\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Cut stalks at ground level, or hand-pull entire stalks. Boil the mixture for 15 minutes. The trickiest part about working with lemongrass is figuring out what parts of it to actually use. Water every day for the first week. Food magazine Editor Sophie Gray explains how. Once you have planted one on a pot, you can be sure to have a nice supply of this herb all year round. They are best used within 6 months for optimal flavor but will still keep well beyond this time. For easy removal from a pot of hot liquid, tie the whole stalk into a-knot, or cut it into smaller lengths for straining out. Use the tip of a paring knife to remove the woody outer layer, which will come off easily in wide strips. Move plants back indoors in late summer, putting it in a bright, cool position and reduce watering, keeping the compost just moist. Under ideal conditions, the plants is ready for harvest in 4-6 months. Secondly, you can propagate lemongrass from a cutting (see the method below) and plant in the ground. Then use a kitchen knife—such as a chef’s knife or a paring knife—to trim off the lowest 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm). Keeping in mind that the most edible part is near the bottom of the stalk; this is where you’ll want to snap or cut off your lemongrass. Using gardening shears, remove the leaves and cut the stalks back until they are six to twelve inches tall. It can grow to six feet tall and four feet wide, and makes an excellent choice for edging along fence lines and wide walkways. You can then freeze the hearts whole, or you can chop them first. thick. You can plant lemongrass in all three of its life stages. Oct 2, 2015 - Lemongrass is fast growing and can get a little unruly if not pruned back regularly. Turn the lemongrass so it is perpendicular to your knife. Be careful not to nick your fingers with the chef’s knife. With lemongrass, very little is wasted. Begin with older stalks first and look for those that are anywhere between ¼- to ½-inch (.6-1.3 cm.) Lemongrass is an herb that people can use to make a nutritious tea. If you're using home-grown lemongrass, you can use the leaves to make the tea. You can also subscribe without commenting. During cold winter days, it would be great to have a nice cup of lemongrass tea especially if it is freshly cut from your own plant. You can cut the stalks at ground level or pull an entire stalk, roots and all, for the bulbous base, which looks like a scallion and contains the soft, edible lemongrass heart. Lemongrass plants can grow up to 6½ feet tall, but in the supermarket you’ll find them cut down to size without their leaves. This amazing ingredient is a snap to prepare. The following spring, you can replant outdoors to transfer the plant into a larger pot. You can cut back the stalks in summer as soon as they develop to a 1/2-inch thickness, or you can harvest once yearly in fall. The leaves and the oil are used to make medicine. Place them in an air-tight bag or plastic container, and clearly label the date. Then drape the material over the plant. Begin by chopping off the bottom bulb of the one lemongrass stalk, about a half of an inch. https://globallyflavored.com/cooking-guides/how-to-cut-freeze-lemongrass Use a sharp knife and slice the core into thin rounds, beginning at the base. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Crush the rest to release the aromatic essential oils of the herb. Lemongrass is very forgiving and can be cut back quite drastically. Lemon verbena plants have elongated leaves, but they aren't grassy. Begin by chopping off the bottom bulb of the lemongrass stalk, about a half of an inch. Place plants in a sunny, sheltered position over summer and keep well watered. 3. % of people told us that this article helped them. How to divide lemongrass: Cut lemongrass stalks off to just above where the stalk thickens. Then, holding the lemongrass at either end, gently bend it several times to "bruise" it. Lemongrass is a delicious citrus scented grass that is used in many Asian dishes. You can also keep it for longer in the freezer, and it will maintain its flavor. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. The grass itself is coarse and thick and needs to be prepared in a specific way before it can be used in food preparation. Cut it like chives and chop thinly, add it to any foods you’d normally add lemongrass to, you won’t need to take it out, also freezes well this way too so you have fresh lemongrass through the winter (we live in Canada) the green stalks just grow back like grass and you basically have an endless supply. Put the container in a well-lit windowsill and water it in small amounts. Last Updated: February 12, 2021 There’s no need to bruise the leaves, though. Plants can also be raised from stems bought in shops. From here, you have two options. If you would like a finer dice, cut the stalk in half again lengthwise and thinly slice! Keep the bag in the freezer. https://www.noreciperequired.com/technique/how-chop-lemongrass If you want to save the hearts, cut off the leaves and peel away the outer fibrous layers. Lemongrass is commonly taken orally, applied directly to … It’s a common ingredient in Thai cooking and bug repellent. Learn how to cut lemongrass with a few easy steps! Lemongrass is great to have at home. Dice the second lemongrass stalk as well. How to cut back lemongrass in cold climates. To store lemongrass, cut the stalk into small pieces and put them in a zip lock bag. Another way to freeze it without taking up space is to blend minced lemongrass with a little bit of water and pour it into an ice cube tray. The flavorful part of lemongrass is the lower part of the stalks, and it is usually sold with the leaves and upper stalks removed. Sow seeds 5cm deep and 50cm apart. To mince lemongrass, slice the stalk thinly crosswise and then chop through the-slices until they’re minced. The fragrance and flavour is unique – lemony, but sweet – and is quite subtle until the stalk is cut or bashed. After placing the lemongrass into boiling water for about a minute, remove it and place into ice water to cool it down. The Soho cocktail, for instance, combines the herb with ginger, mint, gin, and ginger ale. Once you’ve purchased the lemongrass, preparation shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes. To remove it, place the lemongrass stalk on a cutting board. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If you already have a lemongrass plant, cut away an outer stalk in late summer. Lemongrass adds a special sour and yet, refreshing flavor to Thai cuisine - one of the reasons why people love Thai cuisine. Depending on how you intend to use it, you can cut the lemongrass stalk in two ways. Cut off the roots and pull off the woody outer layers to expose the inner core. Discard the leafy side of the other end. Then use a kitchen knife—such as a chef’s knife or a paring knife—to trim off the lowest 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm). Dried lemongrass stalks and leaves can be … While many supermarkets do sell pre-cut lemongrass stalks that have been diced into small cubes, you’re better off leaving these on the shelf. When foliage starts to turn brown in autumn, cut back foliage to 10cm (4in). ... Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass):Lemon grass has cane-like stems with blue-green leaves. To get to that flavor, cut away the thinner top portion of the stalk and the very woody base. Keeping in mind that the most edible part is near the bottom of the stalk; this is where you’ll want to snap or cut off your lemongrass. Lemongrass tolerates frequent cutting for harvesting, although plants won't grow as tall or full if you harvest often. Study results suggest that lemongrass has a wide range of health … Music courtesy of the Audio Network. You can divide a stalk of lemongrass into three sections: the bulb base, the stem and the leaves. To use your fresh lemongrass, cut off the root end and stiff tops, leaving just 3 to 4 inches from the plumpest portion of the plant. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. The aromatic, refreshing flavour of lemongrass is key to many Asian dishes such as curries and soups. Depending on the area you live in the plant will go dormant in the winter. Water the plant well to make removal easier. You can purchase bundles of 2–3 lemongrass stalks in large supermarkets and in any Asian market or grocery store. Although both lemongrass and lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) will both make a pleasing cup of tea, the plants have a different appearance and different growing requirements.Where lemongrass is a moisture-lover, lemon verbena plants like it on the dry side. Lemongrass look a little like fat spring onions, with the same swollen base, but the stalk is woodier, and composed of tightly packed grey-green leaves. Write something like: “Diced lemongrass May 1 2019.”. Add these bruised stalks to your soup or curry. Cut off the bottom 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) with a sharp kitchen knife. How to grow. Pruning lemon grass isn’t like pruning branches off a tree, or dead leaves from a bush, with lemon grass you grab a whole bunch of leaves with one hand, and prune with the other. Lemongrass is a perennial, which means once you plant it, the grass comes back year after year. Lemongrass is usually cooked along with the rest of the dish and removed prior to serving. Now what is left is the bulb of the lemongrass, which has a light yellow color. Cut the leaves back to around 3 inches and replant in a little container to grow over the winter. How to cut lemongrass. Though lemongrass stalks measure a foot long or more, almost all of the flavor is contained in the bottom 5 inches or so of the stalk. Vietnamese Fried Fish with Turmeric & Lemongrass (Ca Chien Sa Nghe). Pre-cut lemongrass has usually lost most of its potent flavor. Then, carefully give the lemongrass a rough chop. Lemongrass Propagation in Water. Cut off the upper portion of the stalk, leaving only the bottom three to four inches. The first step in preparing for the cold months is to prune your lemongrass. How to Buy Lemongrass . 2. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. Peel off the layers of the stem like an onion until you reach the soft and flexible part. Begin with older stalks first and look for those that are anywhere between ¼- to ½-inch (.6-1.3 cm.) They resemble fat scallions, with a pale yellow-green stalk that fades into a tough white root.When shopping for fresh lemongrass, look for stalks that are green, firm, and fragrant and with outer leaves that aren’t too desiccated (indicating a longer … It forms compact clusters of tall, blade-shaped leaves, with tough, woody outer stems surrounding the more delicate inner leaves to protect them from drying out. The procedure on how to harvest lemongrass is easy to follow. Either cut entire stems as necessary, trimming off leaves and retaining the bottom 8-10cm (3-4in), or divide the rootball up, cutting through it with sharp knife. References When serving, remove the lemongrass piec… Our technique allows you to get maximum flavour out of your lemongrass. Once frozen, transfer the cubes into a Ziploc bag for future use! The main stalk (the yellow section) is what is used in Thai cooking. I recently notice that my lemongrass is turning brown. Tested. The lowest portion of the base of a lemongrass stalk is tough and flavorless. This article has been viewed 35,444 times. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Another way to freeze it without taking up space is to blend minced lemongrass with a little bit of water and pour it into an ice cube tray. Cut each stalks to about 3 inches, place them in large pot with good soil mix or in the ground. You can cut back the stalks in summer as soon as they develop to a 1/2-inch thickness, or you can harvest once yearly in fall. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Click here for more lemongrass pruning info. If this is the case for you, skip this step. The stalks you buy don't need (and probably won't have) roots at the bottom, but they do need to have the the entire stem (base) intact. It won’t go bad but it will dry out and lose its freshness. Peel off the layers of the stem like an onion until you reach the soft and flexible part. I'm a world traveler and passionate cook looking to bring unique international flavors to your kitchen! Slice the lemongrass crosswise thinly. In addition, create superficial cuts along these sections with your knife, which will help release the lemon flavor. Keep reading to learn more about propagating a lemongrass plant and regrowing lemongrass plants in water. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Cut-Lemongrass-Step-7-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-Lemongrass-Step-7-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Cut-Lemongrass-Step-7-Version-3.jpg\/aid11037057-v4-728px-Cut-Lemongrass-Step-7-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":258,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":409,"licensing":"