Black salsify – healthy nutritional values in a dark skin
One of the most valuable vegetables – black salsify. Thanks to its healing properties, it was already used as medicine back in the Middle Ages. In this article, you’ll learn why it is still considered a natural remedy today, what nutritional valuesblack salsify contains and how it affects your health.
Storage time*
| BioFresh Fruit & Vegetable safe just above 0 °C with high humidity | 110 days |
| EasyFresh safe 7 °C with air regulation plate | 55 days |
| Fridge compartment 7 °C | 44 days |
| Freezer compartment -18 °C | 6 months |
The key points
- Black salsify is prized as a medicinal plant.
- It provides vitamins A, B, C and E as well as potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and iron.
- It has only 50-60 kcal per 100 g and has a satiating, diuretic and relaxing effect.
- When you buy it, look for firm stalks; wear gloves when you peel it and work on the root under water.
Black salsify: medicinal plant with good nutritional values
Black salsify originatesfrom Spain. Even the Germanic tribes enjoyed eating it. In the Middle Ages, black salsify was particularly popular. It was considered an antidote to poisons and a protection against diseases such as the plague. The healing powers of black salsify were also often used to treat snake bites. Today, the root is mainly consumed for its healthy properties during colder periods.
Rich in vitamins such as vitamins A, B, C and E, black salsify also contains other nutrients such as high levels of potassium and magnesium, as well as calcium, phosphorus and iron. And thanks to the active ingredient allantoin, it is now also popular in the form of ointments, which accelerate cell renewal, act as a disinfectant and promote wound healing. As you can see, black salsify is a true natural remedy thanks to its nutritional values.
Due to their bitter compounds, they stimulate the glands and thus have a diaphoretic and diuretic effect. The inulin makes this vegetable particularly tasty and healthy for diabetics. Black salsify contains around 50 to 60 calories per 100 grams, making it a low-calorie, nutrient-rich vegetable option. The substances contained in its milky sap help to reduce stress. It’s therefore best to eat this vegetable in the evening as black salsify has a relaxing effect and promotes good sleep.
How to keep black salsify fresh and nutritious for longer
When you buy it, make sure that the stalks are not too thin. This is because cleaning black salsify produces a lot of waste. It’s advisable to peel the roots in water using rubber gloves and a potato peeler, otherwise you’ll have to contend with stains on your hands. However, what many do not know: black salsify is whiteunderneath the skin. To keep it that way, place the stalks in lemon water with a little flour immediately after peeling.
If you don’t wish to prepare the roots immediately after purchasing them, it’s best to place them unwashed in the fridge. The stalks will remain fresh for up to 44 days in the regular fridge compartment at 7 °C. Liebherr’s BioFresh technology is ideal for delivering significantly longer freshness. In the BioFresh Fruit & Vegetable safe, black salsify roots stay fresh for up to 110 days at high humidity and a temperature just above 0 °C – more than twice as long as in a conventional fridge compartment.
*All specifications given are to be considered as guideline values, and depend in each case on the type of foodstuffs and on the proper storage without interruption of the cold chain from harvest/production through to the Liebherr appliance. Should food products have information about minimum shelf life, the date on the packaging always applies.
