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Feature Articles
What are Leeks?
Meet a Not-
Discovering What We Don’t Know About Leeks
Alien Encounters:
Drumming Up Inspiration for Strange-
A Week of Leeks:
Get to know Leeks, 7 Easy Ways
In Every Issue
Why We Love It
Partners in Flavor and Season
Leek Season
Vegetable Boosters
Picky Eater Tips
Money Saving Tricks
News from the Farm
Cooking School
Cooking Classes:
White Fish and Leeks en Papillote
Roasted Leeks and Butternut Squash Salad
Buying the Best
Storing for Flavor
Prepping Tricks & Tips
Cooking Basics
Recipes, Recipes, Recipes
13 Easy Recipes: Make
Leeks a Mid-
<<At Home: Storing for Flavor
Pop in the Frig Although leeks should be refrigerated as soon as possible, you have more leeway than with sensitive vegetables like lettuce, spinach and squash which must be refrigerated immediately.
Bag Loosely If the leeks are too long for one bag, use a second to cover the tops.
Don’t Bother Washing As always, it’s best not to wash before storing, even if the leeks are dirty.
Leeks are Storage Vegetables!
This is the beauty of leeks: properly stored, they will last 1 to 3 months!
That may sound unbelievable, since the more commonly used vegetables (e.g., corn, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers and spinach) all have storage times measured in days–and sometimes not very many of those. However, leeks are one of the winter storage vegetables. So like beets, cabbage, celeriac, parsnips and winter squash, they have storage lives measured in weeks and months.
Take Advantage of Leeks’ Storage Capacity
Although most of us can get by without leeks’ superior storage capacity since we
still trek to the store on a weekly (or more frequent) basis,we could still put that
capacity to good use and save ourselves a little shopping time. Simply buy several
leeks and keep them until you’ve exhausted all the other veggies in your produce
drawers. Between the leeks’ greens and the white parts, you can get two meals (and
stave off grocery shopping another couple days), particularly if those long-
Improve Storage Capacity
Although leeks are generally in no hurry to decay, if any part will go bad more quickly, it will be the tips of the greens. So if your leeks came with the long, floppy greens, consider cutting them off right away, when they will still be in good shape for the uses described in Love Your Greens. This will also prevent decay that might spread further down the leeks.
Store in Bottom Drawer
1) Being a cold weather vegetable, leeks prefer the coldest part of the frig, which is usually the bottom crisper drawer.
2) Leeks will be even happier if the humidity control is set to high. Not coincidentally, the cold, damp bottom drawer is the preferred storage place for other cold weather crops like spinach, lettuce, kale and cabbage.
More Advanced:
© 2009 Culinary Concepts, Inc., Boulder CO
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Fresh vs. Storage Leeks
Because leeks are a winter storage vegetable,those coming from storage obviously won’t exhibit the “Signs of Freshness” listed in the Buying Section.
So if you’re getting leeks from e.g., a farmer practicing winter storage methods, or from the bottom of your frig after two or three weeks, don’t let the wilted leaves and shriveled roots deceive you. There’s a swan waiting inside that ugly duckling exterior .
No Humidity Control? Wrap leeks in a cloth or paper towel before bagging. Or keep in a drawer at least half full of vegetables, since they give off enough moisture to maintain humidity levels.
The Basics:
The winter vegetables were designed for long storage times
For longer storage, cut off the ends to prevent decay from setting in. The ends are great for making stock.
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