How to properly store onions at home in an apartment and a private house
Onions are considered an unpretentious product to storage conditions and are able not to lose their taste characteristics for a long time. At the same time, proper agricultural technology during cultivation, timely harvesting, bulb processing and proper microclimate are necessary for safety. Having understood the nuances of the correct storage of onions, you can always have fresh fruit at your fingertips.
Content
- 1 Varieties suitable for long-term storage
- 2 Preparing the vegetable for storage
- 3 What is the difference between storing onions in winter and summer
- 4 What is the best temperature to store onions?
- 5 Humidity level for storing onions in an apartment
- 6 Where to store
- 7 How to store green onions
- 8 Storing cleaned heads
- 9 What to do
Varieties suitable for long-term storage
In a huge variety of varieties, only certain species of onions are suitable for long-term storage.Among the most popular varieties are the following varieties: Yalta, Orion, Stuttgarten Riesen and Centurion.
YELLOW
Among yellow onions, Texas Yellow, Delight and Erica F1 stand out for their long shelf life. An additional advantage is the high resistance of plants to diseases.
white
Fruits with a white shell and pulp also have a long shelf life. The Snowball and Sturon varieties are the most suitable for this.
red
In the red onion category, Brunswick, Red Baron, Carmen and Bombay have good keeping quality. There are also a number of hybrid varieties that are suitable for long-term storage.
Preparing the vegetable for storage
In order for the onion to remain fresh during storage, not to lose its aroma and taste, it is necessary to properly prepare the fruit. Performing a number of easy steps will help avoid bulb rot and damage.
Size and cleaning
After harvesting, each fruit should be carefully washed and trimmed. For this, it is more convenient to use simple scissors. The dried foliage is cut in such a way that a neck about 4-6 cm long remains. The roots should be shortened without affecting the lower part of the bulb. The surface of the vegetables is slightly cleaned of the upper layer of cracked scales.
Drying
Onion storage becomes more efficient once the vegetables are dried. It is recommended to spread the fruits in a single layer on the outside. If the climatic conditions do not allow natural drying, you can leave the harvest on your balcony or veranda.
There are also several other options for drying vegetables. It is permissible to tie the bulbs in compact bunches and hang them outdoors under shelter or indoors in a draft.At home, it is more convenient to dry the crop in the oven, heating it to a minimum temperature. It is important to avoid drying out the shell and cracking the protective scales.
Sorting
The entire harvested crop is subjected to sorting, after which strong and healthy specimens are selected that do not have cracks or other defects. Fruits and bulbs damaged with sprouts are recommended to be eaten immediately or used for processing.
What is the difference between storing onions in winter and summer
Storage of crops at different times of the year is distinguished by the nuances of pretreatment and environmental conditions. In winter, vegetables are recommended to be stored at a constant temperature of zero, without allowing them to heat up. The entire winter treatment process is carried out at home. During the hot season, you can dry the bulbs directly on the beds and leave them in warmer conditions.
What is the best temperature to store onions?
The temperature regime of onions depends on the room in which they will be stored. In the cellar, the optimum temperature is 1 to 0 degrees for semi-acute and sweet varieties and about -3 for spicy ones. Leaving the crop in the apartment, it is necessary to ensure a temperature of 18-22 degrees.
Humidity level for storing onions in an apartment
Leave the vegetables in a warm room, maintain an appropriate humidity level of 50-70%. A common problem for novice gardeners is the creation of a relatively stable indicator of air humidity. This is important because at high humidity the germination of the bulbs begins, and their resistance to diseases decreases.Exposure to dry air causes the fruit to dry out and crack.
Where to store
A wide variety of storage methods allows you to choose the most convenient. The harvest can be packaged in various containers and stored in the basement or at home.
In the flat
Storing crops at home is the most common way. The main advantages of storing vegetables in an apartment are:
- convenience of maintaining stable temperature and humidity;
- the constant presence of fresh fruit at hand;
- the ability to periodically monitor the status of the bulbs at any time.
Storage in a cardboard box or box
The use of wooden crates and cartons saves space at home and stores large quantities of crops. Boxes and boxes can be stacked on top of each other and covered with a fabric top. Containers should be small, up to 30 cm high. For constant air circulation, there should be ventilation holes on the bottom or on the sides.
It is recommended to distribute the fruits in 2-3 layers. It is best to pack the harvest in several medium-sized containers to increase the chances of keeping the fruit fresh.
Pantyhose or nylon stockings filled with onions
The old way of storing blisters in stockings and tights does not lose its relevance. The structure of the nylon allows air to pass inside, which has a positive effect on the shelf life of the crop. Stockings and tights can be hung in the closet so as not to clutter the free space in the apartment.
How to store onions in bags
Strong bags made of thickened polyethylene with a capacity of 35-40 kg are suitable for storing crops. The harvest is poured inside the bags, then they are placed upright on pallets.In the pantry, bags can be placed on several levels.
Store vegetables in nets
Special vegetable nets made of fine polypropylene strands are suitable for storing small quantities of bulbs. The nets provide constant air circulation and good visibility - if the fruit starts to sprout or rot, this will be immediately noticeable.
Weaving braids from a bow
In the absence of a suitable container for harvesting, the bulbs can be braided into a braid and hung on any fastener. There are several ways to weave braids, and the most common is as follows:
- Prepare a rope, rope, twine or bandage for weaving the base. The base of the braid is necessary due to the large weight of the finished product.
- Choose the head with the strongest and longest rod and tie the start to the end of the rope, comparing the ends. This will result in 3 ends, including 2 rope ends and 1 onion.
- Braid a pigtail from the resulting ponytails, alternately adding a head on both sides with each hold. To keep the vegetables securely in the braid, you need to grab them as close as possible.
- Continue braiding until the ends of the cords are within 6 inches.
- Wrap the rope tightly around the tops and make a loop to hang the braid.
In a wicker basket
Decorative wicker baskets made of natural material are ideal for storing crops. Air circulates freely through the holes in the baskets and the vegetables do not rot. It is recommended to choose baskets that are not too deep and can hold 5-6 kg of vegetables.To extend the shelf life of the fruit, sprinkle it with sawdust, husk or chalk.
In the cellar
The duration of storage of the crop in a cellar in a private house or garage depends on the variety grown. Sweet varieties have a shorter shelf life and are susceptible to certain diseases. Spicy bulbs can rest until the next season.
You can place containers with onions in the cellar on the floor or lay out the fruits on racks and shelves, placing burlap, thick paper or straw under them. Where possible, stocks should be inspected periodically and sprouted or soft specimens should be removed.
If the bulbs in the cellar become damp, they must be dried and the room well ventilated. Lime can be sprinkled on the floor to absorb excess moisture. It is also not recommended to remove dry pods from the cellar, which protects the culture from waterlogging.
On the balcony
Low-temperature varieties can be left on the balcony at any time of the year. The harvest is placed in any suitable container, placed on a loggia, and its condition is periodically checked.
In the fridge
The shelf life of onions in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator is no more than a month. Due to excessive moisture, fruits over time begin to rot and rot in neighboring vegetables.
Freezer
Using a freezer as storage, it is necessary to cut the heads into rings and pack them in sealed containers or plastic bags. The optimum temperature in the freezer is -18 to -20 degrees. The shelf life when placed in a freezer reaches six months. If freezing is carried out at a temperature of about -8 degrees, the terms are reduced to 3 months.
Refreezing the product is not allowed, since in this case the taste characteristics will be lost. Before freezing the bulbs, it is recommended to temporarily remove other foods so that they do not become saturated with a pronounced smell.
How to store green onions
Many gardeners are faced with the question of whether it is possible to store feathers of green onions. It is allowed to leave the product in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks at a temperature of about 4 degrees, and for 1-1.5 months at a temperature of 0 degrees. It is not recommended to wash them before putting the green onions in the refrigerator, because they will deteriorate more quickly.
As a container for herbs, you can use glassware or a jar with a tightly closed lid. By leaving the herbs in a suitable container, you will be able to maintain the pronounced aromatic and taste characteristics. If the onion feathers do not fit fully into the container, do not break them so that they do not begin to deteriorate.
You can also wrap green vegetables in plastic bags. For storage for 1.5 months, feathers are placed in a bag, tied and pierced with small holes for air circulation.
Storing cleaned heads
Cleaned heads are less stored and require special conditions. Salting, pickling and drying are the most common ways to extend the shelf life of peeled bulbs.
Salting
To prepare the salting, the heads are thoroughly washed, dried and cut into large rings. Glass jars for salting are sterilized. A layer of salt is poured on the bottom of the container and the cut rings are laid.Then the jar is sealed with a lid and left in the refrigerator.
Stripping
Onions are pickled to preserve vitamins and improve taste. The heads are peeled, washed and cut into rings. Cut rings are placed in sterilized jars, poured with boiling water and kept for 10 minutes. As a marinade, a mixture of 1 liter of water, a tablespoon of salt and sugar, 1-2 cloves and black peppercorns, boiled for 3 minutes, is used. The rings are poured with hot marinade, and the jars are closed with metal lids.
Small heads can be marinated whole. Before being put in jars, they are treated with boiling water, then with cold water. Acetic acid, salt and sugar are added to the marinade. It is recommended to leave the marinated product in the refrigerator.
Drying
Pulses are much easier to store than frozen ones. Dried rings take up little space and do not deteriorate. To dry the fruits cut into slices, you can use the oven, the electric dryer, the microwave. You can also dry your crops naturally in the sun.
What to do
In the process of storing the crop, there is a risk of encountering problems. Most often they consist in the rotting and sprouting of bulbs. In order to preserve most of the crop, it is necessary to take timely protective measures.
If the onion rots
Pathogenic fungi can exist inside the bulbs for a long time. Rotting affects onion turnips during storage due to excessive moisture. Most often, weakened fruits suffer from the disease, as a result of which they lose their taste characteristics and, over time, completely rot.
If signs of rot are detected, it is necessary to destroy the affected vegetables to prevent the spread of the disease.
To protect the rest of the crop, good storage conditions should be provided.
If the bulb germinates
If stored in a warm room with high humidity, there is a risk of sprouting vegetables. The necks of the bulbs contain moisture inside and if they are too thick, these specimens are most likely to sprout. One way to solve the problem is to use lime putty. The substance is used to treat the root lobes of bulbs after shortening the roots. Another way to control sprouting is to cauterize the roots. The disadvantage of both processing methods is that these bulbs cannot be used as planting material.