Summer is a wonderful time when we have the opportunity to diversify their diet, adding ripe and juicy seasonal vegetables, fruits and berries.
And as we would in the hot Sunny days to forget about the upcoming change of season, it is better to take care of the small stocks for the winter.
Our mothers and grandmothers gave preference to conservation in order to preserve some vegetables, and from fruits and berries cooked. It’s certainly beautiful, but much more time-consuming method of preserving food. The easiest way to freeze them, especially in modern freezers all of your favorite summer fruits, berries and vegetables are stored for a long time without losing vitamins and other useful elements.
The experts presented themselves useful tips that will help you to freeze seasonal produce. But before proceeding, let’s first define how you will use them. This will help you to choose the optimal method of freezing.
What foods you can freeze
Freeze almost everything. The main advice here is to choose the most fresh, but not perespevshy vegetables or fruit. Otherwise, they are in primary treatment and further freezing may turn into a puree. Especially if we are talking about the berries, because they need to be particularly delicate.
Best of all, if it’s berries from my own garden. It is believed that for maximum preservation of all vitamins products must be frozen no later than 3 hours after collection. But not everyone has that opportunity, so buying seasonal produce for freezing, start them immediately treat.
The exceptions are onions and garlic. These 2 products lose much of its beneficial properties, plus they are available all year round at a reasonable price, so that freezing does not make sense. Too watery foods such as watermelon or lettuce, when frozen into the icy mush, and the apples turn black. By the way, radish and radish is also better not to freeze, but otherwise there are no restrictions, and you can feel free to stock up.
General rules of freezing food
So, you went to the market and picked the ripe vegetables, fruits and berries that you want to keep in the freezer and use in the winter time. Next, you need to wash and dry. It is best to gently blot products ordinary kitchen towel and then place them on a paper towel and leave for a few minutes. Remember, the less moisture, the better the product is freeze. And of course, don’t forget to remove the stalk.
In General, can be frozen whole fruit, sliced or subjected to primary heat treatment. It depends on how you plan to use them in the future. If desired, it is acceptable to combine products and make vegetable, fruit or berry mixture. So you just get the right package for cooking soup, stew or compote. But keep in mind that the products it is best to freeze portions no more than 200-250 grams.
How to freeze greens
If we are talking about parsley, dill or cilantro, it is best to cut and put in a small container, adding a little water, olive oil or broth. Perfect molds for ice. Taking a couple of these cubes feel free to add them when the dish is almost ready.
Greens with large leaves, such as sorrel, spinach, arugula or Basil to freeze even easier. Separate the leaves from the stalk, put them in an airtight freezer bag and put in the freezer.
How to freeze berries
All berries are divided into those that retain their appearance after defrosting, and those that are too watery. The first group includes currants, sea buckthorn, cherries, cranberries and gooseberries. They simply put on a wooden Board or sheet of parchment and put into the freezer. The next day put the berries in a plastic bag or plastic container and store safely until winter.
To freeze strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are harder. Usually after defrosting the berries stick together, even if you freeze them according to the rules. Of course, if you plan to add them to your fruit drinks or smoothies, the appearance of the berries will not have much to worry about, but for those who want to decorate their desserts, more suitable the other way.
The berries can be ground in a blender with a small amount of sugar and freeze in a plastic container. This berry sauce is a great complement to pancakes, yogurt and cereal. More berries can be frozen in syrup. Village is quite simple: boil thick syrup of 1 liter of water and 200 grams of sugar, and then the berries are placed in the container, pour this syrup.
How to freeze fruit
Plums, peaches or apricots are frozen as whole and cut in half, pitted. However, please note that the cut peaches and apricots can darken, so soak them for a few minutes in acidulated with lemon juice water.
Pears is better to cut into 4 pieces and remove the core. Due to the fact that all the cut fruit is quite delicate, a good option would be to fill them with syrup before sending into the freezer. So they will not lose appearance when the food is thawed.
How to freeze vegetables
Vegetables easiest. Cauliflower and broccoli frozen small buds, and the eggplant and zucchini should be pre-cut into cubes or slices. Bell peppers can be diced or shredded, you can just cut a stem with all the seeds and send in the freezer.
Green peas, corn and green beans we recommend you to freeze after blanching, that is, immersion in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Cool the vegetables, let it dry raspakujte their sealed packages and place in the freezer. For carrots this way too, just before freezing don’t forget her cut into cubes and slices. And it can be grate without prior blanching.
Tomatoes also endure low temperature. If it is cherry tomatoes, pierce their skin, so they freeze doesn’t burst, and send them to the freezer. Large tomatoes cut into cubes or slices and place in a plastic container before you freeze.
How to freeze mushrooms
The mushroom season is around the corner, and they can also be frozen for the winter to add to the soup or, for example, to use for cooking pies. Mushrooms can be frozen whole or cut into slices. In any case, pre-place them on parchment so that they do not touch each other, and when they freeze, put them in a special bag.
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