A freshly harvested artichoke is plump, feels heavy in the hand and sits on a juicy, firm flower stalk. To ensure that they remain in top freshness for a long time, you should store artichokes correctly. You can read about the three best options here.
How to properly store artichokes?
Artichokes can be preserved by storing them in the refrigerator, in a glass of water or by cooking and freezing. They last about 2-3 days in the refrigerator, several days decoratively in a water glass and up to nine months frozen.
Store artichokes in the refrigerator
You can store artichokes in the refrigerator for two to three days. Be sure to leave the stem on as it will continue to provide the fruit with moisture during storage. How to do it right:
- Do not wash artichokes
- Remove soil residues from home-grown fruits with a soft brush
- Wrap the buds individually in a damp kitchen towel
- Store artichokes in the vegetable compartment
The short shelf life in the refrigerator is extended to four to six months if you marinate artichokes in oil and vinegar beforehand.
Store artichokes decoratively in a water glass
Is there a lot of space in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator? Then you can store artichokes in a water glass. In this way, the flowering vegetables stay fresh for several days and are useful as a pretty decoration, similar to a flower in a vase. This is how it works:
- Cut the stem freshly with a sharp, disinfected knife (€16.00 on Amazon)
- Fill glass or vase with water
- Set up the artichoke in a glass in a warm, partially shaded window seat
Check the stem at the bottom every day. If brownish spots form at this point, cut off the stem by two to three centimeters.
Cooking and freezing artichokes
If you cook artichokes and store them in the freezer, they are guaranteed to last up to nine months. The following instructions explain how to do it correctly:
- Clean fresh artichoke under cold running water
- Break off the handle on the edge of the kitchen cabinet
- Cut off the outer leaf crown at the bottom and the leaf tips at the top with a sharp knife
- Drizzle lemon juice onto the cut areas
- Cook the artichoke in bubbling s alt water for 30-45 minutes
Let the cooked artichoke cool down. Place the flower base in a freezer container that you store tightly closed in the freezer. If you don't have enough space in the freezer, just cut out the artichoke heart and cut it into small pieces. Fry the pieces briefly. After cooling, put the treats in a freezer bag, which you freeze to save space.
Tip
By growing artichokes in the vegetable patch, hobby gardeners are outsmarting voracious snails. In contrast to lettuce, cabbage or parsley, these insatiable pests give artichoke plants a wide berth.
