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Freezing is an excellent way to store harvested crops for a long time. But it cannot be used for all vegetables. Therefore, it is necessary to figure out whether it is possible to freeze kohlrabi, because, as you know, this variety of cabbage does not have a high level of keeping quality. And even in a basement or cellar, it can only be stored for three months if the variety is chosen correctly. But kohlrabi is a source of vitamins and minerals that are so necessary for humans during the cold season.
Frozen kohlrabi retains most of the beneficial properties of fresh vegetables.
Is it possible to freeze kohlrabi for the winter?
This cabbage does not form heads of leaves like other types of crops. Its stem fruits have a dense consistency, round or oval-oblong. They can be eaten fresh and also used for preparing various dishes.
To preserve this healthy vegetable for as long as possible, you can freeze it. However, later the product is no longer suitable for fresh salads, as it loses its elasticity, but retains most of the useful components.Therefore, it can be added to first and second courses, and also used as a filling for pies.
Choosing cabbage for freezing
To successfully freeze kohlrabi cabbage for the winter, the degree of ripening of the vegetable and its variety are of no small importance. Stem fruits that reach a diameter of 8-10 cm are best stored. They have juicy pulp, which does not lose its consumer properties after defrosting. Moreover, the fruits should not have mechanical damage or signs of spoilage.
For freezing, it is recommended to give preference to varieties of medium and late ripening. Because, due to the long growing season, they accumulate a large number of beneficial components for human health.
The best varieties:
- Violet. A medium-ripening variety with moderately juicy pulp. The spherical fruits have a purple hue.
Violetta is suitable for all types of processing, including freezing
- Hummingbird F Hybrid of medium maturity. Characterized by juicy fruits with delicate sweetish pulp. The average weight is 300-400 g. When frozen, the vegetable retains its structure and taste.
Hummingbird F1 does not become fibrous even when stored fresh for a long time
- Alka. The fruits are dark purple in color, weighing up to 800 g. Their shape can be spherical or elongated. The variety is valued for its high taste and versatility of use.
Kohlrabi Alka belongs to the late types of culture
- Azur. This variety is distinguished by spherical stem fruits of a uniform purple hue. The growing season is 100 days. The variety is excellent for freezing.
A distinctive feature of the Azur variety is its crispy, sweetish pulp.
Preparing cabbage for freezing
Before freezing kohlrabi, you must first prepare the cabbage. This stage involves cutting and blanching the vegetable. But before this, the kohlrabi must be thoroughly washed and slightly dried.
Slicing
Stem fruits must be peeled from the outer rough skin before freezing. After this, cut them into cubes, strips, slices of various thicknesses and lengths, and also grate them in order to be able to use the product in different dishes.
Blanching
Kohlrabi is characterized by juicy pulp, and during the freezing process the vegetable can lose moisture, which negatively affects its taste and beneficial properties. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to pre-blanch the workpiece. This procedure helps preserve the consistency of the product, as well as the vitamins and minerals included in its composition.
Procedure:
- Fill an enamel pan with water and boil.
- Dip the chopped kohlrabi into it for 1-3 minutes, depending on the size of the workpiece.
- After the time has passed, drain the cabbage in a colander and immediately cool in cold water.
At the end of blanching, spread a towel on the table and sprinkle the kohlrabi on it in an even layer to dry. Let stand for an hour so that excess moisture evaporates and the workpiece cools completely.
Wet food should not be frozen, otherwise it will become icy.
Freezing kohlrabi for the winter at home
Only after preliminary preparation can you store vegetables. To do this, you need to first line the freezer drawer with cling film inside and place the chopped kohlrabi on it. To prevent different pieces from mixing with each other, you need to separate them with a wooden spatula. After 2-4 hours, take out the frozen pieces, place them in bags or containers and write the packing date and name on the package.
There is no need to pre-freeze grated kohlrabi on a tray. It is recommended to immediately put this product into bags and put it in the freezer.
Shelf life
You can store kohlrabi frozen when cutting the vegetable into strips, cubes, or slices for up to a year. The shelf life of the grated product is six months.
How to use
After freezing, kohlrabi is recommended to be used for preparing dishes that require heat treatment. Moreover, you can add the product without waiting for it to defrost. Simply pour the preparation into boiling water, broth or sauce along with other ingredients. And then follow all stages of preparation according to the recipe.
Conclusion
Knowing how to properly freeze kohlrabi, you can be sure that the vegetable will retain its beneficial properties over a long period of storage. After all, many housewives refuse to stock up on vegetables for future use due to its average shelf life. And thanks to freezing, this problem can be solved without much difficulty.
