Cilantro is a spicy herb from the Apiaceae family. The fresh and green branches of the plant are called cilantro, and the dried seeds are called coriander. These greens are used as a flavorful addition to salads, meats and other dishes. If we talk about the beneficial properties of cilantro, it helps to digest heavy foods. In order not to be left without cilantro after the summer abundance of greens, you need to learn how to harvest it correctly. Before you begin, you should study information on how to preserve cilantro for the winter.
Rules for storing cilantro for the winter
Cilantro is a rather delicate and demanding product to store. Keeping cilantro fresh for the winter at home requires a lot of effort. The taste, aroma and benefits will remain even with long-term storage in certain ways.
Regardless of the storage technique, greens must be thoroughly washed and sorted, choosing the freshest and healthiest branches. When selecting, it is necessary to exclude damaged leaves.
How to store cilantro for the winter:
- Freezing greens.
- Drying cilantro in the oven or naturally.
- Pickling greens.
- Marinating in oil.
The shelf life of greens varies depending on the chosen harvesting method:
- Fresh sprigs can be stored for up to 2 weeks if kept in the refrigerator.
- In the freezer of the refrigerator, the plant remains fragrant and healthy throughout the year.
- After drying, cilantro retains its properties for about 2 years.
- When preserved using oil or salt, the plant will be preserved for 3 to 12 months, depending on the cooking technique.
Features of storing fresh cilantro
The branches of cilantro, which contain a large amount of beneficial vitamins, are negatively affected by direct sunlight. Therefore, even on the way from the market or summer cottage, contact should be minimized. Essential oils disappear from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. There is a chance to bring home a bunch of useless hay.
When exposed to oxygen, the branches of cut cilantro curl and darken.
Freezing cilantro for storage
Freezing is a fairly simple way to preserve the nutritional and taste qualities of a plant for a long time. How to keep greens fresh in the refrigerator for a long time? To ensure proper cooling, greens must be stored in the freezer. So, after the summer there will be cilantro left for the winter. To freeze herbs, you can prepare a container or plastic bag.
Stages of creating a blank:
- Plants need to be thoroughly washed and sorted.
- Remove excess moisture with a disposable paper towel.
- Place the plants in bags or bags, removing air from there. The most convenient option would be to use a zip bag.
- The workpiece must be placed in the freezer of the refrigerator. The bag can be labeled so as not to be confused with other types of greens.
Additional Information. Depending on your preferences, you can store the herb either in the crushed form or as a whole. It is better to prepare greens in portions equal to one use. This will help avoid repeated freezing, which will adversely affect the taste and quality of cilantro.
How else can you keep greens fresh in the refrigerator for a long time? You can cut it up, put it in molds that are usually used for ice, fill it with water and freeze it. After a while, cubes form, which are quite easy to add to soups and various sauces.
Drying cilantro
Speaking about how to store cilantro, it is worth noting that drying is especially popular. This method guarantees the presence of a spicy aroma after processing. You can dry the plant either naturally or in the oven.
Drying naturally
The plant must be sorted out, all damaged components and weeds removed. Next comes the step of washing and drying on a paper towel. The plant is cut into fairly large pieces. The drying surface is covered with sheets of paper. The greens are laid out in one layer and placed in a dark place with plenty of air circulation. To ensure that the plants dry evenly, it is better to stir them with your hands. After 7 days the product should be completely dry.
Oven drying
The grass is cleaned and damaged parts are removed. After this, the material is dried on a dry paper towel. The branches are coarsely chopped and laid out on a baking sheet. The oven is preheated to 40 °C. The tray is placed in the shower cabinet for 5 hours with the door open. The finished product should rustle and crumble in your hands.
Additional Information. This preparation option is perfect as a seasoning for fish, meat and first courses.
You should not overuse cilantro, as this can provoke sleep disturbances, menstrual cycles in women, weakening of memory and potency.
How to Store Cilantro at Room Temperature
1. Dry leaves and tips should be cut off. To do this you will need a sharp knife or kitchen scissors. 2. Cilantro needs to be tied into bunches. Form several branches of the plant into a bundle, wrapping the stems with twine. It is worth tying 4-6 branches into 1 bundle. 3. It is necessary to hang the bunches upside down. Cilantro should be protected from the sun, as the leaves will discolor. A paper bag would be a good solution. The holes made in the bag will create air circulation, and mold will not appear. The plant dries out completely in 2 weeks. 4. Should be stored in a cool, dry place. After drying, the plant lasts for six months.
Thanks to our tips, spicy cilantro will add flavor to your dish and transform it with a wonderful aroma.
How to keep it fresh
Use damp paper towels
This method requires cutting off the dry ends of each stem and any damaged areas. Place the bunches in a container of water for 5–10 minutes. This will completely clean the grass and nourish it. Dry the product with paper towels without reaching complete dryness. Place the dried product on a damp paper towel and pack in a bag or container.
Important! When placing the product, you must leave 2.5 centimeters without filling and air. The paper towel you use should not be very wet, but only slightly damp.
Use dry paper towels
The stems are processed in the same way as in the first option. The greens are laid out on a towel for a couple of hours to dry, avoiding direct contact with sunlight. For convenience, a plastic container is used. The grass is laid in layers, alternating with dry towels. The container closes as tightly and hermetically as possible. The product requires periodic inspection to remove faded tufts.
Important! If excess moisture appears in the container, it is necessary to dry the container in use. After removing excess moisture, a new product is added. The only container convenient for this method is a plastic sealed container.
Use a container of water
This is a great way to keep cilantro fresh in the refrigerator for a long time. To use this method, you need to prepare a sharp knife, a glass container, and a plastic bag. Stems are subject to pre-treatment. Already cleaned branches are dried on a paper towel. After this, the bottom of each plant is cut to 2/5 of its length. The container is filled with cool water to the level of the plant leaves. The branches are arranged vertically. To reduce the harmful effects of the environment, the container is covered with a plastic bag secured to the neck with an elastic band. The entire structure fits in the refrigerator.
Important! You need to constantly monitor the condition of the water. If the water begins to become cloudy, it needs to be changed. Leaves are an indicator of the safety of the plant. If they begin to fade, then it is necessary to get rid of the workpiece.
Cilantro is not recommended to be used in large quantities for gastritis, thrombophlebitis, diabetes mellitus and some other diseases. You should consume no more than 36 grams of the product at a time.
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How to store coriander in the refrigerator
You need to prepare the following in advance:
• kitchen scissors; • jar; • plastic bag; • water.
1. First, trim the stems with sharp kitchen scissors. Trimming the bottom of each stem releases the fresh portion of the cilantro, allowing water to be absorbed. If the stem is exposed to air for more than an hour, it dies and the ability to absorb water is limited. If you don't have kitchen scissors, a sharp knife will do. 2. Be sure to dry the leaves (wet ones are not suitable). If there are particles of dirt or debris on the Chinese parsley, you need to get rid of them immediately before adding them to food by rinsing them off under running water. 3. Next, you need to fill the jar with water. Pour ¼ or ½ cool water into a glass container. A suitable indicator of water is when the stems are covered. Make sure you are not under water. So, you need to treat coriander as if you were looking at a freshly picked bouquet of flowers. Cilantro absorbs water through its stems, much like flowers do in a vase. This way the cilantro will stay fresh much longer. 4. Then you should cover the cilantro in the jar with a clean plastic bag, paying attention to the leaves and the neck of the container. If desired, tie the bag in the neck area with an elastic band. Having completed this procedure, you should put the jar in the refrigerator and watch until the leaves begin to change color or wither. Cilantro will mostly stay fresh for about 2 weeks. When the water changes color, it should be poured out and refilled with fresh water. The water will need to be changed 2-3 times.
Other ways to store cilantro at home
In addition, greens can be preserved by pickling, or by preserving them in oil.
Pickling cilantro for the winter
The stems are pre-washed and peeled, after which they are finely chopped. It is necessary to prepare non-iodized salt. The mass of salt is calculated based on the mass of the grass; per kilogram of grass there is 250 g of salt. Salt is poured into the top layer, everything is mixed and pressed to release the juice. Next, you need to close the jars and put them in the coldest place of the refrigerator. After 24 hours, the contents of the jars will have settled by ⅓, after which you can add another portion of the herb. You can store cilantro prepared this way for a long time.
Pickling cilantro in jars
To prepare the marinade, you need 300 ml of boiling water, a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of 9% vinegar. Pre-cleaned greens are chopped and compacted into glass jars, in which a little space is left. The contents of the jars are filled with marinade until the greens are completely covered. Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil on top. These jars are sterilized for 25 minutes. After sterilization, it is better to put the jars in a dark and cool place; the best options would be a refrigerator or cellar. This harvesting method is suitable for subsequent use of cilantro as a salad dressing.
Greens with added vegetable oil
How to leave cilantro fresh for the winter at home? Prepare it in oil. Many people use this method because of its long-term preservation of beneficial properties and spicy aroma.
Preparation requires preparation and cleaning of the cilantro, after which it must be chopped and dried. The plant is placed in a container and filled with vegetable oil, after which it is mixed. You will first need to prepare sterile jars into which the oily mixture will be placed. There should be a layer of oil about 1 cm thick on top of the jar. Next, the jars are rolled up using the standard method and put away in a cool and dark place. In the refrigerator, the shelf life of such a jar is no more than six months.
Using this method, you can preserve not only cilantro, but also a number of other greens. By adding such a bouquet of herbs, dishes will only become better.
Frozen cilantro with butter
This method is rarely used by housewives to store cilantro for the winter, but it turns out very tasty.
Before harvesting, the stems and leaves are washed, all damaged parts must be removed. Excess moisture is dried with a towel.
100g of oil is softened and mixed with 5 tablespoons of chopped cilantro. Everything is mixed to avoid the formation of lumps in the mixture. For taste, you can add lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. The mass is laid out on foil or parchment, packed into a sausage and left in the freezer. Once completely hardened, place it in an airtight container. This mixture is perfect for creating sandwiches or spaghetti.
Important! The date of freezing should be marked on the container to track the expiration date of the product.
Dressing for second courses
To prepare, you need to use the stems and seeds of this plant, basil leaves, peeled garlic, jalapeno pepper and olive oil. All ingredients are pre-cleaned, processed and ground in a blender. Olive oil is added to the mixture, which is mixed with the remaining ingredients until smooth. After this, the dressing is sealed and placed in the refrigerator. In a month the product will be ready for use.
Cilantro has a fairly rich composition; it contains fiber, vitamins, and many macro- and microelements. It is because of this that it is able to positively influence the functioning of the body and speed up recovery in case of illness. How can you lose such a valuable product in winter? This cannot be allowed. Therefore, it is necessary to harvest cilantro for the winter using the methods listed above. This will make it possible to preserve its beneficial qualities, taste and aroma during the cold season. Frozen herbs are best added to salads. Dried herb goes better with hot dishes and soups. These are just a few of the ways you can use cilantro. You can make various sauces, marinades, snacks, drinks and even desserts.
