How and how many pumpkins can be kept at home, rules and conditions

Many people wonder how the pumpkin can be stored. This is done in an apartment or cellar. To achieve good results, it is worth strictly observing the basic conditions - temperature and humidity parameters. Preparing the pumpkin for storage is also important. For the product to resist all winter, it is important to choose the right method. It is allowed to keep it fresh or dried. Pumpkin is also actively used for making various blanks.

Features of pumpkin storage

To prevent fruit from spoiling, it is worth following a few tips:

1. Before storing the pumpkin in a basement or apartment, dry it in the sun for 1-2 days.
2. Examine each fruit carefully. In the presence of defects or damaged areas, long-term storage should be abandoned.Such a product will quickly deteriorate.
3. It is not recommended to keep a vegetable without stems. The product is recommended to be cooked and eaten immediately.
4. Temperature parameters should be low - no more than +18 degrees. The optimal indicator is + 8-10 degrees.
5. Humidity is also important. The optimal setting is 80%.
6. Choose a dark place for storage. The product should not be exposed to the sun.
7. It is important that the fruits do not touch each other. This causes putrefactive processes. If there is not enough space, it is worth putting paper between them.
8. The room needs systematic ventilation. If the air stagnates, the fruits can rot.

Varieties suitable for long-term storage in winter

In order for the pumpkin to be stored all winter, it is necessary to choose the right variety of this culture.

Almond

The weight of this fruit can vary. It varies from 3.5 to 20 kilograms. It is valued for its pleasant taste and aroma.

Mammoth

This culture reaches 13-16 kilograms. In addition, this variety is considered not too sweet. Its main advantage is its long storage life.

hundred pounds

Basically, the fruits reach 8-12 kilograms. England is considered the homeland of the variety, but pumpkin has been grown in Russia for more than 140 years. The name is associated with the particularly large size of some fruits, the weight of which reaches 50-70 kilograms.

Biryuchekutskaya 735

This pumpkin is popular. People often call her "Spanish". The amount of sugar in fruits is 6-8%, but during storage this figure increases to 12-14%. This is due to the breakdown of polysaccharides into monosaccharides. The average weight is 10-25 kilograms.

Mozoleevskaya

This pumpkin has yellow skin and green stripes. This variety belongs to the early middle.In addition, it is characterized by excellent keeping quality and excellent productivity. The fruit has a dense orange pulp with an excellent taste.

Gribovskaya winter

In appearance, pumpkin differs from early ripening varieties in a spherical shape. The plant belongs to the category of late varieties.

white honey

This variety is characterized by small fruits weighing 1.5-2 kilograms. Inside is an orange-pink pulp, which is distinguished by a sweet taste.

Muscat

This is a late variety, the fruits of which reach 4.7-6.5 kilograms. They are distinguished by their orange-cream color. Inside there is a dense juicy pulp.

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Chalmoid

The pumpkin looks like a turban. The shade of the skin can be different - blue-green or almost black. The fruit is characterized by an aroma of honey. They weigh 6-8 kilograms.

Dalmoid reception

This pumpkin is characterized by small fruits. When storing different types of fruit, semi-diamonds should be used first.

How to store at home

To be successful in storing pumpkin, certain guidelines should be followed.

How to prepare well

Fruits intended for long-term storage are harvested in dry, warm weather. In this case, it is worth monitoring the safety of the stalk during harvesting and transportation. The area below is considered very vulnerable.

Dry the vegetable before storing it. Thanks to this, it will be possible to increase the duration of its use.

Storage conditions

In order for the pumpkin to withstand winter normally, you need to choose the right place for it. It should be dry and dark. The temperature regime is not negligible. Suitable parameters are + 5-10 degrees.

It should also be borne in mind that high humidity reduces the duration by 2-3 months.

Room selection

In order for the fruits to survive the winter normally, you need to pay attention to the choice of place. There are several options.

Basement or cellar

It is better to store the vegetable in the basement. In this case, it is recommended to respect the following rules:

• put the fruits on the shelves as far as possible from each other;
• they must be located with the stem upwards;
• it is allowed to put the fruits in nets and hang them from the ceiling.

Apartment

Many city dwellers do not have access to the basement. Therefore, it is worth considering the available methods of storing pumpkin in an apartment.

Whole uncut

A whole pumpkin can be stored in a cool, dark place. It is best to arrange vegetables in the pantry. It is also allowed to keep it on a glazed balcony. In this case, it is worth focusing on the following features:

1. Lighting. It is advisable to put the fruits in a dark room and protect them from the sun. A pantry is best suited for such conditions. On the balcony, it is worth providing additional protection from light - for example, covering vegetables with newspapers.
2. Temperature conditions. To preserve the freshness of the vegetable, the regime should be maintained at + 8-10 degrees. It should be borne in mind that the temperature in the pantry is usually higher. This means that the pumpkin will spoil faster.
3. Humidity. This figure should be 70-80%. On the balcony during the rains it is not difficult to maintain such a level. It is worth putting a humidifier in the pantry and ensuring air circulation.

Cut

There may not be enough space in the apartment to store an entire pumpkin. In such a situation, it is worth using the cut fruit. You can store it in the fridge or do the following:

• treat the slices with vegetable oil - this will help prevent them from wilting;
• systematically check the pumpkin, removing dry or rotten fragments;
• placing foil over cuts will help stop wilting.

In the freezer

Quite often, fruits are put in the freezer. There are several variations of this method.

Raw

To store it, you must do the following:

• to clean the fruit from seeds;
• cut and put in a bag;
• put in the freezer.

Bleached

To prepare a vegetable in this way, you need to follow these steps:

• put the pumpkin in a colander;
• put in boiling water for 3 minutes;
• then immediately immerse in cold water for the same time;
• cool and dry.

frayed

Grated pumpkin takes up less space in the freezer. To do this, it is recommended to chop and grate it on a coarse grater. It is allowed to use plastic cups, containers or ice containers as containers.

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Cooked

In this case, the whole pumpkin must be peeled inside and cut into large slices. Place them on a baking sheet, skin side down. Place in preheated oven at 200 degrees for 1 hour. It is allowed to keep the finished vegetable in pieces or in the form of mashed potatoes.

blanks

Even when the storage conditions are right, the pumpkin can lose its usefulness and taste. The blanks will help add variety to the menu.

Stripping

For this recipe, fruits with dense pulp are suitable.To do this, you need to follow these steps:

1. Cut into small cubes.
2. Blanch for 3 minutes and cool.
3. Place in glass jars.
4. Make a marinade by mixing 1 large spoonful of sugar, 1 small spoonful of salt, a cinnamon stick, 5 cloves, 6 allspice seeds. Reduce the heat and simmer for another 5 minutes.
5. Add 125 ml of 9% vinegar to the mixture.
6. Pour the marinade over the pumpkin and roll up.

pumpkin puree

This product has a pleasant taste. At the same time, there is little sugar in its composition. Therefore, the preparation can be part of the diet. To do this, you must do the following:

• take 500 grams of pumpkin and the same amount of apricots;
• grind food with a blender;
• put 1.5 cups of sugar;
• cook over low heat for 2 hours;
• add 1 teaspoon of citric acid.

Candied fruit

This is a healthy and tasty product, for the manufacture of which it is worth doing the following:

1. Cut the pumpkin into small pieces.
2. Make sugar syrup. To do this, take 200 milliliters of water, 1.5 kilograms of sugar, a little citric acid and vanilla. Cook the mixture until it becomes thick.
3. Place the chopped pieces in the syrup and boil.
4. Cool the mixture and bring to a boil again. The procedure is repeated 3 times.
5. Put the candied fruits on a colander and dry.

It is allowed to store the finished dessert for a whole year. It is recommended to do this in a glass jar. It should be covered with parchment and tightly closed.

Dried

Thin slices of pumpkin are a great substitute for chips. To prepare this dish, you must do the following:

1. Cut the pumpkin into 5x5 cm cubes.
2. Cut each of the cubes into small slices up to 3 millimeters thick.
3. Soak in boiling water for 3 minutes and put on a tray.
4. Place in an electric dryer for 6 hours at a temperature of 55 degrees. After that, dry for another 2 hours at a temperature of 70 degrees.
5. In the absence of a dryer, it is allowed to use an oven. It is recommended to set the temperature at 40 degrees. This process will take 6 hours.

Pumpkin caviar with vegetables

This flan can be stored all winter. To prepare it, you need to follow these steps:

1. Take 1 kilogram of peeled pumpkin, 500 grams of carrots, 2 onions.
2. Boil the pumpkin, grate the carrots and chop the onion.
3. Lightly sauté the onions with the carrots and add the spices.
4. Mix vegetables and grind in a blender.

pumpkin seeds

To prepare the seeds, you need to do the following:

1. Peel them carefully from the pulp.
2. Spread on a baking sheet and set aside to dry. This should be done in a well-ventilated room.
3. Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven at 40 degrees.
4. Keep 2 hours. It is important to ensure that the seeds do not turn black or brown.

pumpkin powder

Pumpkin juice lovers always have plenty of pulp in the juicer. It can be used to make a useful product - pumpkin powder. Thereafter, it can be used for cooking. To craft a product, you need to do the following:

1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place the pulp on it.
2. Put in a preheated oven at 135 degrees.
3. Stir the mixture every 2 minutes and watch that it does not burn.
4. Grind the prepared product with a blender or coffee grinder.

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Lemon jam

To make healthy jam, you will need 1 kilogram of pumpkin and sugar, 5-7 pieces of cloves, 2 lemons.

Peel the pumpkin and cut it into 1 cm cubes.Sprinkle with sugar and leave for several hours. Put on low heat and boil. Cook for half an hour. Remove the zest from the lemon, chop the pulp in a blender, add it to the jam and remove from the heat. Put in a jar.

How to store for decoration

The pumpkin is often used for decorative purposes. For this, it is worth preparing it correctly.

Drying

First of all, you need to dry high-quality fruits. Thanks to this, the pumpkin will be suitable for creativity.

In the oven

To do this, place a whole pumpkin in the oven and heat it to 60 degrees. This should be done gradually so that the fetus does not suffer from sudden temperature fluctuations. It takes 2-8 hours to dry the pumpkin. It is recommended to turn it over every 30 minutes.

Naturally

For this, it is recommended to put the vegetable in a dry, dark and cool place. Sometimes it is worth checking it to notice the processes of putrefaction. In this way, the fruit is dried for 3-4 months.

hair dryer

This is the most accessible, but rather laborious method. It is recommended for small fruits. A pumpkin with a diameter of less than 40 centimeters can be dried in 2-3 hours. In this case, it is worth using an average temperature.

In an electric dryer

If you have an electric dryer, you can use this device. To do this, it is recommended to set the mode to moderate and leave the lid ajar.

craft storage

Crafts are not as sensitive to temperature fluctuations as edible fruits. Therefore, it is allowed to store it at temperatures up to +30 degrees. In this case, it is undesirable to place the product in a room with a temperature below +10 degrees.The dried skin can crack, as a result of which the craft will lose its decorative properties.

It is not recommended to place the decor in rooms with high humidity. In addition, it is advisable to exclude contact with water. These factors will cause softening and rotting of the fetus. As a result, the craft may deform.

To minimize the influence of external factors, it is recommended to cover the product with paint or varnish.

Common Mistakes

Violation of storage conditions is considered the main reason for damage to high-quality ripe pumpkin. Too high or too low temperature and humidity settings will lead to premature damage to the fetus. If the premises are poorly prepared, then harmful insects may appear in it. This will cause damage to the fruit. Also, problems may be associated with errors during cleaning. If bruises or scratches appear on the skin, the shelf life will be significantly reduced. Improperly dried vegetables can rot quickly.

Storing near fruits and vegetables that produce ethylene gas is considered another mistake. For this reason, it is not recommended to store pumpkin near tomatoes, pears and apples.

Tips & Tricks

Following the storage recommendations for this product will allow you to achieve excellent results:

• it is forbidden to wash it before storing a vegetable;
• the remains of the earth are carefully removed with a brush;
• so that the fruits keep longer, when cutting it is worth leaving 3-4 centimeters of stem;
• storage temperature should be + 5-15 degrees;
• the room must be systematically ventilated;
• vegetables are recommended to be placed 10-15 centimeters apart;
• Inspect fruit weekly.

There are many methods for storing pumpkin.This can be done in a basement or apartment using various devices. An excellent option would be to prepare blanks from the product. A variety of methods help you choose the most suitable option.