How to properly store a pumpkin at home in an apartment

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Pumpkin is a common vegetable used in cooking. The only drawback of the fruits is the fact that they are large in size and it is impossible to use everything at once. Therefore, you need to know how to store pumpkin at home in an apartment without violating sanitary rules and preserving the useful properties of the product.

Fruit preparation

The most important aspect in storing pumpkin is the preliminary preparation work. It all starts with the right harvest. Most often, we buy fruits on the market, this aspect also needs to be treated with special attention.

Important Tips:

1. The fruit should have a tail that guarantees long-term storage of the pumpkin.
2. The tail must be dry, the presence of signs of decay indicates improper storage. The length of the tail should be no more than 7 millimeters.
3. Buy only ripe fruits, so only they have good taste.
4. Collecting from the garden should be started when the daytime temperature does not rise above -5 degrees.

Before storing, it is imperative to dry all the fruits. In no case should it be washed, it is even forbidden to wipe the pumpkin.

After that, you need to think about how to store the pumpkin at home in the apartment in the refrigerator, and what methods are best to use. It is recommended to immediately process large fruits for winter preparations, you can make juice, since they will not be stored for a long time. If you want to prepare a large amount of pumpkin for the winter, then choose the late varieties.

Creating suitable storage conditions

There are also conditions under which the pumpkin will be stored as long as possible. First of all, the main problem is direct sunlight, which triggers the processes of ripening and decay.

If you store in an apartment, it is best to hide the pumpkins in a closet or under a bed. Storage temperature - 10 degrees Celsius and humidity - about 70 percent, under such conditions, the fruits can lie up to 6 - 8 months.

At room temperature

If the apartment has a glazed balcony, then there is no need to worry. It is important that the temperature there does not drop below 5 degrees. If you decide to store in this way, it is recommended to shade the windows with a special film, newspaper or curtains. You need to lay out vegetables at a distance from each other so that there is no contact. You can also place cardboard between the pumpkins.

The higher the room temperature, the lower the shelf life, so you need to constantly monitor this indicator. Do not rely on favorable conditions, if the pumpkin begins to deteriorate, it must be immediately processed into juice or cooked something.

Despite so many tips and tricks, there are no difficulties. Knowing how to store a cut pumpkin in an apartment and at the same time at home, you can prepare it without throwing out most of it.

In fridge

It is almost impossible to use all the pumpkin at once, so most of it remains. Nobody will throw out the delicious fruit, so you need to save it for the longest possible period. The main assistant in this case will be the refrigerator. After you have cut off a sufficient amount of the fruit, you need to wipe the incision with sunflower oil and wrap with cling film. You need to store in the lower compartment of the refrigerator for no more than 10 days.

In what form is it better to store

There are an incredible number of methods for storing vegetables. Now it's worth talking about how to store a cut pumpkin at home in an apartment in the refrigerator, without losing taste. Of course, it all depends on your living conditions, the presence of a large refrigerator and other features.

The most common storage options are:

• as a whole. The shelf life in this case is maximum - 6 - 8 months. It is important to understand that an appropriate temperature is needed, not exceeding +10 degrees. In general, the fruit retains all the nutrients and vitamins;
• cut. In this version, the pumpkin can only be stored in the refrigerator. The shelf life is up to several weeks. That is, you cut the fruit, use some for cooking, wrap the rest in cling film and put it in a vegetable box in the refrigerator;
• freezing. The fruit must be peeled and cut into small cubes. After - we put everything in a bag and put it in the freezer. In this form, the pumpkin can be stored for up to a year.

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Currently, it is recommended to buy small pumpkin, as these are late varieties with good shelf life properties. It is also recommended to rinse the pumpkin skins well before storing them in the refrigerator to remove all bacteria from the surface.

Preparation is a very important aspect, if not fulfilled, storage will be meaningless. It is also worth constantly monitoring the condition of the cut pumpkin in the refrigerator.

Life hacks for storing pumpkin

Proper storage is only a small part of the knowledge that will help you keep the product in good condition without losing vitamins. Each vegetable requires an individual approach to preparation and storage.

There are life hacks used by many housewives:

1. A pumpkin that has been prepared for storage should be inspected for any scratches or skin damage. Damaged areas can be treated with brilliant green, so the fruit will not deteriorate.
2. It is best to store large quantities of pumpkins in ventilated wooden boxes. This will eliminate decay processes.
3. Do not store pumpkin next to fruits and vegetables. When ripe, they release ethylene, which promotes decay.
4. The pumpkin collected from the garden cannot be washed or wiped; it must be stored in the same form. Chunks of dry dirt can be removed with a brush.

Now you know how to store a pumpkin at home in an apartment in winter, autumn and spring. The most important thing is to adhere to the rules and create conditions that will guarantee optimal storage. Also, if the pumpkin starts to spoil, it can be processed and frozen.

Bonus

1. For long-term storage, you need to choose a pumpkin of the appropriate size. The best option would be late varieties, fruits with a diameter of no more than 30 - 40 centimeters.
2. Long-term storage conditions: temperature 9 - 10 degrees, humidity - no higher than 70 percent.
3. Be sure to exclude exposure to direct sunlight, so you need to store the pumpkin in a cellar or in a closed wooden box.
4. Freezing is the second way to preserve all the beneficial properties of the pumpkin. It is strictly forbidden to re-freeze even small pieces.