Preserving garden vegetables is an excellent way to ensure their freshness and enjoy them for an extended period. There are various methods to preserve vegetables, depending on the type of vegetable and your preferences. Here are some common techniques for how to preserve garden vegetables this season.
1. Refrigeration
This is the most obvious way to preserve many vegetables. Store vegetables like leafy greens, carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the vegetable. Any harvested produce should be stored in the refrigerator if not used immediately, as any produce that is left out may continue to ripen and can easily become over-ripe or may begin to go bad.
2. Freezing
Freezing is a popular method for how to store garden vegetables while retaining their quality. However, freezing your garden vegetables is not quite as simple as just throwing your veggies in the freezer. Here is what you need to do to make sure your vegetables are properly frozen and preserved.
Step 1: Blanch Your Vegetables
Most vegetables should be blanched before freezing. This halts enzyme activity and leads to your vegetables having better taste and consistency when consumed later. To blanch, briefly immerse vegetables in boiling water and then plunge them into ice water to stop the cooking process. The amount of time you want to have your vegetables submerged in the boiling water depends on the vegetable and can vary from anywhere between 2-5 minutes. When blanching your vegetables for freezing, it is recommended to look up specific instructions for each vegetable to ensure its quality is preserved.
Step 2: Package Your Vegetables
After blanching, pack the vegetables into airtight containers or freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible before sealing. Ensuring your vegetables are exposed to as little air as possible is also very important for maintaining the quality of your preserved vegetables and will help to decrease any chances of freezer burn. Make sure you always use the your oldest vegetables first by labeling the packages with the date for easy reference.
3. Canning
Canning involves sealing vegetables in airtight jars and processing them in boiling water to kill bacteria and prevent spoilage. It's essential to follow proper canning procedures to ensure safety and quality. High-acid vegetables like tomatoes and pickles are more suitable for water bath canning, while low-acid vegetables require pressure canning.
4. Pickling
Another easy way for how to store vegetables from garden is picking. Pickling is a preservation method that involves soaking vegetables in a solution of vinegar, water, sugar, and spices. This creates a brine that helps preserve the vegetables and gives them a tangy flavor. Pickled vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. Pickle your cucumbers, green beans, cauliflower, garlic, and more for delicious, savory vegetables!
5. Drying/Dehydrating
Drying removes moisture from vegetables, preventing bacterial growth and spoilage. You can use a food dehydrator or an oven set at a low temperature to dry vegetables. Once dried, store them in airtight containers in a cool, dry place. Dehydrated vegetables can be stored for a very long time as long as there is no moisture left in them and they are stored in a dry place. Dehydrated garden vegetables can be rehydrated for consumption by soaking in boiling water.
6. Fermentation
Fermenting vegetables involves naturally preserving them with the help of beneficial bacteria. The process involves submerging vegetables in a saltwater brine, which encourages the growth of lactobacillus bacteria. Fermented vegetables can be kept in the refrigerator for months.
7. Root Cellaring
Some vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beets, and onions can be stored in a root cellar or a cool, dark place with proper ventilation. This method can extend the freshness of these vegetables for several months. Root cellaring is an age-old practice that is a highly effective way to store most root vegetables as long as it is done properly. It is not uncommon to see people store certain root vegetables in a cabinet under the sink or something similar, however, this is not the most effective way to preserve garden vegetables as cool temperatures are imperative with root cellaring.
Preserving Garden Vegetables
Remember, the quality of the preserved vegetables will depend on the freshness and condition of the produce at the time of preservation. When attempting to preserve garden vegetables, always use fresh, unblemished vegetables for the best results. Additionally, make sure to follow proper food safety guidelines and techniques for each preservation method to ensure the quality of the preserved vegetables. There are so many different methods for how to preserve and store garden vegetables, and each method has an extensive process of its own, so be sure to do your research! We hope you have found some inspiration for how to store vegetables from garden. Stop by Bath Garden Center to shop fresh garden vegetable starts, seeds, fertilizers, garden soil, and everything else you need to grow a flourishing garden this season!