It ’s been a successful growing time of year and your hard work has pay off with a amplitude of fresh produce . Now what ? If you ’ve get more produce than your family can consume , it ’s time to consider long - term storage . The favored storage method depart , depending on the vegetable , but almost any vegetable can be successfully salt away for recollective - term use .
Preserving Quality of Stored Vegetables
The first matter to turn over when storing vegetable long - term is the quality of the vegetables . The quality is not get going to better in storage , so save only those vegetables that are truehearted and unblemished . Use right produce right away and discard any that show signs of radioactive decay .
Green tomatoes , for example , can be ripened indoors if they are picked before a hard frost nips them . However , only full - size , mature green tomatoes ripen properly . belittled tomatoes will in all probability rot before they ripen and may disseminate decay to other stored green goods . mature almost red love apple on the counter and use them within a few Clarence Day .
gullible beans are an fantabulous craw for freezer storage , but heavy , mature ones wo n’t taste as tender as smaller ones . Freeze green beans that are no big than the diam of a pencil . Discard large , overripe ace , which are dry and woody .
CC flickr photo by Viewoftheworld
Temperature for Storing Vegetables
nerveless temperatures slow down down the output of ethene gas , a course - produced chemical that ripens produce . Root crop , such as carrots , beets , parsnips and turnip , store best at temperatures near freeze , while Cucurbita pepo and wintertime squash store better at temperatures between 50 and 60 grade Fahrenheit .
vegetable with a high moisture content must be dry out , canned or frozen to preserve them . courgette , for example , stores very well in the freezer for several months to use in soups , dinero and muffin . Green edible bean , Brassica oleracea italica , peas and corn also store well in the freezer . check that you survey freezing instructions per veggie .
Humidity Levels for Storing Vegetables
Humidity is another important consideration when storing vegetables . Too much humidity and veggies rot ; too little and they shrivel and dry out . In the refrigerator , vegetable stored in perforated plastic bag receive the ideal level of humidness . cucumber vine , peppers and beans quickly moulder if left in a sealed credit card bagful , so be certain to poke some holes in the pocketbook .
stem vegetables benefit from a comparatively high grade of humidness during depot , while mash and pumpkin fare well with dry weather . Onions prefer coolheaded and dry storage , such as a basement or mudroom pantry .
Ventilation for Storing Vegetables
Ventilation wo n’t likely be an issue when storing produce in a icebox or freezer , but is perfectly necessary to prevent decay and control humidness levels in basements , pantries or radical cellars . A small window or outlet can provide the needed external respiration . Additionally , lay in large vegetables , such as pumpkins , so that air circulates freely between them , rather than heap them in a deal . Store potatoes and onions in ventilated charge plate or wickerwork basket rather than plastic boxes or bag so air reach them .
Absence of Light for Storing Vegetables
Many vegetables stash away longer in dark conditions . A dark antecedent cellar , basement or pantry is the idealistic location to ripen tomato and store onions and Solanum tuberosum .
Sanitation for Storing Vegetables
To prolong the storehouse life of vegetables , pass over down shelves and warehousing areas with a diluted bleach solution to control that they are white . Check bring out frequently for signs of spoiling and discard any that have subdued spots or mar . In root wine cellar , a layer of straw can keep bins of carrots and potatoes dry .
When canning , following right rule of thumb for sanitizing jars and lids to ensure vegetables are safe . Here ’s a link to theUSDA Complete Guide to Home Canning .
Tips for Storing Vegetables
Want to learn more about vegetable storage?
harvest and Storing Home Garden Vegetablesfrom University of Minnesota ExtensionStorage of Home Grown Vegetablesfrom Colorado State University Extension
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