It is Saturday morning, the bananas on the counter have gone spotty, and half a punnet of blueberries is waiting in the fridge. You want breakfast to feel a little special without much effort. The benefits of blueberries make that easy, because the berries do most of the work for you.
A handful brings fibre and vitamin C, plus the deep blue pigments researchers link to healthy blood vessels. Below you will find how to wash blueberries properly, banana blueberry muffins for those spotty bananas, three bagel ideas and a ten-minute blueberry cream cheese.
Health benefits of blueberries
Straight from the fridge, blueberries pop cold and a little tart before the sweetness comes through, which is why a punnet often finishes fast. The benefits of blueberries start simply: a handful counts as one serving of fruit on HealthHub's My Healthy Plate guide.
Their colour comes from natural plant pigments that scientists have studied closely. A review in Advances in Nutrition found that eating blueberries regularly is associated with healthier blood vessels and steadier blood sugar, though the authors say more human trials are needed. Enjoy them as part of a balanced plate rather than a remedy, and if you are managing your blood sugar, ask your doctor or dietitian how fruit fits your plan.
You do not need a special diet to enjoy the health benefits of blueberries. A handful at breakfast is a lovely habit, and our guide to cherry health benefits has another deep red favourite to rotate in.
How to wash blueberries
Wash them just before you eat them, never when you bring them home: the silvery bloom on their skin helps them keep, and damp berries soften in the fridge. The Singapore Food Agency's guidelines on handling fruit and vegetables advise washing produce in clean running water, and for berries a gentle rinse is all you need.
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Tip the berries into a colander and pick out any that are soft, shrivelled or still on their stems.
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Rinse under cool running water for about 30 seconds, turning them gently with your hand.
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Spread them on a clean tea towel or paper towel and pat dry.
Skip soap and produce washes; water alone does the job.
At the shop, tilt the punnet gently. Berries that roll freely and still wear their dusty bloom are fresh; clumped or stained ones mean something has softened. If you would rather skip the market run, blueberries can find their way into our Classic Omakase Fruit Basket when they are at their best.
Banana blueberry muffins
Banana blueberry muffins are the kindest way to use up spotty bananas. The banana keeps them moist and naturally sweet, so you need less sugar, and the berries burst into little pockets of jam as they bake.
How to make blueberry muffins at home
Makes 10 to 12 muffins.
Ingredients
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2 ripe bananas (about 200g peeled), mashed
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75g unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
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1 large egg
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80g light brown sugar
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1 tsp bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt
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190g plain flour, plus 1 tbsp for the berries
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150g fresh blueberries
Method
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Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and line a muffin tin with paper cases.
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In a large bowl, stir the mashed banana with the butter, egg, sugar and vanilla.
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Sprinkle over the bicarbonate of soda and salt, then fold in the flour until just combined. A few streaks are fine.
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Toss the blueberries in the extra spoonful of flour so they do not sink, then fold them through gently.
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Divide between the cases and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until golden and a skewer comes out clean.
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Cool in the tin for five minutes, then on a rack.
Fold rather than beat, and the muffins stay tender. Frozen berries work too; add them straight from the freezer and bake a couple of minutes longer.
Blueberries on a toasted bagel
A warm, well-toasted bagel softens blueberries just enough to release their juice. Three ways to try it:
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The classic: a plain or sesame bagel, a thick layer of blueberry cream cheese (below), a scatter of fresh berries and a little lemon zest.
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Sweet and nutty: almond or peanut butter, sliced banana, blueberries and a thin drizzle of honey.
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Light and fresh: Greek yoghurt or ricotta, blueberries and a few torn mint leaves.
If you prefer breakfast in a glass, our avocado milkshake is just as creamy.
Blueberry cream cheese in ten minutes
Store-bought versions can taste more of sugar than fruit. Yours will taste of blueberries, tangy and bright with lemon.
Ingredients
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200g full-fat cream cheese, softened
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100g blueberries
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1 tbsp sugar or honey
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1 tsp lemon juice and the zest of half a lemon
Method
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Simmer half the blueberries with the sugar and lemon juice for four to five minutes, crushing them lightly, until jammy. Leave to cool completely.
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Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then swirl through the cooled berries and the lemon zest.
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Fold in the remaining whole blueberries.
Keep it covered in the fridge and enjoy within two to three days.
Your blueberry questions, answered
Do your fruit hampers include blueberries?
Often when they are at their best, but we never promise a specific fruit. Our fruit specialists choose from whatever is finest each morning. If blueberries matter to the person you are sending to, contact us before you send your hamper, and we will do our best.
How should I store blueberries?
Keep them unwashed in the fridge, in their punnet or a container lined with paper towel, and rinse them only just before eating. They are best within about a week. To keep them longer, wash and dry them thoroughly, freeze them in a single layer on a tray, then move them to a bag.
Are blueberries a good gift for a new mum?
Yes. They are a gentle snack she can eat with one hand during long days with a newborn. Every new mum's needs are different, so she may wish to check with her doctor about her own diet, especially while breastfeeding.
Can I send a fruit hamper the same day?
Yes. Send it before 3 pm on a weekday, or 11 am on a Saturday, and it will be at their door the same day. Our Japanese baskets need one business day to prepare. You will find more delivery answers on our FAQ page.
When blueberries arrive in a fruit basket
Every morning, our fruit specialists go through the new arrivals and choose the fruit for that day's hampers, so blueberries go in only when they are at their best. We never promise a particular fruit, and each basket is put together just before it leaves us, so it arrives at its freshest.
The Elegant Bloom Fruit Gift Basket (Classic) adds a soft spray of baby's breath, lovely for a birthday or a friend's new home. For a milestone, the Elegant Bloom Fruit Gift Basket Deluxe brings at least ten varieties with the same flowers, and the Premium Omakase Fruit Basket arrives in a cooler bag for someone you are deeply grateful to. As featured in Honeycombers Singapore, each one is handpicked with care.
Warm from the oven or piled on a bagel, the benefits of blueberries are best enjoyed with someone else at the table. Browse our Premium Fruit Baskets collection and send one today to someone who deserves a sweeter morning.