Is it possible to keep dill fresh in the refrigerator and how to prepare it in other ways?

Dill is a versatile spice suitable for use in many dishes. To properly preserve dill for the winter, you should know some tricks. Do not forget that fresh herbs have a mild aroma, while dried herbs have a sharper aroma and are used mainly for first courses. In our article we will talk about different ways to store healthy spices.

If the dill harvest is successful, you need to think about its further storage

How to store longer without refrigeration?

Drying

One way to preserve dill for a long time is to dry it. Dry herbs are stored in glass or porcelain containers in a dry, dark place. You can store such preparations in the kitchen cabinet.

Advantages and disadvantages

The big advantage of dried seasoning is its long shelf life and better aroma retention. But every month the aroma becomes less pronounced.

This method is especially good if there is no freezer or there is little space in it. But it won't work if you don't have room to dry it.

How to dry it properly?

To better preserve the aroma, the spice is dried entirely. Then it is crushed.

There are several ways to dry dill:

• On air. The leaves are spread in a thin layer on a flat surface and mixed periodically. The main condition is the absence of direct sunlight.
• In the oven. The temperature should be less than forty degrees. The door is left ajar and drying is carried out for four hours. The dill is stirred periodically. It is advisable that the oven has a fan mode.
• In the microwave. The shoots are placed between napkins and dried at maximum temperature for about three minutes. If necessary, repeat the procedure.
• In an electric dryer. For three hours, the greens are dried in the grass mode. If there is no such mode, the temperature is set to about forty degrees and dried until ready.

How long does the quality last?

Dried dill can be stored for up to two years. After this period, the spice loses its quality.

How to use?

Dry dill is a universal spice. It combines with almost all products:

1. meat;
2. fish;
3. vegetables;
4. cottage cheese;
5. cheese;
6. eggs.

The spice is added to salads, first and second courses. This is an indispensable spice in the kitchen.

Help: adding dry dill to dishes makes them aromatic and enhances the taste.

What method of preparation will preserve the aroma?

Preparing dill in oil allows you to preserve the aroma and color of fresh herbs as much as possible. Which method of preparing for the winter will retain the most vitamins and beneficial properties? Why?

Dill in a jar contains the most vitamins. Under the influence of high and low temperatures, some vitamins and microelements are destroyed. Salt, sugar and vinegar also reduce the beneficial properties of the product.

Summary table of advantages and disadvantages of all storage methods.

All methods of preparing dill are good in their own way. Each housewife chooses the option that she likes most.

Methods for storing in the refrigerator without freezing

You can store fresh dill without resorting to emergency freezing or drying. If done correctly, the life of freshly picked dill can be extended to three weeks. Must be stored in the refrigerator.

Methods

• In polyethylene or container. Place unwashed but dried greens in a plastic bag or container. It is important to make small holes in the bag so that the greens can breathe and not rot. This dill will live for about two weeks. If you add half an onion to a bag of dill, this will extend the life of the herb for a few more days. Change onions every three to four days as needed. It is advisable to store the grass in a fresh area.
• In water. Place a fresh bunch of dill in a glass of water and cover with a plastic bag. It is also important here that the greenery breathes. To do this, you also need to make tiny holes in the polyethylene. Shelf life up to two weeks.
• In a paper towel. You can wrap the herb in a paper towel and place it on the refrigerator shelf. This will allow the paper to absorb excess moisture. With this storage method, this wonderful spice can remain fresh for up to two weeks.
• Vacuum packed. Lightly pour boiling water over the grass and drain the water. The greens are placed in a bag and vacuum sealed. Pros: This is the longest method for storing fresh herbs in the refrigerator. But the disadvantage is that it is not always possible to vacuum. This way the dill will stay fresh for about three weeks.

How reliable?

Of course, using the above methods it is impossible to preserve dill for the whole winter. But the greens remain in their original form for two to three weeks. The taste, smell and structure of the seasoning do not change.

Pickling

1. Wash the dill, dry and chop.
2. Sprinkle generously with salt and place in clean, dry jars.
3. Cover them tightly with a lid and store them in the refrigerator.

The main advantage of the pickling method is a longer storage time compared to the first two methods. Greens in this form remain edible for about eight to ten months.

But there is also a drawback - along with the seasoning, we consume quite a large amount of salt.

Dill prepared in this way can also be used in the preparation of first and second courses and salads. It’s just that such dishes don’t need to be salted at all or salted less.

Preparing green dill for winter storage

In order for aromatic herbs to be stored well, it must be properly prepared. And for this there are a few simple secrets:

1. It is better to store dry twigs (you can wash them later, before serving).
2. If you happen to buy washed dill (with still wet branches), you must first dry it with a towel.
3. Suitable “packaging” includes cling film (with holes), small bags, paper towels, and wet newspaper.
4. You cannot leave yellow twigs; you should remove them all, every single one.
5. If you follow all the rules, dill will remain fresh on the refrigerator shelf for 30 days.

See also

What diseases and pests of dill exist and how to deal with them, simple ways

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Freezing

This is the best method to keep dill fresh. Such blanks can be made in different ways. In all cases, the greens retain a unique summer aroma.

Whole bunches

Dry the washed branches and wrap in cling film. Store in the freezer so that they do not come into contact with other products.

Shredded

Chop clean dry herbs finely, as for decorating dishes. Grinding into crumbs is not necessary at all. Next, pack in bags or plastic containers. Now you can put it in the freezer.

In foil

Prepare greens as described above. Cut the foil into convenient pieces and make an envelope out of each. Then put the dill into these packages (2 - 3 teaspoons in each).

In an ice cube

Chop the green shoots with a knife. Take an ice cube tray and fill each cell with greens (more than half the cell's volume). Pour water on top. Place it in the freezer for the first time until the water completely hardens. Then put the cubes into any convenient container and put them back in the freezer.

Important! In the freezer, dill will retain its freshness for 6 to 8 months (that is, for 180-240 days).

Pickling

As you know, salt is one of the best natural preservatives. For a long time, greens will be perfectly stored in the form of a ready-made dressing for first and second courses. For this method, it is best to take young dill before flowering.

Preliminary preparation is the same: wash, dry, finely chop. The greens should be placed in a clean jar in layers, sprinkling each with salt. For 1 kilogram of green mass you will need 200 grams of salt. The greens are crushed in the jar until the juice appears. After about a couple of days, the workpiece will shrink. Then you need to add a new portion and close it with a plastic lid. This dressing should be stored on the top shelf of the refrigerator, directly under the freezer. In a private home it will be convenient to store it in the basement.

Drying

In warm home conditions, for example, in an apartment, it is better to store dill dried. Dehydration of greens can be done using different methods.

See also

Medicinal properties and contraindications of dried and fresh dill, its use in folk medicine

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Naturally

The day before harvesting, the dill must be watered. Also sprinkle the branches themselves with water to wash away excess dust and insects. You need to cut the greens in the morning, before they are scorched by the sun. Then rinse, dry with towels or napkins and leave for another couple of minutes until the moisture is completely removed.

Using threads or elastic bands, tie the dill into bunches (10-15 branches each). In sunny, dry weather, hang it outside. To protect against bugs, it is recommended to wrap each bunch in a paper bag with slits in the bottom. You can also dry it at home. Drying time – 2 weeks.

In the oven

Prepare the branches in the same way as for natural drying. Preheat the oven to approximately 43˚C (the temperature may be lower). Cover the sheet with parchment paper, spread in one layer and dry in the oven for 2 to 4 hours. If the oven is very hot, the door may not be closed completely. You need to watch the dill so that it doesn’t burn. If the greens crumble easily, they are already sufficiently dried.

Advice! You can also dry it using a microwave or dehydrator (the temperature is set according to the instructions).

Recommendations

• It is very important to select only healthy and fresh shoots for dill storage. Under no circumstances should dill be stored in which rotting processes are already visible along with other healthy plants.
• When storing, try to avoid excess moisture.
• Store greens in the refrigerator in a fresh zone from zero to two degrees Celsius.
• Wash the grass not before storing it, but only before using it.
• Dried dill is more flavorful than frozen dill. But not everyone has a suitable drying place.
• When quickly frozen, more vitamins remain.
• Storing in the refrigerator gives us fresh dill with unchanged structure, smell and taste. Although it is not as long as in the case of freezing or pickling.
• Salty spice lasts longer, but with dill like this we consume excess salt.

We looked at how you can preserve fresh herbs for a long time. With proper storage of dill and following all the rules, you can achieve not only long-term freshness, but also the preservation of all the beneficial properties of the seasoning. The main thing is to choose for yourself the most optimal storage method, according to your needs and capabilities.

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Preparatory stage

In order to preserve the aroma and natural taste of greens longer, it is important to properly prepare the harvest. Follow simple rules:

• carefully sort through the stems , removing spoiled and yellowed leaves;
• do not wash the branches if you are going to store the dill in the refrigerator;
• to remove dirt, simply shake off the greens or wipe them with a dry cloth ;
• -dry the wet dill by blotting it with a paper or waffle towel.

If you take these recommendations into account, fresh herbs will be prepared correctly and, under suitable conditions, stored for a month or longer. Depending on your needs, the grass can be placed in a plastic, cellophane or glass container. We will describe below what storage methods there are.

Useful tips

Any of the described methods of harvesting dill is not particularly complicated and is suitable even for those who are not used to drying or freezing herbs for the winter. True, even in this simple task there are several nuances, knowledge of which will help simplify the task as much as possible and eliminate the possibility of losing a large amount of nutrients or rapid withering of the green part of the dill.

In this case, the following precautions must be taken into account:

• cut dill branches should not be left in direct sunlight, the effect of which negatively affects the color saturation of the plant and contributes to its rapid drying out;
• When freezing dill, always dry the sprigs thoroughly, and if you decide to put the plant in the vegetable compartment, use plastic bags that preserve the natural aroma;
• It is advisable to store the seeds of the plant away from other spices or food preparations that can absorb their strong odor;
• You can also dry dill umbrellas in glass containers, where they will remain for further storage;
• If possible, avoid secondary freezing of dill, and if this does happen, make sure that when repeating the procedure, all the branches are dry and do not stick together into one lump.

Did you know? An ordinary onion will help preserve greens for a long time.
It is not difficult to prepare such a preparation, and all that is required of you is to place half of the cut fruit in a closed container with dill sprigs. No matter how you decide to prepare dill, in any case, with its help you can provide yourself with healthy herbs for a long time. The main thing is to check the condition of the workpiece in a timely manner and prevent it from becoming waterlogged or, especially, rotting.