As sweet and delicious as blueberries are, they are actually a very acidic fruit. Whether it be blueberry pies, blueberry cakes, or blueberry compote cooking with fresh blueberries can be tricky. Avoid ruining your delicious blueberry desert with the acidity of your blueberries.
Why do blueberries become bitter?
Believe it or not, blueberries are actually an extremely acidic fruit. They are composed of a specific acid called citric acid which is also in fruits like lemons, oranges, and tomatoes. Most of this acid sits in the skin of the blueberries.
When your blueberries heat up and begin cooking in the oven, it is common for them to burst. This is because the steam builds up inside the skin and with the buildup of steam comes the buildup of pressure. When the blueberries burst, the acid within the skin is released and makes your dessert taste bitter.
How to Stop Your Blueberries from Turning Bitter?
Stopping this from happening is actually quite easy, believe it or not. All you have to do is before adding your blueberries into your dessert, be sure to break the skin. This allows for the steam to escape your blueberries which stops them from bursting in the oven. Now that the steam can escape, the citric acid can remain in the skin and not turn your dessert bitter.