Cranberry Sauce FAQ's | Ocean Spray® (2024)

FAQs

How do you fix too much liquid in cranberry sauce? ›

Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.

As long as an unopened can of cranberry sauce is stored in a consistently cool pantry, it'll keep and taste good for at least a year beyond the date stamped on the can. (That date is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the cranberry sauce will remain at peak quality and is not a safety-related expiration date.)

According to Ocean Spray, that's intentional: It creates a seamless serving experience. The cans are “filled and labeled upside down with the rounded edge on top and the sharp can-like edge on the bottom to keep the jelly whole,” an Ocean Spray spokesperson told CNN Business.

Generally, Ocean Spray Cranberry juice will last between 7 to 10 days in the fridge once opened. It is important not to leave cranberry juice at room temperature for more than a few hours as bacteria can grow rapidly and lead to spoilage.

Mistake #2: Your Cranberry Sauce Is Too Runny

But what if you've been cooking it forever and it's still not right? You may have added too much liquid to the cranberries. In addition to pectin, cranberries contain water, which means you only need to add a splash of liquid to get the cooking going.

Sight is usually the best way to tell if your cranberry sauce has gone bad. For canned sauce, if the top of the can is rounded and dome shaped instead of flat across, the sauce has most likely gone bad. If you open the can and anything is brown or black, then do not eat the sauce.

Unlike its homemade counterpart, canned cranberry sauce doesn't freeze or defrost very well. The jellied texture changes after freezing, becoming more watery. Even the leading authority on canned cranberry sauce, Ocean Spray, agrees that freezing canned cranberry sauce is not recommended.

It's perfectly fine to serve up cranberry sauce — whole berry or jelled — straight out of the can. But in my experience, heating the canned sauce up takes its flavor to the next level. Plus, it becomes a little more aesthetically pleasing.

It's 100% juice made with the crisp, clean taste of real cranberries straight from the bog. Plus, it has no added sugar, a daily dose of vitamin C, and one cup of fruit, so it tastes good and it's good for you, too.

For the perfect drink, dilute one part concentrate with four parts water. Add extra water for toddlers.

What is the difference between Ocean Spray cranberry juice and Ocean Spray cranberry juice co*cktail? ›

Cranberry juice is usually labeled "100% juice." Other fruits are sometimes added to balance the tart cranberry taste, but that label indicates that the product is made with 100% fruit juices. Cranberry juice co*cktail, meanwhile, has added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup for extra sweetness.

Prior to opening, cranberry sauce can be stored at room temperature or the refrigerator. After opening, remove from the can and store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Similar to red wine, cranberry juice contains a reasonable amount of tannins. Riddled with these bitter and mouth-drying compounds, the juice functions as a zero-alcohol stand-in for wine. Juxtaposing decadence and umami, tart cranberry juice proves itself as an equally effective palate cleanser.

If you take aspirin regularly, as a blood-thinner, for example, or if you are allergic to aspirin, you should not take cranberry supplements or drink a lot of juice. Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

Boil it a bit

Another way to reduce the runniness of your sauce is to physically remove the water by boiling it away.

Cranberries contain natural pectin and will gel without any additions. Cook until the berries pop to release the juices and then simmer another 5 minutes or so. It will not seem thick then but will thicken as it cools. If you really want it thicker, you can add additional pectin with a product such as Sure-Jell.

If your cranberry sauce comes out tasting too bitter, your first impulse might be to reach for the sugar bowl. Don't. Granulated sugar will make the situation worse, especially if you don't have time to reheat the sauce so the sugar can dissolve properly.