Find inspiration and ideas for seasonal cooking for February, including produce to buy, what to use up, and simple seasonal recipes to help with meal planning.
Plus, download free printable menu planning pages to help you focus on cooking through the seasons.
This article is part of a year-long series on cooking seasonally for each month. Use it as a resource for meal planning, saving money, and reducing food waste.
Each month in this seasonal cooking series includes:
- What’s in season that month.
- Ideas for what you may have in your freezer and pantry to use up.
- Favorite seasonal recipes to help you plan your meals.
- A free printable weekly menu planner with spaces to note what’s in season and what you need to use up.
How are you doing with seasonal cooking this winter?
Looking over our recent menus, we’ve been relying on roasted root vegetables—cauliflower, carrots, parsnips and potatoes—along with steamed and sautéed broccoli and some frozen garden green beans and corn.
I don’t depend as much on green salads this time of year since lettuce isn’t truly in season, though hardy greens like spinach and kale are great. We still have salads a few times a week, often with in-season fruit or roasted vegetables added.
I do have a winter lettuce planted in the fall that’s still producing under cover despite freezing mornings and December snow.
Seasonal Cooking For February
How do you eat seasonally in winter?
Focus on root vegetables and cool-weather crops such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. These vegetables form the base of many winter meals.
Roast them, use them in soups and stews, or add them to casseroles for warming, satisfying dishes.
You can read the first section of this series for background on “what is seasonal cooking,” why it matters, and considerations to keep in mind when adopting seasonal eating.
Tips to eat more seasonally and use the free printable meal planner:
- Use the lists and recipes for February to build a menu based on what you’re harvesting or buying.
- Harvest from your garden or shop at farmer’s markets for the freshest produce.
- Use the shopping lists when supermarket shopping and watch for produce sales.
- Try new seasonal ingredients you haven’t cooked with before.
- Add favorite seasonal recipes to a binder so you can rotate them next year.
Because many produce items are available year-round in stores, it’s easy to lose track of true seasonality—use this article and the printable weekly menu planner to stay focused.
Download the menu page, print it, and use it to list the seasonal foods you want to buy or use and the recipes you’ll make that week.
Note: If you’re already a subscriber, find the printable in the VIP library.
February Seasonal Eating
February’s produce is similar to January’s—this is a great time to get creative with pantry and freezer items. Many comforting and flavorful meals come from combining stored produce with preserved ingredients.
If you planted varieties like purple-sprouting broccoli or have fall crops still producing, you may see more fresh garden vegetables by the end of the month.
Seasonal Produce for February Lists
In-Season Fruits
- Citrus: lemons, oranges, grapefruit
- Apples (stored)
- Pears
In-Season Vegetables
- Avocados
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots and parsnips (stored)
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chard and kale
- Endive and some cut-and-come-again covered greens
- Garlic (stored)
- Green onions
- Leeks
- Mushrooms
- Onions (stored)
- Potatoes (stored)
- Purple-sprouting broccoli
- Radicchio
- Rutabagas
- Winter squash (stored)
Freezer and Pantry — Preserved Food Options
- Tomato products: roasted tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, seasoned sauces and salsas
- Frozen corn and frozen green beans (or canned)
- Frozen berries: blackberries, raspberries, strawberries
- Pickled vegetables: pickles, pickled beans, pickled asparagus
- Sauces and condiments: plum sauce, chutneys, jams
- Oil-packed dried tomatoes
- Frozen chopped sweet and hot peppers
- Dried fruit
- Dried herbs
Seasonal Eating Recipes For February
Easy Slow Cooker Cassoulet Recipe
This slow-cooker cassoulet is a favorite for cold evenings. The flavors deepen over time; for a crusty finish, transfer to a baking dish, top with seasoned breadcrumbs and broil briefly.
Slow Cooker Chicken with Artichokes, Dried Tomatoes & Olives (+ Instant Pot Option)
A flavorful way to cook chicken that offers a welcome change from soups and stews—rich, savory, and easy to prepare.
The Best Sausage and Lentil Stew
A favorite lentil dish that improves with time—make a full batch and enjoy leftovers for lunches; flavors develop and deepen over a few days.
Easy Potato And Caramelized Onion Frittata
A terrific way to use pantry potatoes and onions. This quick meatless meal pairs well with a chopped seasonal salad.
Quick & Easy Chopped Salad (a Use-What-You-Have Recipe)
Chopped salads work well in winter—use carrots, onions, broccoli, celery and add pickled or canned items from the pantry for texture and bright flavor.
What are you looking forward to making in February?
Looking for more seasonal cooking ideas for February?
Try the February dinner menu ideas for four weeks of easy entrees and sides to simplify meal planning this month.
Originally published in February 2012, this article has been updated to be more relevant and useful—enjoy!