They can also be canned or dehydrated per directions. Cranberries peak months for picking are September through January. Fresh cranberries can be put in a freezer bag and thrown in the freezer just the way they are. To use frozen cranberries, rinse in cold water and drain or partially thaw in the refrigerator. One pound of fresh berries measures 4 cups and makes about 1 quart of whole-berry or jellied sauce.
Cranberries grow on a slender, trailing North American shrub.
The shrub grows in damp ground and bears a tart red berry. The berries are the edible part of the plant. Cranberries have 46 calories per cup. The fruit is of native European bush, usually red, occasionally white or black. It is renowned for its delicate flavor.