When is rhubarb in season

It dies down in winter and now, as it begins to re-emerge for the new season later than usual this year, due to the prolonged cold weather over the winter , the new stalks will be at their pinkest and most tender. To get the most of this early crop, rhubarb crowns can be forced. To do this, the crowns are protected with newspaper or straw then covered - ideally with beautiful clay pots made especially for the purpose, but anything like large upturned boxes or bins will do; the stems then shoot up much earlier than usual and are exceptionally pink and sweet.

For an even earlier crop the crowns can be dug up in the late autumn, re-planted in large pots or simply in black plastic bags and brought in to a shed or greenhouse, then covered to exclude light. Where can I get it?

What can I do with it? Forced rhubarb can be cooked in any of the ways used for mature rhubarb later in the season but the pink new season stems are so pretty that it is best to choose cooking methods that show them off to advantage. It also looks very pretty in traditional pies and crumbles, or used as a sauce - with oily fish such as mackerel, for example.

Click for recipe. Some of the most popular ways to cook with rhubarb include:. Rhubarb's big personality has inspired more than childhood dares to eat food found in the woods. June July Rhubarb. You will receive an email shortly, please follow the link to verify your subscription. Does rain damage rhubarb plants?

Cook with rhubarb Rice pudding with rhubarb, pistachio and mascarpone. Rice pudding with rhubarb, pistachio and mascarpone. Rhubarb and lentil salad with goat's curd and black olives.

Chargrilled sardines with slightly pickled mustardy rhubarb Source: Sharyn Cairns. This week's top Food TV picks. SBS On Demand. Watch all of Season 1 as Frank Pinello explores the incredible world of pizza from Chicago's deep dish to the New York 'fold'. Newly added. What does a recipe mean when it calls for neutral oil?

Shatter the dessert ceiling with broken glass. Rosemary lamb steak with quick bean stew. Tomato, spinach and chickpea angel hair soup. In Social. Stay connected with Food Stay connected with Food. Vertical Tabs Newsletter. While you'd likely have to eat a large amount of the leaves for it to be lethal, even small amounts can cause nausea and vomiting.

To be safe, do not eat or serve the leaves and keep them out of reach of children and pets. Once the leaves are removed, the rhubarb just needs to be cut and trimmed to your needs. The price usually depends on availability from the season's harvest. Rhubarb is easy to prepare.

Due to their toxicity, trimming and discarding the leaves is essential. Wash the stalks well and trim off the dry ends too. While it's tempting to peel the fibrous skin as you chop the stalks, try to resist this. The skin holds lots of color and flavor. Two things happen to rhubarb when it's cooked: Its juices thicken, and it falls apart into fraying shreds of translucent fibers.

Heavily cooked rhubarb has the perfect jellied consistency for rhubarb jam , as well as chutneys and compotes. It isn't so attractive when stir-fried or arranged on a tart. Quick heat yields tender but cohesive rhubarb pieces with rich flavor and a natural, glossy sheen.

Raw rhubarb has a very tart taste that most people find unpleasant. For this reason, it's almost always cooked with sugar to counteract the sour flavor. Rhubarb's tart fruitiness makes it perfect to use in desserts, and it's most often paired with strawberries. Its intense tartness makes it a nice foil for savory dishes, too. If you don't feel like cooking, try a simple snack and dip pieces of rhubarb in honey or sugar or boil it to make rhubarb juice.

Hothouse rhubarb is available most of the year, while field-grown stalks are available in early spring, typically from April through June. The Pacific Northwest is lucky enough to have a second harvest of rhubarb between June and July.

The short growing season means you should enjoy it when you see it. It's often available at farmers markets and can be found in grocery stores.