Using rhubarb in your dishes can be pretty enjoyable. This is because of its many qualities. For instance, the taste is quite sweet, and the texture is also perfect. It also makes a great addition to your salads and other dishes.
Growing rhubarb
Whether you grow rhubarb from seed or plants purchased, you will want to give it lots of care. It would be best to protect it from frost damage with a cold frame or row cover.
It would be best if you also kept rhubarb plants from drying out. To do this, make sure they are planted in well-draining potting soil. Adding well-rotted manure or compost to the mix will also help. Having mulch around the base of the plant helps keep the roots cool.
The rhubarb plant needs a lot of nutrients, so be sure to fertilize it in spring. For established plants, a half-cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer per plant is recommended.
You can harvest rhubarb in early spring or late winter. The length of the stalks will determine when to harvest. If the stalks are too short, you may have to wait until the following year. It would be best to not gather more than one-third to one-half of the stalks on a single plant. This will allow the plant to use more energy for food production.
Preparing rhubarb
Whether preparing rhubarb for the freezer or a recipe, you’ll need to know how to trim and clean the stalks. This is especially important if you’re canning the stalks for a jam.
Cut the stalks into equal pieces of 1 inch in length. Rinse the stalks with cold tap water. Then, remove any leaves from the stalks. Rub the stalks with your fingers to remove dirt and other debris.
Once your stalks are clean, you can store them in an airtight plastic or freezer bags. A freezer is the best place for storing rhubarb. It will keep for months.
You can use your stalks to make rhubarb juice. You can also make a puree from the stalks. You can pack the puree into wide-top quart containers. Add a little sugar if you want. You can also fill it into jars with a headspace of 1/2 inch.
You’ll need to cut it into 1-inch pieces if you plan on canning your rhubarb. You’ll also need to remove the leaves and trim the stalks.
Recipes with rhubarb
Whether you are looking for recipes with rhubarb for desserts or savory dishes, there are plenty of great options. Rhubarb is a tart fruit that pairs well with sweeter flavors. It’s an excellent choice for a spring dinner, Easter meal, Mother’s Day, or Passover menu. It’s also an excellent choice for a healthy dessert or quick bread recipe.
A rhubarb cake is a show-stopping dessert. It is made with roasted rhubarb. This recipe is light and moist. It’s topped with a buttery crumb topping. It’s also filled with a strawberry-rhubarb pie filling. This cake is an excellent choice for a spring or summer dessert. It’s easy to make, and it’s a great way to use up leftover rhubarb.
For a crisp topping, you can use softened butter. You can also add zest or even oats. This crisp is easy to make, and it reminds you of spring. You can even make it in your food processor.
You can also use rhubarb in quick bread. You can also freeze rhubarb for up to a week, making it an excellent way to preserve rhubarb.
Store rhubarb
Whether you buy rhubarb from your local produce market or grow it in your garden, storing it properly can keep it fresh for longer. The stalks are water-dense and can deteriorate quickly if not properly stored. However, rhubarb can last up to eight months in the freezer if stored properly.
The stalks can be sliced or chopped into pieces and then frozen in a freezer bag or container. The rhubarb can also be frozen whole, although this is not recommended.
If you are storing rhubarb in the refrigerator, it should be stored in the crisper section. This is because refrigerators dry out the air, which can cause rhubarb to deteriorate. The best way to store rhubarb in the fridge is to wrap it in foil. This will trap moisture and keep it fresh for two weeks. If you are holding the rhubarb for more than a week, remove it from the refrigerator.
You can also store rhubarb in a glass or bowl of water. This will keep the stalks fresh for a couple of days. You can also freeze rhubarb whole without blanching, lasting up to eight months.