Lovage or maggi herb grows in the garden like weeds. The last stalks are harvested in autumn. To preserve them for the winter, simply freeze them. The spicy herb survives the procedure well if you follow a few tips.
Prepare maggi herb
Freeze lovage immediately after harvest. The longer you leave the herb, the more aroma is lost. The frozen pieces will also become a bit sticky after thawing.
- Clean lovage
- If possible, do not wash
- Cut into small pieces - do not chop!
As a rule, you do not have to wash maggi herb from the garden, because the herb is completely natural. If you absolutely must wash it, dry it well before freezing.
If the cut maggi herb is very damp, the pieces will stick together in the refrigerator to form a tight clump and cannot be removed in portions.
This is how lovage is frozen
Place the chopped cabbage in a freezer bag. Seal the bag tightly and flatten it before placing it in the freezer. That way the frozen cabbage won't clump and it's easier to sprinkle into the soup later.
Lovage can also be frozen uncut as a whole branch. Place the sprigs side by side in a freezer bag, seal and freeze hard in the freezer.
Remove the bag and break up the herb inside. This works wonderfully with a meat mallet or a rolling pin. This gives you small pieces of spices that you can use in portions.
Freeze herb cubes
When the maggi herb is quite moist, freeze it in cube form. To do this, tear the leaves into small pieces.
Squeeze the maggi herb into the compartments of an ice cube tray. Pour in either oil or water until the cubes are completely full.
Wrap foil or a freezer bag around the ice cube tray and place in the freezer. It stays there until the liquid freezes. You can then press the herb cubes out of the mold and store them in the freezer bag in the freezer.
tips and tricks
Use frozen Maggi herb without defrosting it first. Take out the desired amount and sprinkle it into the soup or stew just before the end of the cooking time. You can also add the spice to salads without thawing.
The garden journal freshness ABC
How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?
The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:
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