storing Lemon Grass

[pmash]

Good evening all,

I purchased some fresh Lemon Grass need to know how to best store the remainder of the stalk.

Thanks
Patrick

[foodnfoto]

Try rinsing it with water, tossing it in a resealable plastic bag and throwing it in the door of your freezer. When ready to use more, run under warm water for a minute, then chop as usual.
Works great for me, though the color is not as pretty.

[Chefkell]

Damp Paper Towel wrapped around it and and in the crisper or drawer of your fridge. Should hold a week or two like that.

[Isa]

You could grate the lemongrass and freeze it.
It seems to be a popular method of preserving judging by all the different brand available at the local Asian grocery.

[chiffonade]

I don't think I've ever made a batch of anything Thai where I didn't use the entire stalk - but I do buy them a bunch at a time. I generally freeze them, intact, in their full stalk. I put them in a large ziplock bag unpeeled. I peel them when I need them - the outer peel protects the tender inside.

[Ronn]

One thing AI have foundthat is reall nice with left over lemon grass, is to make a enfusion with rice wine vin and lemon grass.

[kuan]

You can make a spice paste with it and freeze it. Another alternative is to process it and keep it in oil.

Kuan

[Mezzaluna]

Kuan, what about the danger of keeping herbs in oil? Would that have to be refrigerated?

[kuan]

Yep you actually should put it in the freezer. It's the stuff like garlic which might be dirty with spores from the ground which is potentially dangerous. Lemongrass falls into that category also.

Kuan

[SemperChef]

This probably isn't the exact answer you are looking for, but here is a neat tip that I found out by accident. I used to keep big pots of herbs (like the half barrels) out back. Sandy potting soil. One day my sous chef stuck some lemon grass pieces in the soil, root end.

We were all surprized when it started sprouting. Especially because the root end of the lemongrass wasn't really the full root - it had been chopped a bit also. It was incredibly easy to grow, and was SO AWESOME fresh. I would never have realized it if he hadn't been out back fooling around with the dishwashers, putting stuff like little bunnies and alligators, along with lemon grass, in the herbs.

So, if you have any herb pots around, try sticking it in and see what happens. The climate was texas in the fall, so maybe it needs to be sunny and hot.

Laurie

[Ronn]

Now that sounds like a great Idea I hope the West coast summer is hot enough cause Im gonna try that one!!!