How to Preserve Blueberry Seeds

Preserving Blueberry Seeds

• 1

  Place 1/2 cup whole blueberries in the blender and fill the blender halfway with cool water. Place the lid on the blender and blend on the high setting for 30 to 45 seconds to break up the berries and separate the skin, pulp, and seeds.

• 2

  Add cool water to fill the blender to the top and let sit to allow the pulp, skin, and "bad" empty seeds to float to the surface and the "good" sound seeds to sink to the bottom of the blender. The reddish-purple color of the water will make it difficult to see the tiny seeds, so let the mixture settle for at least 15 to 30 seconds.

• 3

  Slowly pour off the top half of the settled mixture to discard the pulp, skin, and bad seeds. Be careful not to stir up the seeds on the bottom of the blender. Refill the blender to the top with water, let sit to allow the good seeds to settle again to the bottom of the blender, and then pour off the top half of the water. Repeat this process until the water is clear enough to see the extracted seeds at the bottom of the blender. The seeds will be 1-2 mm long, and their color will range from brown to dark brown.

• 4

  Place a layer of paper towels in the bottom of a colander. Swirl the water remaining in the blender to stir up the seeds, and pour the water with the suspended seeds into the colander to strain.

• 5

  Scrape the extracted seeds onto a dry paper towel and spread evenly. Place the seeds on the towel in a dry, draft-free, cool (60-70 degrees Fahrenheit) place. Dry the seeds for 48 hours. Dump the dried seeds into a plastic bag and seal. The preserved blueberry seeds can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for up to 12 years.