How to Pick and Store Grape Leaves
Here's all of the information you need to select, pick, and preserve fresh grape leaves.
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Instructions
How to find grape leaves
- Location location location! Generally find edible grape leaves on wild vines. Cultivated vines for grapes are not used for their leaves, because they are not tender or as flavorful. The wild vines produce tender, thinner leaves that are right for stuffing, rolling, and cooking.
How to pick grape leaves
- Pick the leaf at the point where the leave stem meets the vine, keeping the stem on the leaf and snapping it from the fine. Don't pick the leaf from it's own stem.The stem will be cut off later just before rolling the leaves. Avoid leaves with holes or tears.
Pick EDIBLE grape leaves
- Wild edible grape leaves have three distinct lobes with pointy notches all the way around the leaf. The vine itself is reddish and the leaves are bright green. Grape leaves should be about 4- to 6-inches in size.
How to store grape leaves
- Store grape leaves with the stems on, either in the refrigerator to cook within one week, or in the freezer for 6 months to a year. Store in zip top bags. Keep the bag partially open in the refrigerator for ventilation, but airtight in the freezer. To thaw frozen grape leaves, place them in boiling water to blanche them for just a couple of minutes before rolling.
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