6 Great Ways to Store Horseradish

Since ancient times, this vegetable has been popular and widely used in the kitchen. Even then, housewives wondered how to store horseradish all winter, because it could easily diversify the taste of soups and other dishes. And today, roots and leaves are one of the most popular ingredients for preparing meat or fish dishes. This is not surprising - they not only give them a zest, but also help increase appetite. In addition, horseradish is a source of vitamin C, which it contains even more than lemon. It is also rich in potassium, calcium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron and other minerals. Root vegetables contain a lot of ascorbic acid, phytoncides, essential mustard oils, sugar, starch, resinous substances, carbohydrates, fiber, B vitamins and PP, and fresh leaves contain carotene.

Thanks to this and other beneficial properties, horseradish has found wide application in medicine. It is recommended to be used for diseases such as gastritis with low acidity, kidney stones, inflammation of the urinary tract, cystitis, as well as gout and rheumatism.

Like many other vegetables, horseradish can retain most of its beneficial properties throughout the winter.But in order to use this vegetable for a long time, you need to understand that storing horseradish at home is a very important task, and it must be approached with full responsibility.

How to choose?

As a rule, horseradish is dug up in mid-autumn or a little earlier. But even if you do not have your own summer cottage, at this time you can choose suitable vegetables at the market. For harvesting for the winter, it is better to use large roots without unnecessary cuts. Thin roots or chopped pieces should not be thrown away - they will also come in handy. For example, to create seasoning. True, it retains its taste for only a few weeks, so it makes no sense to make preparations in large quantities for future use.

How to prepare for storage?

Carefully clean the fruits from the soil. Then wash them with running water and dry them at room temperature. This will allow the vegetables to be stored in optimal condition and not dry them out.

Basement storage

Option 1.

Thoroughly clean the root vegetables from the soil and let them dry in the fresh air. Then put them in wooden boxes or boxes, sprinkling each layer with sand.

Option 2.

Form small bunches of root vegetables and hang them from the ceiling.

You can store horseradish for the winter either in the basement or in any other unheated room. For example, in an apartment it could be a balcony. True, in severe frosts it is better to additionally cover vegetables to protect them from the effects of low temperatures.

Advice

Make sure that the root vegetables in the boxes do not touch. This will avoid rot.

Freezer storage

After clearing the root vegetables from the soil, wash them with running water and dry them at room temperature.This will allow the vegetables to be stored in optimal condition and not dry out. Peel them (you can just scrape them with a knife) and cut them into pieces 3-5 centimeters in size. Then, like any other vegetable or fruit, place the horseradish in plastic bags.

Advice

You shouldn’t put all the vegetables in one bag - it’s better to freeze them in small portions.

Dried horseradish

The disadvantage of this method is the partial loss of the beneficial properties of the vegetable. And you can’t make a spicy seasoning from it. But dried horseradish is perfect for use in various sauces, main courses or soups. In addition, it is convenient to add to pickles.

Place the dried and cut into pieces root vegetables in a single layer on a tray or baking sheet. It is convenient to dry them in the oven (with the door open) or in a fruit dryer. But if you have extra time, you can dry the vegetables outdoors. Then put them in bags and store them in a place protected from moths.

Advice

Before using dried horseradish, soak it in water for about an hour.

Cold storage

To store horseradish for the winter in the refrigerator, select small roots. Their length should not exceed 30 centimeters. Peel the selected root vegetables from the soil, and then wrap them in cling film. After this, make several holes in it for air circulation.

Advice
Horseradish can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a month. For a longer period, it is better to use the freezer.

Grated horseradish

Wash the root vegetables and grate them on a fine grater. Then dilute with vinegar and stir until a homogeneous liquid mass is obtained. This mixture is best stored in glass jars with a tight lid.

Twisted Horseradish

Grind the washed root vegetables using a meat grinder.Add vinegar, beet juice, sugar or salt to taste. Place the mixture into jars and place them in the refrigerator. You can preserve horseradish at home in this way for 3-5 months.

How to store horseradish leaves?

After you have learned how to store horseradish throughout the year, you should pay attention to another part of this vegetable - the leaves. They contain many useful substances, which is why this product is used for preparing marinades or canning.

In order to preserve horseradish leaves for the winter at home, dry them in the oven or dryer, then chop them and place them in a closed container.

Dishes prepared with the addition of horseradish have a special taste. In addition, sauces or seasonings with it help in overcoming many diseases. You can preserve the roots and leaves of this vegetable for the winter, as well as most of its beneficial properties at home, thanks to these simple methods.

Attention!

It is not recommended to use horseradish for pregnant women or people with inflammatory processes of internal organs during exacerbation.