Harvesting fern for the winter at home

In order to properly prepare the fern for the winter, it is worth considering one feature of the plant: the fern is stored fresh for no more than 2-3 days. Then it becomes unusable. That is why preparations must be carried out quickly.

Harvesting ferns at home

At home, the plant can:

• salt;
• marinate;
• dry;
• freeze.

Each type of fern preparation for the winter has its own characteristics. And with regards to use in food, then any option is quite acceptable for the first, second courses and salads.

How to dry fern for the winter

Dried fern shoots are a convenient option for harvesting for the winter, especially since all useful qualities are preserved. It is worth noting that the selection of raw materials, its preparation must be taken responsibly, otherwise the product will be unsuitable.

Preparation of raw materials

For drying choose young and fleshy shoots without spots. The length of the petiole should not be more than 20 cm. It is not recommended to dry the raw fern without prior preparation, as the finished product will be very bitter. In addition, the raw product is poisonous.

That is why they put a pan with a lot of water on the stove, add some salt. Stems are placed in warm water and boiled for no more than 8 minutes. This procedure will remove bitterness. If boiling does not start at 9 minutes, the pan still needs to be removed from the heat and the contents removed.

Boiled shoots are laid out in a colander, doused with cold water to stop the softening process. Drying can be started after water has drained from the petioles. But the Koreans and the Chinese do not boil the petioles, but simply lower them for 2-3 minutes in boiling water.

Where and how to dry

Drying time will depend on the method chosen. This can be done naturally or using an electric dryer. Each of the methods has its pros and cons, so the choice will depend on the hostess.

Natural drying

The normal appearance of dried petioles in natural conditions can be obtained in 3-5 days. You can dry it in the attic or window. It is important that the room is well ventilated, but the sun’s rays should not fall on the workpiece.

Drying is carried out as follows:

1. Heat-treated petioles are dried and cooled.
2. Then you need to lay craft paper, linen or fine mesh. Lay the workpiece on this substrate and place it in a suitable place.
3. From time to time, the stems are turned over so that drying takes place evenly.

When harvesting a fern, the stems should not be dried out, as this will make them brittle and will not store well.

Drying in an electric dryer

Modern housewives use an electric dryer to prepare dried ferns. This kitchen equipment allows you to get the product faster than in the air.

Before drying, the stems are boiled, then cooled in a colander or sieve. When the water drains, you need to lay out the workpiece on a special pallet and place it in the dryer. The product is dried at a temperature of 50 degrees for at least 5-6 hours (the time depends on the thickness of the stems).

While the plant is in the dryer, you need to check the condition of the petioles from time to time so as not to overdry. As with drying in natural conditions, the petioles cooked in the dryer are folded into linen bags and hung in a dry and dark, well-ventilated area so that they reach the condition.

Determination of the product for readiness

So that the product does not deteriorate during storage by the prepared drying method, you need to pay attention to such factors:

• properly harvested stems have a pleasant smell;
• stems can be light brown or dark brown with a hint of green;
• when touched – elastic and dry.

How to store dried fern

You can save the prepared petioles in rooms with any humidity, only the method will be different:

1. In a dry place, where the humidity does not exceed 70%, the stems are folded into cloth bags, cardboard boxes, kraft paper bags.
2. If the humidity is high and there is no other room, the dried fern should be put in glass jars or food-grade plastic containers and closed tightly so that no air enters.

What can be cooked from dried ferns

The Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, as well as residents of the Far East harvest fern in large quantities in various ways, including drying. According to lovers of this plant, dried shoots have a better taste compared to the salted version. In this product, useful and taste qualities are preserved during storage.

If there is a desire to cook something from dried fern, it must first be soaked in water for 12 hours, changing the liquid several times. Then recline in a colander or sieve, put in boiling water and boil for 1-2 minutes or just pour boiling water over it.

This completes the preliminary preparation of the fern, you can start cooking your favorite dishes.

There are a lot of recipes for various dishes with ferns. You can cook soups with potatoes and vegetables, stew stalks with beef, chicken and pork. And how many delicious salads are obtained with a fern! Various vegetables, onions, sesame seeds, rice, eggs are added to these dishes.

Is it possible to freeze ferns

A young fern collected on its own or bought on the market can not only be dried for the winter, but also frozen in the refrigerator, like ordinary greens.

Of course, there are special nuances that you should pay attention to:

1. First, the for freezing, stems are used that have been stored fresh for no more than 2 days.
2. Second, the it is impossible to thaw and freeze the fern again, it will become unusable.
3. Third, for freezing, small bags are used, in which the stems are laid out for one cooking.

Preparing ferns for freezing

Before sending the stems to the freezer, they must be specially prepared to maintain the quality of the product:

1. The stems are sorted out, any suspicious ones are removed. Washed in several waters.
2. Each petiole is cut into 3 parts and boiled for 5 minutes in boiling salted water. Cooking longer is not recommended, as the fern will become very soft, begin to delaminate, and will not be suitable for freezing.
3. During the boil, you need to remove the foam. Remove the stems with a slotted spoon to a sieve or colander and leave there until all the water has drained so that the petioles cool and dry.

How to freeze properly

You can prepare a fern for the winter according to different recipes:

1. Tie dried stems into small bundles and spread in one layer on a sheet, put in the freezer. When the stems are ready, arrange it in portioned bags or plastic containers.
2. If there is no time, then you can lay out portions immediately in plastic bags. It is best to take special packages for freezing. After the portion is laid out in the bag, you need to squeeze out the air as much as possible and tie it tightly.

When the workpiece freezes well, small bags are folded into a container and put into a separate freezer box.

Freezing fresh stems is not recommended because:

• they are poisonous;
• will be bitter;
• will be slippery after defrosting.

Is it possible to freeze salted fern

Salted petioles of the plant can be purchased at the store, they are sold in plastic containers. Unfortunately, for 1 time it is not always possible to use all the stems. You can store an open jar in the refrigerator for a short time. Therefore, salted fern can be frozen. The taste will not change and the salty product does not freeze much.

How to store and defrost

Frozen plants in the freezer at -18 degrees can be stored for up to 2 years. It is not necessary to take out packages unnecessarily.

Before cooking, the petioles are removed from the chamber. If you need to cook the first or second hot dish, then the stems can not be thawed, but immediately put in a saucepan.

For salads, frozen petioles are slightly thawed, then boiled for 1-2 minutes in boiling water. The cooled stems are used for cooking.

What can be cooked from frozen ferns

From frozen fern, as well as from dried, salted and pickled, you can cook first, second courses, salads. There are many recipes, they are suitable for any blanks.

Conclusion

Preparing a fern for the winter is easy. Dried and frozen petioles are a great option to diversify the family’s diet with delicious and healthy dishes.