Question on Lemongrass

[dragnlaw]

I like lemongrass. Have a lemongrass infused Coconut Milk Rice recipe which is divine! But how do you keep some on hand without it going moldy/stale/rot!

Can you freeze fresh lemongrass? Even though they are sort of a "woody" stem?

I bought a jarred type once, but even then I used two and the rest eventually met their doom in the back of the fridge before I used it again.
I'm hesitant to buy it again. I'm not a consistent cook and never know when I will want/need some.

To me the freezer is the answer.

 

[medtran49]

I freeze it whole, defrost, peel, smash, etc.

They also have it in a tube now.

 

[dragnlaw]

I'll definitely look for a tube. Thanks medtran!

So for now I'll freeze.

 

[blissful]

In spring I buy one little pot of it, plant it in a few large pots and then harvest it in the fall. I do keep that in the freezer. Just the last 2.5 inches of each stalk. Then when I want some I put a little water in the blender with some stalks, blend it, and strain it, and use the flavored water.
This is how the pots look before harvest. (buckets with holes drilled in the bottom)

 

[dragnlaw]

I've never seen lemongrass in the nurseries. Again, I'll keep my eye out some. Thanks bliss!

 

[Andy M.]

I freeze it too. Just wrap it and toss it in the freezer.

 

[dragnlaw]

don't know why I was afraid to toss in the freezer... go figure. I throw most everything in there!

 

[jennyema]

In spring I buy one little pot of it, plant it in a few large pots and then harvest it in the fall. I do keep that in the freezer. Just the last 2.5 inches of each stalk. Then when I want some I put a little water in the blender with some stalks, blend it, and strain it, and use the flavored water.
This is how the pots look before harvest. (buckets with holes drilled in the bottom)

Ive grown lemongrass many times but the roots have been very disappointingly small, not to mention nearly impossible to harvest. Its a very pretty plant though.

 

[jennyema]

I always have lemongrass and lime leaves in my freezer. Also ginger and garlic. And hot peppers. And waffles!

 

[larry_stewart]

Freeze the base. The leaves can be dried and used for tea. Ivd seen people literally tie them in a knot and dry them like that.

Also, I see them every year in Home Depot for like $10. They can grow relatively large.

 

[pepperhead212]

Here's what to do with it, if growing it - trim it, as if you are getting it ready to use that day. When it is that fresh, you don't have to cut it as short, but the root end keep cutting the stem shorter, until you see the purple rings, and the other end varies, depending on how thick it is. 6-8 inches long is ok, except for very small stalks. But get it as if you are getting ready to use it, then put them in a narrow foodsaver bag, and vacuum seal it. They will keep forever in the freezer this way. The last time I grew them was in '21, because it was a huge amount, on just 4 plants. And the lemongrass is still better than something I would buy. Here are some photos, showing that cutting of the stem, I described, a couple of the foodsaver bags, with 3 and 4 stalks, and a whole bunch of the foodsaver bags ready to freeze. That year I stopped making the smaller bags, and put all the rest in 2 maybe half gallon sized foodsaver bags.
Final cutting of the first lemongrass stalk, showing what was cut off. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Some lemongrass in packs of 3, some in packs of 4. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Finished stack of Foodsavered lemongrass. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

For starting this, I buy some at an Asian market, then trim the very end off, then put the stalks in a pyrex cup of water, and root them, in about 3 weeks, changing the water every 3 days. Adding a little clonex helps a little, but plain water works fine. I try to get them with the part of the stalk that gets trimmed away, but that's good, for rooting! Here's a photo of that type of stalk, and some started, and the last, least rooted stalk I had left, after those 4 best ones got planted.

Update - when I start this, I count back 3 weeks from the last frost date, and start the roots. That way, they are ready to plant at the right time.
Trimmed lemongrass stalks, ready to be soaked, for rooting. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

First roots started on the lemongrass, on 4-21, 8 days after starting. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

One of my extra lemongrass rootings. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

When ready, I just stick them about 3 inches into the ground, about 2' apart, and wait!

I forgot to mention - don't bother with the seeds. It's a different species, up to 1/4" at the most, and milder in flavor.

 

[blissful]

Excellent documentation! @pepperhead212

 

[Jusa]

I freeze it whole, defrost, peel, smash, etc.

They also have it in a tube now.

That's how I buy it. At Aldi. It lasts a long time in the tube.

 

[Jusa]

Here's what to do with it, if growing it - trim it, as if you are getting it ready to use that day. When it is that fresh, you don't have to cut it as short, but the root end keep cutting the stem shorter, until you see the purple rings, and the other end varies, depending on how thick it is. 6-8 inches long is ok, except for very small stalks. But get it as if you are getting ready to use it, then put them in a narrow foodsaver bag, and vacuum seal it. They will keep forever in the freezer this way. The last time I grew them was in '21, because it was a huge amount, on just 4 plants. And the lemongrass is still better than something I would buy. Here are some photos, showing that cutting of the stem, I described, a couple of the foodsaver bags, with 3 and 4 stalks, and a whole bunch of the foodsaver bags ready to freeze. That year I stopped making the smaller bags, and put all the rest in 2 maybe half gallon sized foodsaver bags.
Final cutting of the first lemongrass stalk, showing what was cut off. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Some lemongrass in packs of 3, some in packs of 4. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Finished stack of Foodsavered lemongrass. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

For starting this, I buy some at an Asian market, then trim the very end off, then put the stalks in a pyrex cup of water, and root them, in about 3 weeks, changing the water every 3 days. Adding a little clonex helps a little, but plain water works fine. I try to get them with the part of the stalk that gets trimmed away, but that's good, for rooting! Here's a photo of that type of stalk, and some started, and the last, least rooted stalk I had left, after those 4 best ones got planted.

Update - when I start this, I count back 3 weeks from the last frost date, and start the roots. That way, they are ready to plant at the right time.
Trimmed lemongrass stalks, ready to be soaked, for rooting. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

First roots started on the lemongrass, on 4-21, 8 days after starting. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

One of my extra lemongrass rootings. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

When ready, I just stick them about 3 inches into the ground, about 2' apart, and wait!

I forgot to mention - don't bother with the seeds. It's a different species, up to 1/4" at the most, and milder in flavor.

I root all kinds of things, good to know this one roots easily too.

 

[Badjak]

No need in my case

But otherwise I would freeze

 

[dragnlaw]

Badjak, have you got a spare room? I'm good at washing dishes.

pepper - that's great, thank you!

and thank you all - very informative, I appreciate.