How to freeze cilantro for the winter so that it retains all the vitamins?
Cilantro is one of the most ancient spice plants. In Europe, it appeared in ancient times and since then has gained great popularity. Coriander, as they call it cilantro, is used not only as a spice in cooking, it is also used for cosmetic purposes and even for the treatment and prevention of various diseases. The herb owes such a wide area of use to its rich composition, which includes more than a dozen types of trace elements, vitamins, oils and amino acids.
As you know, fresh herbs contain the most vitamins. But what to do in the winter, when all the beds are under snow? Some gardeners continue to grow cilantro indoors in pots, while others prefer to prepare it for future use in order to relax in winter and enjoy delicious dishes with the addition of fresh leaves.
Let's talk about this - how to prepare coriander using the freezing method so that it does not lose its beneficial properties?
A properly frozen spice retains up to 90% of its nutrients.
When to freeze greens?
Proceed to harvesting cilantro for the winter it is possible when the bushes reach a height of 15 cm. At this time, the deciduous mass is the most juicy.
When they release arrows, the greens become unusable for food and freezing. The leaves of such bushes lose vitamins and become tough.
How to prepare a spice?
Young plants should be pulled out together with the root and cut off with scissors the lower part.
On the vacant bed, you can sow the next batch of spices. Thus, 3-4 harvests ripen during the summer.
The cut cilantro must be thoroughly rinsed thoroughly, changing the water several times, laid out on a towel and allowed to dry for a couple of hours, preferably in the fresh air.
Freezing cilantro options
Prepared greens can be frozen in several ways:
- Fold in bags as a whole (with twigs).
- Chop finely.
It is better to sign the packages by placing a piece of paper with the name of the spice in them, since all greens look the same when frozen and can be easily confused with parsley.
And one more useful tip: after the cilantro is poured into the bag, you should smooth it out so that the greens lay in a thin layer. In winter, it will be easy to get it by breaking off a piece of the layer. If you pour in one place, you will have to pick out or cut with a knife.