Pumpkin - unique in its nutritional and healing properties product. It grows well in different climatic zones, including in central Russia.
Under favorable weather conditions pumpkins grow large sizes and the question of where and how to store them is sure to arise.
How to keep a pumpkin for the winter at home? In this article we consider the main storage rules and conditions pumpkin in the apartment.
Correct collection
The fact that the pumpkin can be stored in the cellar or basement is known to all. But how to store a pumpkin at home? What if you don't have any outbuildings?
The key to successful storage of pumpkins in the winter is timely and technologically correct harvest. Depending on what the summer was like, the time of harvesting can vary considerably.
The main guideline that the pumpkin should be cleaned is the dried fruit stem: as soon as it completely changes color from green to grayish, you can begin the process.
And it is worth keeping a few essential rules.:
- It is necessary to keep the stalk intact, to prevent its separation from the fetus.
To do this, carefully lift the pumpkin to loosen the tension of the tops, and cut the fruit with a stem length not less than four centimeters.
- It is very important that the pumpkins stored are dry.
In this case, they are insured against damage by rot and mold, which, quickly spreading, are capable of destroying the entire grown crop in a short time, in just three to four weeks.
If you take care of the cleanliness and dryness of your precious crop in advance, then pumpkins can be beautifully stored until the onset of the calendar spring.
- If during the harvest from the beds there is rainy weather, and pumpkins have already matured, then an additional essential condition for the successful preservation of the grown produce will be mandatory drying fruits in a closed ventilated area for at least ten days.
- It is also desirable, if crop volumes allow, each pumpkin wipe dry with a clean cloth and inspect for damage, rot and mildew.
- All suspicious products must separate from healthy and determine for early use or recycling.
Optimum storage conditions for pumpkins
How to store a pumpkin in the apartment? For the successful storage of the harvest pumpkin Three mandatory conditions should be strictly observed.:
- maintaining a stable temperature;
- the exclusion of the possibility of direct sunlight;
- avoid contact of fruits with each other.
The temperature can be considered a critical lower limit plus two degrees and lower, the upper permissible temperature limit should not be higher than twenty-two degrees.
The range of temperatures favorable for storing pumpkins is quite wide. Excess of both values leads to rapid deterioration of fruits..
Not only temperature fluctuations, but also a change in air humidity have an extremely negative effect on the safety of fruits.
In general, the form
What are the optimal storage conditions for pumpkins in the winter at home? Under the conditions of a city apartment, the choice of the two most successful ways of storing fruits in general is presented.
The first option involves storing pumpkins at home in the winter on glazed balcony or loggia subject to the following conditions:
- the temperature in the room does not fall below plus two degrees;
- pumpkins should be covered with an opaque breathable material, excluding penetration of sunlight;
- if pumpkins are stored without additional containers (boxes, baskets, boxes, etc.), it is necessary to ensure their isolation from the cement floor, linoleum, plastic;
- it is advisable to put plywood, boards, thick cloth, in extreme cases newspapers, under pumpkins;
- in case of severe frosts, pumpkins should be warmed, covering the top with additional warm material (blanket, insulation, etc.).
Not everyone has a prepared loggia or balcony, but a equally reliable way to keep pumpkins for a long time is to store them directly in the apartment in places with the lowest air temperature, that is, on the floor, ensuring the insulation of the fruits from each other and lack of sunlight.
Both options for storing pumpkins for the winter at home have their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the risks associated with damage to the crop. When storing on a loggia or balcony, it is important to ensure that rot and mildew do not occur and spread due to high humidity.
In room conditions, on the contrary, it is necessary to prevent draining of fruits, more often produce airing, with strong dryness of the air, it is advisable to use humidifiers.
Cut fruits
Often pumpkins are of such large size that it is impossible to consume everything at once. In this case, it is important to follow some rules that will keep the pumpkin in the refrigerator without loss in product quality and its benefits.
How to keep a pumpkin cut? The rules are simple:
- Wash and cut the pumpkin as you need for cooking.
- Extract the seeds with pulverized pulp from the whole (!) Pumpkin.
- That part of the product that you do not plan to immediately use to peel is not necessary, so the pumpkin will better retain its juiciness.
- Wrap the unpurified part of a pumpkin in cling film or foil, or fold it into an airtight container and put it in a fridge on any shelf.
In this form sliced pumpkin can be stored for up to ten days.
Sometimes it is required to immediately trim a pumpkin for several dishes, but they will be prepared alternately (for example, for juice, salad, soup, mashed potatoes, for stewing or baking). How to keep a pumpkin cut at home?
In this case, the whole pumpkin should be washed, peeled, freed from seeds, cut into pieces, sealed and put in the refrigerator on the top shelf. How long can you keep an already cleaned pumpkin?
So she will keep her original qualities for two or three days. and can be successfully used for any dishes except juice.
Alternative ways
How to store a pumpkin at home is more or less clear, but what if your indicated methods do not suit you? It's time to remember the freeze.
To freeze the pumpkin for the winter, you need:
- Wash the pumpkin.
- To peel.
- Extract the seeds with pulverized pulp.
- Cut into a convenient way for you or grate.
- Hermetically pack in a plastic bag, cling film or container.
- Put in the freezer.
This pumpkin retains all the beneficial properties and it can be used just as fresh, except for the preparation of juice.
In addition to freezing the pumpkin can also be dried and dried.
Extracted from pumpkin seeds should not be thrown away, as they contain a lot of vitamins. Put them in a plastic container and place them on the battery for natural drying. After a couple of days, pumpkin seeds are ready to eat. You can fry them if you wish, but remember that some useful qualities are lost.
Pumpkin is one of the most useful products of our gardening. It is unpretentious both in cultivation, and in storage in house conditions. Compliance with simple rules will allow you to enjoy its taste until spring. And, of course, read about how to use a pumpkin to make Halloween decorations.
