Cranberries are one of the world's natural superfoods, and their sweet-tart juice is delicious, too. Discover 19 ways to use cranberry juice to improve your life.
Are you wondering how to incorporate this power drink into your daily routine? Keep reading for tips and ideas.
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Health Benefits of Cranberries
Cranberries are called a superfood for various reasons.
Cranberries and juice made from them are packed with enormous amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
High in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, iron, and calcium, there are plenty of reasons to include this super juice in your daily life.
Unlike other fruits, cranberries contain very little sugar, making them an excellent choice for people trying to manage their sugar intake.
"Cranberry juice contains antioxidants that may help improve heart health by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. It's also been shown to help prevent urinary tract infections by keeping bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall. Add cranberry juice to sauces, marinades, and smoothies for a natural flavor boost with great health benefits." - Keri Bevan, Daily Dish.
Additionally, cranberries may help improve your gut health by adding good bacteria to your digestive system.
19 Uses of Cranberry Juice
Check out this list of ways to use cranberry juice that you might have never thought of.
Cranberry Juice in Cooking and Baking
Cranberry juice is a delicious and versatile drink that can be enjoyed on its own or used as a mixer in cocktails and other recipes.
- Marinades: Mix this sweet, tangy flavor into marinades and add it to your meats, fish, or poultry.
- Salad dressings: Use cranberry juice instead of lemon or vinegar in your dressing.
- Baking: Give more flavor to baked goods like muffins, cupcakes, or birthday cakes.
- Sauces: Drizzle cranberry sauce over breakfast pancakes, waffles, or crepes.
- Ice cream and pops: Blend juice with yogurt and freeze in popsicle molds.
- Jellies and jams: Use cranberry juice instead of water to prepare your favorite jams or jellies.
- Food coloring: Naturally color your icing, frosting, cakes, or other baked goods.
- Stews: Add a bit of juice into your soup or stew for that sweet-tart flavor, which greatly complements hearty meats and veggies.
Perfect for Beverages
- Cocktails: Cranberry juice is a popular mixer when stocking up on homemade cocktails or mocktails.
- Smoothies: It makes a great base for your morning glass of healthiness.
- Teas: Prepare hot or iced teas using a splash of juice. Try it in matcha tea for a unique flavor.
Cranberry Juice for Your Body Health
Cranberry juice has long been known for its potential health benefits beyond just being a refreshing beverage, and it is often recommended as a natural remedy to use as:
- Mouthwash: A mouthwash made out of cranberry juice helps prevent harmful acids in your mouth and reduce plaque.
- Face mask: Get extra hydration by mixing yogurt with honey and cranberry juice for a refreshing mask.
- Skin brightener: Applying cranberry juice directly on your skin helps as a natural skin brightener.
- Hair mask: Mixing with coconut oil is excellent for preventing dandruff and improving your scalp's health.
- Natural hair dye: Adds a natural temporary red tint to your hair.
Other Uses of Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice can also be a useful household item with a variety of applications that go beyond your imagination.
- Home deodorizer: Mixing juice with water is a natural deodorizer for your rooms.
- Rust remover: Because of the acid, it helps remove rusty stains from metal surfaces.
- Disinfectant: Because of its antimicrobial properties in cranberry juice, it can be used as a natural disinfectant.
How To Make Cranberry Juice
Even though you may have read many recipes for boiling and mixing fresh cranberries with sugar, I suggest making pure cranberry juice without any additions.
You can always sweeten it with honey, stevia, or your preferred sweetener if it tastes too tart for some uses. But to get the best nutrition out of cranberries, try to use a cold press or blend them fresh with just a bit of water.
A great tip is to let your fresh cranberries freeze before making juice. Freezing them retains their nutrition, and they soften when you thaw them.
- When ready to make your juice, take your cranberries from the freezer the night before and let them thaw naturally.
- Place all the cranberries in a blender and add additional water to cover them. If you prefer measurements, add 1 cup of water for 2 cups of cranberries.
- Strain through the mash strainer or cheesecloth and store in the refrigerator.
Do not throw away the leftover cranberry pulp. Instead, dehydrate it and use it in your cooking or grind it to a powder for use in spice mixtures.
Tips To Make the Best Cranberry Juice
- Choose fresh cranberries.
- Pick ripe, firm berries for the best flavor and highest juice concentration.
- Strain properly to get all of the juice out of the solids.
- Store in an air-tight container in your refrigerator for up to a week.
By following these tips, you can make delicious and healthy cranberry juice that will provide many health benefits.
Cranberry juice is a versatile and multi-functional liquid with many health and wellness benefits. Whether you drink it straight, use it in cooking, or incorporate it into your skincare routine, there are many ways to put this super juice to work.
This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.
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