How and where to store Chinese cabbage correctly?

No special conditions are required for storing Chinese cabbage. The degree of maturity of the head of cabbage plays a key role. Ideal for storing cabbage with firm and firm heads of cabbage and fresh leaves. If the head of cabbage is spoiled or at the stage of wilting, then there is no way to extend its shelf life.

The nuances of storing Beijing cabbage:

• you can store Peking cabbage in the refrigerator (if you wrap the head of cabbage with cling film, then its shelf life will last for several days);
• Peking cabbage should not be placed next to apples (ethylene released from these fruits is detrimental to cabbage leaves, which will become tasteless and lethargic in just a few days of such a neighborhood);
• packages and containers for storing Peking cabbage should not be sealed;
• you can store Peking cabbage outside the refrigerator (the main nuances in this case are the absence of direct sunlight, maximum darkening and cool temperature);
• Chinese cabbage is well stored in basements or cellars;
• Beijing cabbage can be frozen (the heads of cabbage must be disassembled into leaves and placed in plastic bags or wrapped in cling film);
• when storing Chinese cabbage, it is not necessary to remove the upper leaves (this way the head of cabbage will better preserve its juiciness);
• high air humidity (more than 100%) contributes to the rapid decay of heads of cabbage;
• in the refrigerator, Chinese cabbage can be stored in a paper bag or wrapped in regular newspaper;
• only absolutely dry heads of cabbage can be stored (the moisture accumulated in the leaves will accelerate the decay process);
• you can keep Peking cabbage fresh thanks to pickling in a saline solution (the leaves can be cut or left intact, placed in a jar or container and filled with salt water, then put the workpiece in the refrigerator);
• if there is a lot of Peking cabbage, then you can store it in a wooden box (in this case, the heads of cabbage must be separated with plastic inserts from bags or cling film);
• if signs of wilting appear on the upper leaves of Peking cabbage, then they must be removed, and the head of cabbage itself must be eaten as soon as possible;
• when the leaves are separated from the head of cabbage, the shelf life of Peking cabbage is reduced (therefore, it must be stored in its entirety or consumed as soon as possible).

If you try to keep the freshness of Peking cabbage in chopped form, then it will be practically impossible to do this. The moisture from the leaves will evaporate, and after a day the first signs of wilting will appear. The cabbage will begin to lose its flavor and gradually become tasteless.

How much and at what temperature can Beijing cabbage be stored

When the air humidity is less than 95%, Peking cabbage begins to rapidly lose its juiciness, and its leaves wither. The optimal humidity regime is considered to be 98% and the temperature is not more than +3 degrees. With sufficient maturity and conditions, Chinese cabbage can stay fresh for up to three months.

The nuances of the temperature regime when storing Beijing cabbage:

• at temperatures from -3 to +3 degrees, Peking cabbage is stored for 10-15 days;
• at temperatures from 0 to +2 degrees, Peking cabbage is stored for almost three months;
• at temperatures above +4 degrees, Peking cabbage begins to germinate (it can be stored in such conditions for no longer than a few days);
• Chinese cabbage is stored in the freezer for more than three months.

If it is possible to find out the date of collection of Peking cabbage or it is grown independently, then the heads of cabbage harvested in the fall will exceed the early-ripening varieties in terms of shelf life. This cabbage is more resistant to temperature extremes and can stay fresh for more than three months.

It is recommended to store Chinese cabbage at room temperature for no more than a day. The place must be chosen as dark and ventilated as possible. Otherwise, the leaves will quickly lose juice and become lethargic.