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10 Different Ways To Preserve Fruits and Vegetables For The Winter

by on Sep 25, 2020

Photo: Foodie Factor

I don’t know about you, but one of the things I hate about winter (and there are many) is the lack of fresh vegetables from the garden or local farm stand. There’s nothing like a fresh tomato picked that very day. But today we have some tips for preserving that delicious bounty of produce that we will soon lack. These ideas will help you to eat healthier throughout the long run, and they’ll also help you to waste less food in the short term. Read on for tons of great ideas!

chopped parsley with a bowl of salt and white flower
Photo: Bon Appetit

1. Make herb salt.

Hanging herbs to air dry is quite simple… learn more here. Then crush them up with sea salt for a savory seasoning that you can use all winter long.

2. Try canning.

Canning may seem intimidating, but the process is really quite straightforward. Check out the basics here. Tomatoes, stone fruits, corn, berries, beans and more are all great things to can.

3. Freeze herbs in ice cube trays.

This is my favorite method for preserving herbs… simply wash them, chop them up and put them in ice cube trays filled with either water or olive oil. Once they’ve frozen, transfer them to a plastic bag or other freezer-safe container.

Jars of picked cucumbers, carrots, onions and other vegetables are stack on top of one another.
Photo: US News & World Report

4. Pickle your cucumbers… and other veggies too.

If you’re a fan of pickles, there’s nothing better than homemade pickled made with fresh produce. Here are the basics.

5. Dehydrate fruit.

You don’t hear about this technique as often, but it’s a great way to preserve fruit for the winter… dried apples make a great snack! Find out more here.

6. Make your favorite smoothies to freeze.

If you’re a smoothie lover, make extra and freeze the leftovers for a nutritional treat this winter. If you prefer making juice, that will work too!

Three open glass jars of jam with spoons in them.
Photo:  NYTimes 

7. Make your own jams and jellies.

Berries and stone fruits make great jellies and jams, and you can easily freeze the leftovers. Trust me… there’s nothing better than sweet strawberry jam in the dead of winter! Here’s everything you need to know.

8. Ferment vegetables.

Fermented foods are super popular these days, touted for their digestion-friendly qualities. Learn how to ferment like a pro using this tutorial.

9. Make and freeze pesto.

From copious amounts of fresh basil inevitably comes pesto… but you can also make pesto from other things like parsley, arugula and even peas. Check out this article for more info.

glass jar with onions and garlic
Photo: Hello Glow

10. Infuse your booze.

This might be the most fun one… you can infuse alcohol with a variety of different fruits and vegetables. Favorites include apple whiskey, cucumber basil vodka and cherry rum. Check out some great recipes here.

A person is preparing food using herbs and spices.
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