Content
- 1 Is it possible to freeze raw chanterelles for the winter?
- 2 What is the best way to freeze chanterelles - raw or boiled?
- 3 How to prepare chanterelles for freezing
- 4 How long to cook chanterelles before freezing for the winter
- 5 How to properly freeze chanterelle mushrooms for the winter
- 6 How to store chanterelles in the freezer
- 7 How long do chanterelles last in the freezer?
- 8 Conclusion
- 9 Reviews
Mushroom pickers often face the question of preserving the rich harvest collected in the summer. There are several ways to freeze chanterelles for the winter in the freezer, each of which has its own advantages and features. A properly frozen product retains most of its nutrients for many months.
Is it possible to freeze raw chanterelles for the winter?
Many mushroom pickers know about the unpleasant feature of this type of mushroom - they almost completely lose their great taste during such types of preparation as pickling or pickling. The only reasonable option for their use is direct fresh consumption. If the harvest turns out to be really rich, you can resort to freezing them. Freezing chanterelles for the winter allows you to use them to prepare a large number of complex recipes.
Most housewives recommend carrying out primary heat treatment of all collected mushrooms. So you can be sure of complete safety from their use. Along with cooking, toxins and harmful substances accumulated during the growth period are released from the fruiting bodies.
Chanterelles are considered one of the safest representatives of their kingdom. They are usually not subjected to heat treatment, but are immediately used in the preparation of various dishes. This feature allows you to freeze them directly fresh, without fear of further spoiling your health. In addition, freezing allows you to remove some of the harmful substances from the fruiting bodies.
What is the best way to freeze chanterelles - raw or boiled?
There are two most popular ways to freeze chanterelles - raw and boiled. Each of these methods has its pros and cons. When cooking chanterelles, you can completely protect yourself from toxic compounds entering the body. This processing method is most popular for mushrooms purchased on the local market from unverified mushroom pickers.
Freezing chanterelles for the winter at home guarantees complete preservation of the flavor and aromatic characteristics of the product. Another advantage when using this method is that vitamins and nutrients that are destroyed during treatment with boiling water will remain in the fruiting bodies. Also, chanterelles frozen for the winter without cooking are much more amenable to further defrosting without changing their consistency.
How to prepare chanterelles for freezing
A special feature of chanterelles is the need for prompt processing after collection.By their structure, chanterelles are quite fragile, so it is best to harvest them directly on the day of collection. It is best to avoid freezing purchased specimens due to uncertainty about the timing of their collection.
One of the main preparatory procedures before freezing is the primary processing and sorting of the harvested crop. It is necessary to remove specimens damaged by insects and other pests. The product must not contain traces of rot or mechanical damage. It is also not recommended to freeze mushrooms that are too old - it is best to use young specimens with a dense structure.
To remove small insects and particles of earth and sand accumulated between the plates, chanterelles are placed in lightly salted water. After that, they take them out and start cleaning. Use a sharp knife to remove contaminated areas of the stem and cap. The prepared product must be frozen as quickly as possible.
How long to cook chanterelles before freezing for the winter
If you have decided to cook mushrooms before freezing them further, it is important to approach this action as responsibly as possible. It is best to immerse the mushrooms immediately in boiling water to avoid longer overheating. To preserve the integrity of the mushrooms when stirring them in boiling water, you can place them in a deep colander, which is simply lowered into the pan.
The maximum cooking time for chanterelles is 10 minutes. If you boil them a little longer, they may completely lose their taste and aroma.If we take into account that freezing also takes away a small part of the taste and aroma characteristics of the product, then it is better to reduce the cooking time by half. The ideal option is no more than 5 minutes on high heat.
How to properly freeze chanterelle mushrooms for the winter
One of the features of chanterelles when frozen is that they retain a slight bitterness. Although this trait is more common in older specimens, it can be circumvented using a few clever tricks. The most effective method is to soak them for a long time in cold water. Every two hours, completely change the fluid.
In order for chanterelles to retain their taste, it is recommended to use the blast freezing method. For this purpose, a freezer is best suited, allowing you to set a fairly low temperature. The faster complete freezing occurs, the longer the product will have a shelf life.
How to freeze fresh chanterelles for the winter
This recipe for freezing chanterelles for the winter is one of the simplest and most frequently used. It is best to select small mushrooms to avoid possible bitterness. To freeze fresh chanterelles for the winter using this method, you should follow the following sequence:
- Pre-cleaned fruiting bodies are wiped with a towel and placed on a flat baking sheet, tray or large plate. It is important that the mushrooms do not overlap each other at the time of freezing.
- The freezer is set to the lowest possible temperature - it should not be higher than -24-26 degrees.
- The tray of mushrooms is placed in the freezer and frozen for 12-16 hours.
The finished frozen product is taken out of the chamber and packaged. To do this, you can use plastic containers or standard plastic bags. After this, the mushrooms are returned to the freezer. Its temperature is set to standard values.
How to freeze boiled chanterelles for the winter in the freezer
This freezing method is excellent for preparing medium and large specimens. During cooking, excess bitterness will come out of them. To cook chanterelles for freezing, they are first cleaned of dirt and washed under running water.
Pour water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Then add salt at the rate of 1 tsp. per 1 liter of liquid. The mushrooms are thrown into boiling water and boiled for 10 minutes, periodically removing the resulting scale. Cooking for longer before freezing can destroy the integrity of the chanterelles.
The boiled mushrooms are discarded in a colander, then wiped with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. After that, they are laid out on a tray or cutting board and sent to the freezer. Chanterelle mushrooms are frozen for 10 to 15 hours. After this, the finished product is laid out in bags or containers and sent for further storage.
How to freeze fried chanterelle mushrooms
To freeze fried chanterelles for the winter in the refrigerator, specimens of any size are suitable. They are cleaned of dirt, washed, placed on a hot frying pan and fried until golden brown. It is important that during the frying process as much water as possible comes out of them - this guarantees a longer shelf life. In this case, no pre-cooking is required.
Place the finished dish on a paper towel to remove large amounts of oil or fat. The cooled mushrooms are transferred to a jar or plastic container and placed in the freezer for further storage.
How to freeze chanterelle mushrooms along with broth for the winter
Freezing in the form of bouillon cubes is very convenient if the finished product will later be used as an addition to the preparation of soups or thick gravies. Primary preparation is similar to other recipes - it is necessary to remove dirt and damaged areas of the cap and legs. To freeze this dish you will need:
- 1 kg chanterelles;
- 1 liter of water;
- salt and pepper to taste;
- dill or parsley.
Add salt and ground pepper to boiling water, then lay out the chanterelles. Boil the mushrooms for 10 minutes with constant stirring and descaling. They are then drained into a colander, reserving the broth. Boiled chanterelles are placed in small containers, sprinkled with chopped herbs and poured with cooled broth. The containers are placed in the freezer. After complete freezing, the cubes are removed from the containers, put into bags and sent for further storage.
How to store chanterelles in the freezer
To preserve the shelf life of chanterelles frozen for the winter as much as possible, you must follow a few simple rules. The most important rule for long-term storage is maintaining the optimal temperature of the freezer. The temperature should not rise above 18 degrees - this can lead to damage to the fruiting bodies.
When storing chanterelles, it is important to keep the packaging sealed.The mushroom smell can permeate nearby foods, so it is important to seal containers or plastic bags tightly. If the freezer volume is large, it is best to allocate a separate shelf for them.
How long do chanterelles last in the freezer?
Freezing any product is a great way to extend its shelf life. Most mushroom preparations boast incredible shelf life in freezers. Some types can be stored for up to 2-3 years after freezing without losing either taste or mushroom aroma.
Freezing chanterelles cannot provide such a long shelf life. Despite fairly low temperatures, they lose their mushroom flavor over time. Reducing the temperature in the freezer does not increase shelf life. Chanterelles that are frozen fresh can be stored the longest - all winter or 6-7 months. Freezing and cooking promises a shelf life of 4-5 months, frying and preparing broth - 2-3 months.
Conclusion
Freezing chanterelles for the winter in the freezer is easy and simple. The preparation can retain nutrients, taste and mushroom aroma for a long time. A large number of freezing methods allows you to choose the most suitable option for each person.
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