How To Store Artichokes For a Long Time

You can get delicious artichoke dips, pasta sauces, and desserts. However, before you start cooking with them, you must learn how to store artichokes, so they last for a long time to come.

Do you love to cook and bake with fresh artichoke recipes? Then you know how important they are to your kitchen routine. Artichoke seeds go bad does not mean that you can’t keep them for later use.

What is an artichoke?

If you have ever eaten a fresh artichoke, you know that it is much more than simply a sweet, tasty vegetable. Artichokes have been a staple of eastern and southern cuisine for hundreds of years.

The plant has been used both as a vegetable and for food in other cultures. Artichoke has gained popularity among people from all walks of life in recent years. Now, scientists are discovering that artichokes have far more health benefits than simply providing a tasty treat.

Health Benefits of Artichoke

Many of us may know about the Health Benefits of Artichoke. This is a popular vegetable used in Italian cooking and many other cuisines around the world.

1. Rich in nutrients

One of the many health benefits of artichoke is that it is a rich source of vitamin C, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and other nutrients.

It is also high in other essential vitamins, including Folic Acid, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B6. It is easy to make, quick to cook, and nutritious when eaten on its own or added to other foods.

2. Promote digestive health

Artichoke does not only tastes great but is also good for your health and digestive system.

There are many ways that artichoke hearts help your digestive system.

3. Serves as a detoxifying agent

The health benefits of artichoke hearts go further than just making delicious food. They are also used as a natural detoxifying agent. People will often use a teaspoonful of this superfood or other related items as a base for a detoxifying drink or juice.

The main ingredients in detoxifying drinks are lemon juice, maple syrup, cascara sagrada, grapefruit, cayenne pepper, purified water, cornstarch, and probiotics.

4. Great source of proteins

Artichoke leaf extract and tocopheryl acetate are also responsible for the health benefits of artichoke. Tofophan is accountable for the breakdown of protein in our bodies, which is needed for the production of serotonin.

This particular ingredient is the reason we get so many relaxing and energizing effects from Artichoke leaves. In addition to improving serotonin levels, tofophan promotes healthy bowel function by cleaning out our bowels.

5. Rich in antioxidants

Many believe that artichokes are rich in antioxidants, making them an excellent choice for adding to your diet. Antioxidants are substances that help in neutralizing free radicals, molecules that cause damage to healthy cells or lead to illness.

Many foods low in antioxidants are high in fat, and low in nutrients; including fruits and vegetables in your daily diet can be very difficult, if not impossible. Adding antioxidant-rich artichokes to your diet can help to boost liver function, improve your immune system, and prevent illness.

Other plants contain antioxidants as well, but few contain as many antioxidants as the artichokes do. Clinical studies have found that artichokes contain high nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, niacin, potassium, phosphorus, and selenium.

In addition, artichokes have a unique group of flavonoids, which may play an essential role in fighting chronic diseases, including cancer. With its high concentration of antioxidants and similar phytonutrient content, artichoke extract may be just what you need to keep your liver in peak health.

Related: 7 Antioxidant-rich fruits and its health benefits

How to store artichokes

Artichoke can be kept fresh for as long as two days if properly stored. You can increase the number of days by freezing the artichoke. Here are two main artichoke storing choices:

1. Refrigeration

Suppose you do not intend to cook an artichoke. In that case, you should keep it in the fridge immediately to ensure quality for a long time. Here are two simple ways to store artichoke safely in the refrigerator.

Step 1:

1. Wrap each one individually in a plastic bag that is covered in a paper plate.
2. Do not use a pre-washed paper bag, as this can reduce the shelf life of your artichoke dip or other dishes.
3. If not eaten right away, don’t wash them. Wipe them down and leave them in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Step 2:

1. Place 1 inch of water into a bowl.
2. Place the artichokes into the bowl with water.
3. Place the bowl in the fridge.

2. Freezing

Freezing can extend the shelf life of artichoke by slowing down the enzyme action that can cause food spoilage. To preserve its flavor and color, blanch it first before freezing. Artichoke that has been adequately frozen will keep its quality for 6-8 months.

Here’s how can you do this:

1. Take out all the leaves that are not green to preserve the meaty core.
2. To remove dirt, rinse the hearts with running water. Take off the stalk and top green portion.
3. To prevent them from turning brown, soak them in lemon water. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Add lemon juice.
4. Drain the meaty part and place them in boiling water. The size of artichoke hearts will determine the time it takes to blanch them. Blanch tiny hearts in 5 minutes; large ones can take up to 10 minutes.
5. After cooking, place the hearts in ice-cold water and place them on a towel to dry completely.
6. Remove the dried artichoke from the towel. 
7. Place dried artichoke in a single layer on a baking sheet. Make sure they don’t touch one another. Then, place them in the freezer to freeze until solid.
8. Place these artichokes with a baking sheet in a freezer bag. Seal the container to make sure to get rid of any air and prevent freezer burns.
9. Label each bag clearly. Place them back in the freezer.

Steps to choose fresh artichokes

You want to choose artichoke that is fresh when you shop at the grocery store. Here are few things to look for when you shop for artichoke.

• Tightly packed green leaves.
• The crispness of the leaves will make them squeak when squeezed gently.
• Some artichokes might have purple-colored leaves. Avoid picking those with brown tips.
• A freshly cut stem indicates freshness.

Preparation for artichoke recipes

Once you have cleaned and prepared your fresh herbs and chopped up your new artichoke heart and desired amount of artichoke tops, remove the stems from the stems and place them in a glass baking sheet or baking bag.

• Defrost the frozen artichoke in a food processor
• Add your herbs, chopped pieces of tomato, and any additional ingredients you want to include.
• Heat your recipe in the microwave for about 2 minutes. 
• When the timer rings, unpack and heat in your oven at the recommended temperature. 
• Then, after the recipe indicates to put on the pot or pan, gently wave the petals from the stove. 
• Once fully cooked, serve over lettuce and cream sauce or on top of baked potatoes. 

If you are serving this to your guest, they are sure to love this easy to prepare and easy to enjoy appetizer!

How do you know your artichoke is spoiled?

Signs that your artichoke is spoiled includes:

• Artichoke having an open hole in the center and lose leaves.
• If the tips of the leaves split, it means that they are dried out.
• It is light and a sign that it is dry.
• When squeezed, it feels soft and spongy.

My Final Thoughts

Artichokes contain a significant amount of dietary fiber and antioxidants. A low-calorie and low-fat dip are one of the healthiest options for snacks.

I hope this article on “How to store artichokes for a long time” has delivered the correct information to you. This article is for information purposes only. If you need nutritional content and scientific knowledge, please consult your nutritionist and dietician.