Food glossary

The best cranberries come from North America's Cape Cod, and are dry harvested by raking the berries off the vines to retain their freshness. The berries release their juice and flavour when cooked with sugar. Dried cranberries have a deliciously sweet tangy flavour. Fresh cranberries are available from November to December.

Uses: Fresh and dried cranberries are excellent in sauces, cakes, muffins, desserts and stuffings. Fresh cranberries are used to make the popular accompaniment to turkey, cranberry sauce.

To store: Cranberries keep well in the fridge, for up to 1 week, and if you have any left over they can be successfully frozen. Dried cranberries should be stored in a cool dark place for up to 3 months.

To cook: Wash, cover with water in a pan and simmer until you hear them pop.

Cranberry juice

Three different varieties of cranberry juice are available in Waitrose:

Cranberry classic juice drink (longlife)

A refreshing crisp drink with a high concentration of cranberries. Available in 1 litre cartons.

Cranberry classic light juice drink (longlife)

A lighter, reduced sugar version of the classic juice drink with less than half the calories. Available in 1 litre cartons.

Cranberry and raspberry juice (longlife)

A tasty combination of cranberry and sweet raspberry juice. Available in 1 litre cartons and 3 x 200 ml packs.

Uses: Mix any variety of cranberry juice with orange juice for a non-alcoholic cocktail. To make a fruit compote, soak chopped dried apricots, mangoes and prunes in a mixture of cranberry and apple juice overnight, then simmer gently for 10-15 minutes until tender, serve warm or cold

To store: Keep in a cool, dry place until the best before date. Once opened store in the fridge and use within 4 days.

Cranberry sauce

A sweet yet tangy preserve made from cranberries and served as an accompaniment to turkey at Christmas and Thanksgiving. Orange or lemon zest and port are often included in cranberry sauce. Waitrose sell a variety of cranberry sauces including Cranberry sauce and Wild cranberry sauce with Burgundy.

Uses: Serve with turkey. Also delicious served with grilled goat's cheese or Brie.

To store: Keep in a cool dark place and once opened store in the fridge and use within 6 weeks.