Hey all. The season is upon us (at least here in USA, and I suppose northern hemisphere) for farmer's markets and cropshares. I just wanted to post some tips for people who may be new to the idea of coming home with a basket full of veggies they may never heard of and don't know what to do with. Even as an experienced cook, last year (our first year with our cropshare) was overwhelming for me.
Tools you'll want/need:
Large spider type strainer Amazon
Large bowls
Stock pot
Salad spinner Amazon
Optional: Foodsaver Vacuum system with bags (they have too many to get into, call them, they are very helpful)
Cleaning:
I use giant bowl filled with a 3-1 water-vinegar bath. Leafy greens should be submerged and swished around. Lettuces and escaroles hold a lot of dirt especially down by the roots. I'm not going to get deep into how to clean every veg, just google or post on here, this is just for tips.
For leafy greens, i spin the CRAP out of them until they're very dry. i then store them in a ziploc with a paper towel inserted to soak up extra moisture. They will stay for a week or more depending on the sensitivity of the greens. Pick through things that are bad as enzymes and gases released will spoil the good stuff quicker. This is the end of the process on this for leafy greens.
Blanching:
You're inevitably going to get some sturdier greens and other vegetables that you may not eat raw. See the related podcast. What helps is to have your stuff set up and ready to go.When you're coming back from the market or cropshare, keep your table clear and as much counter space as possible. I have my big vinegar bath bowl set up and ready to go. My pot is filled with water for boiling. If someone is home, get them to even start it on the way. Have your ice bath ready if possible (just a water pot, maybe add ice when you get home). After blanching, i spin. it removes the bulk of the water, then i lay them out on towels. Freeze in a single sheet, then place into your freezer bags or foodsaver bags.
The above things may sound obvious, but trust me. You'll get home, unpack, and forget about the stuff that's in there if you don't often do it right away, or by the time you get back to the leafy greens, some badness spread and ruined too much of it. Being lazy lost a bunch of good local and organic veg that you often pay a bunch to be a part of, so take care of it! Happy summer everyone, one of the best food times of the year.