You can safely can it, in some form of preserves. There are some tested, safe and delicious recipes from trusted, reputable sources for using eggplant in preserves such as pickles and relishes.
How do you preserve fresh eggplant?
To freeze eggplant:
- Slice the eggplant into 1-inch rounds. Place rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 350° for about 15 minutes. Allow the rounds to cool completely (do NOT skip this step).
- Place slices in a freezer-safe bag.
- Label with the date and freeze up to eight months.
How do you store eggplant long term?
The best place to store eggplant is not in the refrigerator, but at room temperature, where it’s likely to last longer. Keep eggplant in a cool spot, away from direct sunlight, and use it as soon as possible after harvesting or buying.
What can I do with too many eggplants?
Serve the roasted eggplant on its own or as part of an antipasto platter, fold it into pastas, layer it over pizza dough or in a vegetable tart, or toss it with other roasted vegetables and serve it as a salad.
Can Baba Ganoush be canned?
Freezing this is the ideal way to preserve eggplant, but in spite of what the USDA says, I’ve found that pressure canning this recipe turns out great so long as you use ½ pint or pint jars—nothing larger in order to be certain that you heat the mixture all the way through.
Can eggplant be pressure canned?
It is also not recommended that you process any kind of eggplant in a pressure canner. Not only will the high temperatures of the pressure canner make your eggplant mushy and unappetizing, but it’s not reliably safe to can eggplant in any kind of canner without adding lots of vinegar to raise the acidity.
Can you freeze eggplant without cooking it?
Cook First, Then Freeze. To get the best results, you’ll want to fire up the oven before heading to the freezer. Because of its high water content, eggplant doesn’t freeze well raw. It benefits from being cooked (even just partially) first.
Can you vacuum seal eggplant?
To preserve eggplant for longer, use a vacuum sealer. A vacuum sealer sucks all the air out of the bag. Another way to do this is by sucking out as much air as possible with a plastic straw. If you wish to prevent the eggplant slices from sticking together, wrap them individually in a small sheet of plastic wrap.
Can I dehydrate eggplant?
Place the eggplants slices on the trays of a dehydrator and dehydrate on the fruits/vegetable setting (about 135 degrees) for 4-5 hours until fully dried and crisp. You’ll want to check the trays around 3-4 hours as some thinner slices may be done sooner. Let eggplant cool completely before storing in a container.
How long is eggplant good after picking?
Eggplants generally keep for 1-2 weeks after harvesting, as long as you store them properly.
Can you freeze eggplant whole?
Yes! You can absolutely freeze eggplant. Eggplant that has been frozen and thawed will never be exactly like fresh eggplant, but there are some things you can do to preserve the texture and taste.
Is it better to soak eggplant in milk or salt?
Soak it in milk.
The milk not only tempers the bitterness, but it actually makes for eggplant that is extra creamy, since the vegetable acts like a sponge and soaks up a good amount of milk in its flesh.
Do I need to peel eggplant?
While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled. When in doubt, the answer to, “Do you peel eggplant before cooking?” is yes, peel it.
How do I can eggplant?
Fill clean hot jars, leaving 1 inch of headroom. Add fresh boiling water but no salt; adjust lids. Pressure-process at 10 pounds (240 F/116 C)—pints for 30 minutes, quarts for 40 minutes. Remove jars; complete seals if using bailed jars.”
Why is my baba ganoush bitter?
Larger, more mature eggplants have more bitterness and seeds which can be mushy and unpleasant. After cooking, remove as much moisture from the eggplant as possible, let the eggplant rest for a few minutes and then press and shake the eggplant in the strainer to release more moisture.
Can Zucchini be canned in jars?
Stuff your jars.
Stuff the flavored zucchini into the jars and ladle boiling water over them, leaving an inch headspace at the top of each jar. Remove air bubbles, so your pickled zucchini stays fresh by tapping the jar on the counter. Cover with the rims and lids.
Can I water bath can eggplant?
Fill the canning jars with eggplants and pickling liquid, then top it off with olive oil. Finally, process the jars in a water bath canner for 10 minutes, adding time depending on your altitude, then let the jars cool to room temperature. Eggplants are tender, delicious, and incredibly versatile for almost any dish.
Can cherry tomatoes be used for canning?
Yes! Tomatoes are just tomatoes after all. You can can cherry tomatoes just like you can larger tomatoes. You can pickle them and can the tomatoes whole- you don’t even have to take the skin off.
Can I can cabbage?
Cabbage usually discolors and grows stronger in flavor when canned. Therefore, canning is not recommended unless cabbage is first made into sauerkraut or pickled.
Do you have to blanch eggplant before freezing?
Blanching kills the enzymes that cause eggplants to lose their texture and flavor over time. Eggplant also has a high water content, so it benefits from being cooked slightly before freezing.
How do you prepare eggplant for freezing?
Simply make your fried eggplant slices as you normally would, cool to room temp, then arrange them in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze, uncovered, until solid. Stash the frozen slices in a freezer bag for future eggplant Parm sandwiches, entrees or casseroles.