I love when a plant has multiple purposes. Speaking of which I knew that you could use chives on a baked potato and it looks pretty but what other uses does it have? Are there any health benefits to chives? I did a little research and figured I would share it with you. Here is what I found.

So…

What can chives be used for?

• Cooking and Baking
• Health
• Landscaping

Chives can be used for a number of things but the 3 basics would be the list I have provided above.

Let’s dig a little deeper…

Cooking and baking with chives

Can you cook with chives?

Yes, you can cook with chives! Like I mentioned I thought that chives were just used as a topping or a garnish. But I was wrong there are lots of recipes that use chives. I did learn that it is best to add the chives in at the end though so you can retain that strong onion flavor.

What foods are the best with chives?

You can obviously put chives in anything that you like an onion flavor but generally, the foods you find chives in the most would be salads, soups, sandwiches, potatoes, and omelets.

What part of the chive do you use for cooking?

When using chives in cooking you will use the stem of the plant. It depends on what you are making but you will usually cut it like the picture shown above.

Is the flower edible?

Yes, it is! A chives flower is generally used in salads. You will just rinse the flower and put it in your salad raw. It will have the same flavor as the stem just a different texture.

Are chives and garlic chives the same thing?

No, chives and garlic chives are not the same things.

Normal chives have an onion flavor. Garlic chives have a garlic flavor. Just like fresh garlic, garlic chives have a very strong aroma. Whereas chives are much more subtle then onions.

How to use chives in a salad?

As I mentioned above you can use either part of the plant in your salad. You will want to wash your chives and after that, you can either cut the stem and put that into your salad or you can put the purple flower in your salad. Both are great. You will want to eat them raw!

Do you need to wash chives?

Yes, you should wash chives. If you grow your own chives you know that they won’t be covered in spray or chemicals. But it is still a good idea to wash your homegrown food.

On the other hand, if you bought your chives then you definitely want to wash them. They will have all the nasty sprays and chemicals on them.

Recipes using chives

You can use chives in really anything that onion would taste good in. But today I will share 5 ideas to get your wheels turning.

1. Chive Eggs (3 ways)

So you technically get 3 recipes here! Deviled eggs are one of our favorite foods around the holidays (or anytime really) and adding the chives really adds another layer of flavor.

Chive deviled eggs

Ingredients

• 1 dozen eggs hard-boiled, peeled and sliced in half
• 5 Tablespoons of mayonnaise.
• 2 Tablespoons of spicy mustard
• ¼ Teaspoon of paprika
• 1 dozen chive stems chopped fine
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients except chives, paprika, and eggs
2. Separate the hard-boiled yolks from the egg whites and place them in the bowl with the other ingredients.
3. Spoon mixture into egg white halves.
4. Sprinkle with Paprika and chives

Eggs with chive flowers

Because of our farm fresh eggs, we tend to consume a lot of eggs around our house. But they can get boring making them the same way all the time. Adding chives to our eggs help make eating eggs a little more exciting.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoons butter
• 2 chive stems with chive flowers
• 2 eggs
• Salt

Instructions

1. In a small pan, heat the butter over medium-low heat.
2. Cut the stems of your chives and leave the flower whole.
3. Place your chives pieces in the heated butter for 30 seconds.
4. Crack the eggs into the pan, add a sprinkle of salt.
5. Continue cooking over medium-low heat until the egg whites are cooked but the yolk is still runny.

Scrambled Eggs with chives

Again this is very simple but the chives give it a new level of flavor.

Ingredients

• Eggs
• Chives
• Bacon, other veggies, cheese, whatever toppings you like

Instructions

1. Prepare other toppings for eggs if using
2. Make scrambled eggs (Scrambled egg tip: keep stirring! never let your eggs sit in the pan)
3. Cut up your chives
4. Put your chives and toppings on top of your eggs.

2. Chive Butter

This seems overly simple but trust me it is so yummy! Herb butter is so good. My favorite way to use it is to melt it on my steak.

Ingredients

• Butter
• Chives

Instructions

1. Soften butter
2. Cut chives
3. Mix chives into butter

3. Loaded baked potato

I know potatoes should be eaten in limitations but they are so yummy. And I promise you will love this one. I mean how can you not?

Ingredients

1. Potatoes
2. Chives
3. Cheese
4. Bacon

Instructions

1. Bake the potatoes.

You can bake your potatoes in different ways but I will share the 2 ways I like to bake mine.

• In the oven

The way I baked potatoes before I owned an instant pot was in the oven. This is my process.

1. Wash potatoes
2. Rub olive oil over potatoes
3. Salt potatoes
4. Poke holes in potatoes with a fork
5. Wrap each potato in tin foil
6. Bake @ 350 for 1 hour

This way takes a little longer but it is so worth it. It makes the skin of the potato so crunchy. But if you don’t have time for this method you can make your baked potatoes in the instant pot and it will work just as well.

• In the instant pot

What’s nice about the instant pot is that you can have your potatoes done so much quicker.

1. Wash potatoes
2. Pour a cup of water into the instant pot
3. Place trivet into the pot
4. Poke holes in potatoes with a fork
5. Place potatoes on top of the trivet
6. Select manual setting; adjust the pressure to high, and set the timer for 14 minutes
7. When the potatoes are done cooking, naturally release pressure according to manufacturer’s directions, about 20-30 minutes.

2. Top the potatoes

Now that you have your baked potatoes you will top them with your chives, cheese, bacon, etc.

In my family, we have to have meat to make a meal. We love bacon but sometimes we need a little more than that. So I will make pulled pork and we will put that on our potatoes. Our favorite is potatoes, pulled pork, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and chives.

4. Chive Pesto

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped fresh, chives
• 2 TBS. slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped
• 1/8 cup olive oil

Instructions

1. Mix the chives, almonds, cheese, and garlic into the bowl of your food processor.
2. Pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped.
3. With the machine running, add olive oil to desired consistency
4. Serve on crackers, or slices of toasted bread

5. Chive Vinnegeratte

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 small garlic clove, finely chopped
• Kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients together
2. Enjoy over salad

Super simple but so yummy! As I said there are lots of ways to cook with chives. These are just a few but experiment and see what ways you love to eat chives.

Health

I like to think that anything “natural” should have some health benefits. So I did some digging to found out about chives. I wanted to know if chives had any health benefits. And this is what I found.

Since I am not a doctor and I don’t know the science behind this stuff I did some research and found the following information from Medical News today. You can check out their article for even more information. This is just scratching the surface of the health benefits of chives!

Some health facts about chives…

1. Chives are full of nutrients.
2. Chives are low in calories
3. Chives are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
4. Chives have vitamin k, folate, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and choline.

So the above list provides the more scientific properties of chives. But what does that mean to us? Well, the 2 most important benefits would be…

1. Cancer Prevention: Chives can help your body fight off cancer
2. Sleep: chives have something in them called choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps with sleep

Landscape

How pretty are those? As I mentioned my mom gave me a chives plant last year and it not only is great to have fresh herbs at my disposal but it is also pretty in my landscaping.

Are chives and annual or perennial?

Chives are perennial. This means that they will come back year after year. They are very hearty and super easy to keep alive. They grow in a grasslike clump and grow from small bulbs.

Are chives invasive?

Common chives are not invasive but will multiple.

Let me explain what I mean. The common chives will get bigger which is great because you can separate it and re-plant it. But it will not take over the area it is planted in. And it pulls out very easy so if it is getting bigger than you would like than you can just pull part of the plant out.

Do chives like sun or shade?

Chives are super hearty so they will grow just about anywhere you put them. But they will thrive in the sun. So if you have the option do your best to plant them in the sun. And if you are growing them indoors put them in a window that lets in lots of sun.

Do chives keep growing after you cut them?

Yes, chives continue to grow back after you cut them.

When you harvest your chives cut them down to 1-2 inches from the ground. You will be able to cut them about 4 times a year. (Depending on where you live)

How do you stop chives from spreading?

As I said chives will spread. So how do you stop them from spreading? Well, first let’s look at the 2 ways chives spread. Chives spread from…

1. The bulbs
2. The seeds

The first way chives spread is by the bulbs. So your plant will get bigger and bigger each year and this is from its bulbs multiplying. But what about those random patches that started growing?

Well, chives can also grow from the seeds. So if you let your chives bloom and then the blooms wilt the seeds can blow and start a whole new plant.

If you want to stop this from happening you will just make sure to cut down the chives before they can get to this stage. Which if you are wanting to eat the chives you will be doing this already anyway.

Do Chives have deep roots?

No, chives do not have deep roots. Their roots are only about 3 inches deep. Which makes it a breeze to pull out if your plant is getting too big.

Why are my chives yellow?

They are unhealthy. Most likely you tried to transplant them and it was not the ideal time to transplant and they are not liking their new home. The best time to transplant chives is in the fall or winter.

Do chives attract bugs?

No, chives do not attract bugs. Actually, they keep the bad bugs away. Most of the insects that will mess with your plants will not like the smell of chives and will stay away.

What can I plant next to chives?

You can pretty much plant anything next to chives. They are not a very “competitive” plant and do very well with other plants. The best option is to plant them with your other herbs.

What else?

Now we have talked about cooking with chives but what else should we know about chives? or how about we start with the simple question of…

What are chives?

Chives are an herb.

According to science chives are part of the allium family. The allium family also includes garlic, scallions, onions, and leeks. As you can see this family of veggies are known for their strong smell but also are famous for their medicinal purposes.

Chives are a perennial plant and are most commonly found in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Chives are a common herb and can be found in most grocery stores. You can also grow your own without much effort.

There are actually 2 different types of chives. There is the onion chive which is the one that most of us are familiar with. Or there is the Chinese chive which is also referred to as the garlic chive. They are pretty self-explanatory in their flavor and the only other difference would be their leaves. The onion chives have hollow leaves while the garlic chives have flat leaves.

Are chives and green onions the same thing?

No, chives and green onions are not the same things. In the US we sometimes use them interchangeably but they are in fact not the same thing.

These are green onions

Green onions have long green stalks and white bulbs. Green onions have a mild onion flavor and are used raw or cooked. They start growing in the spring and carry on through the summer. They are part of the Allium schoenoprasum species.

My favorite way to use green onions would be as a topping on Mexican food.

These are chives

Chives have green blades, hollow stalks, and practically invisible bulbs. They have an onion flavor but it is very weak. Chives are generally used as a garnish on things like eggs, potatoes, and salads. You can cook chives but they are commonly eaten raw. Just like green onions, they will start blooming in the spring and continue into the summer. Chives are in the Allium fistulosum species.

I have found that chives are best when used as a garnish on hard-boiled eggs.

Are chives still good after they flower?

Yes, chives are still good after they flower. We talked about this a little already but you can use the stems and the flower for eating. Most people use the stem and you can use the stem before the flower comes but you can also use the flower as well.

Try it for your self and see which you prefer.

Can you freeze chives?

Yes, You can freeze chives.

This is awesome because they are so nice to have all year long and my plant produces more then I can eat fresh. Freezing chives is very simple. Here is how you do it.

1. Chop chives
2. Wash chives
3. Place in freezer bags
4. Freeze

Frozen chives will last indefinitely in the freezer. But they will most likely start losing their flavor and quality at 4-6 months.

How to store chives?

There are multiple ways to store chives. I already mentioned the freezer but I wanted to mention some other ways you can store chives.

1. Freeze dry

This is so cool I had no clue you could do this! So all you do to freeze-dry chives is…

• Chop chives
• place on a cookie sheet
• Put the cookie sheet into the freezer
• Remove cookie sheet when chives are dry and brittle
• Store in an airtight jar in a cool dark place for up to 6 months.

2. Refridgerator

There are 2 ways to store chives in the fridge

1. Keep chives in a resealable plastic bag. They will last this way for about a week.
2. Place the stems standing up in a glass filled with a few inches of water and cover the tops of the stems with a plastic bag.

3. Dehydrating

So first of all Dehydrators are awesome. If you don’t have one and like to store food for yourself then you should seriously consider getting one. I have a whole article talking about what we do with ours and what one we have. You can check it out here.

Okay, now how to dehydrate chives.

• Put your chives on the dehydrator trays.
• Put the temperature to 95 Degrees
• Keep the chives in the dehydrator for 2 hours

How to use dried chives?

First of all, let’s talk about the amount. How much-dried chives equal fresh?

1 tablespoon fresh chives equal 1 teaspoon dried.

So you can use dried chives in anything you would use fresh for. For example, you can put dried chives in mashed potatoes, Eggs, Etc. You will obviously just want to use the suggested conversion amount I have provided above. But the fun thing about cooking is that it is up to your own taste buds. So play around with it and see what you like.

Now, what about taste? Do dried chives taste the same?

This is clearly going to be an opinion based answer. But Dried chives taste like straw. They don’t have much flavor and the texture is not the best. But don’t take my word for it try it for yourself. You might not mind it.

The nice thing about dried chives is that they last for up to 3 years. So if you have some that you need to store its worth a shot preserving them in this way. But I would suggest the other methods of storing for sure.

The other thing about drying your chives is that with this method they will lose some of their nutrients. So yes, drying your chives is not the ideal option but I wanted to let you know that it is still a way to preserve your chives.

How long do chives last?

If you are growing your own chives I would recommend that you let them grow for as long as possible without cutting them down. I’m sure it’s not that best way but I let mine stay out there and just cut them down as needed and have never found that it affected them to stay out longer.

But if you can’t let them stay outside or you are buying them fresh how long will chives stay fresh? Well, it depends on the method. Let’s look at the different methods real fast.

• Freezer= 4-6 months
• Freeze dried= 4-6 months
• Refriderater= 1 week
• Dehydrated= 2-3 years

As you can see dehydrated will definitely last the longest. And honestly, there are ways you could use your dried chives and still reap the benefits of the flavor but not deal with the nasty texture. One way would be to make a powder out of your dried chives for salads or as a topping for potatoes. And if you don’t like it no big deal. Chives are very cheap or free if you grow them yourself.

Conclusion

You did not know you could do so much with chives, did you? I sure did not! Chives were one of those things that I never thought much about until I had one simple question which led me to more questions and then I went all into learning about chives. I hope this was helpful to you and that you learned a few new ways to store chives and a few random things as well.

It is so awesome learning about the things that We can grow and the ways they can help our bodies and add flavor to our favorite foods. If you know of someone who has some extra chives see if they would mind if you took some to start growing your own. It is an easy way to add another thing to your garden/landscaping/homestead that will get you closer to becoming self-sufficient.

I most likely will not ever become 100% self-sufficient and I’m okay with that. But I strive to do as much on my own as I can and even though something likes growing chives might seem small, it’s all the little things that start to add up. And before you know it you will be growing all your own food.

Also, a side note when it comes to herbs I never seem to have them at the exact time I need them so when I grow them I am sure they will be there when I need them. Well Unless my animals or kids get to them first!

If you want some more gardening helps make sure to check out some of my other articles!

Apple pie Filling

• 5 cups of apples
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• Dash of salt
• 2-3 TB. of Flour
• 4 TB. pf butter

Pie Assembly

• Crimp pie crust
• Put filling into pie crust
• place second pie crust on top
• Crimp
• Bake @ 400 for 30 minutes

Mulberry Identification

Are there similar berries that are toxic?

As I was researching to make sure that mulberries are safe I came across one berry that looks similar. The poke Weed Now you don’t have to panic if you happen to consume one because they are not poisonous per se. But if you have more then a couple you might start to experience nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea. People have actually used part of the plant in herbal medicines to induce vomiting.

So as you can see you probably want to stay away from eating pokeweed berries. But how will you know what the difference is between pokeweed and a mulberry?

Well…

pokeweed is a bush type plant Vs. mulberries grow on trees.

Pokeweed will get to about 5 feet Vs. the mulberry tree at 65 feet.

Pokeweed leaves will be about twice the size of a mulberry tree leaf.

Here is a picture of a pokeweed plant.

What is a mulberry?

A mulberry is a fruit that is large and juicy and resembles a raspberry. A mulberry is filled with nutrients that our bodies need. These include…

1. Iron
2. Riboflavin
3. Vitamin C
4. Vitamin K
5. Potassium
6. Phosphorous
7. Calcium
8. Fiber

I love my THM baked goods and make them quite often. My husband is always making sure that he is allowed to have them on Keto because they most always have baking blend in them. I was pretty sure it was okay but I wanted to check the ingredients just to make sure. So is THM baking blend keto-friendly?

Yes! The THM baking blend is keto-friendly. Actually, the THM baking blend is a much better option than even almond flour or coconut flour. It’s not that those are bad but they are very “heavy” or “dense”. They are a lot of calories. That’s not terrible but you do want to be careful not to have really calorie-heavy foods all the time.

When people start the keto diet they think “Cheese, nuts, and meat!” Which yes those are all technically allowed on keto but you will have a hard time losing weight if you just have those things. You need to make sure you have lots of greens and low carb veggies in your diet.

Anyway, back to the baking blend!

We have now figured out that the THM baking blend is, in fact, keto-friendly but…

What is the Trim Healthy Mama baking blend?

Trim Healthy mama baking blend is a gluten-free, low glycemic baking mix.

The baking blend is a mixture of Oat Fiber, Organic Coconut Flour, Golden Flax Meal, Blanched Almond Flour, Collagen Peptides, Glucomannan (organic konjac extract powder).

THM baking blends Ingredients/Benefits

If you look at the ingredients of the baking blend ( Oat Fiber, Organic Coconut Flour, Golden Flax Meal, Blanched Almond Flour, Collagen Peptides, Glucomannan (organic konjac extract powder) You will notice the ingredients that make up the baking blend are very healthy for you. Let me tell you a little bit about each ingredient and why it is good for you.

• Oat Fiber

Oat fiber is a good source of insulable fiber. Insulable fiber is best explained as “roughage” or the digestive part of the plant. Oat fiber when consumed can help tremendously with bowel or digestive issues.

• Coconut flour

Now when I said that coconut flour and almond flour were heavier on calories that did not mean that it was unhealthy it just means that if you want to lose weight you want to be a little more careful with how much and how often you use it. Coconut flour has many benefits as well.

Coconut flour is a gluten-free flour made from coconuts. It is full of fiber and MCT oil. Just like the oat fiber, it will help your digestive system but it will also help with heart health and will work to regulate your blood sugar.

• Golden Flax Meal

I could spend all day on the benefits of golden flax meal. (which is the same as golden flaxseed it is just ground up) But I will try to keep it short and not bore you. I will just give you a quick list of the amazing benefits.

1. Full of nutrients
2. High in Fiber
3. Aids in lowered blood pressure
4. Filled with high-quality protein
5. Help control blood sugar
6. Aids in controlling hunger

• Almond flour

Again almond flour is not bad! It actually has its own list of unique benefits. Just like coconut flour, it is gluten-free flour. But besides that, it is high in protein, manganese & vitamin E.

• Collagen Peptides

Collagen is crazy stuff! Its main benefit is joint strength. But it also makes your hair healthier and nails stronger. I actually have a little testimony about collagen. I get collagen from THM and put it in my oatmeal every day. ( you can take it plain, put it in coffee, etc.) A few months back I could not grow my nails. If they started getting long at all they would start splitting in half. Once I started taking collagen they now are growing long and strong.

• Glucomannan

Glucomannan works in your body to again cholesterol and controls blood sugar. It also helps with weight loss and inflammation in the body.

More about THM Baking Blend

Can I use the THM baking blend in place of almond flour?

I touched on this a little bit already but let’s talk about it more. Yes, you can use the thm baking blend in place of almond flour. As I mentioned it would actually be a good idea because the baking blend is lighter as far as calories go and it is healthier for you.

Is THM baking blend gluten-free?

Yes! The THM baking blend is gluten-free. As I mentioned above it is a great “flour” substitute. The baking blend is great for those trying to lose weight and also those who are looking for a good gluten-free flour. But it will take some time getting used to because the thm baking blend is dryer than traditional flour. Speaking of which…

Can I substitute THM baking blend for flour?

Yes, you can! But you do not want to use even measurements. The baking blend is more “thirsty” than traditional flour and if you use the same amount will leave your baked goods dry and crumbly. I would suggest trying recipes that have already converted so that you don’t get discouraged from the start. Keto and THM are so popular you can pretty much find a recipe for anything!

Here is my favorite cookie recipe. I swear you would never know they were healthy!

Are there Copycat THM baking blend recipes?

Obviously you can tell I love the Trim healthy mama baking blend. I love the taste and health benefits it provides. I feel like the cost is not that bad. By the time you buy everything, you need for the copy cat recipes you are not really going to save that much.

But yes there are copy cat recipes out there. I personally have not made one up myself and can’t take credit for any of the recipes but if you look online you can find multiple bloggers who have come up with copycat recipes.

Like I said for myself I have found that it is worth it to just buy it from the THM store. If you want to try it for yourself you can check it out here.

Quick personal testimony

I am a huge THM fan. I used to get so sick eating the normal American diet and was so thrilled to find THM. I got headaches all the time and had a constant stomach ache. I literally thought it was normal to feel that way. I can’t tell you how much it changed the way I felt when I changed my lifestyle and cut out the white bread and sugars. I don’t work for THM but I feel like I should I love it so much.

Conclusion

When starting a new diet it can be confusing what you can and can’t have. I know when I started my journey I was always questioning things. It is nice to know the things you can have and also the best options. As I said almond flour and coconut flour are keto-friendly but they are very calorie-heavy whereas the thm baking blend it a great mixture of flours and ingredients that offer a lighter flour option.

Whether you are sticking to trim healthy mama or keto the thm baking blend would be the best all-around flour for you to use. It is light in calories and also has very healthy disease-fighting ingredients in it.

If you want to get your hands on some you can follow this link to the trim healthy mama store. If you want to try their other products I would highly recommend them. They are all very high quality and taste great. Their prices are also very reasonable.

I do not have a great digestive system and have always looked for ways to help my gut. It turns out that sprouting will do just that! Anyway, If you are like me then I’m sure you will be interested in how you can sprout your black beans! So how do you sprout blacks beans?

Let me preface this by saying black beans can sometimes be a little tricky and not want to sprout all the way. But if you get just a tiny bit of a sprout you will still reap the benefits!

Okay, let’s get to it.

Sprouting Black Beans

A few tips…

• Ideal Temperature

Try to keep your sprouting beans between 68-70 degrees.

• Make sure the container you use has plenty of ventilation.

You want to make sure that the beans do not mold so you need room for the water do get out.

• Don’t worry about the skins

The skins will most likely fall off of some of the beans. This is totally fine. Whether the skin is on or not will not change the flavor.

The Sprouting Process

Follow these simple steps to sprout your own beans and begin reaping the benefits today!

Supplies

• 1/2 cup beans
• Mason Jar
• Sprouting lids (You can grab them on Amazon here)
• Small container

Instructions

1. Rinse your beans ( get out any debris or dirt)
2. Fill your Jar/Jars 3/4 the way up with water
3. Put beans into the jar
4. Screw on sprouting lid
5. Soak beans overnight
6. Drain and rinse beans
7. Place jar upsidedown and tilted in a jar
8. Rinse and drain 3-4 times a day until sprouts appear
9. Drain well before use (you HAVE to cook before consuming)

Here is a PDF file that you can download and print for future use! Here is what it will look like.

More about sprouting black beans…

Can you eat raw sprouted black beans?

NO! You can’t eat black beans without cooking them. Raw black beans have something in them called phytohemagglutinin which can be toxic. When you are sprouting things mold can become a problem and even if you are careful some might sneak in. It is always safer to just cook your black beans before you eat them.

How long do the beans take to sprout?

Black beans will sprout in 3-4 days. You can plan on using them on day 5 after they have had time to dry out.

Sprouted beans Vs. soaked beans

I always grew up with my mom soaking our beans. I knew it was good because my gut felt so much better after having soaked beans but I had no clue what it did to the bean or why she soaked her beans.

I decided to find out for myself why my mom soaked her beans and if there is a difference between soaking and sprouting. Here is what I learned…

Soaking beans…

Dry beans are chocked full of vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. Like I mentioned my mom always used dry beans growing up. It was partially because it was so much cheaper but also because she could soak her beans which companies do not do with canned beans.

But again why soak beans? Here are 2 reasons why you would want to soak your dry beans.

• Health

When you soak your beans it reduces something called phytic acid. Phytic acid stops our bodies from absorbing certain minerals. So by reducing this your body can absorb more minerals.

Do you ever get gas when you eat beans? This is caused by oligosaccharides. Which is basically a fancy word for sugars that cause gas. By soaking beans it reduces the effect of oligosaccharides in your body.

• Time

By soaking your beans the time you need to cook them goes way down. If you are like me you forget how much time beans take to cook so if I can cut down on that time it really helps me out!

So Is soaking beans the best?

I had never even heard of sprouting beans. I knew about soaking and I thought that was it! The benefits sounded great to me and I was happy with that. Until I learned about sprouting.

Sprouting beans…

It turns out that sprouting beans is a step up from soaking beans. It has the same benefits of soaking beans plus more! These are some of the benefits of sprouting beans.

• Digestion

When you sprout beans they become much easier to digest.

• Higher nutrient count

When the beans sprout it releases nutrients for a new plant. It makes protein easier to digest and carbohydrates as well. This is crazy because an unsoaked or not sprouted bean is hard on my digestive system but once it is soaked or sprouted it all of a sudden is good for my system and helps by system break down other foods.

• Increased Fiber

When beans are not sprouted they can be hard to digest but also our body can’t absorb the good things in the beans such as vitamins and minerals. The other thing we have not really talked about is the fiber.

When we sprout the beans it helps to increase the crude fibers in the bean. The crude fiber is what helps our bodies push out waste and toxins.

• Weight loss

Now, I’m not saying that sprouting your beans makes them magical weight loss beans. But it is possible that when you eat sprouted beans it will help you with portion control because your body is able to break down the elements of the bean and use it properly.

• Antioxidant increase

It is also a possibility that your sprouted beans can higher the antioxidants in your body. Antioxidants defend your cells against harmful molecules.

Soaking vs. Sprouting Conclusion

After going over both soaking and sprouting I have figured out that both are great! But sprouting seems to have more health benefits. So If you can I would recommend sprouting anything that you can not just black beans! If you can’t sprout then at least soak! Either way is better than just eating canned beans from the stores.

Conclusion

We went from knowing that soaking our beans was probably a good idea to learning that sprouting is actually the best way to prepare beans for eating. Soaking is good but sprouting has the best overall health benefits.

We also learned that we can sprout our beans in just a few simple steps and some household supplies. (well besides the sprouting lids).

I hope this article was helpful to you and it expanded your knowledge of sprouting and the benefits it provides to your body. Don’t forget to print off the PDF for future use!

I am all about finding things that help my digestive system and If you are in the same boat this article might be interesting to you!

His boss told him how wheatgrass is supposed to help relieve allergies. So my dad gave it a try. It worked! Now it did not work overnight it took a few months for it to start working but within that year my dad’s allergies were basically gone.

But what does that have to do with growing wheatgrass? Well, My dad takes wheatgrass just about every day. And it is not cheap and it can be kind of hard to find sometimes. So why not grow your own? It’s really very simple and you can get started with a bag of wheatberries.

The cool part is that you cut it down and it will grow back. There is controversy on this but what I found is that you can let it grow back about 3 times. After the third cutting you will just start the process over…But I am getting ahead of myself so lets start at the beginging.

How do you grow wheatgrass at home? Well, let me show you…

Okay, before we get started let me explain the differnet ways you can grow wheatgrass.

1. Wheatgrass grower ( The fastest and easiest way)
2. In soil
3. Soiless
4. Outdoors

Before we get into the process I just want to explain that the wheat berries are your “seeds” so when I refer to seeds, wheat or wheatberries it is the same thing.

Wheatgrass grower Instructions

1.Buy this On amazon (click the picture for link)

2. Buy your wheatberries (seeds) on amazon. (click the photo for link)

3. Prepare wheatgrass

• Soak seeds for 10 hours
• Layer seeds on the tray
• Put water in bottom tray

4. Care for Wheatgrass

• Change water 3 times a day ( put in about 1/4 inch of water)
• Mist the seeds with water bottle twice a day

5. Harvest Wheatgrass

• Cut down wheatgrass with scissers

Notes:

Leave a little of the wheatgrass so that it can grow back.

Soil Instructions

• Pick a Container

This will be different for everyone. If you have a large family and want to grow wheatgrass for them all,  then you will clearly need a large container. But if you just need wheatgrass for your own personal use then I would just use a small container.

You can use a mason jar if you just need a small amount. If you want a large amount I would use a large shallow dish. You can buy planting containers or use any dish you have around the house. A plate will work or a pie dish!

• Pick your wheatberries

Really any wheatberries will work this is just an option for you!

• Get good Soil

Now you can be lazy like me and use your own soil. Which I mean I am lazy but I also have good composted soil so its not all bad. Or you can buy some planting soil.

• Soak your seeds

Soak your seeds in water for 8 hours

• Plant your wheatgrass

1.Put about a 1/4 inch of soil in your container.

2. Layer your seeds. Lay them nice and close toegther it is like normal grass and grows in close together. You won’t need to worry anout thinning it.

3. Another layer of soil! Put down another layer of soil about the same as you did on the bottom layer.

If you can I would keep your container in a sunny window. But it will also work in partial light as well.

• Waterging your wheatgrass

It is very important to water your wheatgrass but if you are like me you will have a tendacy to forgot to water it and then drown it when you do remember. The best way to avoid that issue is to put water in a spray bottle and lighty mist your wheat grass twice a day.

• Using and harvesting your wheatgrass

When your wheatgrass gets to about 6-8 inches you can begin to start using it. At this point you will take a scissors and cut it down. Now you don’t want to cut it so low that it can’t continue to grow back. You want to leave about an inch at the base of the plant.

Once you get your wheat grass growing you should be able to harvest some each day. I would suggest that you start juicing wheatgrass so that you can start reaping the benefits. If that is something that interests you keep reading and I will explain how to do that!

Soiless Instructions

• Pick a container

You will need a container with holes in the bottom and then another continer to set it in. You are creating a way for the water to drain out.

You could use a fruit contantier that already has holes in it or you can just poke hole in any container that you have.

• Pick your wheatberries

• Soak your seeds

Pour your seeds into a container and put in twice as much water, leave on your counter to soak for 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

• Strain seeds

Put paper towels into a strainer and pour in your seeds.

Wrap your seeds in the paper towel and make sure to soak the entire thing. Place wrapped up seeds into the container you picked and place on counter.

• Keep soaking

Keep your seeds in the paper towel for 2-3 days. Make sure to keep the paper towel wet the whole time. You should only have to soak it a couple times a day.

• Planting your seeds

At this point your seeds should have little tails which mean they are sprouted. At this point they are ready to plant. Take you container with the holes and put a layer of seeds down. You don’t want a think layer but you want them all touching.

Place another tray under your containter with holes. Place it on the edge of a sink or someplace it can drain into. This is important because you don’t want water sitting in the seeds because it will grow mold.

• Water your seeds

Twice a day pour water over your seeds and completly soak them.

• Harvest your Wheatgrass

By day 12 you should be able to harvest your wheatgrasss. To harvest your wheatgras all you have to do is cut it down with scissors. Don’t cut it all the way down becuase it will grow back and give you a second cutting.

Outdoor Instructions

You can totally grow wheatgrass outside. Actaully, from my research It seems that growing it outside is the best option. Just like anything you would grow outside it will do better beacuase it is getting the nutrients and natural sunlight that it needs.

The only thing about growing it outside is that it is harder to keep an eye on. But if you can keep a close eye on it by all means grow it outside.

You can start from scratch growing wheatgrass outside. But I would suggest taking a patch of your wheatgrass you started inside and planting that outside. This way you know that it will have a little bit of a head start.

More on outdoor wheatgrass…

It was so interesting learning about wheatgrass. Everywhere you look everyone is telling you to grow your wheatgrass indoors. And if that is your only option then by all means go for it. But as I was digging deeper into the subject of wheatgrass I found that growing wheatgrass outside is really the best option.

When you grow it inside you are in a sense forcing it to grow faster with warm tempatures. When really wheatgrass needs time and natural sunlight and good soil.

Ideally you should plant your wheatgrass in the early fall so that the soil is still warm from the summer but the days are cool. Your wheatgrass will not look like it is growing but it is actaully devolping good strong roots underground.

Your wheatgrass will need about 200 days to reach its peak nutrotional value. At this point you can cut it down and reap all the benefits of pure organic wheatgrass.

Other Wheatgrass Questions

How long will it last?

Refridgerator

Wheatgrass will last about a week. But if you are growing it yourself it is best to just harvest it as you need it. It holds onto its nutritional value longer this way and you don’t have to worry about it going bad. But if this is not an option for you plan on storing your wheatgrass for about a week.

Freezer

If you have a suprplus of wheatgrass and can not go through it in a week then I would suggest you freeze it. Frozen wheatgrass will last for up to 3 years! Just make sure you package it well.

The best way to do this is to make your wheatgrass juice and then pour it into ice cube trays. Let them totally freeze. Once they have frozen completly pop them out of the trays and store in the freezer in ziplock baggies.

Now you have wheatgrass whenever you need it!

How to store it?

Speaking of storing. The best way to store wheatgrass is by keeping it in an airtight container in the fridge. You can use glass containers, plastic containers or zip-lock baggies.

Juicing Wheatgrass

So now that you have an abundance of wheatgrass what is the best way to use it? As I mentioned above my Dad was the one who started on the wheatgrass trend in our family. Before that, I did not know anything about it. My dad’s favorite way to get it in is by juicing. You can juice it by itself but it is very strong. So I would suggest juicing it with an apple. So how about an amount?

How much wheatgrass should you take a day?

I feel like when you do natural things like this it is always hard to know how much to take. And honestly, it will be different for everyone. It is suggested that you take anywhere from 1-4 ounces a day.

Start small and see how you feel. You can always slowly build up to 4 ounces. It is also a good idea to drink a big glass of water after you take the wheatgrass. Drinking water will reduce your chances of dealing with side effects.

Wait…There are side effects?

You will most likely be totally fine. When you are doing natural things you will sometimes have small side effects but nothing crazy. The only side effect you might experience from wheatgrass would be nausea and possibly constipation from the high fiber count.

But like I said if you start small you most likely will not have a problem at all. And the benefits totally outweigh the possible side effects.

Wheatgrass Benefits

Let me preface this by saying that wheatgrass will not “cure” you of any of the following ailments. It is a great supplement found in nature and I have seen it really help people but don’t think that it is a “cure-all”. Everybody is so different and things work completely different on every bodies body.

1. Allergy Relief

I started with this one because this is how I was introduced to wheatgrass in the first place. Like I said my dad started using wheatgrass for allergies after he had tried everything else out there. Within a year his seasonal allergies were basically gone. I was so impressed but I did not know why it worked I just know it did. But I figured I would have to learn the “why” behind it so I could explain it better.

From my research allergies come from a weakened immune system. So if you can strengthen your immune sytem you are less likely to deal with seasonal allergies. As we talked about everbody is different so you will have to test and see what works for you. My dad juices about a handful of wheatgrass with an apple every day and has found success in that.

2. Cancer prevention

Wheatgrass is very high in antioxidants and can potentially kill cancer cells. Again, this is not a guarantee, but for me who lost my grandma to cancer, I will do anything I can to help prevent the same thing in my body.

3. Healthy skin

As I mentioned Wheatgrass has loads of antioxidants which has anti-aging properties. What I like about this is you are healing your body from the inside out. Most creams and topical things are working on the outside but is really not fixing the inside. With things like wheatgrass, you are working on the actaul issue and not just slapping a band aid on the syptom.

4. Avoid hair damage

This stuff is crazy! Wheat grass is known to be a super food and to be cleansing. It will  remove dead skin cells from your head. This may sound strange but you can take the wheat grass juice and rub it onto your scalp. Leave it there for 15-20 minutes and then rinse out with shampoo.

I know it sounds strange but don’t knock it til you try it!

5. Regulating Blood Sugar

When your blood sugar is whacked out you will deal with all sorts of issues. In the US this has been a huge issue with our poor diets. Because of high blood sugar, we deal with, things such as fatigue, obesity, dehydration, headaches Etc. Regulating our blood sugar can be very hard to control.

But studies are coming out showing that wheatgrass can aid in regulating blood sugar.

6. Weight loss

We all could lose a few extra pounds and wheatgrass can give us the little boost we need. Most of us have not eaten the greatest and have toxins in our bodies. This can hinder your weight loss journey. Wheatgrass will start removing those toxins from your body so that you can start losing those extra pounds.

7. Increase energy

As a young mom I am all about getting in some extra energy. But I refuse to drink those energy drinks full of garbage. Coffee does not work for me because it makes my mind run like crazy as soon as I get into bed at night. The only thing I have found to help is hemp CBD oil. But holy smokes that stuff is pricy.

So you can bet I am gonna go for the stuff I can grow at home for alomost nothing!

Wheatgrass is high in protien and enzymes. Which in turn gives your body a boost of energy. I don’t know exactly how that works I just know it does.

Other Uses For Wheatgrass

Other then the items I mentioned above there are other ways wheatgrass can be used.

1. Cats

I am not a cat person and personally do not have a cat. But from what I was learning you can feed wheatgrass to your cat and it will have the same benefits for your furry friend as it does for us humans.

2. Decoration

This is so fun! I love doing things that are practical and cute. You can use your wheatgrass for decoration. So basically you will just take the steps I provided above but just plant some wheatgrass in a cute little container or jar. You can decorate with it and just cut it down as you want to use it. How cool is that?

Conclusion

Wheatgrass is pretty crazy stuff! It can help your body kill cancer cells, give you glowing radient skin, relieve allergies and more! I love when I find things that are almost free to come by and have such a large positve impact on my body. And how cool is it that I can grow it in my house and use it as a cute docoration and cut it down as I need to juice it? Pretty awesome if you ask me.

I love finding “non traditional” ways to heal my body, clean my home, and teach my kids. And my favorite is when I find things that work REALLY work well. Here is another one of my posts that you might be interested in.

Honest Norwex Review

Are all canned foods cooked?

Yes, all canned food is cooked. All canned food in the US is required by the FDA to be cooked. The only thing that is not cooked are things that are “pickled”.

So whether you have Hormel chili, Progresso soup, green beans, or canned meat it all is required to be cooked first.

Yes, cucumbers are in fact a fruit. You see, the scientific (more accurately the field of Botany) definition of a fruit is pretty straight forward. A fruit is the part of the plant that grows from the flowering ovaries and contains the seeds.

So in order to vet out fruits and vegetables, you just have to ask yourself a few questions.

1. Does this item contain seeds?

2. Did this item grow from the flower of a plant?

Great, now that we know how to identify fruits let’s clear up a little more of the confusion. So if the part of the plant that contains the seeds is the fruit of the plant then what are vegetables? Well, pretty much everything else. The roots, stalks, and leaves are all considered vegetables. With this type of classification that means that things like  Green beans, squash, tomatoes and peppers would all be fruits. Whereas cabbage, onions, potatoes, carrots, beets, celery and asparagus would all be a vegetable.

What type of fruit is a cucumber?

Cucumbers are actually a type of berry. Ya I know that sounds crazy but it’s true. They are known as a “Pepo”. This is a type of berry with no internal divisions and a hard outer skin or rind. Some other common examples of the “Pepo” berry would be Squash, zucchini, Pumpkins, and Watermelon. 

How many types of cucumbers are there?

There are generally considered 2 major types of cucumbers. The first type would be the “Slicing” cucumbers. These are the cucumbers that you would see in the market and what we generally think of when we think of this fruit. They are large, smooth and light to medium green. These are used in salads and other dishes and have a nice light fresh crisp taste.

The second type of cucumbers is “pickling” cucumbers. These, as their name implies are used for picking purposes. We grow these in our garden and are amazed by how many pickling cucumbers you will get for a single plant. Last year we were able to put up about 40 jars of pickles from a single plant.

How nutritious are cucumbers?

Cucumbers contain many valuable vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, potassium, manganese, magnesium and fiber. Though cucumbers do have a wide variety of helpful vitamins and minerals it is important to remember that overall cucumbers are about 95% water. This means that they are extremely low in calories and carbohydrates. There are only about 15-16 calories in one cup of cucumbers. That’s amazing! It also means that there is really not that much to them and if you wanted to get your daily intake of the vitamins that cucumbers provide you would have to eat almost 25 cucumbers per day. 

Benefits 

Cucumbers can be a great snack choice for people looking to stay healthy and well hydrated. Because of their aforementioned high water content, they are an excellent way to get more water into your system throughout the day if you are a person who has a hard time drinking a lot of water. Also, they make a great substitute for a dipping chip. I personally love to eat them with salsa or hummus. 

Skin Care

Another great benefit of cucumbers is that they can be used for skin. Both as a means of first aid and as an anti-aging resource. You see the peal of a cucumber contains something called “Caffeic Acid”, this helps to soothe irritated and inflamed skin. That means that next time you get burned by your stove or even the sun you can use a cold slice of cucumber to help the healing process. Also, cucumbers contain silica. Silica is used to rejuvenate skin cells and help to keep them hydrated and plump. That’s why we have all seen women for years use slices under their eyes to fight that saggy skin. 

It’s important to know the difference

Simply put, YES! More and more people deal with food allergies and it is very important for people to know what they are putting in there mouth. I personally have a reaction to some fruits with skin like apples, peaches, pears, Plums and on and on the list goes. If I eat the skin of these fruits raw then the inside of my mouth will actually itch. I’m not sure if I react to the fruit itself or the pesticides but it’s not the most enjoyable experience. It’s not dangerous as much as it is annoying. However, some people have more life-threatening reactions to things and it is important for those people to be aware.

Conclusion

A cucumber is not only a fruit but part of a very interesting family of fruits with many uses and applications. Everything from making pickles to soothing a burn the cucumber has got you covered. They are a great addition to any refrigerator and you may want to start keeping a few around. Thank you so much for reading and I hope you learned something. Make sure to check out a few of my other articles while you are here.

When he gave it to me, I asked him about how long it would last, and he said that he had no idea. I remember hearing that smoked and dried fish has been a preservation method and a staple for many cultures over the centuries, so I started researching the topic and this is what I found.

Dried fish, depending on the method of preservation and the environment it is stored in can last from a few months up to one year. However, most would recommend that you don’t let it go past 2 months.  

There really are so many factors and things to be aware of in order to be safe. Let’s start to unpackage this fascinating topic so that you can enjoy this fantastic snack with confidence.

Why do people dry fish?

Fish is one of the fastest spoiling meat. If nothing is done to prolong its life, it can go bad in just a few hours. This presented quite a problem for the cultures that were dependent on fish for food and trade. So, people quickly figured out ways to preserve the fish that they caught so that they could stay out on the water longer or ship the fish to further towns and villages. Thousands of years later we still use many of the same methods as our ancestors did.

What are the ways that people dry/preserve their fish?

There are many ways that people around the world have accomplished the task of dried fish preservation. We are looking at the most popular ways from smoking to sun drying. Generally, as a rule, the drier you make and keep the fish the longer it will last. However, what you gain in longer shelf life you may lose in flavor and texture.

Smoking

Smoking fish is probably the most common form that you will find today due to its flavor infusing abilities. There is no other way to say it, smoked fish is delicious. Unfortunately, it is the least effective method for long term storage. If you leave your smoked fish out of refrigeration the meat will only last for about three days.

If you refrigerate the fish it can last upwards of three weeks. This method was helpful in areas with a lot of bugs. The smoke would deter the bugs from laying their eggs in the meat. It would also give travelers a way to take the fish they caught on the trail and make it last for a few more days and they wouldn’t have to stop and make a fire to cook, they could simply eat on the go.

The Basics

Smoking fish is generally done one of two ways “Hot Smoking” or “Cold Smoking”. The main difference is the consistent temperature you maintain throughout the smoking process. Cold smoking calls for a temperature of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Whereas hot smoking calls for temperatures of between 120-180 degrees Fahrenheit.

The texture and flavors generally associated with cold-smoked fish would be cool, silky, and fresh with light herbs and spices. On the other hand, hot-smoked fish is most commonly rich, flakey, heavily smoked, and often sweet. For actual instructions to help guide you through the process check out my other article here. 

Dehydrating

Dehydrating fish is also a popular way that many people choose to preserve their fish. Because it’s so easy to control the temperature people have good success with this method. It can easily be done in a dehydrator or your kitchen oven. The great thing about dehydration is that it can extend the life of your fish for a few weeks out of the refrigerator and for up to two months in the fridge.

The Basics

With this method, you need to take thin pieces of your desired fish and lay it out on a rack so that none of the pieces are touching each other. Maintain a consistent temperature of between 145-155-degree Fahrenheit for 7 to 12 hours. The drier you make the fish the longer it will last however I tend to like mine a little soft when I press on it. You may want to take a few precautions if you don’t want your home to smell like fish for the day such as opening windows or placing the dehydrator in your garage while you are using it.

Salting

Salting fish may be the oldest and most prolific form of fish preservation throughout history. In almost every country and every culture, people have salted fish. To this day many people salt fish to make it last until the next season. And millions of pounds of salted fish are exported all over the world each year.

The best part about using salt to preserve fish is that this method is less susceptible to heat and cold fluctuation. People often keep buckets of the well-salted fish right outside. The salt with pull the moisture out of the fish and preserve your fish like a chip. When you are ready to eat the fish simply take it out of the salt, soak it in water for 12 to 36 hours depending on your flavor preference to rinse out the salt and rehydrate the meat. Then, cook it up into a delicious meal.

The Basics

When salting fish, you are going to want to clean your fish well. Some people choose to remove the head and fins of their fish before they store them, I tend to just gut the fish (if necessary, scale them) and store them whole.

Begin by placing about a half-inch of salt to the bottom of your food grade bucket. Next, pack the empty gut cavity with as much salt at it will take. You don’t want to have any empty space for moisture to be trapped inside your fish. Once the fish are packed with salt lay them in the bucket and leave a little space between them. Finally, cover the fish with more salt until no parts of the fish are visible and repeat the process again and again until your bucket is full.

Sun Drying

Sun Drying fish works wonderful during hot dry times of the year. Most of the people who chose this way of drying fish were Coastal communities close to the equator. This style of drying fish works great on a large scale because you don’t need to maintain a fuel source or use electricity. You simply let nature do the work for you. Therefore, it is relatively easy to dry more fish at one time.

The Basics

Of all the processes so far, this one is by far the easiest. Once you have cleaned and filleted your fish lay the meat out on a rack or screen of some kind. Next, keep the bugs from laying eggs by covering your fish with bug netting. You will need to flip the fish periodically in order to make sure it dries evenly.

Depending on the heat and sun you have the total process can take from one to three days. From experience, I can say that sun-dried fish has a different flavor than fish dried in the oven or a dehydrator. Many people choose to sun dry their fish with herb and spice mixtures for additional flavor.

Combinations

Combinations of the previously mentioned methods are also popular and increase the success of your preservation. Some of the combinations most commonly used would be a brine (salt bath) along with one of the drying methods. By combining methods, you can lengthen the preservation time and increase flavor.

How do you know when your dried fish is done?

Like stated earlier the drier you make the fish the longer it will last. However, you will be trading some texture preferences for the preservation time. When your fish is done it will be stiff. You will be able to pick it up and hold the fillet by the far side without it drooping or sagging at all. If you press on the fish it should be firm to the touch with only a little give.

Depending on the fish that you use it will take a little longer and the finished product may feel a little different. For instance, a fatty fish such as lake trout or salmon is very oily and will take longer to dry. Also, once the fish is dry it will have a more pliable final product because of the amount of oil within the fish. Whereas less fatty fish such as panfish will dry quicker and be a bit my firm when finished.

How to Store Dried fish?

Before you begin the storing process let the meat cool down completely. If you store the meat while it is warm you may have condensation build up in your storage container and cause your meat to spoil, moisture is the enemy of dried goods.

There are many different types of storage containers and most work just fine. The key is to use something airtight and to pack it tight so that there is less oxygen in the container when you store them. I really like mason jars for storing my dried meats. They are cheap and work very well for me. I also enjoy the fact that I can easily inspect the contents without opening the container.

Once you have your meat in the storage container of your choice you are going to want to store the finished product in the right location. Look for a cool, dry location out of direct sunlight. I store mine in a pantry in my basement. It is always about 55 to 60 degrees, dry and has so windows. It is the perfect location. If you don’t have a basement pantry, look for a low cupboard. Someplace low and cool and out of the sunlight.

How to know if your fish has gone bad?

You are always going to want to check the stored fish for spoilage before you eat it. So, what do you look for? It’s simple.

1.     Look for visible signs first like mold or discoloring of the meat. If you used mason jars like I do this should be easy enough to do.
2.     Open the dried fish and look for moisture. If moisture is overabundant you will see places were the meat has swelled. It should be nice and uniformly dry.
3.     Use your nose. If the fish doesn’t smell quite right than get rid of it. It should smell strong of fish. If it smells rancid or sour at all don’t risk it, just throw it out.

What to do with the old fish?

My best two options I have found are to either give it to your pets or throw it into your garden. My dog loves dried fish and it’s a great healthy snack to reward him with. The other is to use it as compost in your garden. Fish is very good for your garden and your plants will eat up all the nutrients come springtime. Either way, it’s a win-win. Nothing ever goes to waste on the homestead.

Conclusion

Depending on the methods of preservation you can get your fish to last from a few days to a year. I highly recommend that you test each of the methods talked about. Having the skills to preserve your own meat is one of the many invaluable skills that are becoming rarer.

Make sure that you test your meat before you eat it and if you have any doubt just give it to your furry friend. I hope you were able to learn something and make sure you take a look at our other related articles.

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Are dehydrators worth it?

I always washed them because I figured they were dirty and common sense said to clean them. That makes sense right? Well it did to me until I came across information on the “bloom” or “cuticle”. The information I found amazed me. And we will get to what I learned in just a little bit but first…should you wash your farm fresh eggs?

No! Farm fresh eggs are coated in something called a “bloom”. This protects the egg from bad bacteria. When you wash the egg the bloom is washed off and your egg is no longer protected from bacteria. However, You will want to clean the egg right before eating. If possible rub off feces or dirt. Avoid water if at all possible. If you do use water make sure it is hot. Cold water draws the bacteria into the egg.

Whats crazy is that when you wash your eggs with water you not only are removing the bloom but you potentially rubbing bacteria into the egg with the water. I had no idea! I always washed my chicken eggs with water. I had no clue there was a much better way to wash and store my eggs. After I explain the bloom in a little more detail we will go over the best ways to wash and store eggs.

What the Bloom?

Just before the chicken lays the egg, a protective layer covers the outside of the egg. This could also be called a cuticle. It seems strange because even though an egg shell is fragile it seems fairly thick. But believe it or not when the bloom is washed off it is very easy for bacteria to get into the pores of the egg.

The bloom seals the egg completely to keep out bacteria, and moisture loss from the egg. This is amazing to me. Eggs gets super dirty right? So without the bloom the part of the egg we eat would be covered in bacteria.

But nature is pretty awesome and the egg was created to protect itself from the inevitable. The bloom also helps the egg to stay fresh for longer. If you don’t wash your eggs and keep them in the fridge they will stay the most fresh. They can last up to 5 weeks this way!

Okay, so now that we understand the bloom…

What is the best way to wash and store eggs?

Well the BEST way to wash your eggs is not to…But I do realize that sometimes that is not possible. When you wash your eggs you do have to keep them in the fridge. You can no longer store them on the counter because you have removed the bloom. So what are the best ways to clean eggs while still protecting them?

• Pant leg

Ha! I’m not kidding the best way to wash your eggs is to just wipe off the junk on it. I am pretty laid back here on my homestead and yes slightly lazy. So you will catch me doing things like this on a regular basis. I mean who wants to take the time to get a towel when your pants will work just as well? When you do it this way the bloom will stay on the egg and you can get most of the junk off of your egg.

Again, you can wash it better when you go to cook it but if you wipe it enough to get the big junk off you can store it that way and it will last the longest.

• Hot water

When you do choose to use water you always want to use warm or hot water. Cold water works like a vacuum and sucks the bacteria into the egg. Try not to let your eggs sit in the water. Just get it wet enough to wipe the junk off.

• Veggie scrub/sponge

If you have read my article on cleaning you will know that I love norwex. They have a cloth used to scrub fruits and veggies clean. It has an abrasive side to get dirt and such off of veggies. I have found that it works wonderfully to clean eggs. If you wanna give it a try you can click on the image and it will direct you to amazon.

The cloth is amazing and and can be used for lots of other things as well. But I gotta stop there. Like I said I love norwex and could go on for days. If you want to learn more about norwex you can read my article here. Anyway, here is the amazing cloth…

If you don’t have the amazing veggie scrub you can use a sponge the same way! If you get the sponge wet make sure that it is hot water. It is not necessary to scrub the whole egg just the parts that have junk on them.

• Sand paper

This works the same as the sponge idea. But it protects the egg more because it is dry. You will still be removing the bloom but there is not water used so you will be avoiding the “vacuum” danger.

Onto storing…

You can store your farm fresh eggs on the counter. This works great if you go through your eggs quickly. But they will not last nearly as long. Actually one day on the counter equals 7 days in the fridge.

So keeping them in the fridge will make them last 7 times longer. So if you have the room just stick them in the fridge. But if you have an over packed fridge you can totally just leave them out.

Should I wash eggs before refrigerating?

This is up to you. As we have talked about there is no way you have to do it. If you decided to wash your eggs you will HAVE to keep them in the fridge. You also want to make sure you eat those before the not washed eggs. I store my eggs in cartons and make sure to eat the oldest ones first. In our house we go through eggs so fast I don’t really have to worry about them going bad.

Salmonella from not washing?

Salmonella is a bacteria that is usually associated with poultry. Salmonella contaminates the inside of the egg before the shell is even formed. Eggs can get salmonella from poop which is in the area where they laid their eggs.

Sadly, you can’t tell if your eggs have been contaminated or not. But if you wash your eggs properly and make sure to cook them you should not no problem. Also, if you can keep the area where your chickens lay their eggs clean this will help tremendously. This will also take away the need to clean your eggs at all! 

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