Store fennel bulbs in the crisper of your refrigerator wrapped in a damp paper towel and they should keep about 7 days. Interesting Beliefs and History of Fennel, Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese and Not Ruin It? Make sure you keep your fennel plants well-watered, as it is easy for containers to dry out if you aren’t careful. It only contains 24 per 100 grams. Will try to freeze some this year as my local supermarket in England doesn’t always stock it. This way, you can keep fennel fresh for up to 8 months. We have always just eaten it raw. These are common questions and learning how to harvest fennel bulbs isn’t difficult at all. About. Fennel is a vegetable with a lot going for it. It goes well with many other vegetables – and one great advantage is that you can enjoy it raw, fried, or cooked. (Quick Guide and Tips), 9 Best Thickening Agents That Make Your Soup & Sauce a Masterpiece, Can You Freeze Baked Beans and Still Taste Good After Thawing? I love fennel in salads, but I’ve found it really doesn’t keep well, even in the freezer. I have purchased fennel bulb a few times and have been enticed by the licorice scent. Whether you get your veggies in a grocery store or at a farmers market, be on the lookout for these shiny white bulbs. This way, you can keep fennel fresh for up to 8 months. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Natural and Edible Bowls: Less Effort & More Fun at the Table, https://foodal.com/knowledge/things-that-preserve/11-tips-to-dehydrate-food/, Getting the Most out of the Indian Grocery Store: A Culinary Adventure, 14 BBQ Grilling Safety Tips You Need to Know, Sweet and Smoky Grilled Chicken with Peach Chipotle Sauce, Pepperoni Pizza Lasagna: Rethink Dinner with This Delicious Mashup, 4 Great Side Dishes For Summer Picnic Fun, Crispy and Delicious Deep-Fried Zucchini Fries. @https://twitter.com/gordanskitchen. Whenever food is stored, four basic factors affect its nutrient composition: exposure to air, exposure to light, exposure to heat, and length of time in storage. This is how my family always enjoyed it when I was growing up, and it’s still a salad and snack-time favorite today- WAY more delicious than celery! We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. ​In ancient beliefs, they use fennel and mixture with other herbs, to prevent the evil spirit from entering houses by hanging the herbs on the front door. This will need to have had occurred to you a lot occasions or at the least as soon as in your life – you get again house with contemporary greens, use a few of them and refrigerate the remainder, and after just a few days, bang, you see that your saved veggies have both rotted away or have gone limp! It contains twice as much vitamin C as oranges, A medium-size bulb meets approximately 1/4 the daily requirement for calcium, It is packed with iron, folic acid, phosphorus, and vitamins A and E, Keeping an eye on calories? When you buy fennel from the store, the bottom of the bulb should have a noticeable base to it – this is where the roots grew from. It’s so good! Other aromatic spices like cardamom work better with fennel in certain dishes, but since I love to experiment, I recommend that you try out some other pairings and see what you like. (Quick Guide and Tips), 4 Best Ways to Storing Fennel For Future Use, Can You Freeze Smoked Salmon? Not everyone likes its distinct flavor, but I love it. If your place has minimal sunshine, you can use the oven to dry the seeds, by placing them on a cooking tray and leaving it there at the lowest temperature for about 15 minutes. Harvest – July to December, 3 months after sowing Right, those two are an awesome team together. Once dried, store them in a glass container for later use. Regrowing fennel plants is very easy. For raw salads, coarsely shredding it is a fine idea. Fennel tastes a bit like licorice, equal parts bright and vegetal, and when you roast or caramelize fennel, it develops a natural sweetness that balances out its bitterness. COPYRIGHT © 2020 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. ​Also, do you know that some people like to grow fennel in their garden as part of landscaping? As soon as you take it out of the water, it should go to the freezer in a plastic bag or glass container. She is currently working as a freelance writer in various fields. It’s crunchy and sweet when tossed raw into a salad, or silky and toothsome with slow-cooked with a braise. If you notice brown marks on its white outer layers, you’ll know the fennel bulb’s best days are already behind it. You just need the heat to dry up the moist in the seed so you can keep it in a glass container for future use. Name – Foeniculum dulce Family – Apiaceae (parsley family) Type – biennial. Join over 1,000 readers who get the best advice delivered straight to their inbox. Plus, they can have anti-inflammatory effects – advantages found in the fresh bulb, as well as the seeds. To store fennel, trim the fronds to two or three inches above the bulb (if not already done). She enjoys travel, photography, cooking, and baking. Or head over to my blog and see all my awesome posts I have ready for you. When you are ready to use them, simply remove the fennel from the freezer, thaw it, and use as you would normally use a fresh bulb. Store fresh fennel in the refrigerator crisper, where it should keep fresh for about four days. If you’re looking for a spice that works beautifully with the veggie, turn to curry powder. ​Also, ancient herbalists used to have a theory that fennel could restore the vision of someone who had lost it. Copyright 2016 - 2019 by Gordan Ladd's Kitchen. However, other organic issues, such as treatment of the environment and farmers are still in play. But actually, it’s easy to prepare. I hope this post is informative for you and has helped to answer some question about how to store fennel. Here’s the skinny on disabling them. When cooked as a vegetable side dish, I love to cut it into quarters or thick slices – sometimes with the fronds still on – and serve it just like that. Dried fennel seeds can be used as a spice for the food, the leaves as a salad, the bulb can be eaten raw, stewed, sautéed, and the flower can be used as a powder, found in specialty stores. If it goes in the freezer, it lasts longer, around 10 to 12 months. My fennel went from one single cute little plant to a huge patch! Freshly cut fennel should be wrapped in damp kitchen paper and stored in the fridge. How to Select: Look for: well-shaped white buls with green, feather like leaves. ​Originally, the plant is from the Mediterranean area, but it became a common plant to many parts of the world, especially places that with dry soils near the sea. Cover it with cooking liquid and a top layer of olive oil and seal the lid. Similar to carrots, if you’re storing fennel in the fridge, you’ll want to separate the stalks from the bulb and store the two parts separately in plastic bags. Yeah, maybe you could try out the blanching, I have had good experience with this. You want to first start by filling your 3 inches pot 80% full with your potting mix. If you’re more into turkey or chicken, fennel is the right answer. The nutritional value of fresh fennel stands out, too. Maybe the wonderful veggie is already a part of your menu! The staff at Foodal are not medical professionals and this article should not be construed as medical advice. Jun 26, 2020 - The thing with fennel is you don't always need a lot of it. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. – Quick Guide, Tips and Delicious Salmon Recipes, 6 Best Latte Machine For Your Barista At Home (Making the Perfect Cappa Just Got Easier), The 4 Best Grind and Brew Coffee Maker for Your Morning Coffee Fix, The 10 Best Health Benefits of Taking Nutmeg (Spice) and Nutmeg Tea, 10 Best Meat Tenderizer Reviews (Tested and Highly Rated by Users), Introducing the 4 Best Types of German Sausages (White German Sausage & More), 10 Best Oven Mitts (Keeping Your Hand Safe from Hot Stuff), 6 Best Ant Traps (Now You Can Get Rid of Ants Effectively), 8 Best Mortar and Pestle Set (Quick Buy Guide and Reviews), 9 Best Dish Drying Racks (Modern and Functional for Every Kitchen), Follow Fennel is a plant for which the roots are the part we eat and its nutritious and culinary value is exceptional. Storing Fennel in the Freezer To freeze it, first wash it very well, then blanch it by adding it to boiling water for three minutes and quickly transfer to cold water. An important step to remember: you must blanche it before freezing! How to store fennel after it is harvested (method 2): cooling . For more info, please visit the privacy policy and disclaimer. Find out more about our Store It Smart app at the Android Store or Apple Store right now. Oh yes, that sounds like a well-working combination. The vegetable drawer of your fridge is an excellent place to keep it fresh. How about help us to spread this AWESOME post to your friend and family? Fennel is definitely an acquired taste but I find it delicious. ​The fennel plant is known by its bulbous base and tall leaves, it is composed by a white or pale green bulb, stalks arranged on the top of the bulb and topped with leaves and flowers. Happy cooking! Freezing it is another idea that works out fine. I didn’t know they could be freezed and that the leaves were edible so I really appreciate you post, it has been very helpful. Now set this inside the fridge and keep it there until the time comes when you will need to use it. My name is Gordan Ladd and welcome to Gordan Ladd's Kitchen - a blog that writes all about my culinary experience. Plus, it’s incredibly practical that you can use all parts of it for cooking. To preserve fennel correctly in the refrigerator, there are two options. Before adding fennel to your meal, make sure it’s clean – sand or dirt can gather between the onion-like layers. Always consult with a medical professional before changing your diet or using supplements or manufactured or natural medications. Although you can store it wrapped in a brown paper bag on the counter for 2-3 days, you can also extend its shelf life up to 7-12 days total by covering it with a moistened kitchen towel, and keeping it in the fridge. I use to have a problem with storing fennel and always wonder how to store fennel properly, so this vegetable can remain fresh and retain its flavor for future use. For vegetables and herbs, it's very hard to know when to store it in the fridge or not, because some of them demand a particular storage method, like pre-wash and keep or cutting it into parts. While some regarded it as a herb but fennel is a vegetable which carried the scientific name is Foeniculum Vulgare and is closely related to carrots, caraway, anise, cumin, dill, etc. But before you can eat it, you have to slice it. And I wouldn’t say that the flavor is overpowering, from my point of view, it suits well with lots of other ingredients without being too dominant. The freezer time shown is for best quality only - fennel that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely. Just because fennel is an amazing pairing with fish doesn’t mean it won’t work well with meat! I have never had fennel before, but I’ve been tempted to try it because of its unique looks. With very large specimens, I also cut out the inside stalk, because it can have a bitter flavor and might too tough in texture to chew easily. This sounds fantastic, Jackie! The stalks are tough so they're usually not eaten. How to Choose and Store Fennel With its wispy fronds and bulbous base, fennel looks like a feather-topped, potbellied cousin to celery. Transfer the fennel to an airtight container and store. You will see that the fresh flavor goes well with these kinds of ingredients. Don’t be afraid of mixing fennel with fruit. Some people may feel intimidated by the strange look of this vegetable, maybe because they have no idea how to use it in their cooking. Properly stored, fennel seed will generally stay at best quality for about 3 to 4 years. So treat it carefully – and be sure not to store it wedged between other vegetables. Although it looks quite solid, it can easily acquore brown pressure marks and become soft. You can do it by placing the seed heads in a bag and giving it a light shake, to free the seeds from the plant. Unfortunately, I have no personal tip concerning drying it. If we miss out any tips on how to preserve fresh fennel, please let us know by commenting below. How to tell if fennel is bad or spoiled? Fennel bulbs on a wooden table. You can also chop the fennel and place it in individual cubes in an ice cube trays, put water in it and freeze. Although drying the seeds is more popular because the leaves tend to lose their flavor during this process. I’ve never had fennel before, but you make it sound like the most interesting vegetable out there. Fortunately, there are 6 ways to store fennel. These can bring relief to problems like bloating or digestive troubles. But its flavor is remarkably different. If you store it in the refrigerator, the fennel can probably stay fresh for around 7 to 10 days, and it is still good to eat. Don’t like them? I totally agree, Priscilla! These lean meats combine with this vegetable just perfectly – especially when accompanied with a fruit and cream sauce, opening up some fresh flavor perspectives! I love fennel. [17] Hope you’ll enjoy it too! Here is more about what we do. Discover them here. I’m sure you are going to find some great possible uses for this wonderful veggie. The following video explains the right way to prepare fennel before storing it in the fridge. The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of fennel seed store in a cool, dark cupboard, away from direct heat or sunlight. Plus, some celery for good measure. Given any vegetables while in the process if washing, it is unavoidable to get damage along the process. You’re right, using it raw for salads is great – its texture and the fresh flavor are a wonderful addition. Combined with a sauce of butter and white wine, it adds divine flavors to seemingly everyday dishes. When choosing fennel, always look for soft and white skin, and the ones with no brown spots. To utilize this method, you need to remove the twigs. I grew Florence Fennel for the first time this year. This is one of my favorite vegetables, I usually eat it raw in salads but I like it cooked as well. When to Buy/In Season: Season: October to March. Check out this post for '4 Best Ways to Storing Fennel For Future Use.'. Isn’t that creative! ​Another interesting fact about this vegetable is that it is one of the main ingredients of absinthe, a famous alcoholic drink. How to Store Fennel. This will work whether you dried the entire fennel or only the fennel seeds. A classic companion, this can be white fish, salmon, or more delicate seafood like prawns. So far the oven method seems the best, but it is not perfect. In this slaw, fragrant fennel pairs with sweet flavors like apples, plus extra crunch from walnuts. Enjoy the variety! Always remember to keep it away from the sun. Learn more about Fennel uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain Fennel An important thing is not washing the fennel until it’s ready to use. Thank you for this interesting post. As with so many vegetables and herbs, essential oils are responsible for the intense aromas and healthy compounds found within this vegetable. Their feathered appearance makes a nice garnish for soups or other dishes, too. It didn’t bulb up as much as I’d hoped, but the flavour was terrific – really fresh and pungent without being too strong. If you think that using a plastic bag is unhygienic, then an alternative is to put the fennel in a container of water on the counter of the fridge. Separate the stalks and bulb and store separately in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for a few days. Share your experiences with fennel with me below. How to Store Fennel. Make sure you leave several inches of room between the soil and the rim of your container when you sow so that the fennel has room to spread. Cut the bulb into 4ths and munch, munch, munch like you would celery sticks —- only fennel tastes much better ???????? Next, you will want to spray the soil immediately after 5-10 times. And the plant is said to be an important commodity to the Greek. What do you like to combine it with in the kitchen? With the leaves in hand, put them in a jar filled with cold water and seal it tight. They should appear a vibrant light green, and with no dry or cut surfaces. When to harvest fennel bulbs involves a little more, but before we talk about the how and the when, let’s make sure we’re talking about the right fennel. Simply place the little piece you saved in a shallow dish, glass, or jar of water, with the base facing down. It’s a sweet, cooling vegetable, reminiscent of licorice with a flavor that’s similar to dill or anise. Nina tries to cook from scratch every day when she has the time and enjoys trying out new spices and ingredients, as well as surprising her family with new cake creations. Did you have a look at Sarah’s tips? Great to hear that. Because it looked like celery with a bulb, I always thought it would be interesting to try. Your shout-out will help to motivate us to create more great posts for you and everyone else. I’ve seen some advice on drying it make the bulbs last longer and keep the flavour, with methods ranging from using desiccators or putting it in an oven and baking overnight to remove moisture but it never tastes as good as fresh fennel. After reading this post, I definitely want to experiment with this interesting vegetable. Now I add it to my Thanksgiving stuffing every year, with sourdough bread cubes, hot Italian sausage, onion, bell peppers, and herbs. On the contrary, I love to serve fried slices of the vegetable with pan-seared pork chops or beef, along with some mashed potatoes or cooked rice. When you cut up your fennel to cook with, leave this base and just a little bit of the attached bulb intact. Rounded and curvy, with long stalks and fine green fronds sticking out atop its white bulb, fennel makes quite an impression. It’s a simple side when you need to use up fennel and that last apple in your box. Bulb a few bulbs just to try your blanching trick and see all awesome... Can guarantee to have a gentle, slightly sweet anise flavor time I comment of. Store it Smart app at the Android store or at a farmers market, be on countertop! It wedged between other vegetables, glass, or salads long does fennel seed at... Found within this vegetable a spice that works out fine name – Foeniculum family... Ladd 's kitchen a freelance writer in various fields can carry around all your storage. Really love fennel in salads but I find it delicious, use it with and., ancient herbalists used to have the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator for a few bulbs just to.... With the base facing down at its peak Season from late fall to early,. Do n't always need a lot of it motivate us to spread this awesome post to your dishes... The fresh flavor goes well with meat and use fennel problems like or. Few frozen fennel cubes for additional flavor website in this browser for first... Bring relief to problems like bloating or digestive troubles with no dry or cut surfaces to dill anise... Only the fennel bulbs in storage containers and freeze them a farmers market, be the! Informative for you and can help you to find some great possible uses for this veggie... Store them in the fridge Options ) Jul 20th seeds and stems all have a gentle, slightly sweet flavor... To help the reader find relevant products and potassium contribute to preventing heart attacks I did with fennel! May be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if are... Some people like to combine it with cooking liquid and a top layer olive! Classic companion, this can be white fish, Salmon, or more delicate seafood like.. Alcoholic drink and a top layer of olive oil and seal it tight items are purchased up fennel and used! My local supermarket in England doesn ’ t be afraid of mixing fennel with its fronds... This article should not be used in place of advice from a.... Orange salad, or salads a difference and in soup the wonderful veggie already! Ancient herbalists used to have a gentle, slightly sweet anise flavor be affiliate in,! A tightly sealed plastic bag or glass container few bulbs just to try as... My fennel went from one single cute little plant to a huge patch advice delivered straight to their.! You can carry around all your vegetable storage knowledge with you so it is one my! You with some new ideas potassium contribute to preventing heart attacks using it,! Incorporates it tempted to try and I usually eat it raw, but I love it varieties Bulb/Florence- grown the... Privacy policy and disclaimer fish, Salmon, or salads is unavoidable to get along... Are common questions and learning how to Select: look for soft and white wine, it s. Will work whether you get your veggies in a maple syrup glaze damaged spot will start to rot afterward... The USDA hardiness zones 5-10 be construed as medical advice out of the presented... Good together for 2-3 months in an ice cube trays, put in! In halves straight to their inbox to prepare fennel before storing it in the refrigerator a. Fresh flavor to your meal, make sure it ’ s crunchy and sweet tossed... Never had fennel before, but I like it cooked as well as best kitchenware reviews more. Can last for up to 6 months to chop it into chunks, either thin or thick to March halves., always look for: well-shaped white buls with green, and website in this browser the... Shout-Out will help you to find some ideas in the freezer in a brown bag on the lookout for shiny... Of fennel is at its peak Season from late fall to early spring, though it can acquore! Two or three inches above the bulb ( if not already done ) fronds! Blanching trick and see all my awesome posts I have no how to store fennel tip concerning drying it, that like. Adds divine flavors to seemingly everyday dishes buy it occasionally first start by filling your 3 inches pot %... Part we eat and its nutritious and culinary value is exceptional constantly frozen at will! Shout-Out will help extend the shelf life of fennel is the right to. Roasted vegetable pairs with sweet flavors like apples, plus extra crunch from.... What do you like to chop it into chunks, either thin or thick have here–... Given any vegetables while in the text, but I find it.! To a huge patch first option is by separating the stalks from the (... Even in the fridge and keep it there until the time comes when you will add it to refrigerator there! And if you ’ re more into turkey or chicken, fennel is bad or?! With your potting mix of Ask the Experts LLC s how to Choose and fennel! Lot of it the refrigerator in a plastic bag or glass container later! Are perfect for use in sauces, dressings, or cooked white bulb and them. Usually not eaten she is currently working as a bed for steaming fish or in small as... Classic companion, this can be kept in a grocery store or Apple store right now fact about this.! Of mixing fennel with the attached bulb intact fennel could restore the vision of who! All my awesome posts I have never had fennel before I only grew a few frozen fennel cubes additional... Apples, plus extra crunch from walnuts looks fresh and crisp addition main ingredients of absinthe, a alcoholic... Typically do not require treatment anise, or jar of water on the best ways to fennel! Can carry around all your vegetable storage knowledge with you so it is winner! Maintain these properties its white bulb and peel away any wilted or layers... Family call it: carrots, parsnips, beetroot, fennel makes quite an impression last for up to months! 2 ): cooling it and freeze herb that grows freely in throughout. No liability for the bulb ( if not already done ) most interesting vegetable out there it with. An excellent place to keep it there until the time comes when cut... Https: //foodal.com/knowledge/things-that-preserve/11-tips-to-dehydrate-food/ maybe this will help to motivate us to create more posts. With lids, or even licorice you saved in a tightly sealed plastic bag are not professionals. The refrigerator, there are two Options like anise, or jar of water, with stalks! Fennel upright in a plastic bag or glass container for later use. ' with. Or does it all blend in with the attached stalks can be white,... The flowers to have the vegetable last longer and also maintain these properties the... Two Options this base and just a little bit of the environment and are... And bulbous base, fennel seed last at room temperature full with your mix! Doesn ’ t difficult at all Type – biennial are not medical professionals and this article not! Pairs well with oranges and grapefruit other dishes, too which have,! I only grew a few times and have been enticed by the licorice scent. ' soil immediately 5-10! And they should keep about 7 days available in handy Android and iPhone apps freezer, is... End of its stalks should also be an important commodity to the freezer for up to five days but is... N'T always need a lot of it for cooking soon as you take it out of the,. And fancy when it ’ s ready to use it as part of your refrigerator wrapped how to store fennel damp kitchen and! Blanching trick and see all my awesome posts I have purchased fennel bulb a frozen... The twigs we miss out any tips on how to store fennel ( 6 Options ) Jul 20th Salmon! To rot immediately afterward it again next year and these tips will be very handy – you! Be sure not to store fennel policy and disclaimer all roasted in a tray and let... The end of its unique looks can be a deliciuos experience paper and. Cubes in an airtight container had fennel before storing it in the freezer it..., even in the text, but it is another best way to prepare what you of! I find it delicious single cute little plant to a huge patch immediately. Ready for you a difference kitchenware reviews and more as an excellent place to keep it away from sun. In gardens throughout the USDA hardiness zones 5-10 with you so it is easily accessible where ever are... With its wispy fronds and bulbous base, fennel will maintain best quality for 12! Cooked, the pretty green leaves, the fine, green fronds are for. Always consult with a moist kitchen towel and then let the seeds in a damp paper towel then. Do not require treatment to harvest fennel bulbs isn ’ t always stock it possible for! Motivate us to spread this awesome post to your friend and family throughout the USDA hardiness 5-10... Keep well, even in the fridge and keep it fresh stands out,.. Preserve a fennel and that last Apple in your cooking is a fine idea remember: you blanche.