Whether you organize rhubarb for pie or other rhubarb recipes , here ’s everything you involve to know about this delectable , tart ingredient .
We ’ll break down the basic on how to cook rhubarb for tone - packed cherubic and zesty selection , such as asummery jamor aneasy cake .
How Did Rhubarb Become So Popular?
Rhubarb has been used in Asia as a medicative plant for thousands of days . In the former 18th century , Europeans and Americans began using pieplant in bawd and pies . Its popularity occupy off as refined sugar became more low-cost and available .
In more recent years , consumers have turn to vitamin - productive rhubarb for its nutritional properties and disease - fighting compound , including anthocyanin . Research has suggested that anthocyanins may have anti - cancer benefits .
Rhubarb is also popular for its tart tone and bright color , and its versatility — you’re able to employ it to top your favorite sweet , includingcrème brûléeorrice pud .
Credit: Brie Passano
Here ’s what you postulate to know , including backsheesh on how to freeze rhubarb to economise those fresh feel for later on in the year .
What Is Rhubarb?
Because the stalks of rhubarb most often make their mode into afters recipes , rhubarb salsa , and other sweets , many believe rhubarb is a yield . However , as a member of the buckwheat family , rhubarb plant is a vegetable . Two types of pieplant make their means into markets : indoor garden and sphere - grown rhubarb varieties .
Hothouse Rhubarb
This variety has pinkish to pallid - red chaff with greenish - yellow leaves , and it ’s the type you ’ll normally determine at the grocery stock . If you are n’t blessed with arhubarb plantin your yard and demand to jazz where to buy rhubarb , check the green groceries department at your local grocery fund during the spring calendar month . Out of time of year , you ’ll be hard - pressed to line up rhubarb outside the frozen aisle .
Field-Grown Rhubarb
This seasonal variety of rhubarb is more intensely flavored and is recognize by its dingy red shuck and green leaf . It ’s a farmers market favorite from April to June .
Test Kitchen Tip : If you find rhubarb too tangy for your taste , look for rhubarb plant recipes that fetch some sweetened fruit to the mix . strawberry mark - rhubarbis a classic combining in pies , crisps , and other desserts .
Is Rhubarb Toxic?
Rhubarb stalks — both in the altogether and cooked — are dependable to wipe out . However , you should never exhaust rhubarb leaves;they stop oxalic Zen , which throw them toxic and could lead to serious complications .
When Is Rhubarb in Season?
Hothouse rhubarb is available year - round in some market . However , field - develop pieplant is available from February through June , with a tiptop season of April through June . Since peak rhubarb plant season is so short , you ’ll desire to take advantage of it by making your favorite rhubarb recipes while you could . you could always get frozen pieplant in the deep freezer section of grocery stores when you ’re in a pinch .
How to Choose Rhubarb
Look for crisp stalks that are firm and untoughened . Avoid rhubarb stalks that look wilt , finger woody , or are very loggerheaded . apart from the flavor differences between conservatory pieplant and field - grown rhubarb , the color of the straw does n’t have much impact on taste . For the fond , sweetest stalks , look for loyal untested stubble that are less than 2 inches wide .
If you have arhubarb patch of your own , here ’s how to get it from thesoilto your kitchen :
How to Store Rhubarb
trim down off and toss away any leave of absence from the pieplant stalk ( if present ) . To store pieplant chaff , wrap up them tightly in plastic wrapper or reusable storage bags and refrigerate for up to three Day .
How to Prepare Rhubarb
Before cooking , crop the stalks at the top and bottom . As mentioned above , fling any leave because they ’re toxic . Cut out and toss any tough , woody , or bruised division of the stalks . Wash the stalksthoroughly and scrub with a vegetable coppice . You do n’t call for to peel peak - season rhubarb plant , but by midsummer , the stalks tend to be rugged and hempen . You might want to peel them to make them tasty .
examination Kitchen Tip : Yes , you could eat pieplant crude ; just stave off the toxic leave of absence .
How to Freeze Rhubarb
If you have more rhubarb than you’re able to utilise in the next few days , lucky you ! Rhubarb freezes well . Here ’s how to prepare pieplant and freeze it step - by - step .
Step 1: Clean
Discard leaves and woody ends . lavation rhubarb with nerveless strike weewee , but do not soak . drainage .
Step 2: Cut
set up the stalks parallel on a cutting board . Using a sharp , long - bladedknife(such as a chef ’s tongue ) , cut the stalks into ½- to 1 - inch pieces or as directed in your recipe .
Step 3: Blanch (optional)
Fill your cesspit or a great container with ice water . Then satiate a gravid pot with water , using 1 gallon of body of water per 1 pounding of prepared rhubarb plant . Bring the Mary Jane of water to simmering . Add prepared rhubarb to the stewing water and cover .
set forth timing right away and cook over high heat for 1 minute ( 2 minutes if you live 5,000 feet or gamy above sea point ) . When theblanching timeis complete , employ a slotted spoonful to remove the rhubarb from the boiling water . Immediately immerse the pieplant into the ice water . Chill for 1 minute ( 2 minutes for eminent - altitude cooking ) and drain .
trial Kitchen Tip : If you plan to store frozen rhubarb for three month or longer , the blanching stone’s throw may preserve the coloring material of novel pieplant . However , if you ’ll use the rhubarb plant preferably , you could skip this step .
Credit: Andy Lyons
Step 4: Flash freeze
stead cut ( and blench , if desire ) rhubarb on a lambskin - line baking mainsheet andflash - freezeuntil business firm ( about two to three hours ) .
Step 5: Label containers and freeze
recording label Deepfreeze traveling bag or containers with the contents and date and suspend them for up to one twelvemonth . To habituate frozen rhubarb plant , thawing it in its container in the refrigerator and use it as you would fresh rhubarb plant in recipes .
“ rhubarb plant : The Pie Plant . ” University of Missouri Plant Science & Technology .
“ Health Benefits of Rhubarb . ” American Institute for Cancer Research .
Credit: Blaine Moats
Barraclough , Alice . “ 4 unexpected ways to improve your cooking with rhubarb – the voguish ingredient chefs ca n’t get enough of . ”Women ’s Health .
“ Are rhubarb leaves toxic ? ” Oregon State University Extension Service .
“ develop Rhubarb in Iowa . ” Iowa State University Extension and Outreach .
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Credit: Jason Donnelly
