How to properly store kohlrabi and methods at home
People often wonder how best to store kohlrabi. To keep the product fresh as long as possible, it is important to choose the right variety. For long-term storage, it is recommended to give preference to exclusively late varieties of this vegetable crop. To keep kohlrabi fresh, you can put it in your cellar or refrigerator. It is also allowed to store the product on the loggia or in the freezer.
Characteristics of the variety
Kohlrabi is a biennial plant that is a type of common cabbage. The fruits can vary in shape and color. They are oval, ovoid or round. Depending on the color, the following types are distinguished:
- White - are considered early ripe. Therefore, they are very popular.
- Purple - these are mid-early and late maturing species. The fruits have a slower development. On average, the growing season lasts 3 months.
For long-term storage, it is recommended to use varieties of late varieties - it is better to choose purple varieties.
Selection of a variety for long-term storage
In order for the vegetable to retain its freshness as long as possible, it is recommended to carefully consider the choice of variety.
Giant
It is a Czech variety that has large fruits. Cabbage is distinguished by its round shape and green color. The variety is characterized by resistance to heat and drought. Its fruits can last all winter.
Purple
It is a late variety very resistant to frost. It is characterized by a dark purple color and a white center.
Hummingbird F1
It is a Dutch hybrid that belongs to the purple variety. You can harvest the crop in 130-140 days after germination. The fruits are oval, slightly flattened.
gourmet blue
This variety is considered early. Heads of cabbage weigh between 200 and 500 grams and have a juicy and tender center. The variety is characterized by drought tolerance and high yield.
Cartago
It is a Czech hybrid characterized by slightly flattened round fruits. Maturation dates depend on the climate. The skin is light green in color and the flesh is white and juicy inside.
Spicy
This is an early ripening variety, characterized by white-green fruits weighing 500-900 grams. From above they are covered with soft dense skin. The stalks have an excellent taste and are stored well.
Enthusiasm
Ripening of the vegetable occurs within 75-80 days after planting. The fruits are rounded and slightly flattened and covered with a raspberry zest. This variety has an excellent taste.
Eder RZ
It is a mid-season hybrid with high yield parameters and a pleasant taste. The milky green fruits have an elliptical shape and creamy white flesh.
Storage rules and conditions
In order for the vegetable to retain its taste as long as possible, it must provide suitable conditions. There are several options for storing fruit.
Basement or cellar
Keeping kohlrabi is perfectly acceptable in the basement. However, the vegetable requires certain conditions. The temperature should be 0-2 degrees, and the humidity should be at least 95%. Under such conditions, cabbage can retain its freshness for 2-5 months - the specific time depends on the variety.
Before storing the fruits, it is recommended to sort, remove spoiled or rotten specimens and cut off the upper leaves. Then put the vegetables in baskets or boxes with the roots down and sprinkle with moistened sand.
Fridge
The product can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. To do this, wrap the head of cabbage with paper or a damp cloth. It is also allowed to use cloth bags. Then place the vegetable in a plastic bag. You do not need to tie it so that the fruits do not deteriorate.
Freezer
Freezing is considered an excellent way to store cabbage at home. In this case, it is recommended to wash the fruits and cut them into 2 or more parts. You can also grate them. Then put in bags and put in the freezer. First, you need to blanch the stalks for 3 minutes and cool them in cold water. This will help maintain maximum vitamins. Frozen cabbage can be kept for 9 months.
loggia
It will also be possible to keep cabbage at home on the loggia. It is recommended to hang fruits on clotheslines with hooks. It should be done with the root up. It is important to make sure that the vegetables do not touch each other. In this case, the temperature should not be negative. It is also worth monitoring the humidity parameters - they should be 91-98%.In such conditions, cabbage can be stored for 1 month.
In stock
Under certain conditions, kohlrabi can be kept cool until late spring. It is allowed to do this on special hangers, on a grid or in the sand. It is also allowed to use a loose basket or a foam bag. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain a humidity level of 95-100% and monitor the temperature - it should be stable and within 0-2 degrees.
Stripping for winter
To preserve cabbage, you can pickle it. In this case, it is worth preparing the following ingredients:
- 2 kohlrabi;
- 1 onion;
- 100 grams of sugar;
- 30 grams of salt;
- 1 liter of water;
- spices to taste;
- black pepper.
To prepare a salad, you must do the following:
- Wash and peel the cabbage, cut into strips.
- Cook the kohlrabi in salted water and mix with the minced onion.
- Make a marinade. To do this, mix water with salt and sugar and boil.
- Put the vegetables in jars, add the spices and the marinade.
- Sterilize for 45 minutes in 90 degree water.
- Tighten the canisters and put away.
Additional tips and tricks
To increase the shelf life of a product, follow these simple guidelines:
- When storing cabbage in the refrigerator for a short time, cut off the foliage and roots of the fruit. This will help prevent rapid evaporation of moisture.
- It is forbidden to wash vegetables before laying. After being saturated with moisture, the cabbage rots faster.
- It is important to avoid sudden temperature fluctuations. They will make the kohlrabi stiffer and more fibrous.
- In the refrigerator, the stems are bent separately from the tops.The foliage sucks moisture from the cabbage, which makes the pulp less juicy.
- You should not store the vegetable at a temperature above -18 degrees. This will cause the loss of most vitamins.
- Again, freezing cabbage is prohibited. This will lead to loss of taste and violation of the composition.
During the storage period, it is recommended to inspect the fruits twice a month and get rid of damaged or rotten specimens.
Kohlrabi can be stored in different ways. In order for the vegetable to stay fresh as long as possible, it is necessary to provide it with suitable conditions. At the same time, it is very important to control the humidity and temperature parameters.