How best to store peaches at home, principles and rules

Delicious and juicy fruits of the peach tree, of which there are more than 300 varieties in the world, ripen throughout summer and early autumn. They are characterized by a rapid rate of weight gain and maturation, so harvesting and storage require special attention. Recommendations on how to properly store peaches at home and with minimal losses will help preserve most fruit for months to come.

General rules and principles

Peaches are harvested in several stages as they ripen due to their delicate texture and the possibility of slight damage. Experienced gardeners know that picking peaches for storage or transportation should be done in time when the fruits begin to change color:

• white-fleshed fruits are best removed when the green color becomes cream;
• yellow-fleshed varieties - when a yellow color appears.

Slightly unripe peaches can still be left to ripen, and for longer transport you will need fruit that is firm to the touch. For human consumption, pick from the tree when completely soft and ripe.

The basic principles of good peaches conservation:

• you can not use plastic bags because of the possible rapid rotting of the fruit;
• recommended storage space - refrigerator, basement or cellar, balcony;
• when using peaches to accelerate the ripening of other fruits, it should be borne in mind that they ripen faster and begin to spoil;
• peaches should not be stacked in several layers, because under the weight of the lower fruits will deteriorate faster.

Storage conditions required

Peaches should be sorted before storing. For any signs of bruising or beginning to rot, it is recommended that they be set aside for food or processing (canning, boiling jam).

With a long shelf life, fruits should be periodically sorted, setting aside those that begin to rot in order to avoid contamination of neighboring fruits.

Temperature

The optimum temperature for storing peaches is 0...+5°. This mode is provided for in special compartments of the refrigerator, intended for vegetables and fruits, and is also observed in the cellar. The storage period is 2-4 weeks.

The more the temperature deviates towards the heat (more than +10°С), the faster the fruit deteriorates. Under room conditions, ripening is accelerated, and storage time is reduced to 4-5 days. If the temperature deviates to cold, the fruits may deteriorate due to the low temperature.

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Humidity

The optimum humidity for storing delicate fruits is 90%. With a lower value, the fruits begin to dry out and wrinkle, with a higher value, they rot.

Lighting

Better yet, the fruits are stored in a dark place where sunlight does not enter.

Container

Several rules for choosing containers for storage:

• special boxes with cells are ideal, in which the pressure of the upper layer on the lower layer and premature damage to the fruits can be avoided;
• with a large harvest, storage in a special box with sand is allowed when packing fruits with paper;
• when freezing peaches, it is recommended to place them in plastic containers.

How to store unripe fruit

For transport and long-term storage, it is best to pick unripe peaches. Delicate fruits keep well when wrapped in paper or linen bags.

A method is practiced to help prolong this period. It consists of using a solution of salicylic acid and 90% alcohol at the rate of 10 g per litre. The liquid should be smeared with the fruit before storing it, and before eating it should be washed under running water.

Paper bag

A popular method is to preserve the fruit in sand, which helps extend the ripening time. In this case, the peaches are laid out in paper bags or wrapped in parchment. The fruits are placed in crates 4 rows high, and the voids are covered with dry sand. The container is placed in a cool cellar or pantry. Maturation and storage time - 2 weeks.

To ripen peaches faster, a method of putting apples or bananas on them is practiced. The joint release of special substances stimulates the early ripening of neighboring fruits. The bag of fruit must be stored for 24 hours at +22°C in a dark place. Then check for ripeness and refrigerate.

linen fabric

Another method is to use a linen or cotton napkin or napkin, in which the fruits should be placed at a certain distance (they should not touch each other) with the cuttings down. From above, the fruit is covered with another towel, blocking air access. They ripen in 2-3 days.

Methods of preserving ripe fruit

Ripe peaches do not keep for long, so you need to know the rules for their storage.

At room temperature

At + 22 ... + 25 ° C, the fruits can stand without spoilage for only 2-3 days.

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In the fridge

Ripe peaches can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. It is not recommended for a longer period due to rapid deterioration.

Frozen

Peaches can be frozen in several forms. The easiest way is to put ripe fruit in the freezer, wrapping each in a paper bag.

The shelf life in the frozen state depends on the temperature conditions:

• at -9 ... -12 ° - up to six months;
• below -13 ... -18 ° С - up to 9 months.

Together

Basic rules for freezing:

1. Reserve whole ripe fruit
2. Wash with water without removing the cuttings and dry.
3. Put in the fridge for a day.
4. Then put in plastic containers for storage and close with a lid.
5. Place in the freezer.

Slices

Sliced ​​fruits, laid out in sealed containers, are stored in the freezer in the same way.

Mash potatoes

Peaches can also be frozen in processed form - puree or jam. For its preparation, the fruits are washed and peeled. Seeds should be removed, the pulp should be chopped with a meat grinder or blender. Place in jars or place in ice cube trays and freeze.

Withered in the oven

Sweet and sour varieties are suitable for drying or withering. Step by step process of drying peaches:

1. Split the fruit in half and remove the seeds
2. Put the fruit on a baking sheet and put in the oven.
3. Dry for 3 hours at + 50°C.
4. Turn off the oven for 6 hours.
5. Then repeat the on/off drying until completely dry.
6. During the drying process, the fruits should be turned over and the baking sheets should be swapped.

It is recommended to store such dried fruits at temperatures below + 15 ° C, in a dark, dry room with humidity not exceeding 65%.

Bleached

Before placing in the freezer, the following procedure must be carried out:

1. Wash fruit.
2. Blanch by placing for 20-30 sec. fruit in boiling water.
3. Remove the skin and cut into quarters.
4. Dry the fruits, put them carefully in bags and freeze them.

Candied

Fruit frozen in this way is ideal for baking. Therefore, they need to be cut into small slices and put in any container, sprinkled with sugar, cork with a lid and put to freeze.

In syrup

For such freezing, overripe fruits are used, which have begun to leave juice. First, a sweet syrup is prepared at the rate of 600 ml of water and 350-400 g of sugar. It is brought to a boil, stirring well and cooled slightly. The fruits are placed in a container and poured with syrup (not to the top), left to soak for 1-2 hours, then placed in the freezer.

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in the form of jam

A step-by-step recipe for making delicious sunny jams:

1. Wash 2 kg of ripe peaches, cut them into slices, removing the seeds.
2. Incorporate in a saucepan and cover with sugar, you need a total of 1.5 kg.
3. Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon.
4. Tie the pan with gauze and leave for 2 hours until the juice appears.
5. Pour the juice into another container, put on the fire and boil for 2-3 minutes.
6. Pour the hot syrup over the fruit, add water.
7. Cook for 5 minutes, skimming off the foam.
8. Set aside and soak for 2 hours.
9. Put on the fire and bring to a boil, stirring gently with a spoon.
10. Cook until tender for about 60 minutes.
11. Arrange in the jars and roll up, turn the jars upside down with the lids down.

Store in a cool, dark place.

How to defrost correctly

The best way to thaw is in the refrigerator. It is necessary to set aside the required amount of fruit on a plate in the evening and put it on the shelf of the refrigerator, then in the morning the fruit will not lose its integrity and give juice. To prepare the compote, frozen fruit can be placed directly in hot water.Peaches do not lose the elasticity of their pulp when thawed. However, refreezing is unacceptable.

Methods of preparation for winter

There are many popular and delicious methods for storing peaches for the winter and preparing delicious meals with them. These include: drying and bleaching, making jams, compotes, preparing syrup and making fruit purées.

When canned, all fruits can be stored in a cool, dark place for several months.

Common Mistakes

Many people do not know that if fruits are not stored correctly, they make the wrong decisions that accelerate the spoilage process and contribute to a decrease in their taste and nutritional qualities.

Errors:

• poor pretreatment, which leads to the growth of bacteria;
• the contents of all fruits in a refrigerator - the structure, appearance and taste of fruits are disturbed;
• buy ripe peaches (unripe fruits spoil less and ripen in 2-3 days);
• storage of fruits of various types in a container;
• fold fruit into plastic bags.

Tips & Tricks

In order to be able to eat fresh fruit not only in autumn, but also in winter, you need to take care of it in advance. When deciding whether to lay fruits for long-term storage, it is important to learn how to determine the ripeness of peaches and sort them in time into unripe and already ripe ones, which need to be eaten faster .