fresh berries in one layer on a cookie sheet and place the sheet in the freezer. When frozen, transfer berries to freezer bags or containers. Properly frozen currants will last up to two years.

How to Dry

Select firm, dry currants. Cover a flat tray with cheesecloth or light muslin. Spread the berries on the cloth; place the tray in the sun. Dry in sun for two days, turning once or twice. Then set tray in a warm, dry place and let currants stand until leathery to the touch. To dry berries in a dehydrator, spread on open screen and follow the instructions for drying berries that come with the dehydrator. Oven drying is possible, but very low heat (140°F) must be used and the oven door must be left ajar so moisture can escape. Store dried berries in a cool, dry place. Dried currants will be very hard and seedy. They can be soaked in water for use in baking.

How to Extract Juice

Combine 14 cups currants and 1 cup water. Crush currants and bring to simmer. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Place in a jelly bag or in layers of cheesecloth in a colander. Let the juice drip into a bowl. For clear juice, do not twist or press jelly bag or cheesecloth. For long-term storage, the juice should be frozen or canned.

Yield: 5 cups

Hot pack for juice

Sterilize canning jars. Heat juice, stirring occasionally, until it begins to boil. Pour into hot jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe jar rims. Adjust lids. Process in a boiling water canner.

• Pints or quarts: 5 minutes
• Half gallons: 10 minutes

How to Prepare Puree

Cooked method: Add 1 cup of water to 4 cups of currants. Cook until skins have popped. Press through a food mill or sieve. Discard skins and seeds.

Yield: 2 cups

Uncooked method: Rinse 4 cups of currants, drain, put in a blender and blend until the consistency of thick puree.

Yield: 2 cups

For long-term storage:

Freeze: Pack into rigid container leaving ½ inch headspace for expansion in freezing. Seal and freeze. Canning is not a safe method of preserving puree. Currant puree may be dried to make fruit leather.

Process in a boiling water canner: Fill hot jars with hot puree, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Process quarts or pints in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes.

Dry: Use currant puree to make a currant fruit leather. Recipe on this page.

Recipes

Red Currant Syrup

• 1 cup currant juice
• 2 cups sugar

Combine juice and sugar in saucepan and heat to 160°F. Use a candy thermometer; do not boil. The syrup is ready to use over waffles, pancakes, hot biscuits, ice cream and other desserts. The syrup will keep up to six months in the refrigerator without crystallizing.

For long-term storage: sterilize pint or half-pint canning jars and prepare lids; immediately pour hot syrup into hot canning jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and add prepared two-piece lids. Process in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes.

Yield: 2 cups

Currant Jelly

• 6½ cups currant juice
• 1 package powdered pectin (1 ¾ ounces)
• 7 cups sugar

Sterilize pint or half-pint canning jars and prepare lids. Measure sugar and set aside. Measure prepared juice into a large saucepan and add powdered pectin. Place on high heat; stir constantly and bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. At once stir in sugar. Again, bring to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and quickly skim off foam. Immediately pour jelly into hot canning jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and add prepared two-piece lids. Process in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes.

Yield: 9 cups

Red Currant Jelly

• 5 cups currant juice
• 7 cups sugar
• 3 ounces liquid pectin

Sterilize pint or half-pint canning jars and prepare lids. Open liquid pectin pouch and stand upright in a cup or glass. Pour currant juice into a saucepan. Stir sugar into juice. Place over high heat and bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Quickly stir in liquid pectin. Again bring to a full rolling boil and boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and quickly skim off foam. Immediately pour jelly into hot canning jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and add prepared two-piece lids. Process in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes.

Yield: 8 cups

Currant Preserves

• 1 cup currant juice
• 8 cups currants
• 7 cups sugar, divided

Combine currant juice and currants in a large saucepan; add 4 cups of the sugar and cook 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a glass or food-grade plastic container. Cover loosely and let stand 12 hours or overnight in a cool place.

Prepare jar lids. Return mixture to a large saucepan and add remaining 3 cups of sugar, bring slowly to boiling, stirring until sugar dissolves. Then boil rapidly to gelling point, 220°F. It takes about 30 minutes. As mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking. Pour preserves into hot pint or half-pint canning jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and add prepared two-piece lids. Process 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.

Yield: 9 cups

Currant Fruit Leather

• 2 cups currant puree
• ¼ cup honey

Combine puree and honey; mix together thoroughly. Set up the electric dehydrator to 140°F. Lightly spray a fruit roll tray liner or parchment paper with cooking oil spray. Place liners on dehydrator tray. Spread puree mixture evenly about ¹⁄8 to ¼ inch thick over the liner, but do not push it completely to the sides. Dry at 140°F continuously for approximately 6 hours, remove trays from dehydrator when puree is dry, with no sticky areas. Test its dryness by touching gently in several places near the center of the leather. No indentation should be evident.

If choose to dry in oven, place parchment paper on cookie sheet; spray with cooking oil. Spread puree evenly as explained above. Dry at 140°F in the oven continuously for approximately 6 hours, leaving the oven door slightly open so moisture can escape. Remove trays from oven when puree is dry, with no sticky areas. Test for dryness.

Yield: 1 sheet

UAF Cooperative Extension Resources

Jams and Jellies – FNH-00730

Canning Overview – FNH-00705

Using Alaska’s Wild Berries and Other Wild Edibles, FNH-00120

Other Resources

Complete Guide to Home Canning, 2015 revision. USDA Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 539. Washington, D.C.: USDA Publications. http://nchfp.uga.edu//publications/publications_usda.html.

Julie Cascio, Extension Faculty, Health, Home and Family Development

Revised December 2020