Dill is a wonderful herb that can be used as a seasoning. The benefits of the plant were discovered in ancient times, and its popularity continues to this day. There are many ways to preserve dill for the winter at home and get the vitamins you need during the season in various forms: from fresh herbs to marinade.
In this article you will find the most popular and best methods, and also find out what is the shelf life of dill seeds for planting.
Storing fresh dill for the winter at home
Fresh herbs in a dish always look bright and spring-like, emit a pleasant aroma, and have a pleasant and rich taste. What can we say about the preserved beneficial properties.
The herb will not lose its juiciness if you make sure that it is not exposed to light and is kept cool. There are several ways to store fresh dill in the refrigerator for a long time.
In packages
Clean the grass from hard stalks, get rid of yellow leaves and rinse . Place the dill in bags and leave in a dark place at a temperature of 2–6°C. Greens stored in this way can be added to salads, soups and other hot dishes.
Dry thoroughly before laying, otherwise moisture will cause rot. You can store both whole branches and cuttings in this way.
In paper towels
Dry the washed herb, wrap it in a paper towel and put it in the refrigerator.
Can be stored for up to 10 days. To increase this period three times (up to 21 days), place the dill packaged in this way in a plastic bag and change the towel every 3-4 days.
In bouquets
Place the bunches in jars of water. In this case, you need to maintain humidity: tightly close the jar with a plastic lid or pull a bag instead of a lid, securing it with an elastic band. Leave the jars in the refrigerator. This method will preserve the dill for several days. But this period can be significantly increased. To do this, chop the greens and place tightly in a dry jar. This way the grass can be preserved for about two months.
How to choose good dill in the store
High-quality products have the following characteristics:
- pleasant spicy aroma;
- the leaves and twigs are elastic, not yellowed, and have no dark spots;
- bright green shade;
- no moisture has accumulated in the packaging.
Preparing greens for storage
In order for the greens not to lose their taste, you need to know how to properly store dill. Before storing the product, you should carefully inspect it and separate dry, yellowed leaves. Then you need to gently wipe the grass with a dry paper towel or napkin to remove dust and dirt.
The most frequently asked question is whether or not to wash greens before harvesting. Here everyone decides for himself, but it is worth remembering that if you wash the greens first, they will spoil faster. It is best to choose a method that does not require pre-washing.
If you cannot do without washing, you should not wash the stems and leaves under pressure of water, it is better to pour it into a deep bowl and place the herb there for 1-2 minutes. After washing, first remove the spice and only then pour out the water (this will leave all the dirt at the bottom).
After washing, the product must be dried thoroughly (pat dry with a paper towel and spread on a flat surface until completely dry).
Frozen
One of the most popular and convenient methods of preserving spices until the next season is freezing. This dill can be used for 8 months. In addition, greens do not lose beneficial vitamins and have a wonderful appearance and smell. Freeze using the following methods.
Bunches
Dill is frozen cut and in whole bunches. Sort and dry the greens, divide them into bunches. Wrap each bunch in plastic and place in the freezer. It is very convenient to defrost such separated bundles in the required quantity.
Attention ! Do not take a very large container, because you cannot freeze greens a second time; you will simply have to throw them away. It is better to take several small containers.
Chopped greens
Prepare the dill: wash, dry and chop. Place chopped greens in bags or containers. Cover tightly and place them in the freezer. This way the dill will be preserved for a long time and will not lose its properties.
In ice trays
Prepare the dill, wash and chop. Place in ice trays and fill them with water (can be melted butter or vegetable oil) . Freeze until frozen and place the cubes in a bag. Can be stored in the freezer for a long time.
You can grind the greens in a blender and fill the molds with the resulting mushy dill liquid. In this case, there is no need to use water; the greens will freeze perfectly without it. Other spices added to such freezing will give an even more pleasant smell to any food. The cubes are stored for up to six months. They are convenient to add to hot liquid dishes.
How to properly dry greens
Drying is a proven recipe that allows you to preserve a plant for a long time without making any special effort. This harvesting method allows for one of the longest product storage times. At home, housewives have several options available. Dried herbs are convenient to use when preparing both first and second courses.
You can dry it naturally. To do this, it is dried with whole stems . It looks like this:
Carefully sort the greens, remove damaged parts, and be sure to cut off the roots.- Rinse the branches under clean water and dry on a paper towel.
- Tie the stems together in fifteen pieces and hang them in a cool, dark place with good ventilation.
- After the branches dry, simply put them in fabric bags or boxes.
Dried
Drying greens is an equally popular and effective storage method. This dill will have a rich smell for a whole year, and it is very convenient to store it even at room temperature.
The drying process must be approached with special attention. The main thing is to avoid moisture, too high temperatures and sunlight.
Natural drying
This is the most common air drying. As usual, the dill needs to be sorted, washed and chopped. Do not overdo it with chopping, because dried dill crumbles very easily in your hands. Be sure to remove any tough stems.
Place the chopped herbs on a large flat surface (you can use a baking sheet), first laying clean paper on the bottom. Make sure that the dill is not exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise it will turn yellow. Keep away from dust and insects.
Important ! During drying, the herb needs to be provided with fresh air. This will allow the entire mass of dill to dry evenly.
But it is not necessary to dry the chopped dill. You can lay it out in branches on a flat surface, cover it with a napkin and put it in the refrigerator. True, such drying takes a long time - about 20 days.
Another option is drying dill in bunches. Hang the prepared greens by the branches in the shade, where constant access to fresh air is provided. The bundles must be protected from dust by covering them with some light cloth or gauze.
In the oven
The oven allows you to dry dill much faster, but here you need to carefully monitor the process. Place the prepared raw materials on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Be sure to monitor the temperature - it should not be higher than 40°C. Stir the greens on the baking sheet occasionally.
Attention ! When drying in the oven, it is necessary to provide access to fresh air, so there is no need to close the oven.
In the dryer
A special dryer that runs on electricity is called a dehydrator . The device provides all the conditions necessary for proper drying. You don't have to monitor the temperature and provide constant access to fresh air.
All you need to do is prepare the greens, load them and turn on the machine at the desired temperature (no more than 40°C). The device will do everything itself, and you can do your own thing at this time. What could be simpler and more convenient?
Storage conditions and periods
Preserving dill in its original form is not an easy task. But if you provide it with comfortable storage conditions, you can significantly increase the shelf life of the product:
- The optimal temperature is from +1 to +5°C.
- Acceptable humidity is no more than 85%.
- No direct sunlight.
- Limited access of oxygen.
The shelf life of herbs depends on the method and place of its storage:
| Storage method | Storage period (months) |
| In a refrigerator | 1-1,5 |
| Freezing | 6-8 |
| Drying | 18-24 |
| Pickling | 6 |
| Marinovka | 12 |
The choice of method depends on the purpose of using dill. It is convenient to add dried herbs, which have a concentrated taste and aroma, to first courses. Freezer preparations fit better into salads and appetizers.
Canned
Another method of preserving dill for a long period, proven over many years, is preservation. Allows you to use greens for about a year, provided that everything is done correctly. At the same time, the spicy herb does not lose its wonderful properties.
In salt
Pickling dill allows you to preserve maximum aroma, taste and color of the greens. To pickle, you need to take fresh dill, wash it, dry it, and remove the hard stems. Place the herb tightly in layers in a sterilized jar, alternating with salt.
Attention ! It is not recommended to use iodized salt for preservation. This will ruin the taste of the product and reduce its shelf life.
Close the lid when the juice is released. To speed up this process, you can slightly crush the dill in the jar. Store in the refrigerator.
When you use it, keep in mind that the dill is very well saturated with salt. Don't forget about this so you don't end up with an oversalted dish.
In oil
You can also preserve dill in oil. Prepare the greens and fill the jar tightly. You will need refined oil. Olive or sunflower - depends on preference. No need to add salt . Pour oil over the placed dill, close the jar well with a lid and place in the refrigerator. Let the oil steep for 14 days and you can use it.
Recommendations
- It is very important to select only healthy and fresh shoots for dill storage. Under no circumstances should dill be stored in which rotting processes are already visible along with other healthy plants.
- When storing, try to avoid excess moisture.
- Store greens in the refrigerator in a fresh zone from zero to two degrees Celsius.
- Wash the grass not before storing it, but only before using it.
- Dried dill is more flavorful than frozen dill. But not everyone has a suitable drying place.
- When quickly frozen, more vitamins remain.
- Storing in the refrigerator gives us fresh dill with unchanged structure, smell and taste. Although it is not as long as in the case of freezing or pickling.
- Salty spice lasts longer, but with dill like this we consume excess salt.
We looked at how you can preserve fresh herbs for a long time. With proper storage of dill and following all the rules, you can achieve not only long-term freshness, but also the preservation of all the beneficial properties of the seasoning. The main thing is to choose for yourself the most optimal storage method, according to your needs and capabilities.
Storing seeds for planting
Dill seeds are also suitable for a variety of uses. They can be treated and added to pickles. They are stored for a long time. Over time, the seeds lose essential oils, causing them to lose their beneficial properties and smell. But they are suitable for planting for several years.
Preparation
Preparing dill seeds for storage is very simple. You need to collect dill umbrellas, place them in a paper bag and dry them. After 2-3 weeks, shake the umbrellas, collect the fallen dry seeds and store them in a dry jar.
Terms and Conditions
Seeds should be stored in a dry jar with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature. An important condition is to prevent moisture from getting inside the jar. After a year of storage, it is no longer worth using the seeds for supplements or treatment, since they will lose their beneficial properties, but will still be quite suitable for planting.
Preparing dill for winter storage
For long-term storage of dill for the winter, you need to carefully prepare it. To do this, you need to rinse the plant thoroughly under running water or place the stems in a basin or other deep container with cold water, hold it there for 10–15 minutes, and then rinse under running water. Wet branches need to be dried. This can be done by laying them out on clean towels in one layer, covering them with paper towels on top and waiting until all the water is absorbed.
How long can you store greens in the freezer?
The shelf life of frozen dill depends on the method of freezing it. If greens are frozen in sprigs, they will be stored for up to 12 months; during the same time, the beneficial properties of greens frozen in ice cubes will remain. Once you take your greens out of the freezer, you should use them immediately. When re-frozen, dill loses its beneficial properties. If greens are stored in containers, then they should be tightly closed; if in bags, then it is better to store them in portions.
Drying dill
If you don't have any space left in the refrigerator, you can dry the plants for the winter, then you won't be short of it. You can dry the plant with whole stems.
Naturally
For natural drying, dill must be taken along with the stems. You need to carefully sort them out, remove the roots, remove damaged or yellow branches. Then rinse thoroughly under running water and dry. Tie 10–15 stems into bundles and hang in a cool, dark, dry place. It is important that it is well ventilated. When the plant is dry, transfer it to fabric bags.
You can also dry chopped greens. To do this, take small twigs, cut them, scatter them on the table and cover with a towel. After 1-2 hours, transfer the greens to paper and place in a dry place. In order for the dill to dry quickly and evenly, it needs to be turned over periodically. Place the dried herbs in a container and close the lid tightly.
In the oven
If you don’t have time, you can dry the dill in the oven. To do this, you need to finely chop it, place it in a thin layer on a baking sheet, and place it in a slightly preheated oven so that its temperature does not exceed 50 degrees. At the moment when drying occurs, the greens must be constantly stirred so that they do not burn. When the dill is dry, it needs to be transferred to a storage container.
How to store dried dill
Dried plants should be stored in a dry, clean, airtight container in a dry, dark place. This way it will not lose its aroma and become saturated with foreign odors. A dark place is needed to preserve the color.
Dried dill can be stored for 2 years; after this time, it will lose its beneficial properties.
How to use?
Dried dill goes well with vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, eggs and other foods. This seasoning is suitable for first and second courses, and can also be added to salads.
