Is it possible to freeze garlic arrows?

Summer is the right time for harvesting, because everything that grows on the site is used. An excellent solution would be not to throw it away, but to freeze the garlic arrows, which can be found in almost every garden. This action does not require much effort and time, and the benefits from it in winter will be enormous.

Terms and rules of collection

Shooting is a natural process for this culture. This is necessary for seed formation. If this is not necessary, then you should not wait for them to grow. The plant spends a lot of energy on this, and if they are not removed, the heads will be smaller. The arrows do not have to be thrown away. They can be frozen and used for eating.

You need to collect young shoots while the buds have not yet opened. The best time for this is mid to late June. You need to cut fairly short and thin shoots. Those that break in your hands are ideal for freezing.

Attention! It is best if the shoots have not yet had time to harden.

Before freezing, it is worth removing all yellowed parts of the shoots.

Is it possible to freeze garlic arrows?

There are different options for using garlic arrows. They are stewed, pickled, fried.In addition, garlic arrows can be frozen for the winter. This is the easiest and fastest option. They can be added to soups, side dishes, and various dishes. In addition, they are very tasty simply fried.

Preparing for freezing

The first thing to do before freezing the arrows is to prepare them. To begin with, it is worth cutting off the top part, where the unopened buds are located. You won't need them, so you can throw them away right away.

Place the arrows in a large bowl and rinse thoroughly. There should be no dust, soil or other debris left on them. Shake off the water from clean shoots and lay them out on a horizontal surface to dry. Excess moisture can be removed with paper towels.

After this, the dried garlic arrows need to be sorted out. Overgrown and hard stems are not suitable for freezing. Such parts should be cut off and discarded. It is easy to determine whether the arrow can be frozen by bending it. If it bends along its entire length without any problems, then it can be used. If it begins to break, then this area is too hard and should not be frozen.

Methods for freezing garlic arrows

There are different recipes for freezing garlic arrows for the winter. Finding the most suitable method for yourself will not be difficult.

Easy way

To freeze the arrows, you need to cut them into 2-3 parts; they should not be too long. After that, put them in a container with a lid and close. You can use a plastic bag. You need to let the air out of it and tie it well. After this you can freeze them.

Attention! To prevent the freezer and other products from becoming saturated with the smell of garlic, it is recommended to use tight containers with lids.When storing in bags, it is best to wrap them in several pieces and tie them tightly.

With greens

Garlic can be frozen with other herbs. To do this, you will need to take an arbitrary number of arrows, dill and parsley. The cooking process consists of the following steps:

  1. Wash and dry parsley and dill. Cut into small pieces.
  2. Chop clean garlic arrows in the same way.
  3. Mix both masses. Grind thoroughly again.
  4. Pour the green mass into a container or bag. Cover securely and place in the freezer.

If desired, can be frozen in cube form. To do this, place the greens in ice trays and add a small amount of water. Place in the freezer. After the water turns into ice, you need to remove the cubes and put them in a bag. Now you can put it in the freezer for storage. This option is more convenient because you can immediately take the required amount of garlic and add it to the dish.

If you freeze in portions, the greens will not defrost too quickly.

With butter

Garlic arrows can be frozen with butter or olive oil. To do this you need to take any quantity:

  • garlic shoots;
  • soft butter or olive oil.

The freezing process consists of the following steps:

  1. The greens must be finely chopped.
  2. Grind it in a blender until smooth.
  3. Transfer this mass into a deep bowl.
  4. Add soft (but not melted) butter or olive oil to it. Mix well until smooth.
  5. Place in small silicone molds and cover with cling film on top. Place in the freezer to harden for a couple of hours.

After they harden, they need to be taken out and carefully removed from the mold.The resulting garlic cubes must be placed in an airtight bag or container and placed in the freezer for further storage.

Sliced

Another simple way to freeze. For this you will need washed and dried garlic arrows. The freezing process consists of the following steps:

  1. Cut the garlic arrows into small pieces. Approximately 3-4 cm.
  2. Place them in a plastic bag or container with a lid. Close tightly.

The garlic arrows are ready, all you have to do is place them in the freezer. The smaller the pieces are cut, the more convenient they are to use.

Paste

You can make a delicious garlic paste from the arrows. It is used both as a spread on bread and as a seasoning for fish and meat dishes. For this you need to take:

  • garlic arrows – 1 kg;
  • salt – 3 tsp;
  • sunflower oil – 6 tbsp. l.

The cooking process consists of the following steps:

  1. Cut clean garlic arrows into small pieces.
  2. Pass them through a meat grinder. Repeat this action several times until the arrows acquire a paste-like state.
  3. Add salt and sunflower oil to the greens. Mix the resulting mass thoroughly.
  4. Divide the paste into plastic bags, jars or containers and close.

All that remains is to place it in the freezer for storage.

Through a meat grinder

You can freeze garlic arrows in the freezer after passing them through a meat grinder. The cooking process consists of the following steps:

  1. Cut the washed and dried garlic arrows into arbitrary pieces.
  2. Pass them through a meat grinder. For a more uniform consistency, you can repeat these steps several times. Cover the table with cling film. Spread the garlic mass on it.Form a wide strip from the crushed arrows.
  3. Roll the film. It should look like a sausage. Tie its edges with thread.

Additionally, place the garlic sausage in a plastic bag to prevent the smell from spreading throughout the freezer. It's good to tie it. Now you can place the garlic arrows in the freezer for storage.

Shelf life

Frozen garlic arrows have a long shelf life. So, in their pure form, without any additives, they can remain in the freezer for eight months. If garlic arrows were mixed with olive or butter, then their shelf life is reduced to six months.

They should be in the freezer. Garlic arrows should be stored at a temperature of about -18 OC. Re-freezing of the product is not allowed. In this case, the greens may acquire a dark shade and the taste will deteriorate.

Advice! When freezing, it is worth indicating the date on the bag or container. This will help you avoid consuming a low-quality product.

How to defrost

To use garlic stock, it is not necessary to defrost it. You can immediately take pieces or cubes and add them to the dish.

You can defrost them before cooking. To do this, you need to take the required amount out of the freezer, put it in a bowl and wait a while. After this, they can be added to dishes. The big advantage of frozen garlic arrows is that after defrosting they do not lose their shape and do not turn into porridge. They remain quite elastic and dense, almost the same as they were when cut.

Application

Frozen garlic shoots have a wide range of applications. If there are no cloves, they can easily replace them.At the same time, the dish will not lose its taste. Garlic greens, chopped into pieces, work well to add to stews. It can be added when stewing and frying meat, poultry or fish.

The arrows, crushed to a mushy state, can be used in preparing first courses. In addition, they can be added to various side dishes. Chopped frozen garlic will be an excellent addition to potatoes, rice, buckwheat, stewed vegetables and other dishes. It needs to be added to a saucepan or frying pan a few minutes before it is ready and let it brew a little under the lid.

The crushed mass without adding oil is excellent for preparing various garlic baked goods. It can be added to donuts, buns, and bread. Garlic pulp with added oil can be used as a spread. To do this, you need to take it out of the freezer and defrost it. After it becomes soft, it can be spread on bread.

Attention! The main advantage of garlic shoots is that when frozen they retain all their beneficial properties. They contain a high content of vitamin C and many microelements necessary for the body.

Conclusion

Freezing garlic arrows means providing yourself with a tasty and aromatic addition to many dishes for the winter. They can be used in soups, side dishes, baked goods, or fried or stewed on their own. A wide variety of ways to freeze will allow you to choose an option for any occasion.

Comments
  1. Thank you, the article is good, I took note. I’ve been freezing arrows for about 8 years now, but some of the tips are new.

    12/07/2023 at 03:12
    Olga
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