Winter is considered a great month to store food items for longer. The low temperature of the environment helps fruits and vegetables stay fresh for several days when kept in favourable conditions. Everyone likes to store vegetables and fruits in their pantry for a long time due to several obvious reasons, such as convenience, emergency, cost-savings, and minimising waste. And winter is the perfect time to explore various methods of preserving fruits and vegetables.
This season is a very opportune time to try out different food preservation methods, such as canning and freezing. Preserving veggies is also a good option when you want to avoid going out much in the bustling market crowd and chilling weather.
Various seasonal food items can easily last for about a month after following these useful tips to store them properly. Here are the top 7 sustainable fruits and vegetables and their storage tips so you can enjoy them for a long time.
1) Pears
Pears are among the best seasonal fruits and can be stored easily in the fridge for more than a week until they start rotting. If the pears are slightly unripe, they can easily thrive for a long time. Pears can be stored for 7 to 10 days if you keep them in a plastic bag away from other vegetables, as some fruits and vegetables, like pears, apples, bananas, melons, and peaches, produce ethylene gas, which catalyses the ripening process of other vegetables.
Image Credit: Pexels
2) Apples
Apples are in the same category as pears. They thrive for as long as four weeks in the fridge at temperatures below 0°C or 32°F when stored the right way. To keep them fresh for a long time, place them in the basket in only a single layer and not on top of one another. Also, if you store apples with potatoes, it will keep both of them from ripening fast and rotting. Quite unusual, right?
3) Beetroot
Beets take up to 3-4 days in the fridge until they start rotting. To prolong their storage period, trim their stems to 2 inches above beet, store them in a plastic bag, and keep inside temperatures less than 41°F for 7 to 10 days. With that, they can stay frozen for 10 months!
Also Read: 7 Winter-Special Indian Vegan Dishes To Try
4) Pumpkin
Pumpkins are also a great vegetable to store in the fridge for more than a month. To preserve pumpkins well, wrap them in cling wrap and store them in a cool, dry place away from any warming or moisture conditions. If the pumpkin is cut in half, you must remove the seeds before wrapping it in cling wrap and storing it in the fridge.
Image Credit: Freepik
5) Carrots
Carrots are also among the winter seasonal vegetables and are good for preserving for a long time if stored in favourable conditions. They tend to give off moisture, which can rot them quickly. Therefore, before storing them in a container or plastic bag, wrap a paper towel around them so all the moisture can be absorbed. In this way, when they stay nice and dry, they can thrive for a few weeks to a month.
6) Garlic
Garlic bulbs last for 3-6 months if kept in moderately humid places. But during the winter season, to store garlic for a long time, place their whole heads in a vessel with good airflow and keep them in a cool, dry place. Keep in mind that once garlic becomes accustomed to a cold temperature, exposing it to an even slightly humid environment will make it sprout.
Image Credit: Freepik
7) Cabbage
Cabbage is one of the most-liked veggies during the winter because it can be stored well and last longer than in any other weather. Cabbage lasts for about 2 months, wrapped in a plastic bag. To keep it safe for longer, wrap a damp paper towel around the 2 inch long stem of cabbage, secure it with a rubber band, and keep it inside a perforated plastic bag before storing it in the fridge. This will keep cabbage green and fresh for more than 2 months.