How to Store Fennel?
The vegetable fennel belongs to the stem vegetables and is an often eaten vegetable in Italian cuisine. Fennel is also often used in Dutch cuisine. But how to store fennel? That is discussed in this blog.
How to store fennel?
Here are some storing tips of fennel:
- Fennel will keep for 2 days outside the refrigerator.
- You can keep fresh fennel in the refrigerator for 1 week.
- Sliced fennel will keep for 5 days in the refrigerator.
- You can store fennel in the freezer for 9 months.
- Boiled fennel can be kept in the fridge for 2 days.
The vegetable fennel is closely related to the herb of the same name. This sometimes causes confusion. Both also have a pronounced anise flavor. The vegetable fennel is often used for soup stock.
Store Fresh Fennel
It all starts in the supermarket when you buy the fennel. The freshness of the fennel determines the shelf life.
Preferably buy small, tender tubers. The tubers should be clean and firm to the touch. There must be no damage and the color must be white. When the leaves are still attached, they should be soft as a feather.
This way you can be sure that you have fresh fennel that you can keep longer. Fresh fennel can be kept for about 3 days outside the refrigerator. You will see that the quality deteriorates quickly with longer storage.
Never store cut fennel outside of the refrigerator, but always in the refrigerator.
Store Fennel in the Refrigerator
The fennel likes a little cold! You prefer to keep the fresh, uncut fennel in the fridge. The fennel can be stored well at temperatures between 0 and 5 degrees.
Also Read this: How to store zucchini
Do not put the fennel in a sealed container in the refrigerator, because then it cannot ventilate. Preferably keep the fennel in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. This way you can keep the fennel for 1 week.
Preserve Sliced Fennel
Sliced fennel should never be stored outside of the refrigerator. Cut fennel will quickly rot outside of the refrigerator. Store the sliced fennel in the refrigerator.
The best place is in the vegetable drawer. Do not put the fennel in a sealed container or bag, but simply put the sliced fennel in the vegetable drawer. You can then keep this for at least 5 days.
Keep Fennel in the Freezer
Fennel can be stored in the freezer for a longer period of time. The fennel cannot be immediately put in the freezer. It takes some actions if you want to do this properly. If you do it properly, the fennel can be stored for a long time.
Blanch fennel
First, rinse the fennel well under the tap and remove any green leaves and stems.
Then cut off the bottom of the fennel and cut the rest of the fennel into thick strips.
In the meantime, place a pan of water on a heat source and bring the water to a boil. When the water boils, the chopped fennel is put in the pan.
Boil the fennel for 2-3 minutes. Remove the fennel from the pan and put it in a colander and rinse the fennel with ice-cold water.
This whole process is called blanching! Any bacteria present will be killed by heating. By quickly coaling it again, the cooking process is stopped. The color, taste and texture are well preserved by blanching.
Dry the wet fennel with a clean tea towel or a few paper towels. Then cook the fennel in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer. You can keep the fennel for at least another 9 months.
If you decide to use the fennel, let it thaw slowly in the refrigerator. Place the fennel in a bowl so that it can collect the dripping water.
Store Boiled Fennel
If the fennel has already been cut and it has already gone through the entire cooking process, you can also keep it. This can be done in the fridge or freezer.
If you want to keep it in the fridge, you can put it in a closed container. This container can be put in the refrigerator. You can keep the fennel for another 2 days.
If you want to keep it for longer, you can keep it in the freezer. Place the fennel in a sealed plastic bag and put the bag in the freezer. You can now keep the fennel for at least another 3 months.
Advice for Eating Preserved Fennel
This advice always applies to all vegetables that you want to use again after storing in the refrigerator; Look, smell, and taste. This also applies to the fennel
See if the color is still beautiful as you put it in the fridge or freezer.
Smell if it isn’t sobbing. If it smells sour or stale, it is advisable not to eat it anymore.
If the above 2 method is not conclusive yet, you can only taste it. Take a bite and you will immediately know whether it is still edible. If in doubt, don’t take any chances and throw it away.
Store cooked Fennel
Fennel is also easy to bake. Fennel can also be used very well in other dishes such as stir-fry dishes. The fennel is then part of a dish.
You can usually keep these dishes for 2 days in a closed container in the fridge and at least 3 months in the freezer.
However, before you want to eat it again, follow the advice above. This way you can be sure that the dish is still good.
This is everything you need to know about storing fennel. Not sure if the fennel is still good? Look, smell, and taste, then you will know.
