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Many residents of Russia know how to store pomegranates at home. Quality fruits in the neighboring countries ripen by the end of autumn. During this period, they are purchased and stored for another six months or even more, if others do not want to buy later.
Features of storage of pomegranates
Southern fruits come to market counters from Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Latin America after a long journey. Therefore, it is believed that it is better to stock up on options brought from the Caucasus or Central Asia. The season for high-quality ripe pomegranates, which come from the countries of the named nearest regions, lasts from November to January. For successful storage of pomegranates at home, fruits meet the following requirements:
- the peel should be whole, without damage or cracks;
- there are no dents on the fruits after compression, blows;
- cover of uniform color, without spots and soft areas;
- absolutely no smell comes from the fruit.
In order for the fruits to remain tasty at home and not lose their juiciness, you need to know the features of their storage:
- optimal temperature - from + 1 ° С to + 10 ° С;
- a place protected from sunlight and bright light, or at least slightly darkened;
- air humidity is moderate, but should be significantly higher than in normal apartment conditions.
It is convenient to store pomegranates in winter for 30-50 days in a living room, if there is a rather cool corner. In a city apartment, this requirement is almost impossible to fulfill if the balcony is not insulated. You just need to use home appliances - a refrigerator or freezer. Although there is an interesting folk experience of how to store pomegranates at home, having coated them with a layer of clay. It has been noticed that sweet varieties lose their refined taste faster. And initially sour in their characteristic properties are stored high-quality for a longer time.
Where to store pomegranates
At home, southern fruits are usually kept whole. If there is no extra space in the refrigerator, the fruit is peeled and placed in the freezer.
Where to store peeled pomegranates
A spoiled fruit accidentally bought, for example, with a small dent that was not noticed during examination, or a crack formed on the way home, cannot be stored for a long time. Unless intended for immediate use in food, the extracted grains will lie in the household refrigerator for only 3-4 days without loss of quality. The second option is to select all the good, not spoiled slices, pick the grains, wrap them in a plastic bag and send them to the quick-freezer. It is recommended to store peeled pomegranate seeds in a home freezer for up to a year. The taste and quality of the juice will change slightly. But you can freeze peeled pomegranates and keep them for a long time only in this way.
Where is the best place to store unpeeled grenades
The southern fruits purchased with a stock are put into storage after careful examination. Whole intact pomegranates with a dense skin are placed in the refrigerator or at home they are looking for such a place where the constant temperature is not higher than 8-10 ° C of heat:
- glazed balcony;
- basement or dry cellar;
- unheated entrance corridor in private houses.
The storage time of pomegranates in such conditions lasts from 2-3 to 5 months. If the temperature approaches 0 ° С, but keeps at minimum heat indicators, not higher than 2 ° С, the fruits lie without signs of spoilage for up to 9 months. Cultivars that store more acids than sugars last longer. Sweet foods can become more caked faster and lose their original juiciness, depending on optimal storage conditions.
How to store pomegranates in an apartment
There are several methods on how to preserve healthy southern fruits for 3-5 months at home.
How to store pomegranate in the refrigerator
At home, it is more convenient to put pomegranates in the refrigerator in the lower compartments for vegetables and fruits. To protect the fruits from accidental compression or impact, they are placed in a container with hard walls. Eliminate the use of plastic bags. Condensation forms on their airtight walls, which can trigger the onset of decay processes. When pomegranates are stored in the refrigerator, monitor its filling and adhere to the recommendations of the manufacturer of household appliances for use so as not to increase the humidity. Otherwise, the fruits deteriorate faster.
As a precaution, each pomegranate is wrapped in clean wrapping paper or laid out in sheets. Excess moisture will be absorbed by the porous material. It may be necessary to change the wrappers during long-term storage. The use of parchment paper is allowed. The optimal storage period for unpeeled whole-skinned pomegranates in a home refrigerator is 50-70 days.
How to store pomegranates in the freezer
A slightly spoiled fruit from those purchased or from those that are put for long-term storage can be safely stored in the freezer. The flavoring properties will change slightly, but in general enough nutrients will be retained. At home, it is advisable to use cameras with a quick freeze function. Pomegranates are prepared for freezing as follows:
- peeled;
- grains are selected from slices;
- put in portioned bags made of durable polyethylene or ready-made food containers of small volume.
Manufacturers of household freezers recommend keeping fruits under similar storage conditions for no more than a year.
How to store pomegranate fruits at home
A cool place with moderate humidity, 75-80%, is suitable for keeping fruits from 2-2.5 months at a temperature of 7-10 ° C to 5-9 months at + 1 ° C. At room temperature, pomegranates are poorly stored, after a week it dries up, since the humidity in the apartment is low. The supply of fruit is placed in a cellar or a closed balcony, if the thermometer does not drop below zero there. Each pomegranate is wrapped in paper and laid out on the bottom of the container in one layer. On top, you can throw a light but dense burlap or cardboard if the fruits lie in a bright room. The sun's rays, falling on the peel, will dry out the grains, and the juiciness will decrease. It is recommended to regularly check and sort out the fruits in order to notice in time those that are beginning to deteriorate.
Storing pomegranates in a clay shell
There is an interesting folk experience on how to preserve southern fruits for a longer time in living quarters. Only whole fruits are selected, without cracks and damage on the crust, with a dry brown crown. A creamy chatter is prepared from clay and water:
- dipping pomegranate in clay;
- spread on a cloth or wooden surface until the clay dries;
- after a day, the procedure is repeated, making sure that the entire peel is covered with a clay shell, and the fruit is dried again;
- while pouring the mixture into the crown formed by sepals.
Pomegranates packed in clay retain their taste for up to 5 months. Store fruit in a box in a dry place.
How much pomegranate is stored
If properly stored at home, pomegranates do not lose their properties. The shelf life of a juicy and healthy treat depends on the quality of the fruit, temperature and humidity:
- in an apartment with low humidity, 30-40%, - 7-9 days;
- in a basement or a cool room - up to 4-5 months;
- "Preserved" in a clay shell - 4-5 months;
- on the bottom shelf of a home refrigerator, a whole fruit lies without spoiling for 2 months, and peeled grains for 3-4 days;
- in refrigeration industrial or household cabinets for vegetables and fruits, which maintain a temperature close to + 1 ° С, - 9 months;
- freezing will allow you to eat grains even after a year, but at the same time 15-20% of nutrients will evaporate.
Conclusion
You can store pomegranates at home from a week to a year. Most often they put fruit in the refrigerator or basement. It is important to adhere to the recommended moderate humidity, cool temperature. Stocks are made only from quality fruits.
