Rules for storing turnips for the winter in an apartment or cellar, how to freeze a vegetable
Turnip is a healthy vegetable that is grown throughout Russia. Previously, turnip was the main dish from which almost everything was prepared. But over time, the popularity of this vegetable came to naught. And it's a shame, because the plant is rich in nutrients. Also, turnips can be stored for the winter.
When to harvest turnips?
Collecting root crops intended for storage for the winter should be one of the last. The most acceptable harvest dates are late September or late October. The plant has a long growing season, so the roots ripen for a long time. It takes at least three months for a vegetable to fully ripen.
Selection of suitable root crops for storage
Only ripe and healthy roots are suitable for winter storage. The skin should be free from signs of damage by insects or rodents. You can harvest any fruit for the winter. The main thing is that they are whole. If there are black spots or any other damage on the peel, then they are not suitable for storage for the winter.
Storage conditions for turnips
To preserve root crops all winter, you need to think about storage conditions in advance. Turnip does not absorb foreign odors, so it is allowed to store it with other vegetables. To extend the shelf life, you need to sprinkle the fruit with chalk.
It is advisable to store the crop in a cool room (refrigerator or cellar). It is undesirable to cut off all the tops. It is necessary to leave 2-3 cm. It is not recommended to wash them before harvesting fruits for the winter.
Turnip storage methods
There are many ways to preserve root crops for the winter. Each of them has its own characteristics. Vegetables are stored both fresh and cooked.
How to keep your turnips fresh?
Keeping a turnip fresh is a little more difficult than keeping it cooked. But it is quite possible to preserve the taste of the vegetable. To do this, you must observe the storage conditions for root crops.
In the cellar
The easiest way is to store a turnip in a cellar in winters. This does not require special tools. Before storing in the cellar, you need to put a wooden box and cover it with sand. Then put the root vegetables there and lightly sprinkle with sand.
These measures are enough to preserve the fruits. Carrots and beets are stored along with the turnip.
At home
It's not hard to store vegetables in a city apartment. Before storage, the tops of the fruits are cut and cleaned from the soil by hand. After that, the crop is put into a plastic bag. It is not recommended to tie the bag.Or, you need to make small holes in it so that water does not accumulate. If this is not done, then the fruits will be covered with mold.
But in such conditions, the crop is stored for no more than two weeks. In addition, you can store your crops in wooden boxes filled with sand and straw. It is important to keep the humidity in the room high. Otherwise, the turnip skins begin to dry out.
In a vegetable pit
An unusual way to store vegetables is in a vegetable pit. This method is considered as effective as storage in the basement.
To store vegetables in a pit you need:
- Dig a hole 800 deep? M.
- Put dry straw in a thick layer on the bottom of the pit.
- Lay out the vegetables so that they do not touch each other.
- Cover the roots with a thick layer of moist sand on top.
- After that, completely bury the hole with soil, cover with spruce branches or leaves from the garden.
- On each side of the pit, grooves are dug through which water will drain and not flood the vegetable pit.
This method, although not difficult, is not the most popular. It is easier to store vegetables in the cellar rather than deal with the construction. This method is suitable only for those who do not have a cellar, and there is little storage space in the house.
Harvesting and processing of root crops
It is not necessary to keep the turnips fresh. There are other ways to preserve a delicious vegetable for the winter. The fruits are canned, dried and frozen.
Drying
Another way to save vegetables for the winter is to dry them. You can dry in the sun, in an electric dryer or oven. The easiest way is to dry vegetables in an electric dryer. But if you don't have an electric dryer at hand, then an oven will do.
How to cook dried turnips in the oven:
- The turnips need to be washed, cut into circles.
- After that, put in boiling water for a few seconds.
- Throw in a colander and let all the water drain.
- Then the workpiece is transferred to a towel to dry the turnip.
- After that, the circles are laid out in one layer on the wire rack and placed in the oven.
- The oven temperatures are set at 70 degrees.
- The fruits are dried for ten hours, periodically checking them and, if necessary, shifting or turning them over.
The disadvantage of this method is its duration. To dry the fruit, you need to be at home all day and constantly monitor the oven.
Freezing
The easiest way to preserve your crop for the winter while keeping your roots fresh is to freeze them in the freezer. In urban home environments, this method is most preferable. The turnip is washed and cut into cubes. After that, the roots must be dried. The workpiece is laid out on a towel in one layer. You need to wait until all the water from the surface of the peel has evaporated. Then they are transferred to plastic bags. In this form, they are sent to the freezer.
You can store a frozen workpiece for a long time. But it is still recommended to use the fruit faster. If they lie for a long time, they will lose all taste and aroma.
Conservation
Some summer residents prefer to preserve vegetables for the winter. There are many recipes for canned turnips. It is canned alone or other vegetables are added. For example, you can pickle turnips with apples.
Ingredients:
- 2 kg of turnips.
- Several medium apples.
- 2 liters of water.
- 200 ml of apple cider vinegar.
- 1.5 tbsp. l. fine table salt.
- 200 ml of sugar.
- Spices to taste.
Wash the turnip and apples. Cut into cubes and place tightly in a jar. To prepare the marinade, you need to boil water, add salt, spices and sugar there. Stir to dissolve the crystals. When the water is cool and warm, add the vinegar. Vegetables are poured with cold brine. A load is placed on top so that the fruits do not float.
