Is it possible to freeze horseradish for the winter in the freezer: grated, ground, fresh?

Content

1 Is it possible to store horseradish root in the freezer?
2 Does horseradish lose its properties after freezing?
3 Selection and preparation of horseradish
4 How to freeze horseradish roots for the winter at home
5 Storage period and conditions
6 How to defrost correctly
7 Methods of application
8 Conclusion

It is better to freeze horseradish immediately after harvesting and cleaning. To do this, it is grated, cut into small cubes, or simply peeled and frozen whole. If stored in the freezer, it will last up to 12 months. You can keep it in a cellar at a temperature no higher than 0 °C, but then the period will be no more than four months.

Is it possible to store horseradish root in the freezer?

Horseradish is quite suitable for freezing. You can store it in the freezer for up to one year without worrying about its taste and nutrients. This method has several advantages:

the root vegetable remains fresh and aromatic;
it can be used to prepare any dishes;
defrosting is very simple, often not required;
vitamins and other valuable components are not destroyed;
there is no contact with air and light;
Even if you're short on space, you can save space by finely chopping or grating the rhizomes for freezing.

There are practically no disadvantages.Although, during slicing and especially chopping root vegetables for freezing, a large amount of caustic substances are released into the air. Therefore, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment (mask, goggles) and a tight bag.

Does horseradish lose its properties after freezing?

Horseradish does not lose any beneficial substances after freezing. This is one of the few root vegetables that can withstand even shock temperatures down to -90 degrees. Moreover, experienced housewives note that after freezing its taste becomes less pungent.

After defrosting at room temperature, horseradish retains all its beneficial qualities. It is used to prevent respiratory diseases, cancer pathologies, eliminate swelling, jaundice, headaches and many other health problems.

Selection and preparation of horseradish

Horseradish can be stored in the freezer throughout the winter. It is very important to choose the right root crop and prepare it for freezing. Choosing horseradish is quite simple - the root vegetables should be:

fresh;
elastic, without flabby parts;
without rotten areas;
no dark spots.

Young rhizomes aged 2-3 years should be used for freezing.

The foliage should also be fresh, pure green, firm and crisp. If there are signs of disease or pest infestation (for example, holes), it is better not to use such leaves.

Preparing horseradish for freezing for the winter is also simple. However, you will have to work hard to clean it. To do this, proceed as follows:

Root vegetables are washed under running water.
Place in cold water for 1-2 hours.
Then clean with a brush.
Take a sharp knife or a paring knife (vegetable peeler) and peel it so as to completely remove the rough skin.
Peeled horseradish should be immediately frozen for the winter.If this cannot be done, you can put it in a bowl of cold water and add ice cubes, then dry it with a towel. This will not only preserve the aroma of the product, but also its beneficial substances, which can be destroyed by contact with air.

Advice! For freezing, it is better to take young root vegetables. And not the first year, but better the second or third.

At this age, they have a very pleasant taste and are large enough to be convenient to work with.

How to freeze horseradish roots for the winter at home

There are several ways to freeze horseradish for storage in the freezer. The easiest option is to peel the root vegetable and freeze it whole. It can also be cut into equal pieces or grated. Each option is described in detail below.

Entirely

Freezing whole is the easiest way. You need to do this:

Prepare the horseradish by letting it sit in water.
Clean thoroughly with a sharp knife.
If the rhizomes are thin and small, you just need to scrape them off the dirt without peeling them.
Then place the horseradish in ziplock bags to freeze. You can also use small containers with an airtight lid.
Place in the freezer for storage.

Pieces

If you don’t have a lot of space, you can cut the horseradish into pieces for freezing. The sequence of actions is as follows:

Prepare root vegetables, wash and peel.
Cut the roots into small cubes 1-1.5 cm wide.
Place in a single layer on a tray or flat dish and freeze, keeping in the freezer for 2-4 hours.
Then remove and place in sealed bags for storage. This is done so that the cubes do not stick together.
Place the bags in the freezer for long-term storage.

If you cut the rhizomes into pieces, you can save a lot of space in the freezer.

Freezing grated horseradish

You can also freeze grated horseradish. This is much simpler and saves space. The instructions are:

Prepare the root vegetables, rinse and peel with a knife.
Grind on a coarse grater (if on a fine grater, there will be too much juice). You can also use a blender or meat grinder.
Place into bags.
Carefully level with a spoon, spreading into one layer.
Place in the freezer to freeze.

To freeze grated horseradish deliciously, you can add lemon juice and grated apple (preferably green). Then you get a ready-made snack that can be used as a sauce for salads or meat dishes.

Important! If you finely grate horseradish, it is important to work in a respirator and goggles, and to put a tight bag over the meat grinder. Otherwise, the pungent odor may corrode the mucous membrane of the eyes.

Freezing horseradish leaves for the winter

Horseradish greens, unlike root vegetables, are not so hot and caustic. But it has a pleasant aroma and enriches the taste of first courses, soups, meats, marinades, as well as vegetable side dishes. Therefore, you can freeze the leaves for the winter. You should proceed in this way:

Collect healthy foliage without spots or damage.
Rinse thoroughly and dry.
Place in stacks in bags without cutting.
Deflate as much as possible and pack.
Place in the freezer.

Important! If you need to use leaves after freezing in soups, you do not need to defrost them first. You can immediately put it in cold or hot water and cook until fully cooked.

Storage period and conditions

It is important to know not only how to freeze horseradish, but also how to store it in the freezer.The timing is the same, regardless of what is frozen (leaves, roots) and how (whole, chopped or grated):

The temperature in the freezer should be stably maintained no higher than -18 degrees. Under such conditions, the maximum shelf life at the frozen stage is 10-12 months.
It can also be stored at a temperature of -5 degrees. Then the maximum period will be six months.
If kept at 0 degrees, it can be stored for no more than four months.

How to defrost correctly

No pre-defrosting required. The roots are placed in a blender and ground, and then used, for example, to make a dressing or sauce. As for the foliage, it can be put in soup and boiled or stewed.

Sometimes it happens that the blender cannot cope with dry roots. Then you need to cut them smaller and add 2 tbsp. l. ketchup. If the horseradish is too large, you can let it sit for several hours at room temperature. However, you should not use a microwave or other methods of accelerated defrosting.

You can defrost root vegetables at room temperature.

Important! The product cannot be re-frozen. Therefore, it is important to take leaves and roots only in quantities that can realistically be consumed at one time.

When preparing horseradish, it is placed in small bags so as not to take a large batch at once.

Methods of application

Both after freezing and fresh, horseradish is used to prepare various dishes. It is used in folk medicine as a treatment and even in cosmetology.

In cooking

Root vegetables, fresh and after freezing, can be used to prepare various dishes and drinks:

gravies for fish and meat;
cold soups – okroshka, botvinya;
spicy snacks for meat dishes;
marinades for pickles;
fresh for salads;
sauces with berries, sour cream, mayonnaise, herbs;
alcoholic drinks (hrenovukha).

In folk medicine

Also, after freezing, horseradish can be used as an additional treatment for a number of pathologies:

colds, flu;
dropsy, swelling;
gastritis with low acidity;
atherosclerosis;
urolithiasis disease;
malaria;
high blood pressure;
problems with male potency;
menstrual irregularities;
fistulas;
toothache;
hoarse voice.

For treatment, decoctions, infusions or tinctures of horseradish are prepared. For example, they take chopped root vegetables after freezing (you can also use them fresh) and grind them on a grater or in a blender. Pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 24 hours under the lid. Take a tablespoon three times a day a few minutes before meals. The course lasts up to 7-10 days.

In cosmetology

After freezing, root vegetables can also be used for cosmetic purposes, for example, to eliminate freckles and other pigmentation. Take the roots, grind them in a blender, measure out 10 g of pulp. Pour 500 ml of 9% vinegar and leave in the refrigerator for two weeks.

Strain and dissolve 2 tbsp. l. infusion in 100 g of cool water. Then moisten a cotton swab and wipe the skin of the face. This infusion can be used to remove freckles.

The root vegetable is effective in the treatment of age spots

Conclusion

Freezing horseradish is quite simple. If there is enough space, the root vegetables are simply peeled, placed in bags or containers and put in the freezer. If there is not much space, then it is easier to cut the roots into small cubes or grate them. At a temperature not higher than -18 degrees, freezing can be kept for up to one year.