If you prefer the flavor and taste to be sweet and fruitier, pick your Saskatoon’s during the early morning before the temperature rises. Saskatoon’s have a delicate flavor. If left to stand too long after picking, the flavor will gradually fade away and the color will tend to turn brown, much like an apple. If Saskatoon’s are picked from the bush during a warm sunny afternoon, they may tend to have a somewhat almondy flavor. There are enzymes naturally present in the berries which release flavors when the fruit is handled at warm temperatures.
Generally Saskatoon’s have a fresh picked shelf life of about 2 to 3 days unless supported by a modified atmosphere. Use your fresh picked Saskatoon’s as soon as possible. Freeze the rest on a cookie sheet then bag and store them frozen for future use. Don’t thaw the berries before adding them to your recipe. Put the frozen fruit directly into your recipe and bring the cooking temperature up as quickly as possible. This will result in good taste and a rich purple.
