It is not enough to grow dill, it must still be able to save. Experienced hostesses know that there are also rules here, which are not worth ignoring.
In order for this fresh tasty and healthy spice to delight us as long as possible with its beneficial properties and stunning aroma even when summer is far behind, you need to know some secrets of harvesting greenery for future use. If you follow these simple rules, your dishes at any time of the year can be complemented by the spicy aroma of this healthy herb.
How to prepare fresh grass in winter?
For storage you need to select only green and fresh leaves. All yellowed, rotten, dry and damaged shoots are thrown away.
Purchased greens first pull out of the bag and dried, and only then placed in the refrigerator.
How to store longer without a refrigerator?
Drying
One way to preserve dill for a long time is to dry it. Dry grass stored in glass or porcelain packaging. in a dry dark place. You can store these blanks in the closet in the kitchen.
Advantages and disadvantages
The great advantage of dried seasoning is a long shelf life and the best preservation of flavor. But every month the aroma becomes less pronounced.
This method is especially good if there is no freezer or there is not enough space in it. But it will not work if there is no place for drying.
How to dry?
To better preserve the aroma, the spice is dried whole. Then it is crushed.
Dill can be dried in several ways:
- On air. The leaves are laid out in a thin layer on a flat surface and mixed periodically. The main condition is the absence of direct sunlight.
- In the oven. The temperature should be less than forty degrees. The door is left ajar and dried for four hours. Periodically dill mixed. It is desirable that the oven was blowing mode.
- In the microwave. The shoots are placed between the napkins and dried for about three minutes at the maximum temperature. If necessary, repeat the procedure.
- In the electric dryer. For three hours, the herbs dry in grass mode. If there is no such mode, the temperature is set at about forty degrees and dried until ready.
How long does the quality not change?
Dried dill is stored for up to two years. After this period, the spice loses its qualities.
How to use?
Dill is a versatile spice. She is It is combined with almost all products:
- meat;
- fish;
- vegetables;
- cottage cheese;
- cheese;
- eggs.
Spice is added to salads, in the first and second courses. This is an indispensable spice in the kitchen.
Reference: adding dried dill to the dishes makes them fragrant and enhances the taste.
Cold storage methods without freezing
You can store fresh dill, without resorting to emergency freezing or drying. If done correctly, the life of freshly picked dill can be extended to three weeks. Keep necessary in the refrigerator.
Ways
- In polyethylene or container. Greens are not washed, but dried folded in a plastic bag or container. It is important to make small holes in the bag so that the green breathes and does not rot. Such dill will live for about two weeks. If you add a half of onion to a package of dill, it will prolong the life of the herb for a few more days. Onions change every three to four days as needed. It is advisable to keep the grass in the zone of freshness.
- In water. Put a fresh bunch of dill in a glass of water and cover with a plastic bag. It is also important that the greens breathe. For this, it is also necessary to make tiny holes in polyethylene. Shelf life up to two weeks.
- In a paper towel. You can wrap the grass in a paper towel and place on the shelf of the refrigerator. So the paper will absorb excess moisture. With this method of storage, this wonderful spice can stay fresh for up to two weeks.
- Vacuum packed. The grass is slightly doused with boiling water, the water is drained. Greens are placed in a bag and packaged under vacuum. Advantages: this is the longest method of storing fresh herbs in the refrigerator. But the disadvantage is that it is not always possible to evacuate. So the dill will stay fresh for about three weeks.
How reliable?
Of course, using the methods listed above it is impossible to preserve dill for the whole winter. But greens remain in their original form for two or three weeks. The taste, smell and structure of the seasoning do not change.
Pickling
- Dill, rinse, dry and chop.
- Lavishly sprinkle with salt and fold into clean, dry jars.
- Cover them tightly and store them in the refrigerator.
The main advantage of this method is a longer storage time compared to the first two methods. Greens in this form remains edible for about eight to ten months.
But there is a drawback - along with the seasoning we consume a fairly large amount of salt.
Dill harvested in this way can also be used in the preparation of first, second courses and salads. Just such dishes can not salt at all or salt less.
Recommendations
- It is very important for the storage of dill to select only healthy and fresh shoots. In no case can you store dill, in which rotting processes are already visible along with other healthy plants.
- When storing, try to avoid excessive moisture.
- Store greens in the refrigerator in the freshness zone from zero to two degrees heat.
- Do not wash the grass before storing it, but only before use.
- Dried dill is more fragrant than frozen. But not everyone has a suitable place for drying.
- With fast freezing, more vitamins remain.
- Cold storage gives us fresh dill with a constant structure, smell and taste. Although it is not as long as in the case of freezing or salting.
- Salty spice lives longer, but with such dill we consume excess salt.
We considered how long to keep fresh greens. With proper storage of dill and compliance with all the rules, you can achieve not only long freshness, but also the preservation of all the beneficial properties of seasoning. The main thing is to choose the most optimal storage method for you, according to your needs and possibilities.
