How and where to store red peppers correctly?

Red peppers keep their freshness for several months. In this case, we mean unripe vegetables that have reached average maturity. Overripe red peppers with withered skin or soft surfaces cannot be stored.

The nuances of storing red pepper:

• at room temperature, red pepper should be stored in places where direct rays of the sun are excluded (from light and heat, the pepper will quickly acquire a wrinkled skin);
• in the refrigerator, red pepper is better stored in an open plastic bag or wrapped in paper;
• when storing peppers in boxes, it is also recommended to wrap each fruit in newspaper or paper;
• in order for the peel of the pepper to retain its elasticity for a long time, you can treat it with any vegetable oil (the oil must be dried before placing the pepper in the refrigerator);
• pepper quickly absorbs foreign odors, therefore, it is not recommended to store it next to some food products;
• even if the storage rules are not followed in the area of ​​temperature and humidity, red pepper can remain fresh for 2 weeks;
• it is impossible to store peppers in a tied bag or a closed container (the lack of air will almost immediately affect the appearance of vegetables and their taste characteristics);
• if the stalks have been removed from the pepper, then it is better to freeze it immediately (at room temperature or in the refrigerator, such vegetables will quickly deteriorate);
• for storage, red peppers with an elastic structure, green stalks and the absence of any mechanical damage on the surface are selected (the same nuance applies to traces of damage by diseases or pests);
• drying red pepper is not recommended, but if necessary, you can conduct such an experiment (rinse the pepper, remove the core with seeds, cut into small cubes and place in the oven for several hours at an average temperature of 50-55 degrees);
• if the pepper is green and unripe, then it is not recommended to store it separately (to speed up the ripening process, it is better to put several ripe vegetables to it);
• if the pepper is stored in a wooden box, then its bottom must be covered with newspapers or any paper;
• when storing red pepper in a box, river sand is often used (this method can only be used if the red pepper is ripe, wet sand will make it difficult for unripe vegetables to ripen).

How much and at what temperature to store red pepper

Fresh red peppers can be stored for 2-3 months, depending on the degree of ripeness. The temperature regime depends precisely on the degree of maturity. If the pepper needs to ripen, then it cannot be placed in the cold, but it must be stored in room conditions. In this case, direct exposure to sunlight must be excluded. Ripe peppers can be placed in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment.

When frozen, red pepper does not lose its taste for 6-8 months… It must be frozen with pre-washed with water, and after removing the core with seeds. You can make a blank for freezing with chopped vegetables or whole peppers.

At temperatures below +8 degrees, it is not recommended to store unripe peppers. This level is not enough to start ripening vegetables. Pepper quickly begins to deteriorate, and signs of disease may appear on its surface. The ideal mode for the ripening of peppers is a level from +9 to +12 degrees.

If the pepper is stored at 0 degrees, then fluctuations should be avoided. Otherwise, the vegetables will deteriorate very quickly, and their taste properties will be violated after the first temperature changes.