Carrot. It is delicious both fresh and cooked. different ways. The main advantage is not only this.
Vegetables are high in nutrients. This is a storehouse of B vitamins, as well as C, E, H, K, A (beta-carotene). For better absorption, it is recommended to use it with vegetable oil.
This is important for uninterrupted operation almost every organ in the human body, from the heart to the eyes.
You can store carrots at home, on the loggia, in the underground.
It is necessary to determine, having previously assessed the existing conditions. With all the advantages and disadvantages different methods, the most common storage option for carrots is in the cellar in winter.
Preparing for the winter
How to store carrots in winter? For this, it is necessary to take care of cleaning it from the garden in a timely manner. The ripening period of a vegetable depends on many conditions.
Having cleaned the vegetable from the ground, we first cut off the tops just above the root crop, then the head itself, about half a centimeter. This will protect the vitamin vegetable from sprouting during the winter and prolong winter period storage.
After that, it is important to dry the carrots outside or in a well-ventilated area.
Storage duration
- Boxes of carrots in sawdust or processed clay - all winter;
- Boxes with carrots in the sand - from six months to 9 months;
- Storage of carrots in the cellar, in boxes - from six months to 8 months;
- In plastic bags in the freezer - about 2 months;
- In the garden - all winter.
The time that should be allotted for growing carrots is indicated on the bag of seeds. Therefore, you do not need to throw it away (or immediately determine the date of harvest according to the calendar).
Unripe carrots will be tasteless. Overripe - too sweet and attractive to insects and rodents.
Some summer residents believe that it is much easier to preserve early ripening varieties of carrots. An elementary explanation is given for this - the longer the root crop ripens, the more vitamins it accumulates.
This makes it sweeter, more fragrant, but, at the same time, leads to rapid fading. But there are gardeners who are ready to argue with this.
For a long time, vitamin vegetables do not rot, which ripened in an average of 100 days. Plus or minus ten days. But it is worth considering the conditions created during cultivation. The soil should be rich in nutrients, moderate watering, fertilizing strictly according to the instructions.
How much carrots will not lose their qualities depends on a number of factors:
- grade;
- quality of preparation of root crops;
- storage temperature;
- humidity percentage;
- pest protection.
The highest keeping quality indicators are carrot varieties Berlikum, Forto and Nuance - 7 months of storage.
Storage methods carrots in winter
sand storage
Storing carrots in the sand is the most suitable method for those who have cool rooms.
Needed: water, a box (treated with lime) and sand (preferably clay). It will prevent the vegetables from drying out and rot on them, and will also help maintain a suitable temperature. This will enable root crops long time remain unchanged without losing taste.
How to store carrots in sand? One bucket of sand will take a liter of water. Wet loam, about 5 centimeters, cover the bottom of the box. Carrots are placed on it, leaving a small gap between the root crops. Everything is covered with a layer of sand. A new row of vegetables is placed on it, and so on, until the box is full.
Some summer residents use dry sand instead of wet sand. Instead of boxes - ordinary buckets.
Freezer for small crops
Storing carrots at home using a freezer is the easiest way.
Vegetables are chopped using a grater or special electrical appliances. The resulting mass is laid out in plastic bags and sent to the freezer. This is true for the storage of beets.
bag storage
You need a cool room and large polyethylene bags. We put vitamin vegetables in them.
So that they do not rot, it is not necessary to tie the bags, then the air humidity will be on average 95% - the optimal storage conditions for carrots. Carbon dioxide in unclosed bags will collect in small quantities, which will prevent the process of decay and the development of diseases.
If condensation begins to collect on the polyethylene, then the level of humidity in the room exceeds the permissible values.
Slaked lime can improve the situation. It is also called fluff. Laid out next to the sacks, she'll pick up excess moisture. And the question of how to save carrots for the winter will no longer bother.
storage bed
With this storage option, carrots do not need to be removed from the garden. Another question is how to cut the tops.
For this, it is better to use garden shears. The ridge is covered with wet sand and covered polyethylene film. Sawdust is laid on it. You can use dry foliage of trees and shrubs or peat.
The harvest stored in this way is harvested closer to spring.
Onion Garlic Storage
You will need: crates, onion and garlic husks. It contains active essential oils, which will create protection against the occurrence of rot.
Husk is laid out at the bottom of the box, carrots are on top. We alternate. So you can store not only carrots, but also beets.
pan-storage 
The first step is to cut the carrots.
The second - vertically, tightly to each other, put it in an enamel pan, cover with a napkin and a lid on top.
It is better to leave dishes with contents in the cellar for the winter. This is the best way to store carrots.
sawdust storage
For this method of storing carrots you will need: sawdust (preferably coniferous trees) and boxes.
Phytoncides, which are rich in needles, prevent root crops from releasing sprouts and tops, and also protect against the development of harmful fungi.
At the bottom we pour sawdust. We put vegetables on them. We cover with a layer of sawdust and make a new row of carrots and continue until the container is full.
clay vault
You will need: water, boxes, film and clay.
Covering a vegetable thin layer, it creates protection against withering. We bring the clay with water to a homogeneous mass. From above, again cover the contents of the container with water by about 2 centimeters. Leave the mixture for 3 days.
We cover the bottom of the boxes (cardboard boxes can also be used) with plastic wrap. They can store carrots and beets. They fit without touching each other.
Everything is filled with clay, the consistency of which is reminiscent of sour cream. After it dries - again a number of root crops. Repeat the steps until the box is full.
You can do it differently. Vegetables sink into the clay, thick as sour cream. dried in warm room. Then put into boxes.
Moss vault
Dry, peeled carrots from the ground are laid out for a day in a cool place. Later they put it in a box where a layer of moss (sphagnum) has already been laid.
Root crops are covered with sphagnum and a new row of vegetables is laid on it. Beets can be stored in the same way.
Film storage
How to store carrots in an apartment using cling film?
The answer is simple - each carrot is wrapped in a film, placed in cardboard box and covered with a piece of natural cloth. It is recommended to keep vegetables in a cool room.
Paraffin storage
Dry root crops are immersed in hot paraffin. To improve elasticity, you can add beeswax.
We store processed vegetables at an average air temperature of 0 degrees. They will not lose their taste up to six months.
Miracle - infusion
This question is easy when you know the recipe for a special infusion. Required: 1 liter of water and 100 gr. onion peels. We combine the ingredients in a glass container. We leave for five days.
Immerse the carrots in the resulting liquid for a few minutes. Dry thoroughly and put the vegetables in a cardboard box without touching each other.
Vegetable storage
How to prepare, store beets and carrots for the winter, when the harvest is large?
Use the vegetable store! They make it possible to maintain the required temperature and humidity regime. But, in this case, it is important to get rid of root crops that have even the slightest damage.
Broken and crooked specimens also cannot be put into the total mass. Often, there are containers in vegetable stores. They should be no higher than 3 meters. Otherwise, you will have to regularly ventilate the room and cover the vegetables with burlap or similar materials.
Despite constant care to preserve the crop, at least 20 percent spoil in winter. This figure is much less when gardeners use vegetable stores equipped with freezers. But few people have these, because of the high cost.
Protect crops from pests
The storage period will not be reduced if access to insects is limited to vegetables.
How can this be achieved:
- disinfect the place where the crop will be stored;
- we put a bait for insects or rodents, or traps, a meter - two from the boxes with vegetables;
- We use special repellers.
Root crops are often damaged by a carrot fly. This happens during puberty. Such vegetables will be difficult to store in the winter.
Highly a good option- storage of carrots in the winter in a processed form. You can cut out the damaged areas and leave the root crops in a ventilated area until the crust seals the cut points.
Where to store carrots
Storing carrots for the winter at home or in the cellar
As before, disputes do not subside about where and how best to do this. In the first case, it will be much easier to save vegetables. But in the second, if you choose the right technology, you can keep vegetables until spring.
How to store carrots in the cellar?
Despite the fact that this is one of the oldest and most proven methods, this question often arises among beginner gardeners. Carrots, like many vegetables, store well there. But it is important to comply with the main requirement - the storage should not freeze and water should not collect there.
Preferably indoors, most time, it was dark. Having learned the simplest rules, the question of how to properly store carrots in the cellar will no longer bother.
Where to store carrots in the apartment?
The easiest way is to keep it in cardboard boxes, in a dark place, in the coolest room. The husk, sand or something else will become the filling of the box, depends on what is easiest for the hostess to get at home.
Harvest and winter storage
The question is not only how to properly store carrots in winter, but also how to properly harvest. These vegetables are not afraid of frost, but it is better to remove them before the onset of cold weather. Otherwise, such a crop will not be stored for long. Vegetables will be juicy if, on the eve of removal from the ridge, they are not watered.
The root crop is important to clean carefully. Some gardeners wash it before laying it for the winter. And each fruit separately, under running water. However, many summer residents are convinced that this measure reduces the protective functions of carrots and for a long time after that it does not lie in the winter.
For about a week, root crops are stored at an average temperature of 12 degrees Celsius. This time is enough for the cuts and other damage to heal. After this period, the carrots must be carefully sorted out, discarding the spoiled fruits. Slightly damaged ones are suitable for pickling cabbage. After this procedure, carrots are ready for storage for the winter.
General conclusions
How to store carrots at home?
Many people ask this question. The best option will be plastic bags. They allow throughout the entire storage period to save optimal humidity. And so that there is no excess of carbon dioxide from carrots in bags, several holes are cut out on them, no more than 1 centimeter in diameter.
Handy kraft bags. harvested is selected and cooled, and then placed in bags. They cannot be closed. From above, carrots are covered with sand. It must be wet.
If we are talking about peeled root crops, then it is better to immediately think about how to store carrots in the refrigerator. The freezer will significantly increase the keeping quality of vegetables.
One more important requirement worth remembering: sunny vegetable cannot be kept in the same room with apples and potatoes. It is believed that this leads to quick spoilage all vegetables. First of all, an orange root crop. But the neighborhood of beets and carrots is acceptable.
What storage option would you choose - in winter at home or in special rooms, it is important to remember that she likes humidity of about 90%, and air temperature within 0 degrees.
Drops of even 5 degrees can lead to germination and wilting of the crop. That is why many housewives who do not like difficulties keep winter supplies of carrots in the refrigerator. But this option is not suitable for everyone.
Everyone knows how healthy and tasty carrots can be. Not a single soup can do without it, it is used for delicious frying in many meat dishes, pancakes and pies are baked from it, spicy oriental snacks are prepared from it. Yes, and just grated carrots with sour cream are also very fond of both adults and children. Its useful vitamins are simply invaluable in the treatment of many diseases: bronchitis, anemia, vascular and heart diseases. And thanks to the huge content of carotene and vitamin A - carrot roots help in curing many visual disorders.
To begin with, let's find out which carrots can be stored for a long time, and which ones cannot. The safety of carrot roots depends primarily on their degree of maturity, as well as on the ratio of glucose and sugar in them. There is no doubt that only mature, whole, undamaged and not frozen root crops should be selected for storage of carrots for the winter. If a vegetable is damaged during harvesting or during its transportation, then it is no longer recommended to take it for storage, since the affected areas will lead to loss of moisture and rapid deterioration of the fruit.
Many novice gardeners are interested in the question: why do carrots rot during storage? Safety depends not only on the quality and variety, but also on the preparation of its fruits for laying for the winter. Therefore, it is very important at the first stage to clean the dug out root crops from the tops, put them in a pile, and, having closed from the sun, dry and ventilate thoroughly. Over the next 10 days, carrots will be quarantined, after which spoiled root crops should be removed from the total mass. Before long-term crop savings at home, you must create the necessary conditions storage of carrots. For this, a storage is prepared in advance, which must be thoroughly ventilated, dried, disinfected and whitewashed. lime mortar. It is better to prepare the room in advance, about a month before laying the root crops. At the same time, one should not forget that the relative humidity of the air in the cellar or where you will store vegetables should be 90-95%.
It is important to remember that if the room is above 5 ° C, carrots may begin to germinate, so the most optimal storage temperature for carrots should be 0-1 ° C. But some early ripening varieties of carrots can start flower buds even at zero temperatures, so different varieties root crops should be stored separately from each other.
Experienced gardeners noted that the best varieties of carrots for storage are varieties with a conical fruit shape: Valeriya, Nesravnennaya, Losinoostrovskaya, Shantane, Moscow winter and Vitaminnaya. On the other hand, an early variety of short-rooted carrots, such as the Paris Carotele, on the other hand, spoils rather quickly.
Storing carrots in winter at home - the most effective methods
Experts offer some of the most effective ways save the carrot crop at home. To begin with, it is very important to know the time from the beds. For example, you should not rush to dig up vegetables in September, because the sun is still shining quite well, and root crops gain 3-4 grams in weight every day. But it is also impossible to miss the onset of frost, since frozen carrots will lose some of their vitamins and will be stored much worse.
- Storage of carrots in the cellar and basement can be carried out in tight plastic bags. Experienced gardeners advise abundant watering of root crops in the beds warm water two weeks before harvest. Next, the dug up carrots must be thoroughly washed, the tops and tails cut off, sprayed with a 7% onion solution and dried thoroughly for two days. Then clean root crops are placed in tight 50-liter plastic bags and poured fresh sawdust. From above for their better safety, you can pour onion peels. Finished bags are stored in the cellar in a vertical position in the open.
- Storage in boxes is also a fairly common way to save crops for the winter. Washed and dried carrots should be stored in boxes with clean sand mixed with slaked lime. In this case, the roots should not be in contact with each other. Each layer of fruit is sprinkled with a five-centimeter layer of sand, and so on until the very end.
- in the sand is very convenient when you do not have suitable boxes. At this method root crops are stored in layers directly on the floor of a pre-prepared storage in a 5-cm layer of clean sand.
- Storage in a clay mash is also a very interesting, albeit time-consuming process, since at first you will need to prepare a homogeneous mixture from clay with water. Next, each carrot is dipped in a mash, dried in the sun until a crust forms and placed in plastic open bags without tying. Favorably distinguishes this method from others, relatively long shelf life of carrots (from 4 to 5 months).
We keep the orange beauty in the apartment
If you don’t have a private house or a dacha with a cellar, but you really want to keep fresh and tasty carrots for the winter, don’t get upset right away. There are several simple ways to save an orange beauty even in an apartment. For example, carrots thoroughly washed and trimmed from tops and tails can be kept in refrigerator drawers in ordinary plastic bags.
Carrots are a very useful and widespread vegetable. Orange crispy root vegetable is a real pantry of vitamins and microelements necessary for health and beauty. In summer and autumn, we can enjoy fresh fruits of carrots directly from the garden, the benefits from them are maximum at this time. But with the onset of cold weather, a problem arises: how to store carrots at home in winter in order to preserve the beneficial substances contained in it?
Ways to store carrots
To store carrots, you need a certain temperature regime and humidity, and preferably a stable temperature, without drops and fluctuations. In winter, the ideal microclimate for storing root crops can only be created in the cellar, it is + 1- + 3 degrees with an air humidity of 90-95%.
You can store carrots:
- in wooden boxes in the sand;
- in coniferous sawdust;
- in a clay mash;
- in plastic bags.
Sometimes summer residents also use alternative storage methods, for example, they make piles. First, the carrots are prepared for storage, the tops are cut off, the roots are dried. They are laid in a small depression in the ground, covered with sawdust or straw. From above, the collar is covered with earth. Be sure to put a pipe or vent, which prevents the appearance of condensate in the storage. With this method of storage, carrots are juicy, as if only from the garden.
The best varieties of carrots for winter storage are Shantane, Losinoostrovskaya, Vitaminnaya and others. All of them are late-ripening varieties, have an oblong conical shape and firm flesh. Early ripening varieties are best used for making salads and pickling cabbage.
Interesting! Carrots were originally grown for their spicy green leaves and seeds. In Europe, the root crop appeared around the 13th century. In terms of prevalence in the world, carrots are one of the first places among huge amount vegetables. She is equally loved in Africa, and in Australia, and in Europe.
How to store carrots in an apartment
If a basement or there is no pantry, the harvest of vitamin root crops can be saved in the apartment. We have already found out at what temperature to store carrots, from this it is clear that you can store the root crop on the balcony in cool, but not frosty weather. It is recommended to hang a thermometer near the carrot box to see the actual air temperature. And if the temperature drops below -1 degrees - it's time to pick up vegetables in more warm place or tightly cover the box.
Storage of carrots in the sand on the balcony
To store carrots on the balcony, you need a wooden box. It is easy to choose such a box in a hardware store, but you can also make it yourself from improvised materials or adapt an old kitchen cabinet under it.
For home storage carrots, a vegetable box with vertical loading, that is, the door should be on top. It is better to choose a box or make it deep enough to lay out the carrots in rows and sprinkle it with sand. To build a box with your own hands, you need to choose a place on the balcony for storing vegetables, calculate the size of the future container. Put together a frame from boards, plywood or slabs, fix the door on top.
How to Prepare Carrots for Sand Storage
For storage, you need to choose dense, even root crops without damage, wormholes and greenery. Carefully cut off the tops and the top of the vegetable with a knife. Peel the root crops from the ground, but do not wash, dry in a cool room. Prepare clean sand at the rate of 2-3 buckets of carrots 1 bucket of sand.
How to properly store carrots in the sand:
- Pour a small layer of sand on the bottom of the box.
- Lay out a row of carrots. It is more practical to spread the root crops in a checkerboard pattern, the tail is the spout. Vegetables should not touch each other.
- Fill a row of carrots with sand, filling the gaps between the root crops.
- Alternate rows of carrots and sand, the last row is sand.
Storage of carrots in a cardboard box
With the help of newsprint and a regular cardboard box, you can save root crops in the apartment for several weeks. Carefully fold dry carrots into a cardboard box, shifting each root crop with newsprint. Put the closed box in a cool utility room. A pantry or balcony is quite suitable. The disadvantages of this method are that carrots are stored for a limited time, then wither and dry out.
Storing carrots in bags for the winter
If it is not possible to store carrots on the balcony, you will have to save them in the refrigerator in bags. Here is the answer to the question: whether to wash carrots before storage, unambiguously in the affirmative. Clean, dried root crops in plastic bags are stored better than unwashed ones. The earth in a humid environment contributes to the appearance of mold and an unpleasant odor. And clean dry carrots packed in bags can be stored in the vegetable compartment for 1-2 months. The disadvantages of this storage method are the small volume of vegetables, as well as the need to constantly review products for rot. Rotted specimens infect neighboring root crops, and the rot spreads very quickly in the bag.
Important! When laying carrots in plastic bags keep vegetables cool and dry. Warm root crops in plastic bags form condensate, which can provoke the development of pathogenic flora and rotting.
Storing carrots by freezing
Freezing carrots - very convenient original way. Preparatory activities require time, but then the hostess always has a carrot ready for use at hand. So, peel the carrots, wash and dry. Then grate or cut into slices - as you like. Pack in small bags for ease of use or containers for storage food products. Carrots frozen in this way are used to make vegetable side dishes and soups.
How to store carrots in the refrigerator
It would seem that it is enough to place vegetables in a special compartment designed for them and that's it. Yes, they will lie there for some time, and they will remain fresh a little longer than at room temperature. But to further increase the lifespan, carrots in the refrigerator must be folded into bags.
- Be sure to sort the carrots, divide into several parts, according to size.
- Pack each one in plastic bag, and in one - no more than six pieces.
- Try not to leave any air inside, press the bag with your hands until it comes out.
- Try replacing the bags with newspapers. It is very important to wrap the roots tightly so that they do not lose moisture.
- You can store vegetables in the freezer, but only grated. Rinse them, chop them, put them in bags and send them to the cold.
Carrots that have lain in the refrigerator for a long time lose their spring appearance, become shriveled and dry. Usually such vegetables already go to the bin, but do not rush - they can still be restored to freshness. Enough to trim lower part root crop, put it in a glass of water so that it covers a third of the carrots and add a few pieces of ice. After a couple of hours, you will be able to notice the transformation.
Storage conditions in the cellar in winter
Storing carrots in the cellar during the winter is one of the best ways. But it’s worth starting to prepare from the harvesting process. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the degree of preservation depends on the variety.
- For long-term storage usually use late varieties that have a development period of more than four months.
- It is necessary to collect root crops in dry weather, then it will not have to be dried for a long time before being sent to the cellar.
- Be careful not to damage the skin of the vegetable, as any scratches will affect the preservation process and the carrots can quickly rot.
- We divide the vegetables into several piles by size, cut off the tops from them.
When the carrots are prepared, it is worth deciding which method you will use to preserve freshness. After all, if you correctly approach this process, then the root crops will lie for a whole year.
- The simplest - ordinary wooden boxes with lid. We simply put carrots in them, cover them and place them about 15 centimeters from the walls. Boxes should be tight, without holes. It is better not to put it on a bare floor, but you can use a stand.
- Another option is to fill the bags onion peel and then carrots. The husk will protect vegetables from moisture, bacteria growth and, of course, keep them fresh.
- You can use sawdust. Carrots are placed in boxes and covered with dry sawdust from wood. conifers. It is the needles, due to the phenolic substances contained in it, that will protect root crops from rotting.
- Wet sand also helps preserve vegetables. It is enough to pour it in a layer, lay carrots on top, sprinkle with sand again and lay out the root crops again, but in a checkerboard pattern. Overall Height should be no more than one meter.
- Root crops are well preserved in clay. Dipped in a thick creamy mash, they are dried and laid in rows.
How to properly store carrots in bags
For this method, you will have to stock up on ordinary plastic bags with a large capacity.
- Root crops are placed in bags, and then cleaned in a cool room.
- Please note that the packages do not need to be tied. If this is done, then the vegetables will quickly deteriorate due to the accumulation of carbon dioxide.
- If moisture forms on the pacts during storage, then special lime should be scattered next to them, which will absorb it.
Storage of carrots in the cellar: optimal conditions
You can’t find a better place to store carrots, a cellar - perfect option. But before you put a container with root crops in it, you need to create the necessary conditions in the room.
- The temperature should be no higher than two, a maximum of five degrees and not less than zero.
- Shouldn't be a lot fresh air. Ventilation should be moderate.
- The maximum moisture level is 97% and it is better not to exceed this threshold, otherwise the vegetables will quickly deteriorate.
- Watch closely for temperature fluctuations, even small changes can affect vegetables: they will begin to rot, germinate or dry.
Under all conditions, carrots can lie in the cellar from four to seven months. If the temperature is higher, then this period will be reduced to two months.
by the most convenient way storage in sand is considered. But clay and sawdust keep carrots intact for several months longer.
How to store carrots in an apartment without a refrigerator
Of course, at home, it is best to store carrots in a refrigerator or cellar, but what to do when there is neither one nor the other?
- In this case, a balcony is perfect, but it must be glazed, otherwise the winter cold will quickly spoil the vegetables. It is necessary to place the root crops in a box and wrap it with something dense, such as a blanket or blanket. If it suddenly becomes very cold, bring the vegetables into the apartment and leave balcony door until the weather improves.
- Another option is under the bed. Put the carrots at some distance from each other and sprinkle with onion peel.
You can keep root crops on the balcony for about four months with the help of paraffin. It needs to be melted, washed and dried carrots are placed in it, so that it is completely covered with it, and put away for storage.
What varieties of carrots keep best?
Leaving carrots for storage, you can notice after a few months that they have turned black, become lethargic and dry. Why is this happening, because all the necessary conditions have been met?
The fact is that how long a carrot lies depends on its variety. Among them, there are even those that are not subject to storage at all.
- Higher quality, less demanding and adapted to bad climatic conditions- our, domestic varieties.
- Foreign varieties, of course, look more attractive, but they are much more capricious and their taste is not so rich.
- Varieties with round roots give a small yield and grow quickly.
- Late varieties are best preserved.
Among other, early and medium varieties, there are those that can lie for a long time, but most often they spoil taste qualities, although appearance remains unchanged.
Late-ripening carrots ripen about 4 months after planting, have an oblong shape, do not crack, which means that microbes do not get into it. At optimal conditions can lie until next summer, while fully retaining all its properties.
The following varieties are considered the most popular and keeping:
- "Queen of Autumn" - stored until June;
- "Sweet Winter" - also stored until June, does not crack;
- "Olympus" - retains freshness until the end of spring;
- "Flakoro" - ripens after 130 days, stored until the end of spring;
- "Red Giant" - large variety, resistant to diseases, is stored until the end of April.
Carrots are dug up at the moment when the first leaves at the base of the root crop begin to turn yellow. This is a signal that in 1-2 weeks it will be time to remove the root crops from the garden. Usually cleaning takes place at the end of September - October. It is important to dig carrots before the first frost. Although carrots tolerate cold well, however, the protruding part from the ground can be damaged. low temperatures and will keep much worse.
Before laying the vegetable for storage, it is necessary to dry it under a canopy, excluding direct sunlight. We cut off the tops, otherwise it will draw moisture from the root crop itself, and the carrot will quickly wither. Cut the tops flush with the shoulders. Or sharp knife the upper part (crown) is cut off by 3-5 mm to completely cut off the growing point and prevent germination during storage.
How to store carrots - simple and effective ways
Storing carrots at home
A small amount can be stored in the apartment on the balcony (loggia), in the refrigerator.
- Usually, when harvesting, a certain number of small, cracked, ugly fruits are found. They must be washed, dried, grated or passed through a vegetable cutter. Shredded carrots are laid out in plastic bags, the air is released from them and the bags are put in the freezer. You can roll it up in cling film in small batches (1-2 tablespoons each) and also put it in the freezer.
- Another method is less labor intensive. It is necessary to thoroughly wash the carrots in two waters, cut off the top and root by 5-7 mm, leave for an hour so that the cut dries up and the juice does not come out. This is necessary so that microbes do not penetrate inside and then the carrots do not begin to rot. Prepared dried carrots are put in a plastic bag, releasing air, tightly tying it. This package is then placed inside another, as shown in this video. Thus, air will not get inside, carrots will be stored longer, up to 6 months.
- Wrap each carrot in a layer of paper or newspaper, and place them in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for a much longer shelf life.
- Storage of root crops on a balcony (loggia) is possible if they are insulated when the temperature there in the winter cold does not drop below zero degrees. You can adapt boxes, the same as. In boxes, carrots are sprinkled with dry sand, sawdust, or each carrot is wrapped in paper. On top of the boxes are covered with several layers of paper (cloth) and tightly closed with a lid. Place the boxes on the balcony so that moisture and sunlight do not get on them.
How to properly store carrots
First of all, you need to know how to properly store carrots. Optimum temperature storage - 0 + 5ºС. An important condition for high-quality storage is the presence of a dry basement. Everyone knows that vegetables, when stored in the basement, underground, cellar, "breathe", releasing carbon dioxide. Carrots are no exception. The increased content of carbon dioxide in storage leads to high humidity, which is the enemy of storing vegetables.
To reduce humidity, even in dry storage, you can put a bucket of lime. It absorbs moisture well on itself, making the room drier. In addition, the vegetable store is being disinfected.
Now let's look at ways to store carrots.
In plastic bags
It is important that these bags are tight, you do not need to tie them. Condensation forms in tightly tied bags, carrots can rot faster. It is advisable to put the bags on wooden pallet, away from the walls of the basement: cold and high humidity also come from them.
It will be good if you pour a small amount of carrots in a bag.
In sand
Prepared carrots are put in boxes in one layer, sprinkled with dry sand, dry coniferous or sawdust, onion peel. Then a layer of carrots is laid again and again sprinkled with sand. This is done as long as the height of the box allows. This method is good when the basement is dry, and the temperature in it does not rise above + 5ºС, otherwise the sand (sawdust) absorb moisture onto itself and contribute to the decay of carrots.
Dip in clay mash
This method is very good for long term storage. Carrots keep well until the next harvest. To do this, a five-liter bucket is half filled with clay and diluted with water. Stir to get the consistency of thick sour cream.
In this case, it is not necessary to cut the tops of the carrots yet, so it will be more convenient to dip the root crop, and your hands will not get dirty. Then, holding the carrot by the tops, we dip it in a mash and put it on cellophane, or rather we lean it against the side (board, bricks, etc.). Thus, the carrot dries evenly. Dried carrots are placed in fruit boxes. Such boxes are convenient in that they have holes and carrots "breathe".
This storage method is similar to how carrots are stored in the ground. Clay perfectly passes air, it turns out a double benefit:
- protects from external factors,
- releases carbon dioxide, which is emitted by the root crop itself.
Chalk talker
This method is similar to the previous one, only chalk is used instead of clay. Chalk is diluted in exactly the same proportions: half a bucket of chalk is diluted with water to a creamy consistency. Carrots are dipped in a chalk mash, allowed to dry. The only drawback: the chalk crumbles, so the carrots prepared in this way are dried and very carefully put into storage boxes. The advantage of this method lies in the disinfection of the root crop.
- For winter storage unsuitable early varieties. Therefore, when planting root crops, separate varieties according to ripening dates. The best varieties for storage bookmarks: Shantane, Moscow winter, Vitamin, Karotel.
- The fruits are best kept medium-sized conical shape.
- Check stocks of carrots periodically. Even one rotten carrot that appears can infect rot and spoil the rest.
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Have a good harvest! Taisiya Filippova was with you.