How to save cilantro for the winter: is it possible to freeze

Preservation of cilantro for the winter is practiced by many summer residents. This plant is valued for its beneficial properties on the body. It is used as a spicy seasoning for dishes. The second name of cilantro is coriander.

How to store cilantro seeds properly?

To keep the seeds of the plant fresh as long as possible, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

umbrellas with seeds are collected on a dry sunny day;
washed seeds are dried in a dry place out of sunlight;
umbrellas are ground by hand, while the seeds are carefully separated;
seeds are poured into a special container, glass containers are best;
Cilantro seeds are stored in a dry, well-ventilated place no longer than 4 years.

Winter harvesting methods

There are several ways to save cilantro for winter use. It all depends on individual preferences.

Fresh coriander is not meant to be stored in the refrigerator for a long time.

Therefore, using the plant all winter in its original form will not work. But there are other ways to preserve not only the rich taste and aroma of greens, but also the beneficial substances in its composition.

Drying

This is one of the most popular ways. If you follow all the recommendations when drying coriander, then its crushed leaves will delight you with taste and aroma all winter. Dried cilantro is used as a seasoning for hot dishes, cooking sauces for meat.

Let's consider the correct algorithm for drying cilantro:

leaves with stems fall off in dry, sunny weather;
washed and cleaned of damaged parts;
dry well.

Since cilantro has a pungent odor, it will be better to grind it before drying. The smell in this case will become softer. Finely chopped greens are laid out on a clean baking sheet and placed in a dry, well-ventilated area. The sun's rays should not fall on the greens.
After the greens are ready, they are transferred to a glass container, which is tightly closed with a lid. You can also use ceramic dishes. Store greens in a cool, dry place, but not more than 1 year. At the same time, it retains useful properties, taste and aroma.

In this form, cilantro is used as a seasoning for baking bread, added to sauces and meat dishes.

Freeze

The question of whether it is possible to freeze cilantro for the winter is of interest to many of its lovers. Frozen cilantro keeps much less than dried cilantro. Nevertheless, this method allows you to save all the useful substances in its composition. In addition, this method of harvesting leaves the aroma and taste in its original form. Freezing in a bag is considered the easiest way.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

greens are washed, damaged areas are removed;
spread out on a towel or thick cloth until completely dry;
packages are being prepared (cellophane or airtight);
It is better to cut the branches of the plant, this will simplify their further use;
greens are placed in a bag and sent to the freezer.

S alting

S alted cilantro also retains flavor and all the goodness.

The recipe for its preparation is very simple:

greens are washed with cool water and dried;
is laid out in a glass container and covered with s alt (for 1 kg of grass - 250 g of s alt);
press cilantro until juice is formed, then close tightly with a lid and place in the refrigerator;
after the contents in the jar have settled a little, you can add some more greens to it.

In this form, cilantro is stored for up to 10 months. When adding s alted cilantro to dishes, it is important to reduce the amount of s alt added to them, otherwise the food will turn out overs alted.

Canning

The preservation method is less popular than freezing or drying, however, it is no less interesting.For this, fresh cilantro is taken, washed and ground in a blender with the addition of 2 cloves of garlic and 1 tbsp. l. olive oil. The resulting mixture is poured into glass jars and closed with plastic lids, after which they are sent for storage in the refrigerator. This way of storing cilantro allows you to use it as a seasoning for meat. Pickled cilantro is also suitable as a seasoning for spaghetti and other dishes.

Preservation in marinade

Many cilantro lovers prefer to store it in a marinade. For this you will need:

a pinch of s alt;
300ml water;
1 tbsp l. 9% vinegar;
vegetable oil.

Water is brought to a boil, after which s alt and vinegar are added to it. Pre-washed and chopped greens are laid out in glass jars.You don't need to press hard on it. Then the cilantro is poured with marinade, and after it cools down a bit, 1 tbsp is added to each jar. l. vegetable oil. The jars are closed with plastic lids and sent for storage in the basement or refrigerator.

In oil

Many summer residents prefer to freeze cilantro, pre-treating it with vegetable oil. Greens are cut into small pieces (no more than 3 cm), fall asleep in a blender. Vegetable oil is added in proportions of 80 ml of oil per 50 g of greens. Everything is mixed until a green puree is formed. Next, the contents are filled with ice molds and placed in the freezer. After the contents are frozen, they are transferred to special freezer bags and stored for no more than 2 months.

Pay attention! When placing molds with greens in the freezer, you need to ensure that they are on a flat surface. Otherwise, the contents of the molds will spill.

Freeze in butter

Another way to freeze cilantro. Only butter is used instead of vegetable oil.

Pour 3 tbsp into a dry bowl. l. cilantro, after which 100 g of chopped butter at room temperature is added to it (it should not be melted). The contents of the plate mix well, if desired, you can add garlic, pepper, s alt and lemon juice. The resulting mixture is transferred to parchment paper and placed in the refrigerator until hardened. The contents are then transferred to the freezer for storage. To do this, it must be folded into a sealed bag.

Useful properties of cilantro in winter

Even our ancestors extracted a lot of useful properties from coriander. The use of cilantro in winter will increase the body's resistance to colds, strengthen the immune system, and improve the general condition of the body. But the beneficial properties of greens do not end there.

The value of cilantro is determined by the following factors:

has an antiseptic effect, eliminates inflammation in the oral cavity and bleeding gums;
normalizes the hormonal background of women, alleviates pain during the menstrual period, improves reproductive function;
reduces blood glucose and bad cholesterol levels;
remove excess fluid from the body, preventing swelling;
improves the functioning of the nervous system;
has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and liver.

Scientists have proven that regular consumption of cilantro improves immunity, has a healing and calming effect on the body.