How to store fresh dill, storage conditions and periods

Collection and preparation for storage

To preserve dill for the winter, you need to properly collect and prepare it for storage:

1. You need to choose mature, formed plants that have a bright green color.
2. Dill must be dry when picked, so do not pick it during or after rain.
3. When selecting, it is important to remove damaged, dry and rotten leaves and shoots.
4. If the greens are plucked from the garden bed with roots, they need to be trimmed.
5. It is better to harvest greens for the winter on the same day they were collected. This will help avoid lethargy and loss of juiciness.
6. It is not advisable to wet the grass from your home garden, as this will disrupt the natural protective layer on the foliage. But if there is dust, dirt or pests, then washing is necessary.
7. The washed branches should be dried on a spread kitchen towel for no longer than 30 minutes, so they will not have time to wither and will remain fragrant and juicy.

At the next stage, the greens need to be sent for storage, choosing any of the existing methods.

Preparing for winter storage

Before choosing any of these storage methods, the plants must first be properly prepared:

• Rinse the greens purchased or collected from your plot under running water. Another option: place the stems in a deep bowl filled with water. Keep there for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse in the same way under a gentle stream of water.
• Then place dry towels on the kitchen table, spread the green stems on them in a thin layer, cover with paper napkins and let the moisture dry naturally.

Now the greens are completely ready for further processing.

Storage conditions and periods

Preserving dill in its original form is not an easy task. But if you provide it with comfortable storage conditions, you can significantly increase the shelf life of the product:

1. The optimal temperature is from +1 to +5°C.
2. Acceptable humidity is no more than 85%.
3. No direct sunlight.
4. Limited access of oxygen.

The shelf life of herbs depends on the method and place of its storage:

The choice of method depends on the purpose of using dill. It is convenient to add dried herbs, which have a concentrated taste and aroma, to first courses. Freezer preparations fit better into salads and appetizers.

Storage conditions

Greens, especially onion and salad-spinach varieties (green onions, spinach, cilantro, sorrel, watercress) have large cells and a large surface area for moisture evaporation. That is, it is prone to drying out quickly. However, when there is excess moisture on the leaves, bacteria begin to actively multiply and mold appears. As a result, the herbs wither, acquire an unpleasant odor, and become covered with mucus.

Doesn't like greenery or sun. UV rays destroy chlorophyll: the leaves turn yellow and lose their aroma. It is for this reason that parsley, dill, basil and other spices are usually dried not in the sun, but in a dark, well-ventilated room.

Due to excess oxygen, tender plants actively “breathe”, releasing heat and carbon dioxide. This causes the leaves to curl and their color to become dark (brown or brown). Once again, the greens are unsuitable for consumption.

The optimal conditions for keeping the product fresh in the refrigerator are shown in the table below.

Table 1. Storage conditions for greens in the refrigerator

How to store dill in the refrigerator

Storing dill in the refrigerator will help out in the most unexpected moments. This household device will help you stock up on fresh spices for future use, as it maintains a constantly low temperature. This reduces the risk of rotting and bacteria.

Dill can be stored in the refrigerator:

1. In a glass jar . Leaves and small branches of dill should be separated from the stems, placed in a jar and sealed tightly using a lid.
2. In a plastic bag . Place the prepared greens in a tight bag and seal with tape, which will prevent air from entering the package.
3. In a paper towel . Wrap the dill bunches in a towel, lightly spray them with water and put them inside a plastic bag. However, there is no need to close it. If you change the towel every 3-4 days, this will extend the shelf life of the product to 3 weeks.
4. In a special container . Such dishes maintain the necessary humidity and a special microclimate. You should place the bunch vertically in it, add a little water and cover with a stopper. Greens in such packaging are not deformed and are also protected from bacteria and mold.
5. In water . Dill contains a large amount of essential oils and phytoncides, which is why it may not be damaged by pathogenic microorganisms for a long time. To increase the shelf life of fresh greens, you need to cut off the ends of the stems, pour cool water into a glass and lower the greens into it, placing it like a bouquet of flowers. The upper leaves should be covered with a plastic bag or wrapped with gauze. Change the water every 2 days. This method is especially suitable for dill with roots, so it will remain fresh for 2-3 weeks.

It is not recommended to place dill without packaging in the refrigerator. In this form, it will retain its presentation and taste for only 1-3 days, and the plant will also absorb the smell of products that are in the household device.

How to keep dill fresh in containers?

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Fresh dill without special conditions can be stored for approximately 1-5 days, depending on the variety and when and how it was collected. To significantly extend its shelf life, it is worth providing it with special conditions. So, how to keep dill fresh for the winter? One of the simplest storage methods is in containers.

Already washed, dried dill is laid out in containers about halfway (so that it does not wrinkle too much), covered with a lid and placed on the bottom shelf in the refrigerator.

Containers or jars for storing dill must be absolutely clean

The container can be anything, but it is advisable that it be a special plastic container for storing food in the refrigerator at low temperatures. If there is no container, you can use a simple glass jar and a plastic lid, but the dill cannot be pushed into it; it is placed loosely in small quantities so that it does not wrinkle during storage and does not release juice on the bends.

Important! Containers or jars for storing dill must be absolutely clean and odorless, otherwise the dill may begin to spoil earlier.

In containers or jars, uncut dill will be stored for about 1 month in the refrigerator, will not turn yellow and will not lose its taste or nutrients. If, before putting the greens into a container, you only dry and sort them, but do not wash them, the shelf life can increase to 2 months.

Other storage methods

For those who want to pamper themselves with minerals and vitamins from fresh herbs all year round, freezing, pickling, drying and pickling is a better option.

Freezing

To keep dill fresh as long as possible, it can be frozen. This is the best way that allows greens to preserve their healing properties and appetizing appearance as much as possible.

How to properly freeze dill:

1. Rinse the greens in a container of cool water.
2. Remove yellow branches and trim roots.
3. Fold the dill into a bunch and wrap it using cling film.
4. Place in the freezer.

When planning to freeze a large amount of dill, you can fold it into several bunches in portions, so that when you take it out of the freezer for consumption, you do not expose the entire product to temperature changes.

Dill can be frozen in plastic containers, ice cube trays, and special freezing bags. It is not recommended to use glass containers or paper for these purposes.

How to freeze dill:

Pickling

This preparation is perfect for both first and second courses. For this method you will need glassware, table salt and dill.

Main stages of the procurement process:

1. Select the branches by removing the stems.
2. Rinse the greens thoroughly.
3. Dry using absorbent paper or fabric towels.
4. Finely chop the dill.
5. Sterilize jars and lids.
6. Mix finely chopped greens with salt and place in the prepared container.
7. Close the jars with lids and refrigerate.

The workpiece should be stored in a cool place (cellar, basement, balcony).

An open jar must be placed in the vegetable compartment or on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. It is recommended to use it within 45-60 days, without leaving it in a warm place for a long time.

When salting greens, you cannot use iodized salt, as it gives the product an unpleasant specific taste and smell and quickly darkens.

Pickling

Pickled dill will add an interesting taste, piquancy and spiciness to dishes. The preparation can remain usable until the next harvest and does not take up much space in the refrigerator. To do this you need to take:

• 1 kg dill;
• 1 liter of water;
• 2 tbsp. l. salt;
• 2 tbsp. l. Sahara;
• 1 tbsp. vinegar 9%.

Cooking technology:

1. Wash the greens, dry and chop.
2. Pack the dill into 0.5 liter jars.
3. Bring water to a boil, add salt, sugar, vinegar.
4. Pour the hot marinade over the herb.
5. Sterilize the jars for 25-30 minutes and seal.

Store in a cool place.

Drying

Another proven way to preserve fresh dill until spring. There are several options available to choose from at home. The main rule is not to overdry the herb so that the taste of the spice does not become bitter and the color remains rich green. Properly dried dill only intensifies its characteristic spiciness.

Outdoors in the shade

When choosing a natural drying method, it is important to monitor weather conditions. In rainy and windy weather, be sure to bring raw materials into the house.

It is recommended to dry dill with whole stems. To do this you need:

1. Sort through the greens, removing spoiled parts, and trim the roots.
2. Rinse the product under running water and dry them.
3. Tie 10-15 stems and hang them in an unlit, cool room with good air circulation at a temperature of +24°C. The distance between the beams is 6-8 cm.
4. When the dill is dry, put the preparation in fabric bags.

You can also dry the branches of the flowering plant along with umbrellas, and use them as a seasoning when preparing dishes in winter.

You can also dry chopped herbs. It's easy to do:

1. Take fresh plants and cut off all their thick stems.
2. Finely chop the remaining branches.
3. Scatter chopped dill on the surface and cover with a towel.
4. After 1-2 hours, spread the product in a dry room on paper in a thin layer.
5. Turn it over regularly to ensure complete drying.

After this, collect the dried dill in a container for further storage and send it to a room with a temperature of +17°C and a humidity of 80%. In this case, direct rays of the sun should not fall on the spice.

In the oven

You can provide your family with vitamins throughout the winter by drying the dill in the oven. To do this, it is important to follow the following procedure:

1. Finely chop the dill and spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment or silicone liner.
2. Place in an oven preheated to 50°C and open the door slightly. The specified parameters must be maintained throughout the entire process.
3. During the drying process, the dill needs to be stirred periodically so that it does not burn, but dries out on all sides.
4. Allow the workpiece to cool.
5. Pack the product into prepared containers.

It is better to store dried herbs in porcelain jars or dark glass containers with an airtight lid. Exposure to the sun can cause the spice to fade. Moisture and heat can also be detrimental to the product.

In the microwave

The microwave has high power and temperature, so you will have to constantly monitor the process. On average, it takes 5 minutes to prepare dill for the winter in the microwave.

Dried herbs production technology:

1. Peel and dry the dill.
2. Cut the greens and place on a flat plate, having previously covered it with a napkin. The layer of greenery should be up to 2 cm.
3. Place the product in the microwave for 3-5 minutes. Check if the dill is not completely dry, then repeat the procedure.

To avoid burning the product, it is recommended to also place a napkin on top of the greens. It is important not to leave the oven unattended, as the greens in it dry out quickly.

In an electric dryer

The household appliance is suitable for both vegetables and fruits, as well as herbs. If the electric dryer has a “Herbs” or “Greens” mode, then you need to spread the dill in a container in a thin layer on trays and set the specified program. If there is no such function, then you need to select a mode with a temperature reading of 40°C. It is better to dry the plant with branches no more than 4-6 cm long.

Rules for product preparation

Before you start canning, it is important to properly prepare the greens - the taste and quality of the product, as well as its shelf life, depend on this.

To prepare dill for the winter at home, you need to use only fresh herbs. It must be carefully inspected, all wilted, rotten, damaged parts and roots must be removed.

All herbs must be thoroughly washed in several waters and dried on paper napkins or a cotton towel.

Some housewives use both dill leaves and stems. However, if they are too thick and tough, it is advisable to remove them (they are useful for making marinades or flavoring broths and soups).

Dill umbrellas can also be preserved if desired; they can add an exquisite aroma to dishes.

General recommendations for storing dill

Dill, like any product, has an expiration date, after which it is considered unfit for consumption. But there are general tips that will extend the storage period of greens:

1. If you plan to eat dill in the near future, you do not need to wash it, as it will last longer in the refrigerator.
2. It is not recommended to salt chopped dill and pack it in jars under a nylon lid to be sent to the refrigerator. This preparation changes color and acquires a specific taste that not everyone likes.
3. If the greens wither, you can take them out, put them in hot water, shake them off, then hold them under running cold water for 2-3 minutes and dry them. After this procedure, the grass will be stronger and juicier. This product cannot be stored; it must be consumed immediately.
4. Before storage, wilted dill can be revived by placing it in a solution (1 teaspoon of vinegar diluted with ½ cup of water) for 1 hour.
5. Do not put greens in the freezer in the same compartment as meat. If it is not possible to fulfill this condition, then it is better to additionally wrap the bag of greens in foil.

Preserving dill at home is not that difficult. All that matters is desire, a suitable container, and knowledge of how to do it correctly. You can try in practice each of the existing methods of harvesting greens so that a healthy product is always at hand in the winter.

How to freeze dill for the winter?

Since it’s not always possible to keep dill fresh for the winter, you can cheat a little and just freeze it. Frozen dill does not lose vitamins and minerals; it remains completely fresh and tasty after defrosting.

Frozen dill does not lose vitamins and minerals

• Chopped dill is poured into a bag or container. Then the bag is tied; if a container is used, it must be tightly closed with a lid. After this, you need to put the greens in the freezer and use as needed.
• Bunches of dill are stored in cling film or foil. Dill is washed, dried, collected in bunches and wrapped in cling film or foil. You should get a tight bundle. All that remains is to place the bundles in the freezer.
• Dill stores very well in ice cubes. It is simply cut up like soup, then placed in a container for freezing ice cubes and filled with water or oil. Now you need to freeze the cubes. These cubes are convenient to use when preparing first and second courses. The greens remain absolutely fresh, and the water simply evaporates (in the second dish) or is mixed with any first dish.

Frozen dill can be stored for 6 to 12 months.

How to identify a spoiled product

To use only a high-quality product, you must not overlook the first signs of unsuitability. The greens become limp, the tips of the stems begin to dry out, a sharp and unpleasant smell appears - these are the first signs that the process of spoilage is beginning. When the greens begin to rot, it is better not to use them for cooking. The best option would be to buy fresh dill.

In order to prevent the product from becoming spoiled, you need to store the greens in the refrigerator for no longer than two weeks . It is important to regularly renew supplies of fresh product rather than using greens of questionable quality.