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How to store carrots in winter
There is nothing more useful than vegetables and fruits grown in the climatic zone where we live. Habitual, and not brought from overseas, they contain no less vitamins and valuable microelements than exotic fruits, and when properly stored do not lose their beneficial properties for a long time. For example, common carrots are the leader in beta-carotene content, they are also rich in vitamins B, C, E and K, which are essential for human health. How to store carrots properly to maintain their full benefits?
Which carrots are best stored?
For long-term storage, medium-late and late varieties of carrots are best. As a rule, varieties with shortened fruits are not stored for long, but conical fruits are more persistent.
Learn how to properly store carrots to stock up on fresh vegetables for the winter.
For long-term storage, fruits are most suitable:
- medium ripeness, not too soft and juicy;
- not showing signs of rot and disease;
- not damaged, without notches and cuts.
Try to select these vegetables for storage.
How to prepare carrots for storage
In order for the carrots to be stored for a long time, it is necessary to properly prepare them.
1. Cut off the tops of the harvested root crops.
2. Sort out and sort the fruits, remove damaged or showing signs of rot.
3. Dry the fruits in the sun or in a well-ventilated area for a couple of hours.
4. Keep the fruit in a cool (10-12 degrees) place for a week, then sort it out again and send it for storage.
It is important to remember that at temperatures above 5 degrees, carrots begin to germinate, and this significantly reduces their shelf life. The optimum storage temperature for root crops is from 0 to 2 degrees and humidity is not higher than 80%.
Where and how to store carrots
How to store carrots in winter to keep their full benefits? Choose the method that seems most convenient to you.
1. In wooden boxes. In this case, the container must have holes for ventilation, and no more than 20 kilograms of fruit should be placed in each box.
2. In the sand. Sand is poured onto the floor of the cellar in a layer 2-5 cm thick, roots are laid out on it so that they do not come into contact with each other, and then they are covered with another layer of sand.
3. In sawdust. Sawdust is poured into boxes made of pine wood, and fruits are laid on them in layers. Each layer must be sprinkled with a dense layer of sawdust. Onion peels can be used instead of sawdust.
4. In plastic bags. You can store carrots in tight plastic bags with a volume of 5 to 30 liters. The main condition in this case is to provide ventilation: you need to either keep the bags open, or make a sufficient number of holes at the bottom.
Proper storage will help you enjoy the taste and benefits of carrots until spring.