How To Buy,Store & Freeze Fresh Cilantro

Cilantro is an herb and is sometimes referred to as coriander.Cilantro and Coriander come from the same plant, but they are not the same thing — although the words are often used interchangeably. "Cilantro" refers to the herb — the green leafy bits. "Coriander"refers the spice — the roots and seeds, which are usually dried.

It makes a good complement to spicy foods. Cilantro is commonly used in Asian, Mexican and Indian cuisines.Although it is usually just the leaves of the fresh cilantro plant that are used, the stems and roots are edible as well.Cilantro is typically sold in bundles of fresh leaves and stems or grown in the garden.

How To Buy Cilantro:-

Cilantro is available year-round.Choose cilantro with bright,aromatic & evenly-colored green leaves, showing no sign of yellowing or wilting.If it has no aroma, it will have no flavor

How To Store:-

1) As soon as you arrive home with fresh cilantro, remove the cilantro from the produce bag.

2)Pick out any wilted leaves & remove any leaves at the bottom of the stems. (You do not want the leaves in the water.)

To Store In Refrigerator:-

1) Place the stems (with roots intact if attached) in a glass of water and cover the the top loosely with a plastic bag.Leave plenty of room for the leaves to breath but secure it tightly around the bottom of the glass with a rubber band and refrigerate.

2) When ready for use, simply pull out or snip off the desired amount and re-cover.

3)The water should be changed every 2 to 3 days and also pick out any wilted leaves when you do.

4)Do not wash the herb until you are ready to use it.This technique will keep your cilantro fresh for up to 2 weeks.

To Store The Freezer:-

1) Gently rinse the bunch in cool water and let air dry.. I even pat them with a towel sometimes. Get them dry as possible.

2) Snip the tips of the stems with a pair of scissors/kitchen shears Or pick the leaves if you don't like using the stem part in your food.

3)After the leaves are completely dry i put them in a airtight ziplock container or freezer bag. Label them with name & date & freeze.

4) When ready to use just break the amount you need, give it a rough chop and add to your dish..Do not thaw before using.

Or

Place a small amount dry cilantro leaves in a single layer on a cookie sheet. When frozen, gather into a ziplock bag, returning to the freezer immediately. Use within 6 months.

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Notes/Tips:-

Frozen cilantro is not great for garnishes, but it’s just fine for most recipes, including guacamole, soups, and any sauce that calls for fresh cilantro.

When freezing ,after picking the leaves, mix them with a small amount of olive oil... just enough to coat the leaves. Then pack into freezer bags and freeze for later use. The olive oil makes it really easy to separate the frozen leaves and also adds an extra flavor to the mix.

Frozen cilantro separates fairly easily and even in chunks chops easily on a cutting board.

You can also puree the leftover herbs(any) with just a little oil and freeze the puree in ice cube trays.

Cilantro can be frozen for upto 4-6 months.

Do not wash the cilantro until you are ready to use it, as it tends to go bad more quickly when moist.

Fresh cilantro leaves do not simmer well because heat diminishes their flavor quickly. The leaves should be removed from their stems and added to a dish just before serving. In fact, a very quick rough chop of the leaves will release the herb’s full strength of flavor; again, chop and use immediately.

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How To Make & Freeze Your Own Wraps/Burritos for Healthy, Tasty & Cheap Breakfasts/Lunches/Dinners ( Step By Step Pictures)

Burritos are great for breakfast, lunch or dinner it's fast, portable, and can be ready in under 2 minutes by freezing it ahead.These are not only easy to make but also freeze well, and give you complete control over what's inside

Take sometime on Sunday to make and freeze a batch of your favorite burritos, then enjoy a hot and incredibly filling meal anytime all week long, that only takes 2 minutes .

These are the BEST and will keep you full for hours!You can fill your burritos with whatever ingredients you like best,these are easy on the budget and a perfect make-ahead idea from leftover too.Just divide your leftovers evenly among the tortillas, wrap tightly in foil, and freeze, Voila.

Assemble Your Burrito:- Lay large (8″) flour tortillas out on a clean surface & Divide the fillings evenly between the tortillas.

Roll the burritos :- By folding over the top of the tortilla, folding in the sides, then rolling to the end.

Prepare To Freeze :-Wrap each one in plastic wrap then, if the ingredients inside differ, mark the outside with the initials.After wrapping i usually put then in a freezer in a tray for 1 hour or so until it firms up.Date and label a freezer bag, then place the burritos inside and freeze.

How To Reheat The Frozen Burrito:-When you’re ready to eat, Remove a breakfast burrito from your freezer about five to 10 minutes before breakfast(if possible:). Unwrap the burrito and place it on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave the burrito on medium-high for two to three minutes or until thoroughly heated. Add condiments, such as vgean sour cream or chipotle dressing, after the burrito is heated.

OPTIONAL STEP:- Unwrap the burrito & microwave on microwave safe plate for 1 minute , then Coat an 8-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium to medium-high heat.Transfer the burrito to the hot skillet (seam side down ) and cook until light brown, carefully flip the burrito and cook the another side. ( this step can be skipped if you have cooked tortilla, mine was not cooked).

Wrap in foil if desired. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas

Breakfast is served!..Enjoy :)

Notes:-
1)Whenever making burrotis keep the ingredients simple and flavorful. Rice, beans, sautéed vegetables,roasted potatoes and/or a sprinkle of vegan cheese will do the trick.

2) DO NOT ADD fresh vegetables, like fresh tomatoes or lettuce as they don't take freeze well.

3) Allow your burrito filling to cool, place it in a warm tortilla, wrap the burrito and let the tortilla cool to room temperature. Freezing hot burritos can cause uneven freezing, which can alter the texture and taste of the food.

4)Ideal way to freeze your wraps once you've made them is to wrap them in foil, then tightly wrap them again in plastic wrap. Doing both may create a lot of waste, but it ensures that your precious burritos aren't exposed to freezer air, and your food doesn't spoil or get freezer burned before you get a chance to eat it. ( I didn't do this way as i used double sided freezer bags )

5)You can also thaw burritos in the refrigerator overnight, then wrap each in foil and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until hot. The thawed burritos can also be deep fried for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and crisp.

6)If frozen carefully, the burritos can last for a year.( It will be gone wayyyy before that i promise..:)

Burrito Pictured above is 3 Ingredient Healthy Vegan Burrito ,one of my all time favorite.

Has anyone else tried freezer burritos? What are your favorite ingredients? How about a breakfast burrito?
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How to Freeze Pancakes For Quick Breakfast / Cooking Tip

Make and freeze pancakes in advance and enjoy them anytime. This is a great way to help you save money and TIME.It really makes mornings a lot easier!Once they're frozen, reheating pancakes is simple enough that even older children can warm them up for breakfast on their own.

How to Freeze Pancakes

1)Make your favorite pancakes (Double the recipe if you want) Check out some great pancake recipes here

2) Allow to cool completely.

3) Once they are cool. Place the pancakes on a baking sheet in a single layer and pop it in the freezer for 30 minutes. (This step is important to prevent the pancakes from sticking together. SEE NOTES BELOW FOR ALTERNATIVE WAY)

4)Place them in a freezer bag or container and freeze. Before freezing, label with the name/type of pancakes and date that they were made.

How to Reheat Frozen Pancakes:

Microwave: Place frozen pancakes on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave uncovered on high for about 1 to 1-1/2 minutes, or until heated through, but don’t overcook them or they’ll get tough.Then finish in the toaster for another minute or so to crisp up the edges.

Toaster Oven:-Slide the lever to the lightest setting . Pop the pancakes in the slots and toast on one or two cycles until warm.

Conventional Oven: Place frozen pancakes in a single layer on a cookie sheet and cover with foil. Bake in a 375°F oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until hot,cover tightly with foil, which will keep them from drying out.

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Notes / Tips:-

1) Use the frozen pancakes within 1 to 2 months for best quality.

2) Use the same method to freeze the WAFFLES &/OR FRENCH TOAST

3) You Can also freeze the pancake batter:- Mix up your favorite batter and pour it into a gallon size ziplop bag .Ensure all the excess air is out of the bag. Seal and freeze.Whenever you're ready ,just thaw in warm water or overnight in the refrigerator. Cut off a corner of the bag and pipe the pancakes directly onto the hot griddle.

4)Alternately, if a baking sheet won’t fit in your freezer or you are simply feeling lazy (like i always do) then freeze pancakes by placing a square of wax or parchment paper between each one in a stack.

5) Unless a freezer bag shows signs of wear rinse and reuse! Not only will this save your wallet, it helps reduce the amount of waste in our landfills.

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