Looking to Buy Rhubarb (Fresh or Frozen) – Read this First

Looking to buy Rhubarb? In this ultimate grocery shopper’s guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the elusive rhubarb.

Where it comes from, where you can find rhubarb at your local store and other important buying options. This may not be your everyday piece of produce, but it is easy to find in abundance once you know where to look!

One of the oldest springtime traditions is to collect a fresh batch of rhubarb and combine it with something sweet to make a sugary dessert.

While sour on its own, rhubarb is quite delicious when mixed with sugar and sweets. That’s why this brightly-colored root is highly desired by people all over the world.

Rhubarb: Where Does It Come From?

Not everybody knows what rhubarb is, but those who do know it will find its brightly-colored stems unmistakable. The original plant is native to the greater continent of Asia, but it is grown all over the United States as well.

If you are looking to buy rhubarb at the grocery store or online, you may be delighted to know that your produce could have been grown anywhere in the United States. As a versatile and adaptable plant, rhubarb is easy to grow in many different climates. Mostly, this vegetable is grown in Oregon, Washington, and Michigan.

What Forms of Rhubarb are Available at the Store?

When you travel to the store or market to get your hands on some rhubarb, you may have a specific recipe in mind. Or maybe you just want to try out the ingredient without adding it to your main dish.

Therefore, you might be interested in the different forms of rhubarb available for sale:

1. Fresh Rhubarb

Easily the most popular way to purchase this product, you can find bushels of fresh rhubarb amongst other produce at the store. Fresh rhubarb is always the preferred way to buy and use it in a number of recipes.

2. Frozen Rhubarb

In a pinch, you can substitute frozen rhubarb for fresh rhubarb. This is true of almost every recipe under the sun; it is very easy to exchange fresh for frozen and vice versa. There is almost no difference in the way the vegetable cooks or tastes.

How to Buy Rhubarb Effectively

Any form of rhubarb that you find at the store should be already prepared and good enough to eat. However, there are a few things you want to check just to be extra certain that your rhubarb is fresh.

Thus, make sure to follow these tips when looking at your rhubarb options:

• Look for the redder, thinner stalks rather than the fatter and greener ones.
  
• Check for leaves and remove any and all leaves from the rhubarb – they are poisonous!
  
• The firmer and shinier the stalks, the healthier the rhubarb.
  
• The best season for rhubarb is from May to the end of July.

Where to Buy Rhubarb (Fresh, Frozen, or Canned)

Rhubarb may not be the most popular vegetable in America, but it is more widely available than you might think. You can take comfort in the fact that there are many ways to get fresh rhubarb in your fridge right now.

Your best rhubarb buying options include:

The Supermarket

Your local grocery store is the first place you should start looking for the best kinds of rhubarb. If you want to buy it in bulk or browse your fresh produce selections, you should start with the grocery store near you. Bigger chain stores and brand-name supermarkets are more likely to have rhubarb in stock all year long.

Farmer’s Market

If you are lucky enough to live in a place with a vibrant local farming community, you might enjoy weekly visits to the farmer’s market. This is a good opportunity to scope out the local produce in your area and see if you can get your hands on some regionally-grown rhubarb.

Online Grocery Stores

Can’t find rhubarb at the grocery store? There are plenty of online options to help you acquire rhubarb as quickly as possible. You can get fresh, frozen, or even canned rhubarb through large-scale providers like Amazon and Walmart. It is typically in season in the late spring and summer, but you should have no problem finding it online during any time of the year.

Enjoy Fresh Rhubarb This Summer

Whether you need to satisfy your sweet tooth with some homemade rhubarb and strawberry pie, or you are a fan of savory foods and want to bake rhubarb into your next casserole, you’re in luck: Rhubarb is about to be in season!

Not only that, but it is super easy to find it at your local grocery store. You can also try browsing some of the area’s farmer’s markets for that homegrown rhubarb taste. As a last resort, there are plenty of online stores that sell rhubarb all year long. Make this your new favorite vegetable today!