How and where to store eggplants correctly?

A distinctive feature of eggplants is the increased moisture content in the pulp. Because of this nuance, their shelf life directly depends on air humidity and temperature conditions. The main purpose of eggplant storage is to preserve the maximum juiciness and freshness of vegetables. When the liquid evaporates, they will begin to deteriorate at a rapid rate.

Eggplant storage nuances:

• storing eggplants in direct sunlight or in a very bright place is prohibited (vegetables will not only begin to deteriorate quickly, but also, due to the peculiarity of their composition and chemical processes, can be harmful to health after eating them);
• late-ripening eggplant varieties are more adapted to long-term storage than other varieties;
• for long-term storage, eggplants with the most elastic, smooth and undamaged skins and green stalks are selected (soft eggplants or vegetables affected by diseases cannot be stored);
• you can store eggplants in an open plastic bag in a dark and cool place or in the refrigerator;
• instead of a plastic bag, you can use a newspaper or any paper (this method is used not only when storing in the refrigerator, but also if there are a lot of vegetables and they have to be placed in boxes);
• if the eggplants are stored in boxes, it is recommended to sprinkle them with river sand (the sand will delay the evaporation of moisture, so the vegetables will remain juicy and fresh for a long time);
• it is not recommended to wash eggplants before any storage method (you can wipe the surface of vegetables with a napkin if there is significant contamination on the skin);
• before freezing, eggplants must be blanched in boiling water for several minutes (this nuance will help preserve the structure of vegetables after further defrosting);
• when freezing eggplants, it is recommended to be placed in plastic bags or cling film, having previously excluded even the slightest accumulation of air (it is not recommended to freeze eggplants in containers);
• with insufficient air humidity, eggplants lose their juiciness, and their surface becomes wrinkled (the optimum humidity for this type of vegetables is 85-90%);
• in the refrigerator, eggplants should be stored separately, not allowing them to come into contact with other vegetables or fruits (the decay process may accelerate due to such contact).

Salt sprinkling eggplants is used not only as a method of keeping them fresh and juicy, but also as a way to eliminate bitterness. Salt should be used as large as possible, and it is recommended to pour chopped vegetables into it. The skin can be removed or left on.

You can store eggplants:

• on the balcony;
• to the pantry;
• in a cellar or basement;
• in a refrigerator;
• in the freezer;
• in any dark place with the required temperature and humidity.

How much and at what temperature to store eggplants

Air humidity during storage of eggplants should be on average 80%. At different temperature conditions, the shelf life of vegetables can differ dramatically. You can store eggplants in a cool and dark place or in the refrigerator. Sometimes eggplants are frozen, but after thawing, the structure of their pulp changes significantly, so they can be used only for preparing first or second courses, except for salads.

The ratio of temperature and shelf life of eggplants:

• frozen eggplants are stored for several months;
• at a temperature of +2 degrees, eggplants are stored for an average of one month;
• at a temperature of +10 and above degrees, eggplants can remain fresh for several days (maximum 5-6 days);
• at temperatures up to +7 degrees, eggplants retain their freshness and juiciness for several weeks only when spilled with ash, sand or sawdust.

You can keep the eggplant sliced ​​for several months. Cubes or rings of vegetables should be placed in a glass jar, sprinkling each layer with coarse salt. The workpiece must be placed in the refrigerator, and the eggplants can be taken out of the jar in parts. Vegetables should be soaked in water before use to remove salt.