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When to dig up and how to properly store leeks at home
How to store leeks in winter so they stay as bright and healthy? There are several ways that we will tell you in detail.
How to store leeks properly at home
When to dig up and how to store leeks?
Leeks are suitable for consumption at the end of summer. But in order to dig it up en masse and store it in the future, you need to wait until October. If you want the bulb to retain its bright color, then 2-3 weeks before harvesting, the soil around the plants will have to be covered with a material that does not show through. For this, cloth bags are suitable. Dig out the onion carefully so as not to crush or chop it. Remove damaged and dirty leaves, and shorten the remaining ones by 2/3. Cut the root in half.
How can this vegetable be stored? There are 2 storage options:
- in the apartment;
- in a cellar or basement.
Choose the option that is more convenient for you. And how exactly a vegetable should be stored – we will understand this in detail.
How to store leeks in an apartment
If you decide to save a small amount of onions for the winter, then this option will suit you. How to store leeks in an apartment:
- Freezing. Peel and wash the bulbs, dry on a paper towel. Cut into pieces and place in a plastic container or plastic bag. Place in a freezer. Shelf life – up to 6 months.
- Drying. Put the washed and chopped onion on a wire rack and place in the oven, preheated to 60 ° C, for 4 hours. But it is better to use an electric dryer. Put the dried onion rings in a clean jar and close the lid.
- Canning. Peel and chop the white part of the vegetable. Boil for 1 minute in boiling water, and then place in a sterilized jar. Bring the water (1 l) in which the onion was cooked to a boil and add 50 g of salt, 100 g of sugar and 90 ml of apple cider vinegar to it. Boil the marinade for 3 minutes, and then pour them over our onions. Tighten the jar with an iron lid, turn it upside down.
How to properly store leeks in your basement
The basement is ideal for wintering onions. How to properly store leeks in your basement:
- Take a clean wooden box and sprinkle wet sand on the bottom. The sand layer is 6–7 cm.
- Place the bulbs vertically on the sand.
- Cover with sand on top. 20 cm of the stem should be covered.
- Place the box in a basement or cellar. Shelf life is six months.
If you have a balcony, you can store a box of onions and sand on it. But first you need to wrap the box with a blanket. Onions can withstand temperatures down to –8 ° C.
We figured out when to dig up and how to store leeks. If you listen to our advice, you can add this tasty and healthy vegetable to your dishes all year round.
See also: how to store turnips