Persimmon storage at home

It is best to store persimmons in the refrigerator, in the vegetable compartment, and the lid should be open. In this form, the fruit will normally lie for 1 month. At room temperature, the maximum shelf life is 3 weeks, and ripe fruits lie much less. If you want to save them for a long time (1-2 years), then the crop should be put in the freezer, dried or wilted.

Choosing persimmons for long-term storage

It is very important to choose the right fruits. From the point of view of taste, it is better to buy a kinglet. This is the sweetest and most aromatic variety. You can distinguish the kinglet by several external signs:

• color closer to brown (at full maturity);
• size and weight are small;
• rounded shape (without a pointed lower tip);
• the flesh is also brownish;
• there are bones inside.

Although you can buy a classic persimmon. In any case, the fruits must meet several requirements:

1. The main criterion is that fruits should not be ripe or overripe. For long-term storage choose yellowish-greenish fruits.
2. The skin is smooth, with a natural luster, with a slight whitish bloom.
3. The surface is free of damage and spots (but greyish-brown streaks are allowed).
4. The stalk is dry, brown.

For long-term storage, it is better to purchase unripe persimmons.

Persimmon storage conditions and temperature

In order for fruits to retain a pleasant taste and aroma, it is necessary to create optimal conditions. For long-term storage of persimmons you will need:

1. Lack of light.
2. The temperature is within 0-2 degrees of heat.
3. High humidity – up to 90%.
4. No sudden temperature changes. There should be no freeze-thaw cycles.

Persimmon storage rules at home

The storage temperature of persimmons in the warehouse is maintained close to zero, but negative is unacceptable. In such conditions, fruits are kept fresh for up to three months. At home, 2 ways of storage are possible:

1. At room temperature (preferably in the dark) – up to 10-20 days.
2. In the refrigerator, on the shelf for vegetables (temperature 5-6 degrees Celsius) – up to 1-1,5 months.

The specific period depends on the condition of the fruit: unripe ones lie longer, ripe ones less. If there is a need for longer storage of fruits, they are placed in a cellar or other utility room with a constant temperature and high humidity.

How to store ripe persimmons at home

At home, fruits are kept both at room temperature and in the refrigerator. For long-term storage, the fruits are frozen, dried or dried.

At room temperature

At room temperature, the crop can be stored for up to 2-3 weeks. Moreover, it is better to keep it in a dark and cool place, for example, put it in a pantry, in a niche in the kitchen or in a pantry. You can also put the container next to the balcony door and cover with a thick cloth.

In a refrigerator

In the refrigerator, fruits are laid out in the vegetable compartment and stored for a month. If the fruits were already overripe, they can be stored for a week. And the chopped pulp (in pieces) is stored for no more than three days.

Persimmons are stored in containers with an open lid for good air circulation.

In the cellar

The cellar is a good storage place. This room is especially suitable for unripe persimmons, which will last longer. The cellar maintains not only a cool temperature, but also high humidity. For storage, the fruits are laid out in wooden boxes (the bottom can be lined with paper or a thin cloth) in 1-2 layers. At the same time, the stalks at the bottom layer should “look” at the bottom of the container, and at the top – at the ceiling.

Sawdust, shavings or small chips are poured between the layers so that the fruits, if possible, do not touch each other. The shavings are changed periodically – once a month. Fruits should be regularly inspected and rotten should be thrown away: they will ruin a healthy persimmon. Ripe ones are also taken away. They can be used as food or sent for long-term storage in the freezer.

Freezing

Freezing is one of the easiest ways. This procedure allows you to save fruit for 12 months, i.e. until the next harvest. To do this, the fruits are washed and dried to dryness (you can wipe it with a towel). Then they are laid out in a container, laying paper between layers. Put in the freezer and keep up to one year. In this case, defrosting is allowed only once. It is necessary to thaw fruits gradually, holding at room temperature. The fruits are then eaten immediately or used for cooking.

Drying

Drying is the most efficient way to preserve fruit. Thanks to this gentle processing method, it is possible to save the maximum amount of vitamins and other useful substances. The shelf life with this method increases to two years. Drying is carried out in an oven, oven or electric dryer. The temperature is set at + 60–65 ° C, while the door is kept constantly open to remove evaporating moisture.

Then the resulting dried pulp is packed in paper or fabric bags. They need to be kept in a dark, cool and dry place, such as in an alcove next to a balcony door. Putting them in the refrigerator is undesirable, as there is too high humidity.

Dried persimmons can be stored for up to 24 months

Drying

Drying also allows you to save the pulp for 2-3 years. For preparation, the fruits are washed and thoroughly wiped with a towel. Remove the skin with a sharp knife (it can be dried). Then tie the tails to a strong rope. Hang next to the window, periodically ventilate. After two weeks, the fruits will darken, a white coating will appear on the surface (this is how natural sugars crystallize).

Dried fruits are placed in paper or cloth bags and kept in a dark, dry and cool place. You can put it in a pantry, in a niche, keep it next to the balcony door, on a cool windowsill. Such pulp can be used in its pure form and used as a dried fruit (add to tea, compotes, pastries). Drying allows you to save fruits up to 3 years, and the nutrients are not destroyed – they are saved almost completely. 

Persimmon is dried in the open air (under a canopy) or in a well-ventilated area.

Where is it better to store persimmons and why

If long-term storage is necessary, the fruits are kept in the freezer, dried or dried. In this case, the persimmon loses its consistency, but retains its taste and aroma. If all the fruits are planned to be eaten in 2-3 months, they can be kept in the cellar at a temperature of no more than +2 ° C. At the same time, during storage, the persimmon is periodically inspected and rotten specimens are rejected.

For the persimmon to ripen

In order for the fruits to ripen, they can be left at room temperature, covered with a dense cloth. The room should be well ventilated – it is advisable to place the container closer to the window or balcony door. In this form, the persimmon will ripen in 3-4 days. The fruits can be stored in the refrigerator, but then it will take 7-8 days to ripen.

To rid persimmons of astringent taste

The astringent taste always speaks of the immaturity of the persimmon. You can get rid of it at home using the following methods:

1. Put in a plastic bag with tomatoes or apples. Tie tightly and store at room temperature for several days.
2. Quick way: put in warm water (temperature 36–40 degrees) and leave overnight. The next day, press the persimmon – if the surface softens, ripening has already begun. As soon as the color acquires a rich orange hue, the berries can be eaten.
3. Another quick way is to store persimmons in the freezer. It is enough to hold for 10-12 hours, and the next day the astringent taste will disappear.
4. You can also take a needle, soak the tip in ethyl alcohol and make a few punctures. Then the persimmon is stored at normal temperature for 4-5 days. You can also cut the pulp into pieces and put it in a bottle where vodka or alcohol used to be. Close the lid and store at room temperature for 5-7 days.
5. You can prepare a 10% solution of slaked lime, for example, 100 g per 1 liter of water. The solution is mixed, put there persimmon for storage. Leave the fruits in the liquid for a period of two to seven days.

The fastest way to ripen a persimmon is to keep it overnight in the freezer

How to know if a persimmon has gone bad

The standard shelf life of persimmons in the cellar is 2-3 months. During this time, the fruits are periodically inspected, spoiled and overripe are removed. You can determine the damage to the pulp by several signs:

1. The color turned bright orange.
2. The surface is soft. If you press with your finger, a depression will remain.
3. The consistency is also soft, often to the state of gruel.
4. There is mold and other signs of decay on the surface.
5. Bad smell, leaks.

Such fruits are immediately removed, and it is better to sort out healthy fruits, and replace chips or sawdust with new ones. But it is not necessary to throw out a damaged persimmon. You can remove only the rotten part, and eat the rest or use it for jam, jam and other blanks.

Conclusion

It is better to store persimmons in a cool, shady place with high humidity at temperatures up to 2 degrees Celsius. In this state, the fruits are well preserved for up to three months. For long-term storage, they are placed in the freezer. And you can keep persimmons as long as possible in dried or dried form (up to three years, subject to conditions).