How to properly freeze leeks for the winter and can this be done at home?

Leek appeared in Russian kitchens relatively recently, but quickly took root thanks to its unpretentiousness and delicate taste. They are much softer and sweeter than regular onions. Also, one of the advantages of leek is its long shelf life without loss of quality. Let's talk about a popular method of storing vegetables - freezing them for the winter at home.

Is it possible to freeze leeks for the winter?

Like most other vegetables, leeks are suitable for frost for the winter. It will perfectly complement soups, stews and other dishes. Many recipes use only the white part, as it is soft, tender and even sweet. Many people consider green feathers tasteless, although they are also suitable for freezing.

Preparing the refrigerator and freezer before freezing

Deep-frozen products may stored up to 12 months, so before loading the freezer for the winter, thoroughly wash it. A dish soap or a solution of regular baking soda is suitable for this. For 0.25 liters of water, 1 tbsp is required. l. soda or gel. Rinse off the soapy water thoroughly.

A clean camera must be wiped dry and turned on no earlier than half an hour later. After another 30 minutes, the freezer is ready to load.

Important! We must not forget that onions have a very strong and specific smell. It is transferred to other products in the same compartment. Therefore, leeks are stored in containers with tight-fitting lids or in plastic bags.

The most suitable temperature is -18°C and below. If you have any doubts about the operation of the freezer, it is advisable to contact a service center. It is better to prevent a problem than to detect it already at full load.

The first month after freezing, leeks will smell strong. To prevent other products from being saturated with this smell, the vegetable is stored in a tightly sealed package and, best of all, in a separate drawer in the freezer. After a month, the smell of frozen onions becomes less pungent.

Onion preparation

For freezing for the winter Stems of any thickness are suitable. They are cleaned of damaged and limp feathers, the cut at the base is renewed or the roots are removed.

The onions are washed well under running water. Particular attention is paid to the places between the leaves where dirt and sand collect. The plant is thoroughly dried before being sent to the freezer.

Methods for freezing leeks

Greens can be frozen both chopped and whole. It is thoroughly washed, dried, sorted and stored in a bag or container with a tight lid in the freezer.

There are several rules and recommendations for freezing leeks.

To preserve their green color, nutrients, and flavor, blanch the greens briefly in boiling water—one minute at most. But you can do without it. After blanching, the leeks are dried and packaged in an airtight container.

Defrost exactly as much onion as will be used at a time. The remaining portions should not be exposed to warm air - the onions cannot be re-frozen, they will turn into useless porridge.

Important! Leeks contain folic acid, which is very beneficial for pregnant women. Its greatest concentration is in the white part.

Overall

How to freeze whole leeks? After washing and drying, the stems and feathers are first placed in the refrigerator on a plate covered with film or a bag for about two hours.

After two hours, the stems are ready for packaging. Excess air is released from the bags and tied tightly. To avoid having to open the bag every time for a couple of stems, it is recommended to freeze leeks in portions.

In crushed

After initial preparation, the stems are cut in the way they are planned to be used for cooking.. For example, for stew or soup, onions are cut into circles. If the stem is too thick, it is usually divided in half lengthwise and cut into half rings. Often many recipes only call for the white part and the beginning of the green part.

Then the leek is frozen on some flat surface. To do this, use a large bowl, tray, baking sheet, cutting board, etc. Some freezers have a flat drawer. Cover the surface with cling film and place chopped onions on it.

The circles are distributed in a thin layer and covered with a plastic bag or cling film. This will reduce the spread of odor. In this form, the leek needs to stay in the freezer for about four hours. It is advisable that the temperature is no higher than -18°C. During this time, the onion freezes slightly, after which it is poured into a container or bag.

Important! Frozen onions should easily separate from the tray and be crumbly.

After packaging, remove as much air as possible from the bags. It is recommended to pack one serving in several bags to reduce the spread of odor.

Shelf life of frozen onions

Frozen leeks can be stored for 12 months. The lower the temperature, the better.But it is recommended to use the preparations during the first three months, as the onion gradually loses its aroma, becomes tasteless and dry.

Important! The fresher the plant was before freezing, the longer it will be stored without loss of quality.

How to defrost onions correctly

This product is often used when preparing hot dishes. In this case, the onions are not defrosted, but immediately thrown into a saucepan or frying pan. But sometimes you just need defrosted greens.

Defrosting is carried out in several ways:

• at room temperature;
• in cold water;
• in the refrigerator compartment;
• in the microwave in defrost mode.

Using the latter method is not recommended, since heat treatment (albeit mild) removes some useful properties any vegetable.

The defrosted workpiece is used for preparations soups, omelettes, pie filling, cutlets, casseroles, etc. If the onion was frozen in the form of puree, pureed in a blender, it will make an excellent spread for sandwiches.

Important! After freezing, leeks lose their crunchy texture and are therefore not suitable for salads.

Conclusion

Leeks can be stored in the freezer for a year. The main thing is to prepare it correctly, keep it in a container with a tight-fitting lid and at a temperature of -18°C. This storage method allows you to prepare dishes with tender leeks, practically indistinguishable from fresh ones.