Methods for preserving parsley roots and greens

How to store fresh parsley

You can keep parsley fresh for up to two weeks without much effort. A bundle wrapped in a plastic bag will sit on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator and still be suitable for cooking. However, we're talking about longer-term storage of parsley and dill. Few people realize that they can stay fresh for quite a long time.

So, don't wash the herbs; the leaves should remain dry. Pick them from the bunches and place them in a glass jar with a screw-on lid (this creates a vacuum effect, unlike nylon lids). A tightly sealed jar of dill will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 months.

Another effective way to preserve fresh parsley and dill for the winter is freezing. This way, you can significantly replenish your supplies for a long time.

There are several common freezing technologies:

• Bunches. Soak the parsley in cold water, then dry it by laying it out on a towel. After 10-15 minutes, form the greens into several bunches, wrap each individually, and place it in a container. Store the parsley in this form in the freezer for up to six months, but no longer.
• Herbs in ice cubes. To do this, you also need to sort, wash, and dry the parsley. After that, finely chop it and place it in ice cube trays. Next, fill them with water and place them in the freezer. The frozen cubes are then removed from the trays and placed in a single bag or container. In this form, the parsley will retain its flavor for up to 3-4 months. Plus, using it in soups is now easy: just drop one cube into boiling broth.
• In oil. Wash and dry the herbs, chop them, and arrange them in small molds. Melted butter is poured into the molds. Once cooled, the herbs can be placed in the freezer, where they will keep for at least 4-6 months.

Which technology is the best solution is up to you. In any case, modern cooking offers many variations on how to preserve parsley.

Video: "Ways to Store Greens"

From this video you will learn how to preserve greens.

How to store the root

You can preserve herbs for the winter using more than just leaf parsley and dill. Root parsley is quite rich in vitamins and biologically active substances. Moreover, not only its above-ground part, but also its rhizome, is indispensable in cooking. However, the question arises: how to preserve and store parsley root? Let's try to figure this out.

Without pre-treatment, the rhizomes remain suitable for consumption for up to 2-3 weeks, provided that they are packed in plastic bags with holes or absorbent paper. They can also be dried in the oven. To do this, wash the roots and cut them into strips. After this treatment, they can be stored in various jars, bags, boxes, or wrapped in cloth.

Harvesting and storing parsley root isn't particularly difficult. One of the most common options involves a few simple steps: trim the roots from the leaves and stems, then stack them in a wooden box in several layers. Lightly sprinkle each layer with sand. If the room where you store the herbs has moderate humidity, the parsley root can be used in the kitchen throughout the winter. Keep in mind that the balcony can be too cold during the winter, which is unfavorable for storing parsley and dill; they should be removed from there.

How else can you ensure the proper conditions for long-term storage of the rhizome? For example, make a small depression in the soil, wrap the bunch of greens in plastic wrap, and then place it in the soil, covering it with sand. Snow will eventually protect it from freezing, allowing it to survive the winter. As a result, you can retrieve fresh parsley from its secret place at the end of winter, when the body needs its vitamins most.

There are many ways to preserve parsley for the winter, but they share common features, such as dividing the bunches into portions. What containers best preserve the beneficial properties of the herb? Silicone molds, plastic containers, cling film, etc. are good choices. Preserving the herb for the winter is a fairly simple way to ensure you get a full range of vitamins. Even ordinary dishes with parsley take on a completely different flavor during the cold season. Don't forget to treat yourself and take care of your health, as this product is indispensable in modern cooking and traditional medicine – a treasure trove of vitamins for you and your family.

Video "Root Storage"

This video will show you how to preserve the root of this aromatic herb.