The best methods and rules for storing radish at home in the winter
How to keep black radish fresh is a common question for summer residents. The fact is that the rules for harvesting and storing the crop depend on what type of radish and where they are going to keep it. For example, the rules will be different depending on the chosen location - cellar, garage or balcony. In addition, to preserve the beneficial properties of radish even longer, you can pickle or ferment it.
Features of radish storage at home
Any type of radish differs in that it brings many benefits to the body. The vegetable is indicated for people with various diseases, as it is full of minerals and vitamins. If you store the root vegetable correctly, you can benefit from it and at the same time increase the immune functions of the body not only at the beginning of winter, but also late. Even in the spring, when a vitamin deficiency is observed.
Storage characteristics differ depending on the chosen technique. For example, you can use barrels and buckets if you keep harvested root vegetables in the basement of a country house. But for the balcony of a residential apartment in a multi-storey building, this method is hardly suitable. To save space, the radish is stored in polyethylene bags, and they are closed very tightly.
It is very important to harvest correctly before direct storage. If the fruits are harvested early, even for several days, then, most likely, over time they will become soft, they will go with rot spots. The harvest, which is harvested later than the term, will not impress with its taste characteristics, the pulp will be hard, unpleasant.
Small root crops are also not suitable for storage - they deteriorate faster and thus infect healthy root crops. If the view is distorted, it is also discarded.
The cut is made in such a way as not to damage the root of the vegetable. The roots are cut, but not completely removed. They choose only healthy, firm fruit with no signs of deformation and rotting, exposure to bacteria or insects.
Classification of varieties
There are several varieties of radishes. They differ not only in taste, but also in storage methods, temperatures to be observed.
Early
Early varieties ripen first. But, alas, at the time of storage, these fruits are already unusable. Therefore, summer residents do not store early ripening radishes. It is eaten immediately, you can keep it, close the salad.
Mid-season
Mid-season varieties are distinguished by high storage rates, so some of them are chosen for storage in the cold season. The most popular varieties:
- Healer;
- Sultan;
- Margelanskaya.
Late maturity
Among the late-ripening varieties of radishes, they are distinguished by the best taste characteristics - Red Giant and Gaivoronskaya.
Main varieties
The method and shelf life depend on the variety.
daikon
Daikon is a white radish. This variety is considered the most popular due to undemanding care and excellent taste characteristics. Only one hundred grams of the product contains the daily intake of vitamin C. Therefore, it can be replenished without difficulty with the help of 'a vegetable.
Black
Black radish is called monastery. It is also quite good in taste, aroma and has a long shelf life.
Green
Green radish has a pleasant taste, but its pulp, unlike daikon and black, is softer and juicier.
Chinese
Chinese radish can be very different in color. You can grow lilac, red, pink or green in your own garden and there will be no difficulties. Chinese is distinguished by a pleasant structure, density and great juiciness.
General Harvesting Rules
For storage at home, late ripening fruits are chosen. It is they who are maximally saturated with useful substances, they become very large. But there is no need to try to over-ripen the radish.
Such vegetables will not be tasty, they are very hard and not even suitable for preparing a grated salad.
It is worth paying attention to the weather conditions. Summer residents recommend digging up the radish before the onset of the first frost.The impact of low temperatures is detrimental to the fruits, so it is necessary to look at the weather forecast. As soon as frost is expected, you need to dig up the radish.
There are other rules for harvesting. You will need:
- remove damaged berries;
- cut the roots, but do not cut the tops too much;
- before direct storage, cover the radish already extracted with a layer of soil and leave to rest for a day.
If the right weather conditions and humidity indicators are observed, the roots will be edible for 6 or even 7 months.
Optimal storage conditions
Long term storage conditions.
Temperature
Temperature indicators are the most important component in the instructions for the correct storage of radishes. Even if you exceed or reduce the required number by a few degrees, all the work will go down the drain - the vegetables will spoil.
The optimum temperature range depends on the storage method you choose. In particular, you must install:
- in the refrigerator 2 degrees;
in the freezer to -15 degrees; - on the balcony and in the basement of the house 0 degrees.
Humidity
The humidity should be average, but it is better to let it be less than more. From high rates, the fruits will instantly begin to deteriorate, traces of rot will appear on them. But an excessively dry room can lead to the fact that the radish stale and become very hard.
Lighting
The fruits are not kept in direct sunlight. It is better to choose a dark or darkened room.
Recommendations for choosing a location
It is very important to choose the right room in which the vegetable will be stored.Naturally, if summer residents stay in their country house for the winter, there will be no problems - they will keep everything in the cellar. But even in a private apartment you can choose the best option. For example, they manage to keep the radish fresh for up to 7 months in the garage, in the refrigerator or on the balcony.
Cellar
The best place to store radishes is in the basement of a country house. There, the humidity reaches 85 percent, the temperature is about 2 degrees in winter.
The fruits harvested from the garden are placed in small boxes made of strips of wood. From above, each layer is sprinkled with sand - it will last the longest. But it is allowed not to sprinkle, to use multi-level containers. There must be ventilation holes in the container. You can not store apples and pears near the radish - the products will oxidize. But combining it with potatoes and carrots is possible and even necessary - they keep insects away.
Garage
Garage storage is no different from basement storage. The container is used in the same way. It is important to observe the temperature indicators - do not exceed 3 degrees.
Apartment
The apartment has several storage options.
Balcony
A balcony is a solution for summer residents who prefer to spend the winter in their apartment. If the balcony is large, place the radish in wooden boxes, sprinkle it with sand with a layer of 2-3 centimeters. If the surface is minimal, it is better to wrap the roots in aluminum bags that do not allow air to pass through.
Fridge
In the refrigerator, the radish can lie on the bottom shelf even until early spring. It is packed in bags or bags so that it does not lose moisture.The temperature on the bottom shelf is optimal, no further action is required. But the problem is that other products are also stored in the refrigerator, so there will be little space.
Storage for the winter
You can also retain all the beneficial properties of radish by saving it for the winter. Many techniques for closing the tuber are also explained by the fact that not everyone prefers it fresh, in salads or soups.
Stripping
Pickling is the easiest method of covering radishes for the winter. The conservation algorithm is as follows:
- wash the vegetables well;
- cut them into small pieces (about 2 centimeters long and wide);
- sprinkle salt in a container (iodine is not used);
- leave 2 hours;
- if too much moisture appears, it is removed;
- make a marinade according to the recipe: per liter of water, 2 tbsp. I. sugar and salt, 100 grams of nine percent vinegar;
- pour root vegetables with brine;
- put a jar for sterilization for 15 minutes.
Close not hot - the radish should be allowed to cool slightly. Both iron and plastic lids will work.
Pickled vegetables
In order for pickled vegetables to delight the taste and saturate the body with useful winter vitamins, you need:
- select any radish you can small;
- wash it thoroughly, remove the skin;
- grate on a fine grater;
- add salt and fresh garlic to taste;
- spread out in small jars (pre-sterilization).
The finished composition is sent to a dark cool place, for example, to a refrigerator.
It will be possible to eat in 2 weeks - after this time the vegetable will ferment and become very tasty.
Vegetable salads
Vegetable salads are a real godsend for the hostess.Even in families where they don't like radishes, children and adults are happy to eat them. The fact is that the taste of the root vegetable will be interrupted by other vegetables. For this, they choose pepper, parsley, carrots, cabbage, celery. Pour everything with the classic marinade, but you can also add blackcurrant leaves, cherries, basil, rosemary and other favorite seasonings. Sterilization is mandatory - at least 20 minutes.
Common Mistakes
When storing radish, the following mistakes are often made:
- exceed temperature;
- constantly stir;
- forgetting to remove rotten specimens;
- allow freezing.
Additional tips and tricks
To store a vegetable:
- the later the vegetables are harvested, the more vitamins and minerals they will contain;
- if the disease has begun, sprinkle with ash or chalk;
- radish is also used for cosmetic purposes, for example, as a mask or lotion for washing.
Another easy way to preserve your radish is to squeeze it for the winter. It is sterilized for at least 20 minutes, rolled on the banks. After drinking only 100 grams of it, a person replenishes his daily intake of vitamin C.