Shelf life of carrots in the refrigerator and how to do it correctly
In private houses, the harvest of fresh carrots is stored in the cellar or basement, in apartments - on the balcony or pantry. For the winter it is dried, frozen and canned. A small amount of root vegetables can simply be placed in the refrigerator.
Let's figure out how to store carrots in the refrigerator at home so that they do not sprout, rot, wilt, remain juicy and do not lose their taste.
Can carrots be stored in the refrigerator?
Carrots can be stored in the refrigerator and used as needed.
For storage in the refrigerator, it is better to use late varieties, which practically do not get sick and do not shoot out an arrow, for example: Queen of Autumn, Sweet Winter, Moscow Winter, Flakoro, Dolyanka, Red Giant, Emperor, Samson, Typhoon, Chance.
It is not recommended to store early ripening varieties, which do not tolerate cooling well, for example, Karotel Parisian, Amsterdam.
Varieties with shortened fruits are stored worse.
Root vegetables in the refrigerator stored in vegetable compartments, on shelves for prepared foods and in the freezer. The choice of location depends on the form in which the root crop is planned to be preserved.
Optimum temperature for storing carrots in the refrigerator:
- in the vegetable compartment – from 0 to +3°С;
- on shelves for finished products – from +2 to +6°С;
- in the freezer – from -8 to -20°C.
Before sending root crops for storage, they are prepared.
If the carrots were purchased with tops, then they are cut off, leaving a stump of 2-3 mm. Use a napkin to remove any remaining soil.
Vegetables are sorted. Whole specimens without signs of damage or deterioration are selected for storage. Dry thoroughly to avoid premature spoilage of wet carrots.
Features of storage in the refrigerator so as not to dry out
Hso that the root vegetable does not wither in the refrigerator, it should be protected from access to warm air and moisture - for example, airtight packaging will help. But even in it, the root crop can soften, germinate and wither if the optimal humidity regime is not maintained. For carrots it is 65-70%.
Temperature is also important during storage.. Typically, the temperature in the vegetable compartment is maintained from 0 to +3°C, which is optimal for storing carrots.
When properly stored in the refrigerator, fresh root vegetables can retain their beneficial and flavorful properties for several months.
For longer storage he is frozen.
Freezing in the freezer
Medium-sized carrots are selected for freezing for the winter.
Reference. Small carrots lose their taste when frozen.
Selected root vegetables are thoroughly washed under running water, the top layer is peeled off and the ends are cut off. Then dry.
For freezing raw carrots use plastic containers, plastic bags, ice or baking trays.
Freezing sliced
Prepared root vegetables are cut into circles, thin strips or cubes. The cutting method depends on the dish to which you plan to add the preparation. The chopped vegetable is placed in bags or containers in single portions and stored in the freezer for long-term storage.
For ease of storage and tracking the expiration date, the containers are marked with the name of the product and the date of freezing.
To prevent the pieces from sticking together into one lump, they are frozen in two steps.. To do this, lay out the chopped carrots on a cutting board or tray and place them in the freezer for 1-2 hours. Then they take it out and portion it out into bags or containers. Containers with the finished product are labeled and placed in the freezer for long-term storage.
Freezing grated
Prepared root vegetables are grated. Place in portions in bags or containers, put in the freezer.
Or pour into baking tins, put in the freezer. After the carrots are frozen, they are put into bags and put in the freezer.
Freezing puree
Boil washed and peeled carrots for 20-30 minutes without salt.. Grind with a blender. The resulting puree is placed in ice trays and placed in the freezer. After freezing, the cubes are placed in a container and placed in the freezer for long-term storage.
About other ways to preserve carrots:
Time-tested, delicious recipes for carrots for the winter in jars
Delicious carrot salads for the winter: recipes with photos
Let's make delicious and healthy carrot and lemon jam for the winter
In the vegetable compartment
A constant temperature is maintained in the vegetable compartment, which prevents rotting and spoilage of root vegetables.
Before storage, washed and unwashed carrots are thoroughly dried.. Packed in containers, bags or cling film, which protect the vegetable from excess moisture and retain its juices.
Advice. Before storing carrots in the vegetable drawer, keep them open on the ready-to-eat shelf in your refrigerator.This way it will dry completely.
Storage in bags
To preserve unwashed root vegetables, use plastic bags. It is recommended to place each carrot in a separate bag, since small rotting may not be noticed under a layer of dirt. If all the vegetables are stored in one bag, then rotting from the diseased specimen will spread to the healthy ones.
Carrot cleaned of adhering soil, dried and placed in bags. The air is released from the bags, tied tightly and sent to the refrigerator, in the vegetable drawer.
Unwashed in polyethylene
To prevent unwashed carrots from wilting, packed in cling film.
Root vegetables are cleaned of adhering dirt. Then dry. Each specimen is wrapped in cling film and placed in a vegetable drawer in the refrigerator.
Unwashed in paper
It is advisable to use white paper for packaging, without paint, so that the root crop does not absorb foreign odors.
Unwashed carrots are wrapped in paper, 5-6 pieces each, and stored in a vegetable drawer.
Paper can absorb moisture. Therefore, it is important to periodically check its condition. Wet paper should be replaced with new one.
Advice. Do not use newspapers to pack carrots, as printing ink may contain substances harmful to the body: lead, cadmium and others.
How to store washed carrots
Whether or not to wash carrots before storing them in the refrigerator is a controversial issue. This method has its pros and cons. The washed one shows damage and rot.. This allows you to divide carrots into those suitable for long-term storage and damaged ones, which must be eaten first. Water washes away not only dirt, but also harmful microorganisms that affect the spoilage of vegetables.
But if the harvest is large, then this process takes a lot of time.Carrots are washed and each one is thoroughly dried to avoid premature spoilage.
Store clean carrots in plastic or containers in the vegetable compartment. The shelf life of washed vegetables is shorter than that of unwashed vegetables.
Storing washed in a container
Instead of plastic bags, containers are used to store carrots: regular and vacuum.
Washed Dry the carrots thoroughly with paper towels. Place in clean containers and put in the refrigerator.
It is recommended to cool the container in the refrigerator before storing the vegetable.so that there is no sudden temperature change.
Read also:
In cling film
To prevent the carrots from becoming flabby, wrapped in cling film (each root vegetable separately) and put in the refrigerator.
During storage, cling film very tightly envelops the root crop and blocks the flow of air. Carrots wrapped in plastic release less ethylene, a substance that stimulates over-ripening.
In a damp towel
If you have not only washed, but also peeled the root vegetable, place it in a container of water and put it in the refrigerator. Carrots in water retain their beneficial properties for up to 5 days.
A damp towel can have the same effect if you wrap vegetables in it.
Boiled
Boiled carrots are a finished product. Her stored on the shelf for prepared foods, in a container.
Long-term storage causes it to become flabby and slimy. You can't eat it anymore.
I'm grating
To prevent grated carrots from quickly weathering and losing their beneficial properties, for storing them use containers or glass jars with lids. Store in the prepared food compartment.
Shelf life of carrots in the refrigerator
Shelf life of root vegetables in the refrigerator depends on the method and location of storage.
The frozen product is stored in the freezer at a temperature of -8...-20°C for up to a year.
Washed and cleaned
Washed and peeled carrots stored in the compartment for finished products at a temperature of +2 to +6°C. In a container with water it retains its freshness for up to 5 days. If you change the water periodically, the shelf life will extend for another 2-3 days.
If the root vegetable is wrapped in cling film and placed in the vegetable compartment, its shelf life can last up to a month.
Unrefined
Unwashed carrots are stored in the vegetable compartment at a temperature from 0 to +3°C for 1-2 months. Washed root vegetables can be stored for up to a month.
Tertoy
The grated root vegetable is stored in a container, in the compartment for finished products, shelf life – 10-12 days.
Boiled
How long can boiled carrots be stored in the refrigerator? The finished product can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days., then begins to deteriorate, becomes soft and covered with mucus. It cannot be eaten.
Useful tips
Some useful tips for storing and using carrots:
- For long-term storage, choose late varieties of carrots.
- Root vegetables must reach maturity for storage; unripe fruits quickly deteriorate.
- When storing carrots in the refrigerator, pay attention to the appearance of condensation inside the container. Its presence indicates the concentration of carbon dioxide. If condensation appears, remove the stored product, dry it and repack it.
- Do not store the root vegetable in direct contact with other vegetables and fruits. Avoid close proximity of carrots to apples. Apples produce ethylene, which can ruin the taste of carrots.
- Small, branched, ugly root vegetables do not store well, so it is better to eat them immediately rather than send them for long-term storage.
Conclusion
Carrots are stored in the refrigerator in small quantities. To ensure that it remains juicy and fresh for several months, certain conditions must be observed. Choose the right variety, select healthy specimens, maintain temperature and humidity. To extend the shelf life, the root crop is frozen.
Can grated carrots be stored for 10-12 days in the refrigerator? What nonsense! Who writes these articles?! Probably some little girl who has never seen a carrot :)