How to freeze parsley for the winter?

Summer - it's time not only to relax and stay near water bodies, but also to prepare for the fall and winter. It was at this time that all the hostesses begin to make various blanks little by little. Traditionally, a large number of different delicacies are harvested for the winter. Today we will talk about how to prepare parsley for the winter, because this ingredient is often used not only in cooking, but also to create decoctions and tinctures, as well as face masks. Of course, parsley can also be dried or pickled; however, the taste of such greens will be completely different.

In winter, the presence of frozen greens comes in handy, dishes sprinkled with parsley look very nice on a festive table, and not only. Recipes freeze greens have been around for quite some time, today we look at some of them.Far from all represent how it is possible to keep it fresh in the winter, but in reality everything is quite simple.

Methods of harvesting greens

Parsley can be frozen in three different ways. These methods are the most simple and common, you can choose any of the presented ones, which will be more to your taste:

1. Parsley can be frozen in bunches. To do this, you need to collect the greens in several bunches, and then fold them into ordinary plastic bags and put them in the freezer. Often frozen parsley and in the form of strips. In this case, the greens are pre-cut into strips, and then laid out on cling film. Next, you just need to wrap the greens in a sausage and put in the freezer.
2. Greens can be easily saved for the winter in the form of ice cubes. For this it is necessary to chop the parsley, but not too small, so that it fits in the ice molds. After that, decompose into cells and fill with water. Next, the mold is placed in the fridge for freezing. Once the cubes are ready, you can also pour them into a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for safekeeping. Cubes can be prepared not only with water,but also with melted butter. The cooking mechanism is the same as in the first case, only the mold is filled with butter.
3. Parsley can also be frozen in a chopped form. The method is mostly no different from the first, only in that the greens are crushed.

The second method of freezing greens is very popular among hostesses today; they consider ice cubes to be the most convenient method. It is very convenient to get ice cubes and add them to the first courses, for example, when cooking soup.

In general, it is recommended to use all methods of freezing at once, or to choose a method depending on how greens are supposed to be used in the future. For example, ice cubes are best suited for cooking first courses. If you use parsley solely for adding to fried potatoes or sprinkling any snacks, it is best to freeze the chopped parsley. If the greens in your kitchen are used only to decorate dishes, frost in the form of twigs or bunches is perfect.

How to keep parsley fresh?

Today we take a closer look at the third way to freeze greens. For the whole process we need:

• parsley;
• cellophane bags, zip-type lock bags or green storage trays;
• cutting board and a good sharp knife;
• paper napkins or towels to dry the parsley;
• water for washing greens.

For the best preservation of greenery in winter, it is best to freeze it, because it does not lose color and flavor, and after defrosting it looks pretty fresh. You can take two types of parsley for freezing: regular and curly. Both species have a bright and very rich color, as well as a pronounced aroma.

In order to properly prepare greens, be sure to follow some rules:

1. It is very important to freeze fresh parsley. If there is an opportunity, it is best to take the parsley just picked from the garden for blanks.
2. Before freezing greens must be sorted out. It is important to remove all damaged or dry leaves, such as sluggish and yellow leaves, as well as leaves with any spots.
3. It is very important to rinse the greens well before freezing.It is recommended to pre-fill the parsley with water by placing it in a deep bowl and leave it for some time, then rinse it again thoroughly with water under the tap.
4. Also, do not forget that the parsley must be well dried before freezing, as the extra liquid in the parsley is completely unnecessary. Suitable for this purpose ordinary kitchen towel or paper napkins. We often use thick paper towels to dry leaves.

Surely, many have heard that in factories where various semi-cooked dishes are made, a special shock freezing technique is used. This method allows you to preserve nutrients and vitamins in the composition of products. If your fridge freezer has the option of quick freezing, it is better to use it, so that the parsley will quickly freeze and remain at the same time as fresh and healthy as possible.

For harvesting, we will use chopped greens. It is better to take only green leaves, but it is better to cut hard stems. It is convenient to chop the parsley, gathering it in small bunches, it saves time.If you wish, you can chop the herbs in a blender, but it's better still in the old manner with a knife. It should not be cut too small, it is enough to do it in the usual way, as you usually chop in the cooking process. It is better to put chopped greens in a specially prepared bowl.

After all the greens are cut, you need to place it in storage tanks. We will use regular plastic bags for this. We form small bags with greens, we have a bag. Before you tie the bags and put them in the freezer, you must release all the air from the bag. This will significantly reduce the space occupied in the freezer, as well as keep the package intact.

You can also store seasonings in trays, and you can harvest not only parsley, but also other greens, such as sorrel, in this way. You can also freeze the parsley in small bags with a zip-type clasp. Such an arrangement is very convenient, since blanks are obtained in batches. From the freezer will not need to get all the greens, just take only one bag for one-time use.

If you are going to store greens in a tray, it is better to wrinkle it with a hand beforehand so that more greens will fit into the container. When frozen in trays, you can additionally use food wrap, first covering it and then closing the lid. After the parsley is carefully packed, the trays are also put into the freezer. The convenience of blanks in trays is that the greens in them turn out to be dry, thanks to which in the future it is very convenient to take it with a teaspoon or tablespoon. It is important not to forget after eating the right amount of parsley to put the tray back in the fridge.

For what dishes are frozen parsley?

Now it is very convenient to freeze greens, since every house has a fridge with freezer. Previously, the hostesses had to pack the parsley in jars, and then clean away in the cellar. As a rule, in such cases the parsley was either ground, or very finely chopped.

In modern housewives, it is generally accepted to freeze not only greens, but also many vegetables, since this is a great way to preserve foods for a long time and enjoy themselves in the winter with goodies.

Video: how to freeze parsley for the winter