How to preserve lettuce for the winter: secrets and recipes

Green leafy salads are rich in vitamins and folic acid; doctors recommend including them in the diet in winter to support immunity.

Since the shelf life of lettuce leaves is short, the product is prepared for future use. Some methods will significantly extend the freshness of vegetables and they do not lose nutrients.

There are three ways to preserve lettuce for the winter. Let's talk about all of them in order.

❄ Freezing lettuce leaves

Most leaves can be stored in the freezer. To preserve the quality and appearance of the product when frozen, there are rules.

The preparation process is simple and includes several mandatory steps:

At the first stage, you should thoroughly rinse all leaves from dirt and clean them.
The second stage is blanching. To do this, you will need to pour boiling water over the vegetables or immerse them in boiling water for 1 minute. After this, they are transferred to a container of ice water to stop the cooking.
The next step is drying. Leaves must be completely dry before freezing. It is recommended to place them on paper towels or a clean napkin and wait until completely dry.
After this, the vegetables are placed in sealed bags or plastic containers and sent to the freezer.

You need to defrost the number of leaves that you need for cooking. Their delicate texture is not suitable for re-freezing.

Instead of storing whole leaves, they are pureed, poured into molds and frozen. This method is good for soft vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, basil, etc.

Video advice on how to properly freeze lettuce leaves

How to keep leaf lettuce and watercress fresh for the winter?

fresh watercress grown in the ground in winter
Taking into account the fact that these types of salads are not intended for long-term storage, you will have to periodically sow them in pots on the windowsill.

To make green and watercress leaves delight you in their fresh form, proceed as follows:

store in the refrigerator for 7-10 days
freeze on its own or mixed with other herbs, for example, cilantro, basil - for a period of 1 month to 3

In the first case, use the product either without washing or after completely drying.

Acceptable means for storing lettuce in the refrigerator are:

foil
cling film and trays
plastic containers and bags
container with water
polyethylene with perforation
glass containers with lids

Watercress is perfectly stored in any edible oil.

To freeze lettuce leaves, choose:

plastic containers/bags
combination with other greens, folded under cling film on a paper napkin in a tray.

However, the ideal option for those who like to eat green salad all year round is to regularly germinate its seeds in wet cotton wool/soil on the windowsill.

So, we looked at the features of storing and preparing green and watercress leaves for the winter. We've added to our collection of home-canning recipes.

Choose the best way for you to store lettuce and delight your family and friends with savory dishes using it.

Marinating salad

Another common storage method is pickling.

✍ For one serving you will need the following ingredients:

Lettuce leaves – 2-3 bunches;
Garlic - to taste;
Citric acid – 1 tsp;
Sugar – 1.5-2 tbsp. l.;
Salt – 1 tbsp. l.;
Water – 1 l.

See also: What kind of yogurt to dress a salad with?
Salads with yogurt dressings Preparation steps:

At the first stage, you will need to wash and sterilize the canning jars and lids. The easiest way is to place them in a cold oven and gradually increase the temperature.
After the container has cooled, pre-prepared and chopped salad is placed into it in layers.
It is recommended to place chopped garlic cloves and a mixture of peppers between the vegetables.
For the marinade, salt, sugar, vinegar or citric acid are diluted in water.
Pour vegetables over them and place a press on them. Wait until it cools down completely.
Place in the pantry, away from direct sunlight, or in the refrigerator.

To add additional taste, dill, parsley and spices are added to the jars.

Freezing in crushed form

This freezing method uses ice cube trays. The salad prepared in the manner described above is chopped and, if desired, mixed with other chopped herbs (parsley, dill, basil, cilantro, etc.). Place in molds, freeze for 2 hours, then remove, pack in plastic bags and return to the freezer.

The resulting cubes are easy to use because they are divided into portions. They can be stored until the next harvest.

Vegetable stew

Drying leaves

A simple method of storing greens is drying. Dehydration is carried out both in special devices and in the open air.

Process:

To begin with, select a quality product.
Roots and rough branches are cut off from suitable leaves.
Rinse the greens thoroughly under running water.
Drain the liquid and place the leaves on a paper or cloth towel until completely dry.
The next step is drying. If there is no dehydrator, use the oven or place the vegetables on a flat surface, cover with gauze and leave them in the shade with access to fresh air.
After drying, it is recommended to store it in airtight glass containers or paper bags.

It is better to take young, tender leaves. They will retain the taste without adding bitterness.

Preparing greens for storage

Before processing lettuce leaves for storage, they must be washed and dried thoroughly:

The leaves are sorted, removing roots and rotten parts with a plastic knife.
Place in a spacious container and fill with cool water.
Rinse thoroughly.
If necessary, change the water several times (greens usually have a lot of sand and earthen dust).

The second important point in the preparatory work is blanching the leaves (short-term temperature treatment):

Pour boiling water over the salad in a bowl.
After a minute, the water is drained.
The greens are poured with ice-cold clean water.

Blanching preserves the healthy vitamin and mineral complex in the salad, as well as its elegant bright green color.

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Then the greens are placed in a colander or large sieve. When the water stops draining, the leaves are laid out on clean kitchen towels (cloth, paper). For good drying, the greens are not placed in a bunch, but each leaf separately.

It is not recommended to cut or chop the salad using metal - an ordinary kitchen knife, blender or meat grinder. Upon contact with metal, an oxidation process occurs, which worsens the taste of the greens.

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Types of lettuce leaves and their characteristics

Name	Characteristics	Taste
lettuce	Has many varieties. A characteristic feature is the curly edge of the leaf. The more common subspecies are lolo biondo (with green leaves) and lolo rosso (from burgundy to dark purple shades).	Valuable for its high potassium content. It has a light taste with an unobtrusive bitterness. Nutty notes predominate. Pairs with steaks and vegetable salads.
Korn	It is distinguished by many small leaves of a rich green color.	It has a delicate aroma and a pronounced nutty aftertaste. Pairs with citruses, bacon, and onions.
Iceberg	Outwardly, it resembles a head of white cabbage, pale green in color. Has high crispness.	The taste is dominated by bitterness. Pairs with fish, seafood, eggs, meat, boiled pork, etc.
Romain	The leaves are green in color. Widely popular for its juiciness and crunchiness.	It has a sweetish-tart taste with nutty notes and a delicate aroma. Pairs with light fermented milk dressings. Suitable for burgers, irreplaceable in the popular Caesar salad.
Arugula	The stems of the plant are thin, the leaves have a carved shape with a characteristic gray-green color.	It has a pronounced spicy aroma with a hint of spice. The taste is rich, dominated by nutty and mustard notes. Ideal with Parmesan cheese, seafood, cherry tomatoes.

Fresh and tender leaves will complement any appetizer or replace a side dish for fried steak or baked meat.

How to dry lettuce leaves

One of the simplest ways to preserve salad. Suitable for those who want to make seasonings or decoctions from it. Dried herbs lose their taste, but retain their beneficial components.

First way

For drying, only young leaves without damage should be selected. Then wash them with cold water and place in a colander. After this, place the greens on a towel to dry. Then cover with gauze and turn on the fan to speed up the process. The greens need to be stirred every 2 hours.

This method of drying lettuce leaves will take about a few days. After drying, they need to be finely crushed.

Important: the place where the greens are dried must be protected from sunlight.

Dried lettuce leaves should be stored in an airtight jar in a dry place without foreign odors.

Second option

String the pre-prepared lettuce leaves onto threads, hang them in a ventilated place and cover with gauze.

You can also use an electric dryer. In this case, the dried salad will be ready after just a few hours.

Leaf lettuce is an excellent option for healthy preparations for the winter. To preserve it at home, it can be pickled, frozen, dried or stored in the refrigerator in cool water, bags or jars without air. In winter, the leaves are suitable as a seasoning for dishes, as well as an ingredient for smoothies. Dried herbs are used as spices for soups or raw materials for decoction. Lettuce leaves must first be properly prepared and collected at the right time in certain weather. This is one of the main conditions for quality procurement.

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Rules for collecting lettuce

When harvesting, remember the following rules:

It is recommended to pick the lettuce by the roots, placing it vertically in a container;
Collection is carried out after the morning dew has dried;
Only fresh, undamaged leaves are suitable for storage. An overripe vegetable will taste bitter;
After collection, the greens are separated from the roots, each specimen is thoroughly washed and dried.

Greens must be processed on the day of collection, since subsequent storage significantly affects both the appearance and beneficial qualities of the product.

Selection and preparation of raw materials

To preserve lettuce leaves for the winter, you need to follow a certain algorithm of actions. The first step towards preserving this useful plant will be its proper selection and initial preparation.

The collection of raw materials is carried out on a dry day, closer to noon. By this time, the dew on the leaves should have dried, so it will be easier to preserve.

It is better to dig up a rosette of lettuce directly with the root part. Since it is fastidious, when harvested this way it will not wilt too quickly and will give you extra time to preserve it for a long time.

Give preference only to juicy and elastic leaves of medium size. They should not be damaged or defective. To preserve the product for the winter, sift out yellowed and wilted leaves. It is also recommended to taste the salad. This is necessary in order to avoid tasteless bitter preparations.

When you get home, start processing immediately. Cut off the root part of the plant, place the leaves in a colander and rinse with cold water. This will help wash away any remaining soil and small insects. Once the water has drained, place the greens on a towel to absorb the moisture. You can also gently blot off any remaining liquid on top.

Is it possible to dry lettuce for the winter?

Benefits of lettuce leaves

Greens are rich in vitamins B, E, PP, minerals, ascorbic acid. It contains magnesium, potassium, iron.
Leafy vegetables are low in calories.
Normalize blood cholesterol levels.

Thanks to their rich composition, their use has gone beyond cooking. The product is gaining great popularity in cosmetology - masks, tonics, and lotions are made based on extracts.

The main thing is to wash the salad thoroughly before eating. It is best to do this in a solution of salt and soda to avoid intestinal infections.

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Storage rules

To preserve lettuce throughout the winter, it is important to follow the following rules:

Thawed product cannot be re-frozen.
The salad is frozen in portions, and the container is marked (signed) for ease of identification.
Marinades and preserved salad are also stored in a cool place. In warm conditions it quickly deteriorates.

The most important rule for a refrigerated product is not to break the “cold chain” rule.

You can learn more useful tips on how to preserve green leaf lettuce by watching the following video: