Horseradish is extremely beneficial for our health. Its benefits have been known since time immemorial. Horseradish helps a lot with rheumatism. It can be intaken by eating or using horseradish root.
Horseradish composition
Horseradish roots contain a large amount of minerals such as sodium, iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur and others. It also contains vitamins such as A, B1, B2, PP, as well as a solid amount of vitamin C. Horseradish also contains a glycoside, sipigrin, which when split turn into mustard seeds. Horseradish produces a large amount of volatile products, so when you put horseradish next to fruit, cheese, eggs and even meat, they stay fresh for a long time.
Collecting horseradish
Horseradish is a perennial plant, but its roots are biennial and they have the best taste. It is harvested in late October and early November. If harvested later, its roots become very fragile. Annual roots are set aside for planting. Some parts of the root can be left in the ground. They must be well wrapped, so that they do not freeze. They can be covered with straw, for example. When they are covered this way, horseradish roots last all winter.
Horseradish storage
Horseradish is suitable for storage if there are no rotten parts, dents or cracks in its roots. They should be well cleaned of dirt, their tops should be removed and can be stored in the basement, placed in boxes with sand or on the floor of the basement you can put sand and arrange them. They should be stored in the dark, because they lose moisture very quickly and dry in the air.
Drying horseradish
To dry horseradish root, we must first clean it from the soil, then wash it very well and peel it. Then grate on a coarse grater. Then put in a baking pan and dry it on low heat. Dry at a temperature of 40 to 45°C for 2-3 hours. Horseradish leaves are dried in a similar way. They must be without visible damage and they must be washed well. However, it is important to dry them properly. After washing them, remove the stems and hang them somewhere, so that the moisture disappears completely. The leaves are cut into small pieces and spread evenly onto baking paper. They are dried at the same temperature as the roots. The difference is that the leaves can also be dried outdoors. If the weather is good, you can put them in the shade, under a canopy on a newspaper and dry them for 12 hours. When completely dry, transfer them to a glass container in which you can store them. Nicely dried horseradish root can be easily grinded with a coffee grinder. Then, the grinded horseradish is placed in glass jars and kept in a cool place.
Dried horseradish use
- If you add 1 tbsp. ground horseradish powder in some brine, it will not become cloudy and no mold will appear in it;
- If you have an open jar or can in your refrigerator, if you add horseradish powder inside, they will not form mold;
- All methods of use apply to both leaves and roots;
- You can add dried horseradish powder to some sauces. The taste is unusual, but on the other hand delicious.
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