Content
- 1 Can chanterelles be frozen raw for the winter
- 2 How best to freeze chanterelles - raw or boiled
- 3 How to prepare chanterelles for freezing
- 4 How much to cook chanterelles before freezing for the winter
- 5 How to properly freeze chanterelle mushrooms for the winter
- 6 How to store chanterelles in the freezer
- 7 How many chanterelles are stored in the freezer
- 8 Conclusion
- 9 Testimonials
Mushroom pickers often face the question of preserving the rich harvest collected in the summer. There are several ways to freeze chanterelles in the freezer for the winter, each of which has its own advantages and characteristics. A properly frozen product retains most of its nutrients for many months.
Can chanterelles be frozen raw for the winter
Many mushroom pickers know about the unpleasant feature of this type of mushroom - they almost completely lose their great taste with such types of harvesting as salting or pickling. The only reasonable option for their use is direct fresh use. If the harvest is really rich, you can resort to freezing them. Freezing chanterelles for the winter allows them to be used to prepare a large number of complex recipes.
Most housewives recommend primary heat treatment of all harvested mushrooms. So you can be sure of complete safety from their use. Together with cooking, toxins and harmful substances accumulated during the growth period are released from the fruit bodies.
Chanterelles are considered one of the safest representatives of their kingdom. It is customary not to subject them to heat treatment, but immediately use them in the preparation of various dishes. This feature allows you to freeze them directly fresh, without fear of further spoiling your health. In addition, freezing allows you to remove some of the harmful substances from the fruit bodies.
How best to freeze chanterelles - raw or boiled
There are two most popular ways to freeze chanterelles - raw and boiled. Each of these methods has its own pros and cons. When boiling chanterelles, you can completely protect yourself from poisonous compounds entering the body. The most popular such processing method is for mushrooms purchased in the local market from unverified mushroom pickers.
Freezing chanterelles for the winter at home guarantees full preservation of the taste and aroma characteristics of the product. Another advantage when using this method is that vitamins and nutrients that are destroyed by boiling water will remain in the fruiting bodies. Also, chanterelles frozen for the winter without cooking lend themselves much better to further defrosting, without changing their consistency.
How to prepare chanterelles for freezing
A feature of chanterelles is the need for prompt processing after collection. By their structure, chanterelles are rather fragile, so it is best to harvest them directly on the day of collection. It is best to refuse to freeze purchased copies due to the uncertainty with the timing of their collection.
One of the main preparatory procedures before freezing is the primary processing and sorting of the harvested crop. It is necessary to remove specimens damaged by insects and other pests. The product must not contain traces of rot and mechanical damage. It is also not recommended to freeze too old mushrooms - it is best to use young specimens with a dense structure.
To remove small insects and particles of earth and sand that have accumulated between the plates, the chanterelles are placed in slightly salted water. After that, they are taken out and cleaned. With a sharp knife, remove the contaminated areas of the leg and cap. The prepared product must be frozen as soon as possible.
How much to cook chanterelles before freezing for the winter
If it was decided to cook the mushrooms before freezing them further, it is important to approach this action as responsibly as possible. It is best to dip the mushrooms directly into boiling water to avoid prolonged overheating. To preserve the integrity of the mushrooms while stirring them in boiling water, you can place them in a deep colander, which is simply dipped into a saucepan.
The maximum cooking time for chanterelles is 10 minutes. If you boil a little longer, then they can completely lose their taste and aroma. Considering that freezing also takes away a small part of the flavor and aroma characteristics of the product, then it is better to halve the cooking time. Ideal - no more than 5 minutes over high heat.
How to properly freeze chanterelle mushrooms for the winter
One of the features of freezing chanterelles is that they retain a little bitterness. While this trait is more common in older specimens, there are a few clever tricks that can be worked around it. The most effective method is long-term soaking in cold water. Change the fluid completely every two hours.
In order for the chanterelles to retain their taste, it is recommended to apply the shock freezing method to them. For this, a freezer is best suited, which allows you to set a fairly low temperature. The sooner complete freezing occurs, the longer the shelf life of the product will be.
How to freeze chanterelles fresh for the winter
This recipe for freezing chanterelles for the winter is one of the simplest and most commonly used. It is best to select small mushrooms to avoid possible bitterness. To freeze fresh chanterelles for the winter using this technique, you should adhere to the following sequence:
- Pre-cleaned fruit bodies are wiped off with a towel and laid out on a flat baking sheet, tray or large plate. It is important that the mushrooms do not overlap each other when frozen.
- The lowest possible temperature is set in the freezer - it should not be higher than -24-26 degrees.
- The mushroom tray is placed in the freezer and frozen for 12-16 hours.
The finished frozen product is taken out of the chamber and packaged. For this, you can use plastic containers or standard plastic bags. After that, the mushrooms are returned to the freezer. Its temperature is set to standard values.
How to freeze boiled chanterelles for the winter in the freezer
This freezing method is perfect for harvesting medium to large specimens. During cooking, excess bitterness will come out of them. To cook chanterelles for freezing, they are pre-cleaned of dirt and washed under running water.
Pour water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Then add salt at the rate of 1 tsp. for 1 liter of liquid. Mushrooms are thrown into boiling water and boiled for 10 minutes, periodically removing the resulting scale. Longer boiling before freezing can destroy the integrity of the chanterelles.
Boiled mushrooms are thrown into a colander, then wiped off with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. After that, they are laid out on a tray or cutting board and sent to the freezer. Chanterelle mushrooms are frozen for 10 to 15 hours. After that, the finished product is laid out in bags or containers and sent for further storage.
How to freeze fried chanterelle mushrooms
To freeze fried chanterelles for the winter in the refrigerator, specimens of any size will do. They are cleaned of dirt, washed, laid out in a hot frying pan and fried until golden brown. It is important that as much water as possible comes out of them during the frying process - this guarantees a longer shelf life. Pre-cooking is not required in this case.
Put the finished dish on a paper towel to get rid of a lot of oil or fat. The cooled mushrooms are transferred to a jar or plastic container and placed for further storage in a freezer.
How to freeze chanterelle mushrooms with broth for the winter
Freezing in the form of bouillon cubes is very convenient if in the future the finished product will be used as an addition to the preparation of soups or thick gravy. The initial preparation is similar to the rest of the recipes - it is necessary to remove dirt and damaged areas of the cap and legs. To freeze such a dish you will need:
- 1 kg of chanterelles;
- 1 liter of water;
- salt and pepper to taste;
- dill or parsley.
Salt and ground pepper are added to boiling water, then the chanterelles are spread. Boil the mushrooms for 10 minutes with constant stirring and descaling. Then they are thrown into a colander, while preserving the broth. The boiled chanterelles are laid out in small containers, sprinkled with chopped herbs and poured over with cooled broth. The containers are placed in the freezer. After complete freezing, the cubes are taken out of the containers, put into bags and sent for further storage.
How to store chanterelles in the freezer
To maximize the shelf life of chanterelles frozen for the winter, you must follow a few simple rules. The most important rule of long-term storage is keeping the freezer at the optimum temperature. The temperature should not rise above 18 degrees - this can lead to damage to the fruit bodies.
When storing chanterelles, it is important to observe the tightness of the packaging. Mushroom odor can permeate nearby foods, so it's important to seal containers or plastic bags tightly. If the volume of the freezer is large, it is best to set aside a separate shelf for them.
How many chanterelles are stored in the freezer
Freezing any food is a great way to extend its shelf life. Most mushroom preserves boast incredible shelf life in freezers. Some species can be stored for up to 2-3 years after freezing, without losing either taste or mushroom aroma.
Freezing chanterelles cannot give such a long shelf life. Despite the rather low temperatures, they lose their mushroom flavor over time. Lowering the temperature in the freezer will not increase the shelf life. Chanterelles frozen fresh can be stored for the longest - all winter or 6-7 months. Freezing with cooking promises a shelf life of 4-5 months, frying and broth cooking - 2-3 months.
Conclusion
Freezing chanterelles in the freezer for the winter is easy and simple. The billet is able to preserve nutrients, taste and mushroom aroma for a long time. A large number of freezing methods allows you to choose the option most suitable for each person.
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