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There are carrot beds on every summer cottage. This is not surprising, because carrots are healthy and very tasty, without it it is difficult to imagine traditional borscht, eggplant caviar, salads and savory snacks. Many housewives make pies and pancakes from an orange vegetable. All this explains the desire of the owners to preserve at least part of the carrot harvest until the next season - this is how they stock up on useful vitamins and microelements.
How to store carrots at home, how to properly prepare the carrot harvest for storage, as well as how to preserve vitamins, can be found in this article.
Carrot storage rules
Any vegetable retains a maximum of nutrients and vitamins only when properly stored.
All the beneficial properties of carrots can be saved if maintain a suitable environment for this product:
- The first rule requires that the storage be kept constant. temperature within from 0 to +5 degrees... If the thermometer drops below zero, the roots will freeze, which will subsequently lead to rotting of the carrots. Higher temperatures are perceived by vegetables as the onset of spring, which is why they begin to germinate and wither.
- Humidity in the repository should also be within the normal range: about 65%. Only in this way the carrots will remain juicy, will not wither, and will not start to rot and deteriorate. To prevent the evaporation of moisture from the root crops, the tops are cut off from the carrots, and the vegetables are also shifted with moisture-consuming materials (sand, sawdust, etc.).
- Airing storage plays an important role. Root crops retain all nutrients, do not get sick, do not become infected if the room is regularly ventilated.
How to store carrots for the winter
For those who live in a private house, it is much easier to save carrots until next spring. Usually such owners have a cellar, shed or, in extreme cases, a garage. Having properly organized storage in such rooms, it is quite possible to feast on fresh carrots all winter.
It is somewhat more difficult to stock up on vitamins for city dwellers and apartment dwellers. But for them, there are several convenient and effective ways to store carrots in an apartment.
In any case, before storing carrots for storage, they should be prepared for long wintering. And also - the storage itself needs special preparation.
We store carrots correctly: harvest preparation
Only those root crops that have undergone special training will be well stored. To do this, you need to do the following:
- harvest. Time picking carrots directly related to its variety. Noted, that middle and late varieties of root crops are most suitable for storage for the winter at home... Usually, such carrots are harvested at the end of August or at the beginning of September, because it is at this time that the active increase in the mass of the root crop ends. It is best to pull out the carrots by gently pulling them out by the tops. If the soil is too dry and dense, you can dig in the vegetable with a shovel.
- After pulling out, the carrots should lie in the sun for a couple of hours. During this time, the roots will become weathered and dry.
- Then the carrot tops are cut. To do this, use a sharp knife or large scissors (pruning shears). You need to cut off all the tops, to the very point of growth.If this is not done, the carrots will certainly germinate ahead of time, as a result of which they will wither and lose their taste.
- Now the crop is thoroughly dried, pre-cleaning each carrot from adhering dirt. Carrots should be dried in a shady, well-ventilated place. Do not sprinkle the root vegetables directly on the ground, you need to spread a film, tarp or thick cloth.
After drying, the roots are sorted: it is not recommended to store small and large carrots together.
It is strictly forbidden to wash vegetables before storing them; you just need to clean them of dry soil. Only wash the carrots that will be kept in the refrigerator or freezer.
Gardeners note that not all carrot varieties are stored equally well. Root crops of medium size and conical shape are most suitable for these purposes. Cylindrical large carrots are poorly stored, such varieties are best consumed directly from the garden.
How to store carrots in a private house in winter
It is definitely much easier for private sector residents to save any root crops until next spring, because they usually have cellars. The cellar has optimal conditions for storing not only carrots, but also potatoes, beets, apples. There is high humidity, constant positive temperature. The only thing that can harm the crop is fungal spores, insects and rodents, so you will have to fight them.
How to properly store carrots in the basement
To preserve carrots for the winter is not enough just to place them in the basement, you need special processing, a suitable bookmark. There are several ways to store carrots at home in winter:
- In a bucket or enamel pot... In principle, any vessel with a lid is suitable for this method. In this case, the carrots are folded vertically, the root vegetables are covered with a piece of dense cloth on top and the container is closed with a lid. The fabric will absorb excess moisture from fresh root vegetables, and subsequently will gradually give it back to the vegetables.
- Any bags are also great for storing carrots in winter. It can be canvas, fabric, and plastic bags. Root crops are simply folded into a bag, sprinkling the layers of carrots with fresh sawdust. No need to tie a bag, vegetables should "breathe". They put the carrots in the corner of the cellar, where it is dry and dark.
- Wooden and plastic boxes, heavy cardboard boxes will also perfectly preserve the harvest until spring. The carrots are folded so that their tails do not touch each other, that is, in a checkerboard pattern. The root vegetables themselves should also not touch the neighboring ones. Be sure to sprinkle the crop with a moisture-consuming disinfectant material. Coniferous sawdust (only fresh), onion or garlic husks are well suited - these materials actively resist the appearance of fungal spores and rot. Sand is also suitable, especially if it is slightly damp - this way the carrots will not wilt, they will be crispy and juicy throughout the winter.
- Can be stored for a very long time carrots sealed in clay... This method is laborious and dirty, but it allows you to keep the roots in their original form until next summer (up to nine months). Peeled root vegetables are placed in a solution of liquid clay, then taken out and put in boxes or boxes. Before laying in the cellar, the clay must dry out.
- Some gardeners leave carrots to winter in the beds... To do this, it must be prepared accordingly. First, the tops are cut off, then the carrot bed is sprinkled with dry sand and covered with a thick film. Now you need to cover the film with a thick layer of insulation material (sawdust, foliage, humus or spruce branches). All this is covered with roofing material so that the insulation does not get wet in the rain. In such a shelter, carrots are not afraid of frost and precipitation, it will remain fresh until the next harvest.
Where to store carrots in the apartment
Everything is clear with the cellar, but what about people who live in apartments and do not have underground storage facilities, sheds and basements? It turns out you can save carrots throughout the winter and in an ordinary city apartment.
And you can do it in several interesting ways:
- for home storage of carrots is perfect glazed balcony or loggia. Carrots are put there in the same way as in the basement: in bags, boxes or simply on shelves. Be sure to sprinkle root crops with sawdust, husk or sand. The container with vegetables is well wrapped with warm blankets, felt or other heat insulators. It is important to monitor the temperature on the balcony, if it stays above zero, heating the carrots is not needed, otherwise it will rot.
- In a cold pantry you can save the crop like this: wrap each root crop in a newspaper and put it in a wooden box or in a cardboard box. The method is suitable for those cases when there are few carrots.
- In the fridge Carrots are stored in plastic bags or sealed plastic containers - so they can lie for several weeks. The vegetable is preliminarily washed and dried.
- Before bookmark in the freezer it is recommended to chop the carrots: grate, cut into cubes, circles or large strips (it all depends on the dishes that the hostess will prepare in winter). The chopped vegetable is placed in small plastic bags.
If before the carrot did not last until spring, then it was simply stored incorrectly. To provide the family with vitamins all year round, you need to follow the recommendations for storing carrots at home for the winter.
