How and where is it better to store melon at home, conditions and rules
The melon is a tasty and aromatic vegetable that is eaten with pleasure during the summer. The only drawback of the product is its short shelf life, which makes it almost impossible to enjoy them in late autumn or winter. However, with the right approach to the storage process, the melon can be processed so that it does not lose its taste for a long time. How to properly store a melon at home and what you need to do for this, we will find out below.
Features of storage of fruits of different varieties
Few people know that the shelf life of a melon is not only influenced by the surrounding conditions. By the rate of ripening, melons are divided into:
- late;
- early;
- mid-season.
Late
Late varieties are best suited for storage and harvesting for the winter because:
- After harvest, the fruit needs a few months to fully ripen.
- Late varieties have denser flesh.
- Late ripening melons contain more pectin, which favorably affects the shelf life.
To note! The fruits of late varieties retain their beneficial properties for up to 6 months, with proper treatment.
Early
Melons of early varieties are poorly stored at home, and after 1 month from the date of harvest they are already unusable. It is better to send these varieties immediately to the table, leaving other products under the blanks.
Mid-season
Intermediate hybrids that have brought together the best properties of previous varieties. Mid-ripe melons do not keep as long as late melons, but their shelf life is still long.
With proper processing, these vegetables can stay at home for 2-4 months, without losing their taste and useful qualities.
Selection criteria for long-term storage
When buying melons for preservation, if it is not possible to grow a vegetable on your own, pay attention to the following nuances:
- Product odor. If it is pronounced and rich, the melon is ready for storage.
- Shell integrity. If there is damage on the skin, do not buy it hoping to save it until next season. The fruit will begin to rot quickly, and you will have to get rid of it.
- The presence of brown marks or bumps on the skin indicates a short shelf life.
- The net covering the skin of the melon should not be too intense in color. It speaks of overripe. A pale, barely noticeable mesh doesn't suit us either.
Optimal storage conditions at home
Once you have found the right melons, it is time to prepare a storage space that meets all your requirements.Key parameters responsible for increasing shelf life include:
- comfortable level of humidity;
- Temperature;
- the presence of air circulation.
Each parameter is of great importance, they should not be neglected.
Temperature
It's no secret that the best storage conditions are achieved in rooms with low air temperature. Basements and cellars are perfect for these purposes. According to the advice of seasoned summer residents who have harvested melon for future use more than once, the optimum temperature is considered to be +2 oh up to +4 oh... An increase in temperature will lead to rapid deterioration, a decrease will not be so fatal, but the quality of the product will also decrease.
Humidity
An equally important parameter, along with temperature, is called air humidity. Rooms with excessively dry or humid air are considered unsuitable for storing melons. Try to stick to the following indicators:
- the maximum humidity should not exceed 85%;
- the minimum must not fall below 60%.
It is desirable to keep this indicator in the middle, in the region of 70-75%.
Airflow
In a room that is not equipped with a ventilation system, the air quickly picks up unnecessary moisture. Due to this, mold appears and an unpleasant musty smell accompanies it. Such conditions can hardly be called comfortable for storing food, including a capricious melon.
To note! The vegetable absorbs odors well during storage. For this reason, it is not advisable to keep the melon next to the potato, as it imbues the harvest with a heavy, earthy smell.
Storage rules and methods
Melon, as an agricultural crop, has been known for a very long time, and many preservation methods have been tested during its cultivation. Recommended methods of use include:
- Storage in a cellar or basement.
- At room temperature.
- In the refrigerator compartment.
- In the freezer.
- Dried.
- In specially prepared containers.
- Storage of melons on shelves or in nets.
At room temperature
This is not the most efficient way to preserve a vegetable, it is suitable only in cases where the melon is used for food during the next week. In this case, the following conditions must be met:
- the product must not be exposed to the sun;
- the melon will be wrapped in a thick layer of paper.
In a cellar or basement
The most optimal storage place for harvesting melon, 100% suitable for these purposes. And since almost all citizens have access to either a cellar in a summer cottage or a basement in an apartment building, there should be no problems.
If you still don't have access to the above places, use the fridge or freezer.
In the fridge
The refrigerator is significantly lower than the cellar and basement, since the melon retains its taste in it for no more than three weeks. After this period, the product begins to deteriorate, and its pulp loses its dense consistency and begins to mold.
When using the refrigerator to store your melon, keep in mind:
- Only a whole melon is stored in the refrigerator, as the cut fruit spoils quickly.
- The bottom shelf is chosen as the storage place.
- The product is wrapped in cling film or paper. Do not wrap it too tightly, completely blocking oxygen access.
open up
The cut product is not stored for long, and its flesh begins to deteriorate rapidly. Try not to leave the melon unfinished, hoping to keep it for several weeks. The only effective way to preserve cut product is freezing.
In the freezer
The freezer allows you to preserve the taste and the healthy ingredients of the vegetable for a long time, but this requires some preparation:
- Thoroughly wash the vegetable under the tap, then wipe it dry with a towel.
- Cut the fruit into even slices.
- We clean all the pulp from the slices using an ice cream scoop molding tool.
- We carefully place the resulting balls on a tray and send them to pre-freeze for 12 hours.
- After the blanks are transferred to small bags and sent to the freezer on request.
Dried
Lovers of vegetables and dried fruits will love the following method for preparing melons for the winter:
- The vegetable is cut into neat slices, the size of which should not exceed 2 centimeters.
- We distribute them evenly on a baking sheet and send them to a preheated oven.
- We heat the vegetable to a temperature of 220 oh within 15 minutes.
- After the specified period of time, we reduce the heating to 85 oh and let the melon dry for 6 hours.
- Do not forget to periodically turn the slices to the other side so that they dry evenly.
- We remove the baking sheet with the melon in a well-ventilated place and let the product prepare within 2 days.
Then we put the dried vegetable in a container with a tight-fitting lid or in special bags made of natural fabric.
In the grid
Using the net as a storage container has shown good results in extending the shelf life of the product.The mesh allows the vegetable to be hung from a beam or from the ceiling, which reduces the pressure on the fruit and the skin, and uniform ventilation is achieved.
In boxes
For storage in boxes, they must be properly prepared. For that:
- we place the vegetable in an upright position;
- we fill the box to half its volume with sawdust, sand or grain;
- Each melon is turned weekly and inspected for mold or rot.
On racks
Before placing the crops on the shelves, you must prepare them carefully:
- cover the shelves with a soft cloth or sawdust;
- we lay the fruits freely, not tightly to each other;
- several times a month the fruit is turned from side to side.
Recommended varieties
Not all varieties that ripen at the same time have the same shelf life. Among the most suitable varieties for this process are the following:
- To go for a walk;
- Slavia;
- Orange;
- Torpedo;
- Wintering.
Slavia
An unpretentious, late-ripening variety that retains its taste well for a month after harvest. It is in great demand, both by ordinary summer residents and by large agricultural lands.
Market
A hybrid bred in Uzbekistan, which has gained popularity outside the country due to its excellent taste and good keeping quality. They have a sweet pulp with a pleasant taste of honey.
Wintering
Late variety, which pleasantly delights summer visitors on a festive table on rainy autumn evenings. The pulp is juicy, but not as crispy as that of other members of the culture.
Turkmen woman
Extremely popular in agricultural circles, the melon shows a bountiful harvest in almost all growing regions. It keeps well without losing its juiciness and aroma.
Orange
It has a rich orange pulp and a good shelf life.Has a pleasant sour taste. Recommended for breeding.
Kasaba
It ripens during storage, which allows you to enjoy the fresh and juicy taste of melon not only in summer, but also in winter. They do not have a strong, pronounced aroma.
Torpedo
The melon is popular in agricultural circles due to its large size and pleasant taste. Stored for a long time if properly prepared.
How to extend the shelf life
To prolong the injury of the melon, keep in mind the following nuances:
- keep fruit out of direct sunlight;
- don't store melon next to apples. They secrete special substances that accelerate ripening.
Tips & Tricks
To prevent the melon from ripening in advance, do not:
- store fruits tightly, placing them very close to each other;
- store crops next to heating elements;
- place the fruit on a hard surface without covering it with a soft cloth or sawdust.