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There is no doubt about the benefits of pumpkin. This dietary vegetable is a rich source of vitamins and mineral compounds, helps lose weight and strengthens the immune system. However, sooner or later, everyone who comes across this culture wonders how to properly store pumpkin and where is the best place to do it.
Pumpkin varieties for long-term storage
Different varieties have different shelf life, or keeping quality. The highest shelf life is observed in late-ripening pumpkin varieties, which were bred specifically so that they could be stored at home throughout the winter. These varieties include:
- Gribovskaya winter;
- Vitamin;
- Pearl.
These varieties contain large amounts of starch, which eventually forms sugar. It has the properties of a natural preservative and allows vegetables to stay fresh longer.
Mid-season pumpkins are also stored for quite a long time, from 2 to 4 months. Among them are the following varieties:
- Prikubanskaya;
- Arabatskaya;
- Pearl.
Where can you store pumpkin in winter?
Even those varieties of pumpkin that have a low shelf life can significantly extend their shelf life if they are stored correctly. The key in this case is the choice of a location suitable for storage. It must meet certain requirements:
- It is necessary that the room is dark enough, since pumpkins do not tolerate exposure to direct sunlight.
- The storage location must be well ventilated and maintain a constant positive temperature of 3 – 14 °C.
- The humidity where the pumpkin is supposed to be stored should not exceed 75 - 80%, otherwise the vegetable will begin to become moldy. At the same time, a room that is too dry will cause the crop to quickly dry out and become unusable.
The optimal place for storage is considered to be a cellar, but in the absence of one, vegetables can be placed anywhere where the above conditions are met. So, for these purposes you can adapt:
- balcony;
- loggia;
- veranda;
- barn;
- garage;
- storage room;
- attic.
Which pumpkin should I send for storage?
Before sending for storage, the vegetables themselves should be given no less attention than choosing a suitable room:
- It is necessary to carefully inspect the crop for damage. Only strong pumpkins with a solid surface are allowed for storage. A pumpkin that is planned to be stored for the winter must have a whole stalk at least 7-10 cm long.Vegetables without stems quickly rot, so it is advisable to peel them as quickly as possible and store them cut.
- If possible, each vegetable should be wiped with a dry, clean cloth to remove any remaining moisture: this will minimize the risk of developing fungal infections.
- If the crop was harvested in rainy, damp weather, you must first place it in a dark, cool room with good ventilation to dry for 10 to 14 days. And only after that send the vegetables for storage.
Vegetables that have softened areas or areas affected by mold should be consumed immediately, cutting out the damaged parts, or sent for processing.
How long does a whole pumpkin last?
The shelf life of a vegetable depends not only on the conditions under which it is kept, but also on the variety.
Butternut squash are considered the most delicate, and therefore may show signs of spoilage after 1 to 2 months.
Mid-season crops can be stored for 3 to 4 months before consumption.
Late-ripening varieties are safely used for preparing various drinks and dishes after 5 - 6 months. However, it is worth remembering that these periods are significantly reduced if you ignore the basic recommendations on how to properly store the crop.
At what temperature should pumpkin be stored?
The temperature at which it is recommended to store pumpkin is also directly related to the type of vegetable. As a rule, it varies within a few degrees, but some crops are quite capable of maintaining freshness in a heated apartment.
According to general rules, it is advisable to store the culture at temperatures from +3 to +15 °C. In a cool room, the vegetable does not spoil much longer, and in addition, mold does not form on the pumpkin. However, too cold storage can quickly ruin the crop, so the thermometer in it should not fall below -14 °C.
How to store pumpkin in the cellar in winter
The question of where is the best place to keep a pumpkin will not cause concern to those who are lucky enough to have their own cellar. This room is dark and cool enough to keep the crops fresh throughout the winter. The main thing is that it does not freeze in the cold months and is well ventilated.
You can store pumpkin in the cellar on any surface that is above ground level. These can be shelves, racks, wooden boxes or pallets. Laying vegetables directly on the bare floor is strictly not recommended. As a last resort, it is worth covering the floor with newspapers or placing the crop on fresh straw.
Each vegetable is placed with the stalk facing up, separately from the others. The minimum distance between pumpkins should be 10 - 15 cm. If one of them suddenly begins to deteriorate, mold and fungi will not be able to spread to the rest of the crop.
Vegetables should not be allowed to come into contact with the walls: this can also cause the food to rot. For the same reason, it is not advisable to place them in plastic bags or wrap them in plastic film: drops of condensation will form on the surface of the cellophane, which will serve as an ideal environment for the development of pathogenic bacteria.If there is a need to insulate vegetables, they can be covered with a cloth made of dense natural material.
How to store pumpkin for the winter in an apartment
Unfortunately, not all gardeners have a cellar at their disposal, so many pumpkin lovers have to resort to certain tricks to ensure proper storage of the vitamin crop in the apartment.
Since pumpkins require a lot of space, as well as a certain temperature regime, they often choose a balcony or glassed-in loggia as storage. As in the case of a cellar, the harvest must be laid out above the floor, for example, by placing sheets of plywood or wooden boards under the vegetables. At the same time, pumpkins should not lean against each other or against the walls.
Since there is natural light on the balconies, vegetables will need shelter from direct sunlight in the form of a blanket or other dense fabric. In addition, the blanket will serve as a good insulator for the crop if the outside temperature drops below -10 °C.
If there is no balcony, the pumpkin can be stored in the room if the proper conditions are created for this. In a living room at floor level, the temperature is several degrees lower, so you should not place vegetables on high shelves where the air is warmer. It would be better to place the crop as low as possible, in a shaded place with good ventilation, for example, under a bed or closet. It would be a good idea to place newspapers or cardboard under the pumpkins.
How to Store Peeled or Cut Up Pumpkin
It is much easier to store pumpkin at home in cut or peeled form: this way it takes up less space. In addition, requirements for the content of vegetables become more flexible, since there is no need to worry about air humidity and light.
How to preserve cut pumpkin at home
One way to preserve cut pumpkin longer is to dry it. In this form, the crop will not lose its beneficial properties, but will significantly decrease in volume, which will save space in a house or apartment.
To dry vegetables, you can use an electric dryer or a traditional oven:
- The culture must first be cleaned by removing the seeds and peel.
- The pulp should be cut into slices or strips 1 cm thick.
- The oven needs to be preheated to 60 °C and the vegetable dried for 40 - 50 minutes. Then the pumpkins are allowed to dry.
The finished product should be poured into an opaque container or fabric bag, tightly closed and stored in a dry place. The shelf life of dried vegetables is 12 months.
You can also preserve peeled pumpkin in salted form. The vegetable is salted according to the following scheme:
- A large amount of salt is dissolved in cold water. To prepare 5 kg of pumpkin, use 1.5 kg of table salt.
- Peeled vegetables are thoroughly washed and cut into slices.
- The jars are sterilized and then carefully filled with pumpkin almost to the top.
- The containers are filled with saline solution so that the vegetables are completely covered with liquid.
- A small amount of salt is poured on top, the jars are rolled up and placed in a dark place.
The finished product will not deteriorate throughout the winter, even in a heated apartment.
In addition to pickling and drying, a bountiful harvest can be pickled or candied to create healthy candied fruits.
How to Store Cut Pumpkin in the Refrigerator
You can also use the refrigerator to preserve cut up pumpkin. To do this, the vegetable is peeled from seeds and peel, cut into cubes, slices or strips and placed in the vegetable chamber. The product will remain fresh for 7 - 14 days. To prevent the pumpkin from becoming chapped, it should be greased with vegetable oil.
The shelf life of the crop increases significantly if the chopped pieces of pulp are wrapped in foil - this way the product will not spoil for 20 - 30 days.
Is it possible to store pumpkin in the freezer?
You can also use a freezer for storage:
- First, the vegetable is cut into small cubes.
- Then the pulp is placed in packaging bags or plastic trays.
- After which the product is hermetically sealed and placed in the freezer.
In this form, the culture can be stored for 1 to 1.5 years.
Conclusion
Although at first glance it may seem difficult to store pumpkin at home, it is quite doable. If you follow the recommendations and comply with all the conditions, you will be able to enjoy the healthy vegetable until spring.