Arugula: how to keep fresh for the winter at home and is it possible

Spicy greens with a mustard-nut flavor are used as an addition to appetizers, salads, first and second courses. Harvested arugula for the winter allows you to eat green leaves all year round. If you know the rules for harvesting, the greens will retain all the nutrients and will not lose their taste. In addition to freezing, there are other equally interesting storage methods.

What good is arugula

Ordinary people, as it has long been customary, give all objects their name, and arugula is no exception. Another common name for greens is mustard grass.The leaves are rich in minerals and vitamins. Due to this, it is considered a medicinal plant and is used to treat many diseases.

Regular intake of arugula will help improve metabolism and strengthen the protective properties of the immune system. People preparing dishes from fragrant leaves can forget about problems with the digestive system. Greens stimulate the activity of the stomach.

It is recommended for people who are not too adapted to stressful situations.

The nutrients in arugula restore the elasticity of blood vessels and increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Patients with diabetes should constantly eat arugula. It is an excellent dietary product, as it burns extra calories. Effectively fights hypertension, especially in the elderly. Under the influence of vitamin K, blood clotting is accelerated, which contributes to the rapid healing of wounds.

Contraindications

Arugula contains phytoncides, so greens can cause an allergic reaction. It is not recommended to use for people with gastritis with high levels of acidity during an exacerbation.

Arugula negatively affects the human body if it has problems with the kidneys and liver. At the time of pregnancy, women should also refuse fragrant arugula so as not to harm the unborn baby.

Storage Features

Preparing arugula for future use is a great idea for people who do not want to exclude greens from their diet during the cold season. After harvesting a large crop in the garden or shopping at the market, they prepare for wintering.

You should not harvest a large number of bunches, as they can deteriorate if they are not eaten in time. In order for spicy greens to be stored for as long as possible, it is important to adhere to the specifics in the harvesting process.

Arugula shelf life

Greens keep their freshness for 10 days. At the same time, it is placed in a container and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. It can be a plastic bag or a plastic container. The main thing is that the arugula does not come into contact with the refrigerator air.

To please the family with greens in the winter, other storage methods are being considered. At the same time, it is necessary to adhere to the rules so that the greens do not lose vitamins and benefit the body. The shelf life of arugula in each specific method is different. May last from a few days to a year.

Arugula how to save for the winter - ways

There are many ways to store greens for the winter. It can be drying or freezing. They also make a preparation with the addition of s alt. Each method has its own characteristics. It is not necessary to choose only one of the methods, but try all or several at once.

How to store fresh arugula

Freshly picked fragrant leaves after cutting can be put in water and left in the kitchen. This is very convenient, as it allows you to have greens at hand. Under such conditions, the plant will remain fresh for up to 5 days. To prolong the period, the bundles are placed in the refrigerator with water.

Long-term storage of arugula

When talking about harvesting greens for the winter, freezing comes to mind. Why should you try this method? Prolonged exposure to low temperature does not affect the taste of greens and its structure. Drying is also worth a try, as the method has its advantages.

Storage of arugula with s alt

Every housewife is used to pickling cucumbers and tomatoes, so why not do it with arugula? The end result will definitely please the household and guests. Great for salads and other light meals. S alting process:

Select he althy, resilient and green leaves.
Wash in cool water until dust, earth and midges come off.
Lay out on a paper towel and leave to allow excess moisture to evaporate.
Cut large leaves into pieces, leave small leaves unchanged.
Place the greens in a jar and add s alt. For 100 g of the product is 1 tbsp. l.
Stir if possible and cover with lids.

After exposure to s alt, the amount of trace elements and vitamins decreases. But they are still there, although not in the same quantity as fresh leaves. In this form, greens can be stored for a year. To do this, the jars are put in the refrigerator, taken out to the cellar or basement.

Drying

Another way of harvesting greenery for the winter is popular among housewives.It's about drying. Excess moisture evaporates from the leaves, which allows it to be stored for a long time. Making a fresh salad is no longer possible. But arugula can be used as a spice in fish and meat dishes.

The natural way

Only the best green leaves are suitable for drying. After washing and drying, they are crushed. But it is not necessary to do so. You can grind after drying. Everyone chooses what he likes more.

Put the leaves on a baking sheet, spreading paper. Regular newspapers can be used. If arugula juice comes into contact with metal, oxidation begins. To avoid this, it is not recommended to use a knife when chopping, it is better to tear the leaves with your hands.

The finished mass is taken out to dry in a warm room. It could also be a canopy. The main thing is that direct sunlight does not fall on the greens. It will take at least a week to evaporate all the moisture. But such a blank will be stored for at least 12 months.

In the dryer

Electric dryer - a device that is suitable for drying vegetables, fruits and herbs. After processing the greens in this device, the green leaves are even more saturated with useful substances. Some models of electric dryers have a "Green" mode. This facilitates the process, since all parameters are set automatically, and a person does not need to think about such trifles.

Elevated temperature does not threaten to overdry or burn the product. Drying in an electric dryer lasts 12 hours. A person may not cut the greens, completely place the whole leaves. After processing, all moisture evaporates, and the mass of greenery decreases significantly. This suggests that the device is doing an excellent job.

In the oven

Drying with this kitchen appliance has its advantages. Drying time, compared with an electric dryer, is reduced by 2 times. Before the drying procedure, the greens undergo standard preparation. It includes washing and, if necessary, cutting leaves.

The choice of temperature depends on the size of the leaves and their number. The selection is made on a case-by-case basis. The maximum mark is +40 ° С, and in no case should it be exceeded. It is also not recommended to dry at a very low temperature.

In order for the drying process to be uniform and the leaves to be processed equally, it is necessary to spread them on a baking sheet in one layer.

Pure

This method is suitable if the greens need to be eaten in the next 4-5 days. After washing, the leaves are torn into equal pieces. They are then left to dry to get rid of excess water droplets that remain on the greens after washing. To do this, they are laid out on a towel in one layer.

After that, the greens are packed in bags and hermetically sealed. This is an important condition that must be observed. Other containers will work for this as well. They put them in the refrigerator and take the right amount each time.

Each method of drying arugula is unique and has its fans. In this case, you can use various kitchen appliances or do without them. But the storage of greenery does not end there. In order for the process to be of high quality and lengthy, you need to keep the spice in closed jars and other containers. A small bag filled with s alt will absorb moisture and prevent condensation.

Preparation of arugula in jars

This is a kind of storage method that is easy to prepare. Arugula prepared in jars will fit in the kitchen of every housewife. It is stored on the shelf along with other seasonings and spices or sent to the refrigerator. It all depends on whether the herbs are dried or pickled.

Freeze

One of the most common storage methods is freezing. Modern refrigerators and freezers are equipped with separate containers for storing greens. Low temperature does not deprive greens of nutrients.

The only disadvantage of the method is the color change. Bright green leaves become less attractive, but it's okay.

Freezing is always fast, affordable and convenient. Arugula leaves can be stored in their pure form, mixed with other herbs, or oil can be used. For convenience, it is cut into small pieces or left whole. The blank is also always at hand and can be used to prepare those dishes that use fresh arugula.

Greens in oil

This method of harvesting arugula is very interesting, as it uses simple but important ingredients that no dish can do without. This is oil. You can take butter, olive or sunflower. Arugula and oil are a great combination. During storage, the ingredients will only complement each other and become even tastier.

Cooking:

Finely chop greens. If the leaves are small, they are left unchanged.
Put into ice cube trays.
Pour selected oil on top and freeze.

Ready-made cubes can be left in the mold or removed and put into serving bags. Instead of molds, plastic trays are also used. The mass is laid out in containers and also left until completely solidified. After that, they are removed and cut with a knife into the desired pieces.

Together with arugula, you can harvest other greens. This will add spice to the oil. Ready-made cubes are used to prepare various dishes. The compact size makes it easy to store them in the freezer and take them out when needed. In this form, arugula in oil is stored for about 1 year.

How to store arugula in the refrigerator

Greens are stored for a while to feast on as long as possible. If the amount is enough for 4-5 days, green bunches are sent to the refrigerator. The temperature is not too low, but it keeps the leaves fresh and juicy. Greens should be placed in the refrigerator in such a way that it does not have direct contact with air.

The main condition for storing arugula is tightness. The method involves the use of such materials:

foil, plastic bags or cling film;
vacuum container or regular tray;
a bowl or any other container of water.

In the first case, the package is pressed so that as little air masses as possible remain inside. The plant will stay fresh for 3-5 days. In the second case, the greens keep freshness from 6 days to 2 weeks. In this case, it is necessary to remove the air.

The third method is the most common and not so long in terms of storage. The grass is placed in a bowl and sprinkled with plenty of water. If this is a special container, you can cover it with a lid. For a regular bowl, cling film will do.

The spicy plant is placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, which is intended for vegetables and fruits. But it is not recommended that greens be stored with other products for a long time, as this will speed up the spoilage period. The ideal option is to store the amount of greens that can be eaten in 3 days. The rest is sent to the freezer or dried.

How to store arugula in the freezer

Just like on the shelf of the refrigerator, the herb should not be open in the freezer. It is pre-wrapped in bags or placed in trays. This is also necessary so that the greens do not absorb third-party odors. The same applies to other products.

Before freezing the arugula must dry after washing. Excess moisture will disrupt the structure of greens, change color and negatively affect the shelf life.

Arugula Storage Tips

Fresh arugula, which is in the refrigerator, is recommended to be eaten 3-4 days in advance. The dried product is periodically inspected for the presence of pests. If the greens are from the freezer, after defrosting, do not re-exposure to low temperatures. Such grass will no longer be suitable for consumption, and there is a risk that it will turn into a homogeneous slurry.

Storing arugula is a process that every housewife can master. For this, you do not need to have special knowledge. To prepare a plant, you need to follow the advice and follow the steps of each method. After spending several hours creating blanks, you can delight your loved ones with your favorite salads, soups, appetizers and hot arugula dishes.