The plant, first of all, is characterized by an attractive aroma that leaves no one indifferent. It is added to any dishes to which it adds a spicy note. In summer, fresh herbs are available to every housewife, and in winter they can only be purchased on store shelves. Today it is very popular to harvest crops in advance. From this article, readers will learn how to freeze dill in the refrigerator for the winter without losing its taste, aroma and beneficial qualities.
Pros of freezing
Storing in freezers is considered the best solution to use greens in the winter. Many people think that it is not worth bothering with this, because companies that grow this plant all year round in greenhouses supply their products to stores. But they are deeply mistaken, because such dill does not contain vitamins, and only nitrates and fertilizers can be found in its composition. In addition, you have to pay far from a penny for a bunch of greens. Therefore, thrifty housewives do the right thing by harvesting a fragrant plant in advance.
The advantages of frozen greens are as follows:
- the taste and color do not differ from fresh;
- all useful microelements and vitamins are preserved;
- essential oils do not lose their value.
Preparing dill for freezing
Before harvesting, it is recommended to wash the plant bunches. Cold water is collected in a bowl and the greens are dropped into it. The soaked plants are left for a few minutes. Then transfer to a colander or sieve and wash 2-3 more times under running water. Next, the greens are dried. A towel is spread out, twigs are laid out on it in one layer, which should lie for about an hour.
If you immediately chop the dill and put it in the freezer, then it will not look fresh. It will remain a frozen piece of ice.
Methods for freezing dill
Several methods are popular today. Each has advantages in use:
- greens from bags and containers are suitable for adding flavor to dishes;
- cubes are good to add to soups and stews;
- Frozen butter with the plant goes into sauces, boiled potatoes, and sandwiches.
Before you start storing greens in the freezer, it is important to know the following rules:
- Only fresh, juicy plants without signs of wilting or damage are selected.
- Young dill with thin stems is suitable for harvesting. If you take greens with a peduncle, then in the end it will smell like caraway.
- Plants should be grown without the use of nitrates in environmentally friendly areas.
Freezing whole branches
The easiest way to save dill — freezing of whole plants. For this, good and strong stems are selected.
The branches are thoroughly washed and dried. Then they are placed in bags, wrapped tightly and sent to the freezer.
Before use, take out the required amount. It is recommended to knock on the branches to chop them.
If whole plants are needed, they are defrosted at room temperature within half an hour.
Freezing dill in containers
For this method, small plastic containers are used, first thoroughly washed in warm water and dried. The greens are prepared, finely chopped, placed in containers that are hermetically sealed with a lid.
Some housewives use plastic bottles instead of containers. But they cannot be considered an equivalent replacement, because it is not easy to remove the contents from such containers.
Chopped dill in portion bags
The plants are finely chopped with or without stems, depending on the preferences for using dill. Chopped greens are put into bags in small portions.
When frozen food is removed from the freezer, it thaws quickly. If you defrost and open the bag repeatedly, the aroma will disappear.
It is recommended to prepare portion sizes that will be enough for 2-3 times.
Or use small bags for one use. The dill bags are rolled up and placed in the freezer.
Freezing greens in foil
After the plants are prepared for harvesting, they are not cut, but wrapped whole in foil. It is necessary to prepare such portions that there is enough dill for one seasoning of the dish. Before use, the package is unwrapped, the contents are thawed and cut. It is not worth freezing it this way many times.
In ice trays
You can freeze dill in the freezer with ice cubes without pre-drying. The whole process looks like this:
- Take a bunch of greens, wash them and immediately cut them.
- It is laid out into cells and compacted as much as possible.
- The contents are filled with cold boiled water.
- The forms with dill are placed in the freezer.
The cubes are frozen within 3-4 hours. The cells are then wrapped in bags to preserve the aroma. Or they take it out, pour it into thick plastic bags and put it back in the freezer. It is recommended to label the frosts, otherwise it will be difficult to determine the fine contents of the ice cubes later.
In oil or broth
To properly freeze dill with butter or broth, you need:
- finely chop the greens;
- mix with soft butter or broth;
- mix the mixture well;
- give the desired shape - sausage or briquette;
- put the greens in the freezer for 15 minutes;
- After hardening, transfer the dill into plastic bags and send for further storage.
Freezing greens is the best solution to provide yourself and your loved ones with fresh and healthy aromatic plants for the long winter. To do this, several methods are used to preserve all the vitamins. Which one to choose, each housewife decides independently.
