Since the autumn we try to stock up on vitamins for a long winter period, so we pre-purchase fruits and berries beforehand and then keep them for several months in the refrigerator or in the freezer. However, in order to preserve the useful qualities and flavor properties of these products, they must be stored correctly.
Apples
The apples placed side by side are spoiled faster. A much better way is to put them at a certain distance from each other;you can wrap each in waxed paper. Another option - to pour the apples with sawdust or dry sand. Do not use sawdust from trees that release resin for this purpose. To prevent damage, you should place apples with petioles upwards.
You can buy apples slightly immature. These fruits secrete a substance that promotes faster ripening, therefore, during the storage period, the required degree of maturity will be achieved.
To cut or peeled apples retained their fresh appearance and did not darken, they should be put in cold salted water.
To make apples fresh, beautiful and strong, wipe them with a cloth moistened with a small amount of glycerin. If the apples are wrinkled, place them for several hours in cold water.
You can put the fruit in a plastic bag and put it in a fridge in a knotted state. Do not wash or wipe them, as apples have a special wax coating, which protects the fruit from spoilage. When it is removed, apples are stored for a shorter period.
Remember - apples perfectly absorb odors, so do not store them in close proximity to products that have a pronounced smell: onion, garlic and the like.
Citrus
Lemons are well preserved in a jar with cold water, which should be changed daily. After filling the lemons with dry sand, make sure that they do not come in contact with each other. You can use parchment paper for storage. Lemons can also be placed in flour or in a dry jar with salt poured onto the bottom.
You can also grease lemons and oranges with vegetable oil, put in a tightly closed jar or cellophane bag and store in a cool place.
The cut lemon is stored longer if it is placed in a saucer on a saucer, drenched in vinegar.
Lemon and orange peel, grated, will not lose its flavor when stored in a refrigerator in a glass jar. Before storing zest for storage, you need to pour it on sugar.
Berries
Dense berries are stored in a bowl covered with a napkin. Gentle types of berries are preferably stored in the refrigerator, scattering them in one layer on a flat surface.
For longer storage, the berries should be frozen. In the case of delicate berries on a baking sheet, paper is laid, lay berries on it evenly. Washing them is not recommended. After the berries are frozen, you can pour them into a special container. Dense berries such as cherry, cherry, wash, remove cuttings, allow to dry, poured into a plastic bag and it is frozen. Fresh cherries, cherries and blackberries are stored in the fridge for 1-2 days, blueberries and blueberries - up to 7 days, cranberries and cranberries - up to 1 month. The frozen berries are stored for 8-12 months.
Cowberry well preserved, if it, washed, put in jars and pour boiled cold water. The bank should be put in a dark cold place. After 3 days, water should be changed.
Cranberries can also be poured cold water and put on the balcony until frost. After the onset of frost, you need to drain the water and put the frozen berries in the basket.
Rosehip is stored in a glass jar, using a knotted cheesecloth instead of a lid. A bank with rose hips should be stored in a dark place( to preserve vitamin C in berries).
General Tips for Fruit Storage
The ability of apples to ripen can be used to accelerate the ripening of other unripe fruit( plums, pears).To do this, put the fruit with the apple in a dry dark place, for example, in a paper bag with several holes made, and store them at room temperature.
Mature bananas are stored longer if they are not kept in a bunch, but separately. Like apples, it is better to buy bananas for long-term storage a little immature.
It is not recommended to put berries, peaches, melons, pears in cellophane packages, placing them in the refrigerator, as they are damaged by high humidity;in such conditions, the fruit spoils faster.
Dried berries and dried fruits should be stored in boxes of plywood or cardboard in a dry place. Boxes are lined with waxed paper. You can also put them in tissue or heavy paper bags. Dried fruits last longer at zero temperature.
Dried berries and dried fruits should not be stored together with products that have a pronounced smell, since they can absorb it.
Fruits with a thin skin is better not put on light, as under the influence of ultraviolet they will deteriorate faster. If you want to put a vase of fruit on the table, give preference to citrus with a dense skin.
After taking care of the safety of fruits, you can get vitamins necessary for the body all year round.