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canning

Food Preservation Resources: Preserving Rhubarb

May 14, 2020 By marketeditor

Compiled and shared by Cornell Cooperative Extension, by Martha Zepp, Program Assistant, Penn State Extension

Rhubarb is the vegetable that is enjoyed as a fruit. By itself, it provides a unique tart flavor, but combined with other foods to create sauces, pies, cakes, cobblers and jams provides us with delicious flavor combinations.

Selecting
Although fresh rhubarb is at its peak through May and June, harvesting can continue through the summer if plants have adequate water and don’t wilt from the intense heat of July and August. The quality is best if it can be pulled from the garden and used before stems have a chance to dry. Choose rhubarb stems that are bright pink, crisp, and free of disease or insect damage. Pull the stems from ground level instead of cutting them. At any given time, harvest less than one-third of the stalks from any one plant.

Do not eat rhubarb leaves, as they are poisonous.

Canning
Rhubarb can be canned or used in making jams and jellies. The National Center for Home Food Preservation has recipes for stewed rhubarb and rhubarb-strawberry jelly.

It is not safe to add any type of thickening to rhubarb before canning because the starch will interfere with the transfer of heat to the center of the jar during processing.

If you desire a thicker rhubarb sauce, add a little cornstarch, tapioca, or modified starch after you open the jar prior to serving.

Freezing
Rhubarb freezes well. Rhubarb can be packed into containers or freezer bags raw or pre-heated. Raw rhubarb gives a good quality frozen product without added sugar. According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, heating rhubarb in boiling water one minute and cooling promptly in cold water helps retain color and flavor. (Cut stalks in lengths to fit freezer container or bag before heating.) Watch the time closely as overcooking will cause it to lose its shape.

A dry pack simply involves putting either raw or blanched rhubarb into containers without sugar leaving ½ inch head space. Tray packs also work well with raw rhubarb. Spread a single layer of cut rhubarb on trays, freeze until firm (1 to 2 hours), then put in air tight bags or containers.

Rhubarb may also be frozen with sugar or syrup.

  •  For a sugar pack, mix 1 part sugar and 4 parts rhubarb and allow to stand until sugar is dissolved before packing into freezer containers.
  • A syrup pack involves covering the rhubarb with syrup made by combining 1 cup sugar with 2 cups water and allowing adequate head space for expansion–½ inch for pints and 1 inch for quarts in wide top containers.
  • In general, up to one-fourth of the sugar may be replaced with corn syrup or mild flavored honey.
  • When cooking with rhubarb that is frozen in syrup, remember to include the sugar as part of the recipe.

Freezing already cooked rhubarb dishes saves time when serving. Plain sweetened sauces or those thickened with tapioca or ThermFlo® freeze well. Breads, cakes, cobblers, and some pies freeze well, but don’t freeze rhubarb custard pies.

Source: https://extension.psu.edu/preserving-rhubarb, 5-8-2020.

Check out this video on How to Freeze Rhubarb to see both Dry Pack and Tray Pack methods

Provided by Diane Whitten, Nutrition Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension. More food preservation resources can be found at http://ccesaratoga.org/nutrition-food/food-preservation.

Find rhubarb recipes here!

Filed Under: Featured Article, News Tagged With: canning, CCE, Cornell Cooperative Extension, food preservation, freezing, june, may, preserving, rhubarb, spring

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This Saturday will be a great one: Owl Wood Farm's This Saturday will be a great one: Owl Wood Farm's fresh veggies are back! Plus find discounts on @nettlemeadowfarm cheeses, new flavors of infused maple syrup at @slatevalleyfarms, and more. Stop by the market 9:30am-1:30pm - we'll be outdoors again in the Bon-Ton/Bow Tie parking lot!

📸: @mysaratogakitchentable
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #eatfresh #shoplocal #518
We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best Farmers’ Markets in the Saratoga Region for Saratoga Today’s Best of 2021! Thank you to everyone who continues to shop local and show their support!

You can vote for us once a day daily until 4/22 under the “Fun & Leisure” category using the link below:
 https://www.saratogatodaynewspaper.com/best-of-2021#//
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#saratogatoday #saratoga #saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #bestfarmersmarket #shoplocal #shopsaratoga #upstateny #saratogany #supportlocal
Welcome back to another MCM (Market Crush Monday)! Welcome back to another MCM (Market Crush Monday)! This week we talked to R&G Cheesemakers🧀

1. What kinds of cheese do you make?
We offer a full line of artisan cheeses, both cow and goat’s milk, as well as yogurt. Some of our cheeses include mozzarella, ricotta, cheddar, manchego, feta, a variety of spreadable flavored goat cheeses and more! Then we have goat milk greek yogurt and jersey greek yogurt in strawberry and plain.

2. What is your best seller?
Our burrata is really popular and the soft goat cheeses are also a customer favorite which come in flavors like apple cinnamon, garlic and herb, maple chipotle, orange ginger, honey and more!

3. Do you have any favorite products from around the market?
Yes, so many! I’m a big fan of @junbucha365 , the vodka sauce from @giovanni_fresco , @longlesson meat and anything from @saratogachocolateco just to name a few. 

Be sure to stop by R&G Cheesemakers Saturday from 9:30-1:30 at Wilton Mall, we will be outside in the parking lot weather permitting! 
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#saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarketfresh #farmersmarket #saratoga #wilton #randgcheese #cheese #randgcheesemakers #eatlocal #artisancheese #upstateny
We are moving outside this week! We couldn't bear We are moving outside this week! We couldn't bear to be indoors while it's so nice out, so find our vendors in the Bon-Ton/Bow Tie parking lot this Saturday, 9:30am - 1:30pm. All our current COVID guidelines still stand, so grab your mask and meet us outdoors at the market!

📸 by @mysaratogakitchentable
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #spring #nofarmsnofood #518

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