How to Store Artichokes: Different Conditions, Different Method

If you are into artichokes so much, then the knowledge of how to store artichokes properly can give you a huge benefit.

As a part of leafy greens, artichokes can go bad quite easily. That’s why you need to learn how to store them properly – within different conditions and situations.

There are many recipes that are using the artichokes as a part of their ingredients.

If you are using fresh artichokes, they can result in very tasty and refreshing meal. But if you prepare them wrong, or you probably pick the wrong type of artichokes that may not taste so good, then it will affect the entire taste of your meal.

That’s why it’s a good idea to understand the proper storing options as well as the how to pick the fresh (and right) one.

Contents

Asparagus vs Artichokes

You may be surprised to find out that some people can’t differentiate artichokes from asparagus.

From the appearance alone, they are quite different. Not to mention that their storage methods are also different from one another.

Basically, how to store artichokes? You can keep them for the next 4 to 5 days in a plastic bag without washing them. After you wrap them in a plastic bag, put them in the refrigerator.

You can also use the bowl method if the stems are still well attached.

They should be good and the flavor won’t change when you finally cook them.

What about asparagus? Unlike the artichokes, asparagus needs moisture.

They will remain fresh for the next 3 to 4 days if you provide enough moisture. You can stand them in an upright position within a glass (with only 1 inch of water). Or you can use a damp paper towel to wrap the stem and refrigerate them.

Although you need to moisturize the stems, make sure that the tips remain dry. It will prevent them from rotting.

If you are still confused about the differences of asparagus and artichokes, hit the net. They have plenty of images that you can see and compare.

How to Store Fresh Artichokes

It’s advisable that you immediately prepare and cook the artichokes you have just bought to retain its moisture, crunchiness, and juiciness.

When you immediately cook those fresh artichokes, you will enjoy the tasty flavor and the crunchy texture, giving you the pleasure of healthy and natural tasty greens.

However, often times you may have bought too many. Or you probably have a change of heart; deciding to cook the greens on the following day.

Knowing how to store artichokes fresh can retain the juiciness and tastiness of the greens.

You don’t need to wash the artichokes. Simply cut the artichoke stem and then spray water on it. It will keep them hydrated.

By using a plastic bag, wrap the entire green. Put it in the (crisper) drawer of your fridge for 2 to 3 more days. Here are some things you need to remember when storing them fresh:

Don’t wash it unless you are about to cook it. When you expose the artichokes to excessive moisture, it may lead to mold and it will promote faster rotting process
If you want to freeze up the artichokes, use a pot and knife from stainless steel. It will prevent the greens from becoming brown
Storing the artichokes in the freezer can prolong their life. But be sure to freeze them up at the peak to savor the greatest flavor, especially when thawed
Once you have cut the artichokes, don’t forget to apply lemon juice. Do it on the cut surface so it won’t go brown.

The details of how to store artichokes fresh (by using a plastic bag or a plastic wrap) are explained below. Some people may use the vacuumed seal or even zipper bag.

Cut the artichokes stem (around half an inch)
As it was mentioned before, sprinkle some water on the stem. If you don’t want to make it soaking wet while ensuring that the stem is well hydrated, use a spray bottle.
Put them in a plastic bag. The bag would trap the moisture in, keeping the greens well hydrated for some extra days. It will also prolong the life
Put it in the fridge. You have performed a proper and correct storing method that can make the green stay fresh for some extra days ahead.

Some people may use a different refrigerated method because they only need some extra hours, not up to day.

When they go home from the grocery, they intend to cook those artichokes, but not immediately. Dinner time is till 4 hours away and they don’t want to start now.

If you can prolong the life up to several days, then you can prolong it for some extra hours, right?

Use a bowl of water if you want to add the extra hours of freshness before you finally cook it.

Pour around an inch of water inside a bowl
Cut the stalk end, around half an inch of it. The freshly cut and exposed area helps the stalk to absorb water. This will keep the entire artichoke fresh for longer period of time. Well, at least for several hours
Put the artichokes in a standing position in the bowl. Make sure that the freshly cut stalk is inside the water
Then put the bowl in the fridge. In the next few hours, your artichokes would be ready for cooking. It will stay juicy, fresh, and tasty despite the extra prolonged time

Checking Your Artichokes

It’s pretty normal when people forget they have artichokes in the fridge or in the freezer.

When you do store something, it’s advisable to check them regularly. It will minimize any food wastage. It can also prevent food poisoning.

Aside from knowing how to store artichokes, you should also know how to spot your artichokes becoming bad. Any spoiling or bad artichokes will display these signs:

It feels somewhat spongy when you squeeze.
When you squeeze the artichokes, they should feel firm and produce a squeaking noise. Well, bad artichokes will feel mushy and they don’t produce the squeaking noise. It’s because of the dehydration
You can see the browning on the leaf edges
The smell is different. It’s no longer having this nice smell, but it smells off and unpleasant.

If you find any of those signs, unfortunately, you need to remove the artichokes. It’s not safe for consumption.

Plus, if you keep having them in the fridge, they may affect other veggies and ingredients inside the refrigerator.

So, it’s safer to just discard them.

How to Store Cooked Artichokes

What if you have prepared the artichokes and you want to store them? It’s possible and doable.

Artichokes can be stored after preparation as long as you do it right. So, not only you can store it fresh, but after some preparation or cooking too.

For instance, if you cut the artichokes, you will see this exposed and bright part.

Dip that part into water with lemon juice mix. Or you can directly rub the area with half a lemon. It will prevent the browning or even black-ing.

If you want to know whether the artichokes are fresh or not, simple break off the bottom leaf. Snap it off and check. That broken area should have a bright white hue with a little juice on it. You should pick the bright green ones.

Smaller artichokes are typically more tender, but if you want to stuff them, you need the bigger ones. The smaller ones would be a hassle for stuffing.

So, how to store artichokes after cooking? Feel free to steam the artichokes for around 45 minutes before storing them in the refrigerator. They can last for several days.

What if you want to boil or bake them? You can do it too, but don’t use the aluminum pan. Your artichokes would be just fine.

How to Store Artichoke Hearts

How to store artichokes heart? You need to prepare or cook them first, and then freeze them.

Artichokes hearts will lose their nutrition and color quickly if you simply toss them into the freezer.

Simply remove all the outer leaves and trim the chokes, so you are left with the tasty center (or the heart). Wash it with cold water and then dry it thoroughly. Mix water and lemon juice and put the heart in it. leave it for 3 minutes. Cool it off and drain well.

How to Store Baby Artichokes

How to keep the baby artichokes? Well, basically the knowledge of how to store artichokes is just the same.

You can perform the previous methods with the baby artichokes.

However, some people say that you’d better trim them first before you can store them.

Keep in mind that trimming takes extra efforts, so you want to choose the best baby artichokes only.

They should have the compact and tight heads with steam ends (with fresh cut look). When you hold them, they should feel heavy; not light or lousy. So, how do you trim them?

Remove the (outer) leaves. The outer leaves are tough. You simply pull off and then discard them. When you rip those leaves off, do it in the opposite direction (of where they are growing).
You should be able to see the light green leaves once the leaves are removed.
Cut the top side of the leaves. You should be able to see the medium and dark green top area. Cut them off and toss them away.
Cut the stems end off. If you happen to trim bigger artichokes, you may want to try peeling the stem. Then you will see the delicious, tasty, and tender part, right underneath the fibrous exterior. However, if you use baby artichokes, there won’t be enough space for the ‘meat’ so you may as well as cutting it off. No need to bother peeling anything
Use a (sharp) paring knife to trim the sides. Cut any remaining medium green or dark parts on the side.
You are done trimming the artichokes. Now you can cook or store the part. If you don’t want it to turn brown or black-ish, soak them in an acidulated water. It’s basically lemon juice and water mix, like mentioned before. Or you can mix a quart of cold water with two tablespoons of white vinegar.

Storing Jerusalem Artichokes

When people are talking about Jerusalem artichokes, they think that this one is the same as the regular artichokes. In reality, both plants are completely different.

Jerusalem artichokes aren’t artichokes. They are a type of variety of sunflower. Both of those plants have different physical appearances.

Jerusalem artichokes have brown skin and lumpy tuber. The physical aspect is similar to a ginger root. Sunchokes are another name applied to this plant.

Does it mean that Jerusalem artichoke is similar to sunflowers? Well, not quite.

This sunchokes have a coarse and tall stem (ranging between 5 feet and 10 feet of height), bright yellow flowers with sunflower-like appearance, and big leaves with rough upper part surface. But the main distinctive feature is the fleshy and lumpy tuber that is similar to the knotty and thin potatoes.

Can you cook this? Of course you can!

You can slice them and then braise them in butter. They are great extras for salads.

For alternative option, slice them very thin. Then drizzle them with oil, and roast them in the hot oven. They will turn crispy; great as snacks.

Some people would cook them together with potatoes, turning them into crispy ones or braise them in butter. Such a delish!

So, how to store artichokes? Well, this one doesn’t need washing, if you want to store them. And handle them carefully because they are easily bruised.

Just wrap them in paper towels (it would absorb the humidity or extra moisture) and then seal them in the plastic bag. Put them in the fridge’s veggie locker, on the back (and dark) and cool place.

You should be able to prolong its life up to several weeks.

If you have cooked this sunchokes and you want to store them, always refrigerate them.

And you must consume them within 2 days. After that, they will go bad and spoiled.

Final Words

You probably think that dealing with the artichokes would be a fuss. Well, not necessarily.

The best way to cook them is to immediately do it after you buy them.

But now that you know different ways about how to store artichokes, you have more options to go to.