Is it possible and how to dry horseradish at home for the winter?

You can dry horseradish at home either in the fresh air under a canopy or in an oven or special dryer. Root vegetables are selected, peeled and cut into small pieces. After drying, they are stored at room temperature in a dry place for 1.5-2 years.

Is it possible to dry horseradish root?

Drying horseradish can be done at home, since it does not require special equipment. There are several ways:

• place root vegetables outdoors;
• use the oven;
• process in the dryer.

Drying is carried out at a low temperature in the range of 45-60 degrees. If you use household appliances, it will only take 5-6 hours. In the fresh air the process takes longer and takes a week. After drying, horseradish retains all its beneficial substances. Therefore, it can be used both in cooking and in folk medicine.

Root selection and preparation

Before you start drying horseradish, you need to properly prepare it. Young rhizomes of plants aged 2-3 years are suitable for collection. They can be collected in the summer, but it is better in September, when the root vegetables have the most pungent taste and rich aroma. Sometimes the leaves are also dried.In this case, they are collected even before the formation of flower stalks, i.e. in the first half of summer.

Before digging up the roots, you need to step back 10 cm from the center and pry the plant with a shovel or pitchfork. Then the rhizome is carefully pulled out and shaken off the soil. The leaves are cut off - they can be dried separately, and also used for pickles and pickling.

When choosing roots, it is important to ensure that they are:

• intact, without damage;
• fresh;
• completely elastic;
• without rot;
• no darkened areas.

For drying, take young horseradish roots at the age of 2-3 years.

Particular attention is paid to preparing rhizomes for drying. It is recommended to act like this:

1. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
2. Let sit in the cold liquid for several hours to several days.
3. Clean with a sharp knife, housekeeper or steel wool, brush.
4. Rinse again and let it sit for a while, then start drying.

How to dry horseradish roots at home

Drying horseradish can be done in different ways. One common option is to simply leave it to sit outdoors for a few days. You can also use household appliances - an oven and an electric dryer. Step-by-step instructions for each method are described below.

On air

This is the longest drying method, but it is the safest and simplest, since it does not involve the use of special equipment and temperature treatment. Drying is carried out under a canopy in dry and warm weather. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Cover the surface with a clean cloth or paper. You can install pallets and also cover them with cloth.
2. Pre-washed rhizomes are cut into thin strips and cubes. They can be grated, but then a lot of caustic substances will get into the air.
3. Spread evenly over the surface in one layer.
4. Wait 5 to 8 days until completely dry. If the horseradish is finely chopped and the weather is good, drying will only take 3-4 days.

In the oven

At home, you can dry horseradish root in the oven, in which you should set a low temperature in the range of 50-70 degrees. The instructions are:

1. Prepare horseradish roots. Grate or cut into small strips with a side of 1.5 cm.
2. Pre-turn on the oven for drying, setting the temperature to 60 degrees.
3. Place the parchment on a baking sheet.
4. Spread the prepared horseradish in one layer.
5. Do not close the door - leave a gap of 5-7 cm.
6. Dry for 1.5 hours, then turn off the oven and let it cool completely.
7. Rotate the baking sheet 180 degrees.
8. Turn it back on at 60-65 degrees and dry for 1.5 hours (with the door open).

Leave the door ajar during drying.

Drying horseradish in an electric dryer

Drying horseradish at home can also be done using a dehydrator or electric dryer. You should proceed like this:

1. Prepare horseradish for drying by peeling and cutting into small pieces or grating.
2. Turn on the device in the “Vegetables” or “Greens” mode, or set the temperature manually in the range of 45-55 degrees.
3. Place the root vegetables in one layer on a tray and dry for 2-2.5 hours.
4. Once in the middle of the process, the grates should be swapped.
5. After this, turn off the dryer and cool it completely.

Checking readiness

Check readiness only after drying has completely stopped, when the root vegetables have cooled down and reached room temperature.They are carefully inspected - the color of the product should not change much compared to the natural one.

You also need to do a simple test: take a longitudinal piece and bend it in half. If it bends well, it means there is still moisture left; you need to dry it for another 30-40 minutes. If it breaks with a characteristic sound, it means that the remaining pieces are already ready. Another option is to try grating horseradish. If it crumbles well and does not give any moisture, then the drying went well.

Terms and conditions of storage

After drying, the horseradish is allowed to sit until it cools completely and placed in airtight containers, for example, glass jars with tight lids. There is no need to sterilize them - just rinse them well and dry them thoroughly (you can use the oven to speed up the process).

After drying, horseradish is stored for 1.5-2 years. The place should be dry and dark, without direct sunlight. Can be kept at room temperature. It is not advisable to put it in the refrigerator or cellar, as there may be high humidity there.

Uses of dried horseradish

Drying horseradish for the winter is a simple process. Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to preserve not only the taste and aroma, but also a significant part of the nutrients, including vitamins.

Soups with dried horseradish have a special taste and aroma

In cooking

Both fresh and dried root vegetables are used in various dishes, for example:

• soup;
• sauce for fish, meat;
• aspic;
• salting, pickling;
• porridge;
• beverages.

After drying, root vegetables can be used to prepare horseradish - a strong alcoholic drink with a pungent taste and characteristic aroma. You will need the following products:

• dried root – 100 g;
• liquid honey, or linden honey – 4 tsp;
• vodka – 1 l (can be replaced with moonshine);
• freshly squeezed lemon juice – 2 tbsp. l.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Place dried horseradish in a jar and add honey.
2. Get lemon juice and add it there.
3. Pour in a small amount of vodka and mix thoroughly.
4. After the honey has completely dissolved, add the rest of the volume and mix again.
5. Leave in the dark for 7-10 days.
6. Strain through a sieve until the liquid becomes completely clear.
7. Pour into another bottle and let stand in the dark for another 2-3 days.

After drying, horseradish can also be used to make soups, for example, lean soup with beets. To do this, take the following products:

• onion – 1 pc.;
• celery stalk – 3 pcs.;
• garlic – 2 cloves;
• beets – 3-4 pcs.;
• lemon juice – 3 tbsp. l.;
• sour cream – 1.5 cans (100 g);
• horseradish after drying (powder) – 60 g;
• Sunflower oil – 3 tbsp. l.;
• sugar – 1 tbsp. l.;
• salt – 1 tsp;
• black pepper (powder) – a pinch;
• coriander – 2 tsp.

To prepare the soup, you need to do this:

1. Mix horseradish after drying and sour cream.
2. Cover with film and let stand in the refrigerator.
3. Fry chopped onion and celery in oil.
4. Chop the garlic and add to the vegetables, fry for another 5 minutes.
5. Cut the beets into small cubes and pour 2 liters of water.
6. Boil. After this, cook over low heat for an hour until the beets soften.
7. Add salt and spices.

In folk medicine

Horseradish has long been used to treat various diseases, as it is known for its medicinal properties. Consumption of plant rhizomes contributes to:

• strengthening potency;
• increased blood flow;
• cancer prevention;
• restoration of immunity.

Horseradish is an anti-inflammatory agent that can destroy pathogenic bacteria.The plant is effective in treating abrasions, bruises and other skin injuries. It has warming properties, so it is used for rheumatism, sciatica, and neuralgia.

Tinctures and decoctions are prepared from dried horseradish

For treatment, you can use both fresh root vegetables and processed ones (after drying). A water or alcohol infusion is prepared from them. In the first case, they act like this:

1. Take 2 tbsp. l. raw materials.
2. Pour 500 ml of boiling water.
3. Insist for a day under the lid.
4. Take 1 tbsp. three times a day before meals.
5. The course of treatment is one week.

You can also prepare a beer tincture:

1. Take 100 g of dried roots.
2. Pour 500 ml of beer of any kind.
3. Leave for a week in a dark place.
4. Take 1-2 tbsp. l. before eating. This remedy is used to treat diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion

Drying horseradish at home is quite simple. Along with freezing, this method allows you to preserve both taste and aroma, as well as nutrients, to the maximum. The easiest way is to chop the root vegetables in advance to make drying faster. The powder can be used as a seasoning or ingredient for various dishes.

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