| How to Prepare Lima Beans Posted: 01 Sep 2021 05:00 PM PDT Lima beans are also known as butter beans. They are a member of the kidney bean family, originating in Lima, Peru. When cooked, these beans have a soft texture that blends well into creamy style dishes, and their delicate flavour makes them a perfect addition to many soups, salads, and casseroles. Lima beans are sold dried, frozen, canned, or fresh, and they must always be cooked before eating. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Cooking Dried Lima Beans - 1 cup (225 g) of lima beans
- 3 cups (750 mL) of water
- 1 cup (225 g) of lima beans (for the lima beans stew recipe)
- 2 cups (500 mL) of vegetable stock (for the lima beans stew recipe)
- 2 sliced carrots (for the lima beans stew recipe)
- 2 chopped onions (for the lima beans stew recipe)
- 2 tbsp (7.6 g) of minced parsley (for the lima beans stew recipe)
- Ground black pepper, to taste (for the lima beans stew recipe)
- 2 tbsp (16 g) of whole-wheat flour (for the lima beans stew recipe)
- 2 cups (500 mL) of soy milk (for the lima beans stew recipe)
Makes 6 servings. [Edit]Using Frozen Lima Beans - 3 tbsp (30 g) of lima beans
- ⅓ cup (79 mL) of water
- ½ (75 g) of finely chopped onion (for the lima beans in chicken broth recipe)
- 1 ½ cups (375 g) of chicken broth (for the lima beans in chicken broth recipe)
- of frozen lima beans (for the lima beans in chicken broth recipe)
Makes 6 servings. [Edit]Cooking Canned Lima Beans - 1 can of lima beans
- 2 slices of uncooked bacon (for the Southern lima beans recipe)
- 1 cup (250 mL) of water (for the Southern lima beans recipe)
- 2 cans of lima beans (for the Southern lima beans recipe)
- Salt, to taste (for the Southern lima beans recipe)
- Hot sauce, to taste (for the Southern lima beans recipe)
Makes 4 servings [Edit]Working with Fresh Lima Beans - of fresh lima beans
- 2 cups (500 mL) of water
- of fresh lima beans (for the lima beans with black pepper and butter recipe)
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) of salt (for the lima beans with black pepper and butter recipe)
- 2 tbsp (28.4 g) of butter (for the lima beans with black pepper and butter recipe)
- Ground black pepper, to taste (for the lima beans with black pepper and butter recipe)
Makes 4 servings. [Edit]Cooking Dried Lima Beans - Choose dried lima beans to store them for up to 6 months. Purchase lima beans either from a bulk bin or in a prepackaged container. Check that the bulk bin is fully covered or that the prepackaged container is intact to ensure that the beans are safe from moisture and insects.[1]
- Store dried lima beans in an airtight container. Place the container in a cool, dark place where the temperature is below .[2]
- Spread the lima beans out on a light colored plate or tray. Check for any damaged beans, debris, or small stones. Remove and then discard the damaged beans, stones, or debris if you find any.[3]
- Using a dark colored plate or tray won't be effective as damaged beans and debris won't stand out.
- Rinse the lima beans with cool, running water. Place the lima beans in a strainer. Thoroughly wash the beans with the water.[4]
- Soak dried lima beans in water for at least 8 hours. Place the lima beans in a bowl of water, using a ratio of 1 cup (225 g) of beans to every 2 cups (500 mL) of water. Leave the bowl of lima beans and water in the refrigerator for 8 hours.[5]
- After 8 hours, drain the water from the beans and rinse them again with fresh water.
- Soaking the lima beans is necessary because it helps to remove some of the sugars, which makes the beans easier to digest.[6]
- The beans need to be soaked in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature because otherwise they will begin to ferment.
- Simmer 3 cups (750 mL) of water to every 1 cup (225 g) of dried lima beans. Bring the water to a boil, and then simmer the beans for 45 minutes in a saucepan. Skim off any excess foam while the lima beans simmer to prevent it from bubbling over.[7]
- After 45 minutes, the beans will be tender.
- Don't add any salt or seasoning during this time as this will make the lima beans tough. You can add seasoning either after the beans have simmered, or when you add them to a dish.
- Once the lima beans have finished simmering, they are ready to enjoy! You can add them to dishes now.
- Make lima bean stew for a warm and hearty meal. Place 1 cup (225 g) of cooked, previously dried lima beans, 2 cups (500 mL) of vegetable stock, 2 sliced carrots, 2 chopped onions, 2 tbsp (7.6 g) of minced parsley, and ground black pepper to taste into a large saucepan. Simmer the stew for 1 hour. Mix together 2 tbsp (16 g) of whole-wheat flour and 2 cups (500 mL) of soy milk, and stir this through the stew to thicken it.[8]
- Although the stew will take approximately 1 hour to cook, check the beans from time to time to see when they turn very soft. This is when the stew will be ready to serve.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.[9]
[Edit]Working with Fresh Lima Beans - Find fresh lima beans at a farmers market. Choose lima beans that are dark green, glossy, and firm. Avoid lima beans that have signs of decay, mold, or blemishes.[10]
- Fresh lima beans can also be found at some specialty grocery stores.
- Fresh lima beans are hard to find, as they are most commonly sold in the dried form.
- Store fresh lima beans in the refrigerator crisper for up to 2-3 days.
- Shell fresh lima beans before you cook them. Use your hands to twist open the pod, and pop out the beans. You can also split the pod open lengthwise, and push the lima beans out.[11]
- Place the freshly shelled beans into a bowl as you shell them.
- Discard any lima bean pods that have mildew or mold on them.
- Rinse the freshly shelled lima beans with running water. Run cool water through the beans in a strainer. Rinse the beans for 1-2 minutes.[12]
- Simmer of fresh lima beans for 1 hour to cook them. Add 2 cups (500 mL) of water and ½ tsp (2.5 g) of salt into a medium saucepan with the beans. Simmer the beans over a medium heat for 1 hour. Drain away the water from the beans, and then add the lima beans to your favorite dish.[13]
- When the lima beans are tender, this means that they are ready.
- Cooked lima beans are often mixed with equal parts of rice to serve.
- Alternatively you can enjoy the lima beans with 2 tbsp (28.4 g) of butter and a sprinkling of ground black pepper mixed in.[14]
[Edit]Using Frozen Lima Beans - Pick frozen lima beans if you want to store them for up to 1 year. Shake the bag of frozen lima beans. Make sure that the lima beans move freely around the bag, as this indicates that they have been frozen properly.[15]
- Avoid buying frozen lima beans that feel clumped together, as this means that they have been thawed and refrozen.
- Add frozen lima beans directly to hot dishes. Place frozen lima beans into a hot dish that you are cooking, such as chili or beans and rice, to thaw and cook the beans. There is normally no need to thaw them separately beforehand.[16]
- Cook frozen lima beans in the microwave for 8 minutes. Place ⅓ cup (79 mL) of water to every 3 tbsp (30 g) of lima beans in a microwave safe dish. Cover the dish, and cook the beans on high for 8 minutes.[17]
- This is useful if you are cooking the beans alone and not as a part of a hot dish.
- Drain the beans once they are cooked, and then season them to taste.
- Cook frozen lima beans in chicken broth for an easy, protein-rich meal. Saute ½ (75 g) of a finely chopped onion in a nonstick frying pan until it's soft. Add 1 ½ cups (375 mL) of chicken broth to the pan, and bring it to the boil. Place of frozen lima beans into the pan, bring the liquid to a boil, and then reduce it to a simmer, and cook the beans for 30 minutes.[18]
- Any leftovers can be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.[19]
[Edit]Cooking Canned Lima Beans - Choose canned lima beans if you want to store them for up to 4 years. Commercially canned lima beans are popular, and can be found in most grocery stores. Choose a can that is intact and isn't badly dented or bulging.[20]
- Drain the lima beans in a strainer. Open the can of lima beans. Pour the lima beans into the strainer, and rinse them thoroughly under cool, running water.[21]
- Only use canned lima beans that have been freshly opened.
- Heat canned lima beans in a saucepan for 10 minutes. Place 1 can of drained and rinsed lima beans into a saucepan. Heat the beans on a medium temperature setting for 10 minutes.[22]
- Once the lima beans have been heated, you can add seasoning such as salt or ground black pepper to taste.
- Make Southern lima beans for a protein-rich side dish. Dice 2 slices of uncooked bacon into pieces. Fry the bacon in a nonstick frying pan over a medium heat until it's browned, and add 1 cup (250 mL) of water to the pan. Add 2 cans of drained and rinsed lima beans, and simmer the ingredients for 10 minutes.[23]
- After simmering for 10 minutes, season the dish with salt and hot sauce to taste before serving.
- You can store this dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.[24]
[Edit]Warnings - If the lima beans are in a package or container that is bulging, rusting, severely dented, or leaking, these may not be safe to eat. Discard the lima beans, and purchase more.
- Check that the lima beans aren't spoilt before you use them. If you see any signs of mold, or they develop and off odour or appearance, then it's best to discard them.[25]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Cooking Dried Lima Beans - Light colored plate or tray
- Strainer
- Bowl
- Saucepan
- Airtight container
[Edit]Using Frozen Lima Beans - Microwave safe dish
- Nonstick frying pan
[Edit]Cooking Canned Lima Beans - Can opener
- Strainer
- Saucepan
- Nonstick frying pan
[Edit]Working with Fresh Lima Beans [Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Reduce Paper Waste Posted: 01 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT Paper waste is a major contribution to the total waste at landfills, being approximately 26% of it.[1] Over two million trees are cut down for global paper consumption every day. This means that four billion trees are cut down every year just to serve our paper needs! [2] Trees are an important component of nature,[3] so it is important to do what we can to save them. This article will teach you some ways to reduce paper waste. [Edit]Write on both sides of the paper. - It may seem as if simply writing on both sides of a piece of paper is not helpful, but in fact, it can help a lot. The back of a piece of paper can be used for things like sketches or other notes.[4] If you don't want to write on both sides of the paper right away, that's alright. Consider keeping a box of the paper that you've only used one side of, so you can easily have the paper for when you need it.[5]
- Be sure to use a good quality pen and paper so that the ink doesn't transfer onto the other side of the paper. To prevent this from occurring at all, you could also write with a regular or mechanical pencil.
- If you want to use a pen, you could also consider writing lightly with a pencil first since this will avoid making imprints that would require you to discard the page.
[Edit]Use paperclips instead of staples. - Staples can be difficult (and sometimes impossible) to remove without tearing the paper. To prevent such incidents, use paperclips instead. Paperclips can easily be pulled off, allowing the paper to be separated if needed. They can also be reused, unlike staples, making them a more cost-effective option instead of staples.
- Paperclips are easily available in most stationery shops, and they may even be cheaper than staples since you won't need to purchase a stapler along with them.
[Edit]Reuse envelopes and folders by sticking a new label on them. - Informal letters or friendly messages can go in envelopes that are repurposed to save paper. You can get creative with repurposing the envelopes, if you'd like, by using a fun label rather than a simple one. This can also work for folders-simply stick a new label over the old one, just like the envelope.
- You could also simply use some tapes and cover-up names and addresses to make way for a new name and details.
- If you'd like, you can use an old, blank paper that you are not planning to use to make your envelopes.
- Instead of throwing paper away, consider reusing it. There are a lot of ways you can reuse paper. Some good ideas are:
- Use it for packing fragile materials. Used magazines and newspapers are great for packing material. When moving or shipping something, you can use old newspapers to wrap fragile materials.
- Save packaging, coloured paper, and other paper items for arts and crafts projects. Do some research and figure out some craft projects that you could make with your leftover paper products.
- Clean with old paper. You can use newspaper to wipe windows, and you can also dampen newspaper and use it to shine stainless steel appliances.
- Make a fire starter. Paper burns fast, making it a great fire starter, meaning that you can use it in your fireplace or fire pit to get your logs burning.
- Use old magazines to decoupage. Old magazines can be used for a variety of fun decoupaged crafts.
- Make origami out of the paper. Since origami is the art of folding paper, it would be a great way to reuse your paper products.
[Edit]Use old newspaper to wrap gifts. - Using old newspapers is a great, eco-friendly way to wrap gifts. You could either find colourful ad pages to use or you could also use the funny pages.[6]
- You can also use the newspaper to make a fun gift topper if you'd like.[7]
- If you don't find any good pictures, simple notebook pages that you decorate can also make gifts look nice.
- You can also save any wrapping paper you have for packing or reusing it later if it is in good shape.
- If there is a recycling centre near you, you might want to give away all of your old papers and notebooks for recycling. It takes a lot less energy and money to recycle paper than to make some from raw material.[8]
- If there's one further away, consider storing some papers and giving them to the recycling centre every month.
- Recycling only one ton of paper will save 13 trees, 26,500 litres of water, 2.5 barrels of oil, and 4,100 kilowatts per hour of electricity! Paper can also reasonably be recycled five to seven times before getting thrown away.[9]
- If you want, you can also make your own recycled paper.
- Recycling paper doesn't always mean putting it in the recycling bin. You can turn old paper into origami or scrunch it up into a ball to practice juggling! Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. There are many ways of recycling old paper, and depositing your paper in a recycling bin is merely one way to recycle it.
[Edit]Think of all the paper articles you use. - List the activities you do, during which you use paper. Look into all your habits and routines properly, thinking about everything you do from morning until the time you go to bed. See which activities you can start using recycled paper or going paperless for.
- To avoid using more paper, list your activities on a word processor on a computer or smartphone.
[Edit]Take notes on your computer or smartphone when possible. - Taking paper notes can use up a lot of paper, which may be harmful to the environment. Instead, use a computer or your smartphone. You could use a sticky note tool, note app, or word processor to do this.
 - You can also add images to your notes and categorize them if you'd like to use other programs. Another advantage to taking notes online is that in some cases, you can see them from all your devices–mobile phones, tablets, PCs etc.— since many are available on the web and as their own standalone apps.
- You can also consider trying to write your grocery list or figuring out mathematical sums (you could also just use a regular calculator for this) on your computer or smartphone.
- Never write online access codes/credentials, and posting them to these services to avoid risking potential of identity theft, which is a big hazard and a big no-no! Places like Google Drive and Microsoft Word on the Web, are good substitutes.
- Programs such as Evernote and OneNote, Notepad, Textedit, Notepad++ etc. are some examples of cheap note-taking apps (although this might depend on where you live).
- You may still have to use paper if you're taking notes for school and they don't allow you to use a phone or computer, or if you find that taking paper notes helps you remember the material better. If so, consider writing in smaller (yet still readable) handwriting so the notes take up less space.
- Traditional, posted mails require a lot of paper. There are also some other disadvantages to traditional mail, such as it taking time to reach the recipient, you having to go to a post office, and getting lost on the way (which is rare, although still possible). E-mails have a few advantages, including being delivered much quicker than traditional mail, the ability to be sent to one person or a larger group, and being able to send them at any time[10] (to name just a few).
- You could also text or call someone as opposed to sending something in the traditional mail if you don't want to email them.
- Even if something needs to be signed, you may still be able to sign it with an electronic signature and e-mail the signed document.[11]
- Consider sending emails to yourself if you really need to send yourself a reminder or something that needs to be written and saved for posterity– that you once might have noted on post-it notes.
[Edit]Limit how much you print. - Print out documents only if you absolutely need to. Instead, save them electronically whenever possible. While it may be easier to print documents, since you won't have to log on to a computer or smartphone to find them, there are some disadvantages to printing.
- Printed documents tend to get lost. You could end up losing them in a pile of other supplies, or you may simply forget where you placed them. As a result, you may not be able to find the document when you need it.
- They may take up a lot of space. Especially if you have a lot of other things, adding a document to the mix will likely result in more space being used.
- You may forget to bring them along with you. If you need to bring the document somewhere, you may forget it by accident. If the document is saved on a computer, you don't have to worry about bringing it somewhere, since you can simply log on to a computer and find it.
- Consider electronically saving documents. This has additional benefits, instead of printing them. You can easily find documents this way since you'll likely have your phone with you most of the time, and they won't take up much physical space.
- You can use drive storage programs to save your documents, such as Google Drive or OneDrive, so that they won't get lost and you can access them from any device, anywhere, at any time. With these programs, you'll also likely be able to give and receive feedback on your document easier.[12]
- Remember what you name all of your files and if you place them in any folders (and if so, the name of the folder). Otherwise, you may not be able to find them when you need them.
- Print double-sided if you need to print. While the process for doing this may vary depending on the printer, it's typically not very difficult.[13] This method will also cost you 50% less since you won't need to use a second sheet of paper.
- Double-check beforehand to see if your printer allows double-sided printing. If it doesn't, you can still print double-sided manually.
- Using smaller (but still readable) fonts if possible can also be helpful, since what you're printing may not even end up on a second page.
[Edit]Use recycled paper. - Using recycled paper means cutting down fewer trees, therefore helping the environment. Recycled paper, in some instances, costs less since less energy is required to recycle paper than to make some from raw material.[14]
- Check labels to see if a product or its packaging is made from recycled content. Specifically, you'll want to see if you can find what percentage of the paper is recycled (the higher the percentage, the better it is for the environment), and/or an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) seal, since this seal indicates that sustainably-harvested wood fibres were used to make the paper.[15]
- Some pencils may be made from newspaper or recycled paper— consider writing with these.
[Edit]Read e-papers instead of buying newspapers. - Newspapers need a good amount of paper since the pages are large, and you get one every day (most likely). Instead, try reading your daily news in e-paper form. You might be able to find this online, usually on the newspaper publisher's website.
- You might have to pay a monthly fee for this, but some publications do offer free e-papers.
- If the publication you like to read does not offer an online version, consider referring to other sites for news updates.
- Similarly, instead of purchasing books, consider reading e-books or checking out library books. Some examples of e-readers you can purchase include Amazon Kindles and Nooks, though you may also be able to read e-books on a tablet or smartphone.
- Consider purchasing audiobooks, which can complement eBooks you read without any loss of position.
[Edit]Use cloth bags instead of paper ones. - A lot of water and fuel needs to be used to produce paper bags, and a lot of trees need to be cut down. Typically, paper bags also aren't made using recycled materials. Paper bags also usually tear easily and they don't tend to do well in the rain. Also, the fertilizers and other chemicals that are used to make paper and for tree farming are acid rain contributors, and they also contribute to higher rates of waterway eutrophication.[16] Cloth bags, therefore, are a more environmentally friendly choice.
 - Plastic bags are also not a good choice for the environment, since they are made using petroleum, a finite resource. As it gets more limited, obtaining petroleum causes a larger amount of harm to the environment. They can also be a challenge to recycle, since they often cling onto machines or fly out of recycling bins, thus ending up in oceans, landfills and streets, where they can put wildlife in danger. They also are not typically biodegradable.[17]
- Cloth bags are a lot more durable than paper bags. Cloth bags can be washed and used multiple times,
- If you don't have a cloth bag, you can make your own.
- When shopping, always carry your own bags. Politely deny taking paper or plastic bags if you are offered them by the mall or store.
- If you need to use a paper bag and it doesn't end up damaged, consider reusing it, as a bag for lunch, for craft projects, or as a trash, recyclables or compost bag. You can also compost your paper bag— simply tear up the bag and put it in your compost pile.[18]
[Edit]Buy products with less packaging. - A huge amount of municipal solid waste is from packaging and is often thrown away after a while. Certain packaging items may also become litter, thus polluting waterways and being in the environment for a longer period than they were used. There are a few things you can do to use less packaging in your daily life.[19]
- Carry reusable items whenever possible. This includes not only a reusable bag but also a reusable straw, utensils, and water bottle, to name just a few things.[20]
- Purchase in bulk whenever you can. Not only can this help to reduce waste from packaging, but it can also save you money.[21]
- Instead of pre-packaged products, purchase products like vegetables and fruit that are loose.[22]
- If you're unsure of which brand of a product to purchase, buy the one that does not use as much packaging.[23]
- Reuse packaging when you can.[24] You can use packaging for things like craft projects or storage.
- Consider using websites such as Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, or Craigslist if you need an item. You may be able to find what you need on there[25], and it may use less packaging.
[Edit]Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones. - A lot of paper is wasted every year on things like paper towels and napkins. Switching to reusable versions, such as cloth napkins, can keep plenty of paper from being wasted. You can use cloth napkins for things like cleaning up messes[26], and they can also be washed and reused.
- If you need to use paper napkins, look for ones that were made using recycled paper.[27]
[Edit]Avoid paper dinnerware and cups. - While paper cups and dinnerware may seem convenient, they can harm the environment. For example, if the paper product has been utilized for food (such as a carton or paper plate), it typically cannot be recycled. In addition, while waste that reaches landfills might be sealed in a plastic container or bin (and occasionally buried) and thus prevent harmful materials from reaching the environment, the product (whether it's paper or plastic) will not be able to break down.[28] Use reusable cups and dinnerware instead of dinnerware in your daily life, and the next time you have a picnic or dinner party.
- Reusable dinnerware can also typically be used a lot more than disposable dinnerware.
- Recently, many people have started using edible dinnerware, too. It is made from seaweed and not genetically modified.[29] If you don't want to buy real dinnerware, this is another option for what you can purchase.
- Use proper cups and mugs instead of paper ones. As with paper dinnerware, many paper cups end up in the trash, rivers, seas oceans, or landfills because people just throw them away instead of disposing of them properly. This leads to a lot of paper simply being wasted.
- Furthermore, many paper cups have a plastic liner which many recycling programs do not accept (though check with yours—it may be accepted).
- When you go out, remember to always keep a reusable cup with you. Some companies (such as Starbucks) may be able to pour your drink into your reusable cup, so be sure to ask.[30]
[Edit]Spread the word about reducing paper waste. - You can do many things to reduce paper waste yourself, but sharing this advice with others can be helpful too. You can start with family, friends, co-workers and anyone else you know. You can share this on social media, or simply just discuss it with them in conversation.
 - You can talk about the statistics of how much paper is wasted, how much energy is saved when recycling, how many trees are saved by recycling, and any other facts about paper waste you know.
- Give them ideas on what they can do to help. This can be done by telling them what you do to help, and by giving them other ideas that you've found through research or in this article.
- Explain everything properly and avoid rushing through the discussion. You'll also want to be prepared to answer any questions they may have.
- If you notice them wasting paper, be patient with them and explain why the wasting of paper is harmful to the environment, as well as what they can do to reduce paper waste.
- If you see that a business is constantly wasting paper (either by using too many paper bags or too much paper packaging), consider writing to them and politely asking if they can use recycled paper or go paperless if possible.
- Consider a donation to organizations that are known for their efforts to reduce paper waste and/or are known to make an effort to use as little paper as possible. You can find some good organizations to potentially donate to on Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau.
[Edit]Warnings - Working online frequently may cause eye strain. If you notice that your eyes feel strained, try some steps to relieve eye strain. If your symptoms are severe, contact an ophthalmologist. Try avoiding eye strain to be safe in the first place.
[Edit]Related wikiHows
[Edit]References |
| How to Make Peppermint Oil Posted: 01 Sep 2021 01:00 AM PDT Peppermint oil is commonly used for relaxation and reducing stress, and there's actually evidence that it can help with tension headaches, abdominal pain, and digestion problems.[1] Making your own peppermint oil at home is really simple. You basically just need peppermint leaves, olive oil (or a similar oil) and a jar. That's it! Pretty soon you'll have some homemade peppermint oil that will last you for months. [Edit]Ingredients - Fresh peppermint leaves
- Mild carrier oil (olive, grapeseed, almond, wheat germ, etc.)
[Edit]Washing and Drying the Peppermint - Gather enough peppermint leaves to produce the desired amount of oil. Ideally, the peppermint should come fresh from your garden or a similar source. If that's not an option, it's perfectly fine to pick up a bundle or two at the store.[2]
- Use only the broad, green leaves. Taking the stems from a peppermint plant could cause it to die.
- Unlike other types of essential oils, peppermint oil is technically an infusion. This means that the amount of carrier oil you use to steep your leaves will determine how much you ultimately end up with.
- Wash your peppermint thoroughly with cool, clean water. Place the leaves in a colander or mesh strainer and run a stream of water over them to rinse away dust, dirt, and debris. For a more thorough clean, you can also soak your peppermint in a shallow bowl for 5-10 minutes.
- Inspect your peppermint leaves while you're washing them and throw out any that look diseased, damaged, or discolored.[3]
- Giving your peppermint a good preliminary rinsing helps ensure that no foreign substances end up in your finished oil.
- Allow your peppermint leaves to air dry thoroughly. Shake the leaves gently to remove excess water, then arrange them in a single layer on a countertop, cutting board, or similar surface. If necessary, smooth the leaves with the pad of your finger to keep them from folding or curling as they dry.
- You could also set your still-wet peppermint leaves on a clean towel or layer of folded paper towels to soak up more moisture.
- Your peppermint leaves need to be completely dry before you begin the oil extraction process.
[Edit]Making the Essential Oil - Muddle the peppermint leaves gently with a heavy, blunt object. Use a mortar and pestle, mallet, or the back of a spoon to crush the leaves against a hard, solid surface. Move your utensil using delicate strokes and apply light, even pressure.
- If you prefer, you can also simply tear and squeeze your peppermint leaves by hand.
- Muddling causes plants to release their natural oils, and is one of the most important steps in making various essential oils at home.
- Be careful not to grind the leaves too much, as this can cause them to become bitter and make them harder to strain later on. You just want to unlock their aromatic essence, not mangle them.[4]
- Transfer the crushed leaves to a jar or similar container. Scoop up the leaves and place them at the bottom of your container. Add as many leaves to the container as you can fit, but be sure to leave enough room at the top for its contents to move around a little.
- It's crucial that you select a container with a lid that forms an airtight seal, as exposure to air can cause plant oils to spoil.
- A container made from glass or ceramic will work best, as you won't have to worry about these materials contaminating your oil the way you would with plastic or metal.
- Cover the leaves with a mild, unscented carrier oil. Pour in just enough oil to leave the peppermint completely submerged. When you're done, give the jar a shake to swirl the leaves around and help them become better incorporated into the carrier oil.[5]
- Keep in mind that too high a ratio of carrier oil to peppermint will lower the concentration of your finished oil.
- Leave the jar to sit in a warm, dark place for 24-48 hours. Seal the jar up tight and situate it in a corner of your kitchen, pantry, bathroom, or porch. Any area will work as long as it's not overly hot or cool. For this reason, it's also a good idea to keep your oil out of direct sunlight.
- If you live in a colder climate, place your jar near a heat source or inside an insulated cabinet to keep it at the optimum temperature.
- Warmer temperatures will encourage more of the oil in the peppermint leaves to escape.
[Edit]Straining and Concentrating the Oil - Strain the infused oil through a piece of cheesecloth. After letting your peppermint steep overnight, remove the lid from the jar and drape the cheesecloth over the opening. Tilt the jar over a second container so that the oil flows out through the cheesecloth. Afterwards, remove as many stray leaf remnants as possible by hand.
- Cheesecloth or muslin cloth will provide the best results for straining. Other types of DIY strainers, such as paper towels and coffee filters, may not work well due to the thickness of the oil.
- Stretching a rubber band around the mouth of the jar will help secure the cheesecloth while you work.
- Muddle a new batch of peppermint leaves and add them to your oil. Prepare your second bunch of leaves the same way you did the first, using just enough pressure to break the outer surface and free the oils inside. Avoid grinding or tearing the leaves into too-small pieces.[6]
- Continue steeping and straining to increase your oil's potency. Repeat the initial steps as many times as needed to until your oil reaches the desired strength. This will usually take somewhere from 2-3 days, though you could keep adding new leaves for up to a week.[7]
- With each round of steeping and straining, you'll notice your peppermint oil growing darker in color and giving off a stronger aroma.
- You may not be able to tell much of a difference in the concentration of your oil after about a week.
- Seal the jar and store your peppermint oil for up to 3-6 months. Once sealed, the jar will help preserve the freshness of your oil until you're ready to use it. To maximize your oil's longevity, keep it in a cool, dark place at or slightly below room temperature, and be sure to reseal the jar promptly after each use.
- The shelf life of homemade peppermint oil may vary depending on the exact quantity produced and the amount of plant material left behind.
- If you notice your peppermint oil developing a strange color or odor after a few months, it's best to throw it out and whip up a new batch.[8]
- You can use your homemade peppermint oil as a holistic remedy for head and stomach aches, a relaxation aid in aromatherapy, or meditation.[9]
- Peppermint oil can be used to help reduce stress.[10]
- Mix a little peppermint oil in with your other favorite essential oils to create your own unique blends for different uses.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Colander or mesh strainer
- Cutting board
- Mallet, mortar and pestle, or spoon
- 2 lidded glass jars or other airtight containers
- Cheesecloth or muslin cloth
- Clean towel or paper towels (optional)
- Shallow bowl (optional)
- Rubber bands (optional)
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
No comments:
Post a Comment