Where to store fresh eggplant in the apartment

It is best to store fresh eggplants frozen or dried – then the period reaches 12 months or more. If kept fresh in the cellar, then the maximum shelf life is three months. When stored in the refrigerator – up to 15 days.

When to Harvest Eggplants

For proper storage of eggplant for the winter, it is necessary to harvest the crop on time. Terms depend on the characteristics of the variety, climatic conditions and care. Since vegetables are intended for storage, it is not worth waiting for full ripening – harvesting is carried out at the stage of technical ripeness. You should focus on several parameters:

• ripening dates indicated in the description of a particular variety;
• fruits with elastic pulp;
• seeds are underdeveloped, poorly expressed;
• glossy skin.

Harvesting of early ripe eggplants is carried out 90-110 days after sowing seeds for seedlings. Mid-early varieties are harvested after 120-130 days, and late ones – after 130-140 days.

Which eggplants are suitable for storage

Not every variety of eggplant is suitable for storage at home. In order to preserve the fruits as long as possible, it is recommended to choose mid-ripening and late varieties. The best varieties are:

• Romance;
• Policeman;
• Sophia;
• Diamond;
• Mishutka;
• Torpedo;
• Universal-6;
• Namesake.

To properly store eggplant at home, it is recommended to choose fresh fruits that meet several requirements:

• smooth shape without curvature;
• no mechanical damage (dents, cracks, holes, scratches);
• lack of signs of disease and pest invasion;
• the surface is smooth and slightly shiny;
• stalk green;
• the structure of the pulp is elastic (you can pick one, cut it and check it).

Storage conditions for eggplant

The optimal storage conditions for fresh eggplant are:

• temperature from -10 to +6 degrees;
• air humidity from 75% to 85%;
• dark place;
• regular ventilation (no stagnant air).

Store vegetables at a temperature not exceeding +6 degrees

You can provide such conditions in the apartment (refrigerator, niche), but if possible, it is better to put the vegetables in the basement or cellar.

They can lie down for no more than five days, after which it is necessary to cook a dish from vegetables or make a preparation for the winter.

Preparing for storage

To increase the shelf life of fresh eggplants, they need to be properly prepared. The main steps are:

1. Harvest on a warm day without rain. When cut in a sector, leave a 3-4 cm stem.
2. Immediately cover fresh fruits or move under a canopy so that the sun does not fall.
3. Select healthy eggplants for storage.
4. If there are drops (after watering, rains), allow to dry in a ventilated area or in the open air.

It is not worth washing fresh eggplants specially – excess moisture is not needed. But if you plan to preserve, freeze or wither, you should rinse in water and let dry.

How to keep eggplant fresh

Fresh fruits are stored in various ways, for example, in a cellar or in a special niche for vegetables (in an apartment). The main methods and practical recommendations are described below.

In the basement or cellar

The best storage method is in the basement or cellar (under the floor). It maintains a stable temperature in the range of 0-5 degrees. But at the same time, it is important to regularly ventilate the room in order to prevent dampness and stagnant air. In such conditions, fruits can be kept for 2-3 months.

There are several options for storing fresh eggplant in the utility room:

1. On straw in paper. The fruits are wrapped in paper (only not newsprint) and laid out on dry straw (3 cm layer). You can make several levels and cover with bags made of natural fabric. Periodically, you need to monitor the temperature – if it drops close to zero, they are additionally covered with a warm blanket.
2. In ash or sand – they take wooden boxes with slats (if the surface is solid, holes are made). Ash or sand 2 cm high are laid at the bottom, respectively. Fresh fruits are laid out and covered with the same material. Then do a few more levels (up to 5). It is not necessary to cover with blankets – it is enough to cover with sand.
3. Paper bags – 2-3 fresh eggplants are placed in each of them, and then carefully tied with a thread for storage to create airtight conditions.
4. Wood sawdust is one of the unusual, but also proven storage methods. First, a hole is dug in the basement soil with a height of 1,5 fruits. Fall asleep with sawdust or dry straw. Then insert the vegetables so that the cuttings are at the bottom. On the second row, eggplants, on the contrary, are set with cuttings up. Sprinkle with sawdust and two days later check that the vegetables do not deteriorate. Each of them is wrapped in paper and laid out in the same way.

Vegetables are recommended to be kept in wooden boxes

In apartment conditions

In the apartment, storing fresh vegetables is also quite possible. There are several ways to do this:

1. In a special pantry (niche) in the kitchen. Here it is possible to maintain the temperature in the range of 0-6 degrees. In such conditions, fruits can be stored for up to 70 days. If the temperature rises above 8 degrees, up to 1 month.
2. Storage of fresh vegetables is permissible only on an insulated balcony. If it is not insulated, they should only be kept in boxes. A thick blanket is placed under them and the container is wrapped on all sides. Shelf life reaches 1,5-2,5 months.
3. You can store vegetables here for up to 1,5 months, since the temperature is quite high. To increase the time to two months, it is recommended to put in a fabric mesh (stalks up) and hang in a dark place.

Can eggplant be stored in the refrigerator?

The storage of fresh vegetables in the refrigerator is limited, since it is not possible to create the desired temperature here. Terms are short – up to 15 days. To make it as long as possible, they act like this:

1. Dry fruits thoroughly.
2. Wrapped in individual paper packaging (two layers).
3. Pour into containers and cover with a lid.
4. Put in the vegetable compartment.
5. Paper is changed every 2-3 days.

Is it possible to store eggplant in the freezer

It is with the help of a freezer that you can achieve the maximum shelf life of fruits – up to 8-12 months. In this case, it is necessary to constantly maintain the temperature at -11 degrees and below.

It is worth considering that fresh eggplants are not frozen. They must first be prepared according to the following instructions:

1. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
2. Remove all crumpled, damaged areas with a knife.
3. Cut into cubes, rings or other pieces.
4. Dissolve salt (100 g) in water (1 l).
5. Soak the pieces for 1 hour.
6. Boil water, put vegetables in boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.
7. Drain in a colander, let the water drain completely.
8. Then spread on a baking sheet in a single layer.
9. Send to the freezer for several hours.
10. After complete freezing, transfer to a tight bag or container with a lid.
11. Place in the freezer for long term storage (up to one year).

Frozen pieces can be kept for 8-12 months

Other ways to store eggplant

There are other ways to store fresh vegetables for a long time. For example, they can be dried, withered or canned. The main options are described below.

Drying

There are several drying methods:

1. In the open air – pieces of fresh fruit are strung on a thread and hung under a canopy or in a ventilated room. It is necessary to dry within 7-10 days.
2. In the oven – cut into several round pieces, spread on a baking sheet in one layer and incubated for 30 minutes at 200 degrees. Then it is reduced to 100, the door is slightly opened and dried for another 5-6 hours.
3. In a special electric dryer – fresh fruits are cut into pieces, laid out in one layer and dried for 7-8 hours.

The shelf life of dried fruits is very long – 12-14 months. They can be soaked in water and used to prepare various dishes.

Drying

Drying fresh eggplant for long-term storage is carried out in the same way as drying. But at the same time, the processing time is reduced by half. For example, in an electric dryer, pieces can withstand not eight hours, but four.

Dried peeled eggplants can be stored for no more than 5-6 months, because, unlike dried ones, moisture remains in them. In this case, the pieces must be poured with sunflower oil and put in the refrigerator.

canning

Another convenient way, thanks to which storage is possible for 12-18 months. There are quite a few recipes. For example, for the preparation of eggplant caviar, the following products are taken:

• eggplants – kg 2;
• water – 3 l;
• Tomatoes – 1,5 kg;
• turnip onion – 1 kg;
• carrots – 1 kg;
• bulgarian pepper – 1 kg;
• hot pepper – 1-2 pods;
• Vegetable oil – 400 ml;
• sugar – 1 st. l .;
• salt – 5 Art. l .;
• vinegar 9% – 2 tbsp. l.

Sequencing:

1. Rinse fresh fruits and cut them into equal cubes.
2. Put in a large dish, add salt (5 tablespoons) and pour water (3 liters).
3. Hold for 30 minutes on the table.
4. Meanwhile, cut the onion and pepper into small cubes.
5. Finely chop the hot pepper pods.
6. Peel the carrots, chop on a grater.
7. Drain water from eggplant, squeeze.
8. Fry them in vegetable oil and transfer to a saucepan.
9. Separately fry the onions and carrots.
10. Next, fry the tomatoes and sweet peppers.
11. Place all ingredients in a bowl with eggplant.
12. Add spices, cook over low heat for 40 minutes. Pour vinegar a few minutes before readiness.
13. Pour into sterilized jars and roll up the lids.

Eggplant caviar can be used as an appetizer for meat dishes

There is another recipe for storing eggplant for the winter. It is called “mother-in-law’s tongue”, because the appetizer is spicy, spicy, with a bright taste. For cooking you will need the following products:

• fresh eggplant – 4 kg;
• tomatoes – 10 pcs .;
• Bulgarian pepper – 10 pcs .;
• garlic (heads) – 5 pcs.;
• hot pepper – 4 pods;
• vinegar 9% – 150 ml;
• sunflower oil – 250 ml;
• sugar – 200 g;
• salt – 30 g (2 tablespoons).

Sequencing:

1. Take fresh eggplant, rinse, cut into identical circles.
2. Put in a bowl, sprinkle with salt and leave for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse under running water.
4. In the meantime, cut the hot and Bulgarian pepper into several pieces.
5. Peel the garlic.
6. Pour boiling water over the tomatoes and remove the skin.
7. Skip peppers, garlic and tomatoes in a meat grinder.
8. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan, add all the spices, sunflower oil and bring to a boil.
9. Put the eggplant and cook for 30 minutes over moderate heat (low boil).
10. Arrange in sterilized jars and roll up the lids.

The shelf life of conservation is quite large – from 12 months. It is better to keep jars in the refrigerator or in the cellar. After opening, remove to a cold place, store no more than three days.

Conclusion

Storing fresh eggplant is not that difficult. The main thing is to create suitable conditions for them. If this is not possible, it is better not to risk it and cook dried, dried or frozen pieces. Also, some of the fruits can be sent for conservation.