How to properly store fresh cucumbers at home longer
Fresh cucumbers are used not only to prepare summer salads, but also to prepare for the winter period. There are many ways to store fresh cucumbers so that they do not lose their flavor and useful qualities.
What varieties lie for a long time
Among the huge variety of vegetables, there are several varieties that are distinguished by the best keeping quality. Presentation and taste make it possible to store Sadko, Gavrish, Competitor, Nerosimy and a number of hybrid varieties for a long time.
Which cucumbers should be selected for storage?
When sorting fruits for further storage, you should choose only fresh specimens. When picking cucumbers from the beds, you need to leave a minimum of time between the time of picking and preparation for storage. If vegetables are left for several days at room temperature, they will become unsuitable for long-term storage. When choosing vegetables in the market, it is recommended to visually inspect a large number of fruits from the lot - if the main part has begun to wither, it is better to refuse to buy. In addition, the fruits to be preserved must be:
- Clean and dry. You cannot wash cucumbers before long-term storage, as the water will wash away the protective layer that prevents early rotting.
- Flawless. The presence of dents and cracks will lead to early deterioration of vegetables.
- With dense skin. Ground cucumbers have a thicker skin than greenhouse cucumbers, which provides additional protection against external influences.
How to store fresh vegetables
For the safety of the harvested crop for a long time, several rules must be observed. The preservation of the fruit is influenced by the environmental conditions, the microclimate, the pretreatment of the cucumbers and the selected container. In order for vegetables not to wither and rot during storage, it is necessary to take a comprehensive approach to preparing the crop for winter.
Terms and conditions of the long-term lie
At home, it is necessary to create a favorable environment for the safety of culture. The shelf life directly depends on external factors. The average shelf life of a fresh harvest varies from a few weeks to several months.
Cucumber storage temperature
The temperature at which you should store cucumbers depends on the storage option chosen.Leaving fresh cucumbers in an apartment for 3-4 weeks, it is enough to provide a temperature regime of 4-8 degrees. In colder conditions, vegetables can become overcooled and lose their flavor profile.
Pickled cucumbers are stored for no more than 9 months at a temperature of -1 to 4 degrees. Unpasteurized vegetables are stored in glass containers for a week at an ambient temperature of 18 degrees.
Humidity
The optimum moisture content for crop storage is 85-95%. Higher humidity can cause rotting of crops. Insufficient humidity and dryness in summer lead to drying out of vegetables.
Lighting
Fresh crops do not need lighting. It is recommended to leave the fruits in a dark place, protected from direct exposure to ultraviolet rays.
How to store cucumbers longer
To extend the shelf life of the crop, it is important to correctly decide where to leave cucumbers for the winter. Fresh fruits can be stored in a variety of conditions that correspond in several ways, including an appropriate humidity indicator and temperature regime.
In a barrel
Wooden barrels are used to store large amounts of harvest. Before placing the harvest in a container, it is necessary to sort it in order to eliminate rotten and deformed specimens. The bottom of the cask can be covered with carefully washed blackcurrant or cherry leaves. Garlic, herbs and other spices can be used to add flavor.
Cucumbers are placed in a barrel in dense rows in an upright state. Layers of foliage and spices are left between the rows.The barrel is hermetically sealed and the lid is plugged. The brine is poured through the hole made in the upper base and sealed with a stopper.
In a vinegar chamber
Cucumbers are able to retain enough moisture and stay fresh using an unconventional method of being in a vinegar chamber. To do this, you need enameled dishes and a plastic stand with holes. The container must be resistant to acetic acid.
The support is fixed in such a way that the fruits do not come into contact with the solution. Acetic acid with a concentration of 9% is poured into the bottom of the dish in a thin layer. Cucumbers are placed on a rack in several layers so that they do not deteriorate, then they are tightly covered with a lid and left in a cool room. The shelf life of vegetables when placed in a vinegar chamber is approximately 30 days.
In a terracotta pot
Many novice gardeners often wonder whether it is possible to use clay pots for storing crops. These containers are well suited to ensure the long-term freshness of the harvest. It is enough to pour a thin layer of sand into the pan and lay the vegetables there in layers. In order to protect the top, the vegetables are sprinkled with another layer of sand. The container is hermetically sealed and buried in the ground.
in the sand
By stacking cucumbers in a container in layers and sprinkling them with washed sand, it will be possible to extend the shelf life of the crop. The shelf life of vegetables depends on the surrounding conditions; if all the rules are observed, the storage period is several months. It is recommended to fill the sand between the layers of cucumbers, as well as at the bottom and top of the culture.
In the fridge
The easiest way to store vegetables at home is to use the refrigerator. In the event that it is not necessary to leave the vegetables for a long time or there is no other possibility, using the refrigerator is the best option. There are several options for storing the harvested crop:
- In a special vegetable drawer. The harvest retains its freshness for 3-4 days and does not require prior preparation for short-term storage. You can leave the fruit in the crisper in a bag or without it.
- In cellophane. By packing the fresh harvest in bags and covering it with a damp cloth, it is possible to ensure storage for 10 days. The bag does not need to be sealed to allow air to pass freely inside.
- In paper. By wrapping each vegetable in plain paper or a towel and placing it in a bag, you can store the harvest for up to 2 weeks.
Protein coated
Egg white treatment is a less common but effective method. Cucumbers are washed and dried, after which they are smeared with protein to form a thin film on the skin. The protective layer prevents rapid evaporation of moisture. Egg-wrapped vegetables can be left on the vegetable rack in the refrigerator.
In the cellar
In the cellar, the harvest is able to stay fresh for 30 days. Cucumbers are placed in enameled or ceramic dishes and sprinkled with sand. A layer of cling film is placed at the bottom of the container. You can also wrap the vegetables in a cloth and leave them in a bag, box or drawer.
The cellar should have dry air and a minimum level of lighting.
In a jar with a candle
Without oxygen, the harvest can be stored longer, so a candle technique can be used.To do this, you need to prepare a paraffin candle without the addition of fragrance, a jar and a tin lid. To make a blank, it is better to use cucumbers of the same size, dense skin and without flaws. Too large and overripe specimens are not used. The fruits are well washed in cold water and laid out on a towel so that they dry completely.
Storage containers also require prior preparation. First, the container is cleaned with a solution of water and soda, then sterilized in hot water using a steam bath or in an oven. If the jars are water sterilized, allow them to dry completely. Tin lids are treated the same way.
After completing the preparatory stages, the container is well filled with vegetables, leaving a place on top for placing the candle. It is installed in such a way that in the future it is possible to screw on the cover without hindrance. Then the candle is lit and left to burn for about 10 minutes without tightening the lid. At the end of this time, the jar is carefully capped so that the candle inside continues to burn permanently. The fire will burn until all the oxygen accumulated in the container is exhausted.
Paper wrapping method
Wrapping cucumbers in paper allows you to keep the fruit fresh for a few weeks. Just wrap each vegetable with plain paper or a towel and put it in a bag. It is recommended to store the harvest when using this method away from the freezer.
Fruit should be inspected regularly to prevent the formation and spread of rot. If the cucumbers become too soft and turn yellow, they should be removed from the general packaging.
We store in water
Freshly harvested crop can be stored in clean water. It is necessary to fill a deep container with cold water and place the vegetables with the tail down so that they are covered with liquid for a few centimeters. The container should be kept in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.
With a daily water change, the shelf life of vegetables will reach three weeks. Partial immersion in liquid compensates for moisture loss and prevents premature drying. This method is most suitable for thick-skinned cucumbers.
Maybe freeze?
Storing the harvest in the freezer makes it possible to use the blanks for cooking various dishes and for fresh consumption during the winter period. Ripe, young cucumbers with thick skin and firm flesh are suitable for freezing. Vegetables should be whole, without browning, without symptoms of rotting and other diseases.
How to Prepare Cucumbers for Freezing
Before freezing vegetables, you need to process them properly. First you need to wash the crop thoroughly and wipe it with napkins or a towel. Excessive buildup of moisture on the skin can adversely affect taste. It is also important to select fruits of certain varieties that are likely to be exposed to cold for a long time.
Freezing methods
Freezing vegetables is allowed in various forms, taking into account the purposes of further use and your own preferences. Vegetables should be pre-cut in the most suitable way for cooking. If you plan to use it as an ingredient for vinaigrette or okroshka, it is better to cut it into cubes, for sandwiches - in thin layers.
Entirely
It is recommended to freeze whole cucumbers only if you do not need to cut them after thawing. Thawed vegetables are quite difficult to cut with improvised means.
In circles
The fruits are cut into circles, which, after defrosting, are intended to be added to salads or used to decorate various dishes. In addition to the culinary purpose, fruits frozen in circles are used to perform cosmetic manipulations.
It is important not to pack the chopped vegetables immediately in bags for later freezing, but to dry them first, spread them out on a flat surface, cover them with aluminum foil and store them in the freezer for a few hours for a bit of freezing. This is necessary to facilitate the separation of the pieces from the ice when defrosting.
Cubes
Cucumbers, frozen in the form of cubes, can be added to various salads and other dishes. To freeze, you need to dry the vegetables from the available moisture, cut off the ends and peel them. Then the cucumbers are cut into small cubes and laid out in any container with a flat surface to dry for half an hour.
From above, the cubes are covered with foil and kept in the freezer for a little freezing, after which they are poured into a plastic container or plastic bag.
cucumber juice
Cucumber juice is subjected to freezing for further use for cosmetic purposes. The juice can be used for masks, lotions and daily face and neck care. To make cucumber juice, follow these steps:
- grate clean, dry vegetables;
- place the wiped mass in a cheesecloth to squeeze out the juice;
- pour the juice into an ice container;
- leave the container in the freezer overnight;
- Transfer the frozen ice cubes to a bag and return to the freezer for later storage.
You can also get cucumber juice using a blender, a regular juicer or a meat grinder. Using this equipment, you will first need to peel the vegetables.
Dirty
You can freeze not only fresh crops, but also pickled cucumbers. The process of freezing salted vegetables does not cause loss of appearance, taste and aroma. Freezing is carried out according to a similar principle - first, the cucumbers are dried before salting, cut into cubes, salted and frozen for 4 hours. Then the salted vegetables are poured into a bag and returned to the freezer.
Frozen salted fruit can be used as an ingredient in a wide variety of dishes, including pickle, Olivier, and salad dressing.
Shelf life of frozen flans
The shelf life of cucumbers in the freezer ranges from 5 to 8 months, provided that quick freezing has been carried out beforehand for several hours. Otherwise, the maximum retention period is six months.
How to defrost correctly
If the cucumbers were frozen in cubes or slices, they do not need to be thawed first. They are added to dishes immediately after they are taken out of the freezer, after which they naturally thaw on their own.
When thawing the vegetables before mixing them with the rest of the ingredients for the dish, they will change shape and lose their dense structure. In the event that the fruits are used for cooking salads, it is permissible to hold them for a short time in cold water, which must then be drained.
Defrost the whole vegetables gradually. You must store them in the refrigerator first, then wait until they are completely thawed at room temperature.Ice cubes made from cucumber juice can be immediately added to a mask, lotion or other cosmetic product without first thawing.