Most of us know what marinating is, but what is macerating? It’s a simple, similar process, but the “soak subject” is always fruit. Macerating is the process of soaking fruit in sugar, juice, wine or herbs—and or the combination. Macerating softens and sweetens the fruit and also imparts a flavor of not only sweetness, but the liquid and herbs used as well.

Strawberries are often “macerated” simply by sprinkling them with sugar, because doing so draws the liquid out of the berries and creates syrup. Strawberries are also wonderful macerated with some sugar and a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Also try different liqueurs and other vinegars as well for a variety of flavors. Macerated fruit is wonderful served on its own, but creates an amazing topping for ice cream, pudding and also the beginnings of a cocktail. Is this what “Dole” originally intended when first creating the canned stuff? I’ll make my own fruit cocktail, thank you 🙂 So I ask you friends, to macerate or not to macerate? That is the question. When in question, the answer is always “yes.”