Storage of pumpkin is not a troublesome thing, but in order for the product to retain all the useful components, it is necessary to know its basic subtleties. It is worth noting that not all varieties can lie for a long time. Large-fruited species are best preserved. Before you figure out how to store a pumpkin in an apartment, you need to find out when you need to harvest and how to properly prepare the product.
When to remove the pumpkin from the garden?
If conditions allow, it is better to leave the crop on the site for as long as possible. Collect pumpkin should be in dry and sunny weather. It is possible to tear it off only after it has reached the required ripeness: the lashes have dried up, the peduncle is firm and prickly, and the color is even and saturated.
If you have to harvest in cloudy weather, then the pumpkins should dry for fifteen days indoors. When the weather is sunny, you can take them outside. This is necessary so that rot does not appear.
If frost is expected, then at night it is necessary to cover the crop with a film or other material that can protect from the cold. It is not worth delaying the harvest, as the frozen vegetables will not lie for a long time. In the affected areas, it will begin to rot and deteriorate. Such a product may only be used for processing or for conservation.
When preparing the pumpkin for storage, you need to check that its surface is even and smooth, without cracks and damage. The peduncle should be handled very carefully so as not to break it. The more whole the pumpkin will be, the better it will be preserved.
How to choose a pumpkin?
One of the most healthy foods is pumpkin. Storage at home does not cause any difficulties, it is enough to know the basic nuances. It is generally accepted that the most delicious pumpkins are those that are round in shape and medium in size. A vegetable whose weight is in the range of 3-5 kilograms will be less fibrous and more sweet.
The pulp of a quality product is dense and elastic. The color should be bright and saturated. It is important that the pumpkin is well matched, otherwise it will be tasteless. You can determine the degree of its maturation by the tail: it should bend off the parent stem and be dry and dark.
How to prepare a vegetable?
Before storing a cut pumpkin, you need to properly process it. Rinse thoroughly first. This is best done under running water. After that you can cut the bottom and top with a sharp knife and cut the pumpkin in half. Seeds should be removed with a spoon. Regardless of whether the whole product will be stored or not, you need to peel it.
Cold storage
Winter pumpkin varieties are stored much better than summer varieties . But they should not be put in the refrigerator. The vegetable should be put in a dark and cool place where there is no high humidity so that fungi do not multiply. It can be a kitchen, pantry, basement or insulated balcony. In the refrigerator, the product lies for about three days.
If there are racks in the room, they need to be lined with straw. The pumpkin should be placed with the stalk up so that the vegetables do not touch each other.
Storage conditions for pumpkins should be as close as possible to room temperature, but temperature indicators can be reduced to 5 degrees. If the floor is cold, you should cover it with straw or hay. As the frosts increase, the layer can be increased. Vegetables should be inspected periodically. When the first symptoms of decay appear on them, the product should be placed on the edge.
Freezing
Thinking about how to store a pumpkin in an apartment, many housewives choose the simplest and most proven method - freezing. Previously, you can cut the product into pieces, slices or straws, and then pack it in a plastic wrap or put it in a sealed container. Damaged pieces should be put on the edge and used first.
The easiest answer to the question of how to store a cut pumpkin is to freeze it. But then after thawing, you need to cook it all, repeated freezing will lead to the loss of valuable components and a deterioration in taste.
Cellar storage
Many houses have cellars, so people prefer to leave vegetables for the winter there. But for the product to lie well, the cellar must be dry and sanitized. For convenience, you can equip it with racks. When thinking about how to properly store the pumpkin, you need to remember that vegetables should not touch each other, and the rack must be insulated.
Is it possible to store a pumpkin on the street?
In rural areas, people often put vegetables in a haystack. From above it is covered with a film so that moisture does not cause rot.
If the winter is consistently cold, you can store the pumpkin on the street under a canopy. In the frozen form, it will retain all the taste and useful properties. But in this case, you should be careful about the thaw, as the product will rot. This pumpkin is used to feed pets.
Storage in the apartment
When searching for the answer to the question: “How to store a pumpkin in an apartment?”, Do not forget about the loggias and pantries. Vegetables can be laid out directly on the floor, but not in close proximity to each other, otherwise rot will begin, which quickly damages all pumpkins. If the room is cold, you can cover them with warm material.
Pickling
Thinking about how to store a pumpkin in an apartment, many housewives as a result prefer salting. Fruits need to be preliminarily prepared: peeled and seeds removed. Small pieces must be placed in sterilized jars and pour cold water until completely covered. Top with plenty of salt. Cans should be tightly closed with a lid and stored in a dark place.