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Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) are frequently studied both by ecologists and plant physiologists because they serve as fundamental carbon and energy sources in plant metabolism. Because of the rapid enzymatic hydrolysis of NSC after harvest, plants are usually placed into liquid nitrogen until subsequent analyses in the laboratory. Nevertheless, when the research is performed in poorly accessible regions such as high mountains, tropical forests or deserts, the use of heavy containers containing vaporizing liquid nitrogen is problematic for logistical reasons. These places are particularly interesting as they harbor plant species with interesting physiological adaptations. In our study we aimed to develop a suitable storage method for plants intended for NSC analyses, which would require minimal equipment. These demands resulted in the idea of using the first step in NSC analyses - extraction in ethanol. Samples were extracted in 50 % and 96 % boiling or non-boiling ethanol and then stored for one month; they were compared with samples immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. We discovered that for samples containing starch, fructans, soluble sugars and sugar alcohols, the best pretreatment for subsequent storage is extraction in 50 % or 96 % boiling ethanol. For total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) assessment, only extracting with 50 % ethanol without boiling gave very good results. Finally, we developed a method that could be used in any remote place without bulky laboratory equipment.