How to store pumpkin at home in winter

There is no doubt about the benefits of pumpkin. This dietary vegetable is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, helps to lose weight and strengthens the immune system. However, sooner or later, everyone who comes across this culture is wondering how to properly store a pumpkin and where is the best place to do it.

Varieties of pumpkin for long-term storage

Different varieties have different shelf life, or keeping quality. The highest keeping quality is noted in late-ripening pumpkin varieties, which were bred specifically so that they can be stored at home throughout the winter. These varieties include:

• Gribovskaya winter;

  

• Vitamin;

  

• Pearl.

  

These varieties contain a large amount of starch, from which sugar is formed over time. It has the properties of a natural preservative and allows vegetables to stay fresh longer.

Mid-season pumpkins are also stored for a long time, from 2 to 4 months. Among them are the following varieties:

• Prikubanskaya;

  

• Arabatskaya;

  

• Pearl.

  

Where can you store a pumpkin in winter

Even those pumpkin varieties that have a low keeping quality can significantly extend their shelf life if stored properly. In this case, the choice of a location suitable for the storage role is of key importance. It must meet certain requirements:

1. It is necessary that the room is dark enough, as pumpkins do not tolerate exposure to direct sunlight.
2. The place of storage should be well ventilated and maintain a constant positive temperature of 3 – 14 °C.
3. Humidity where the pumpkin is supposed to be stored should not exceed 75 – 80%, otherwise the vegetable will begin to become moldy. At the same time, a room that is too dry will cause the culture to dry out quickly and become unusable.

The cellar is considered the best place for storage, however, in the absence of such, vegetables can be placed wherever the above conditions are met. So, for these purposes, you can adapt:

• balcony;
• loggia;
• veranda;
• barn;
• garage;
• pantry;
• attic.

Which pumpkin to send for storage

The vegetables themselves, before being sent for storage, should be given no less attention than the choice of a suitable room:

1. The crop should be carefully inspected for damage. Only strong pumpkins with a solid surface are allowed for storage. A pumpkin that is planned to be stored for the winter should have a whole stalk at least 7-10 cm long. Vegetables without a stalk quickly rot, so it is advisable to clean them as soon as possible and send them for storage in a cut form.
2. If possible, each vegetable should be wiped with a dry, clean cloth to remove any remaining moisture: this will minimize the risk of developing fungal infections.
3. If the crop was harvested in rainy, damp weather, you must first place it in a dark, cool room with good ventilation – to dry for 10 – 14 days. And only after that send the vegetables for storage.

Vegetables that have softened areas or areas affected by mold should be consumed immediately, cut out the damaged parts, or sent for processing.

How long does a whole pumpkin last?

The shelf life of a vegetable depends not only on the conditions of its maintenance, but also on the variety.

Butternut squash are considered the most delicate, and therefore may show signs of spoilage after 1 – 2 months.

Mid-season crops can be stored for 3 to 4 months before eating.

Late-ripening varieties are safely used for the preparation of various drinks and dishes after 5-6 months. However, it is worth remembering that these terms are significantly reduced if you ignore the basic recommendations on how to properly store the crop.

At what temperature should pumpkin be stored

The temperature at which it is recommended to store the pumpkin is also directly related to the vegetable variety. As a rule, it varies within a few degrees, but some cultures are quite capable of maintaining freshness in a heated apartment.

According to the general rules, it is desirable to store the culture at temperatures from +3 to +15 ° С. In a cool room, the vegetable does not deteriorate many times longer, and besides, mold does not form on the pumpkin. However, too cold storage can quickly ruin the crop, so the thermometer in it should not fall below -14 ° C.

How to store a pumpkin in the cellar in winter

The question of where is the best place to keep a pumpkin will not cause concern to those who are lucky enough to have their own cellar. This room is dark and cool enough to keep the crop fresh throughout the winter. The main thing is that it does not freeze in the cold months and is well ventilated.

You can store a pumpkin in the cellar on any surface that is above ground level. It can be shelves, racks, wooden boxes or pallets. Laying vegetables directly on the bare floor is strongly discouraged. As a last resort, it is worth covering the floor with newspapers or placing the crop on fresh straw.

Each vegetable is placed with the stalk up, separately from the others. The minimum distance between the pumpkins should be 10 – 15 cm. If one of them suddenly starts to deteriorate, mold and fungi will not be able to spread to the rest of the crop.

Vegetables should not be allowed to come into contact with the walls: this can also cause food to rot. For the same reason, it is undesirable to put them in plastic bags or wrap them in plastic wrap: drops of condensate will form on the surface of the cellophane, which will serve as an ideal environment for the development of pathogenic bacteria. If it becomes necessary to warm the vegetables, they can be covered with a cloth made of dense natural material.

How to save a pumpkin for the winter in an apartment

Unfortunately, not all gardeners have a cellar at their disposal, so many pumpkin lovers have to resort to certain tricks to ensure that the vitamin culture is adequately stored in the apartment.

Since a pumpkin requires a lot of space, as well as a certain temperature regime, a balcony or a glazed loggia is often chosen as storage. As in the case of the cellar, the crop must be laid out above the floor, for example, placing sheets of plywood or wooden boards under the vegetables. In this case, the pumpkins should not lean against each other and against the walls.

Since there is natural light on the balconies, vegetables will need shelter from direct sunlight in the form of a blanket or other dense fabric. In addition, the blanket will serve as a good insulation for the crop if the temperature outside drops below -10 ° C.

In the absence of a balcony, a pumpkin can also be stored in a room, if the proper conditions are created for this. In a living room at floor level, the temperature is several degrees lower, so you should not place vegetables on high shelves, where the air is warmer. It will be better to place the crop as low as possible, in a shaded place with good ventilation, for example, under a bed or closet. It will not be superfluous to put newspapers or cardboard under the pumpkins.

How to store a peeled or cut pumpkin

It is much easier to store a pumpkin at home in cut or peeled form: this way it takes up less space. In addition, the requirements for keeping vegetables are becoming more flexible, as there is no need to worry about air humidity and light.

How to save a cut pumpkin at home

Drying is one way to keep cut pumpkins longer. In this form, the culture will not lose its useful properties, but will significantly decrease in volume, which will save space in a house or apartment.

To dry a vegetable, you can use an electric dryer or a traditional oven:

1. Previously, the culture must be cleaned by removing the seeds and peel.
2. The pulp should be cut into slices or straws 1 cm thick.
3. The oven must be preheated to 60 ° C and the vegetable dried for 40 – 50 minutes. The pumpkins are then allowed to dry.

The finished product should be poured into an opaque container or cloth bag, tightly closed and stored in a dry place. The shelf life of the dried vegetable is 12 months.

You can save the peeled pumpkin in a salted form. Salt the vegetable, guided by the following scheme:

1. A large amount of salt is dissolved in cold water. To prepare 5 kg of pumpkin, 1,5 kg of table salt is used.
2. Peeled vegetables are thoroughly washed and cut into slices.
3. The jars are sterilized and then carefully filled with pumpkin almost to the top.
4. The containers are filled with saline so that the vegetables are completely filled with liquid.
5. A small amount of salt is poured on top, jars are rolled up and placed in a dark place.

The finished product will not deteriorate throughout the winter, even in a heated apartment.

In addition to salting and drying, a bountiful harvest can be pickled or candied, preparing healthy candied fruits.

How to store a cut pumpkin in the refrigerator

You can also store the cut pumpkin in the refrigerator. To do this, the vegetable is cleaned of seeds and peel, cut into cubes, slices or straws and put into the vegetable chamber. The product will stay fresh for 7 to 14 days. So that the pumpkin does not become weathered, it should be lubricated with vegetable oil.

The shelf life of the culture is significantly increased if the cut pieces of pulp are wrapped in foil – this way the product will not deteriorate for 20-30 days.

Is it possible to store pumpkin in the freezer

For storage, you can adapt, including the freezer:

1. First, the vegetable is cut into small cubes.
2. Then the pulp is laid out in packing bags or plastic trays.
3. After that, the product is hermetically sealed and placed in the freezer.

In this form, the culture can be stored from 1 to 1,5 years.

Conclusion

Although at first glance it may seem that storing a pumpkin at home is not easy, it is quite feasible. If you follow the recommendations and comply with all the conditions, then you can enjoy a healthy vegetable until spring.