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CONDIMENTS AND SAUCES

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a tangy, sweet condiment made from whole cranberries, sugar, and water. It is often served as a traditional accompaniment to roast turkey during Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in North America. Cranberry sauce provides a fruity balance to the rich flavors of the festive meal, with its tartness helping to cut through the heaviness of roasted meats and side dishes. Cranberry sauce can be prepared either from fresh or frozen cranberries and is typically served chilled. Some variations include adding orange zest, spices, or even warm alcoholic spirits, offering a versatile and customizable flavor profile to suit individual tastes.
#13
IN SAUCES
159
CAL / 100G
$0.42
AVG / OZ
cranberry sauce
97%
CARBS
0%
FAT
2%
PROTEIN
Cranberry Sauce FAQ
Cooking with cranberry sauce can be fun and innovative if you know the right techniques. Most common questions around cooking with cranberry sauce revolve around its best use in dishes, how to balance its tangy flavor, and ways to enrich it. People often go wrong by limiting cranberry sauce to just Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. It's a versatile ingredient that can be used in a myriad of dishes beyond the holiday roasts. Getting the most out of cranberry sauce involves playing with different flavors and combinations. You can use it in sandwiches, mix it with barbecue sauce, put it in your oatmeal or yogurt, or even include it in your baking recipes. A little known tip is that cranberry sauce pairs well with savory dishes due to its acidic and sweet characteristics. It can be used as a glaze for pork, chicken or salmon, added to a cheese platter, spread onto a pizza, or folded into muffins, quick breads, or yeast dinner rolls. Another useful trick with cranberry sauce is making it homemade. Not only is it easy, it allows for more control over the sweetness and consistency, plus it lacks the chemicals and preservatives found in store-bought versions.
How can I sweeten homemade cranberry sauce?
Can I use dried cranberries to make cranberry sauce?
What can I add to my cranberry sauce?
How can I use leftover cranberry sauce?
Why is my cranberry sauce grainy?
Can I use cranberry sauce as a glaze?
My homemade cranberry sauce is too runny. How can I thicken it?
Can I freeze cranberry sauce?
Why is my cranberry sauce too tart?
Can I use cranberry sauce in baking?
Expiration & Storage Tips
When does cranberry sauce expire?
Unopened canned cranberry sauce can last anywhere from 12 to 18 months past the printed date on the can, thanks to its high acidity and sugar content. Once opened, the cranberry sauce should be eaten within 14 days if stored in the refrigerator. Homemade cranberry sauce also lasts around 10 to 14 days in the fridge. If frozen, unopened cranberry sauce remains safe indefinitely, but best quality is kept for about 12 months.
How do you tell if cranberry sauce is bad?
The first signs of bad cranberry sauce are usually a change in color and texture. Look out for a darker hue, a separation of the liquid, and a grainy texture. This is due to crystallization of the sugars in the sauce. In more advanced stages, mold may begin to appear on the surface, and the sauce may begin to smell off or even fermented. These are clear indications that the sauce has spoiled and should not be consumed.
Tips for storing cranberry sauce to extend shelf life
• Store opened cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for longer. • Avoid keeping the sauce in the can after it's been opened. The can's metallic taste can leech into the sauce. • For homemade cranberry sauce, consider preparing in small batches to prevent wastage. It's quite easy and fast to make. • To freeze cranberry sauce, place it in a freezer-safe container, leaving a bit of headspace to allow for expansion, and seal tightly before storing in the freezer. • To defrost frozen cranberry sauce, transfer it to the fridge 24 hours before serving. If in a hurry, it can be warmed gently on the stove instead.
EXPIRES WITHIN
19 - 29
MONTHS
Substitutes
Health Info
Macros
23g
CARBS
0g
FAT
0g
PROTEIN
Allowed on these diets
LOW FAT
VEGETARIAN
VEGAN
LACTOSE FREE
GLUTEN FREE
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