Good afternoon, my reader. Lovers of berries and fruits often have to solve the problem of increasing their shelf life. In this matter, of course, the refrigerator helps out. Although there will be little hope for it, if you neglect the most elementary rules for storing fruits. For example, one should not forget that if they are damaged (cut, bits, have a cracked skin), then they cannot be stored together with the whole. The fact is that damaged fruits intensively emit ethylene gas, which accelerates the process of spoilage and whole. However, some of them by themselves contain it in excess. These are apples, pears, bananas, peaches and a number of other fruits. If they are stored next to others, then it is better to isolate them from each other - for example, by placing them in separate packages.
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Storing fruits and berries in the refrigerator
The refrigerator is the optimal storage place for most of them. It can ensure the safety of fruits from a day to a week, or even more, if certain rules are followed. The main one is that all of them, without exception, must be rid of unnecessary moisture. Otherwise, mold will appear. If the fruit has been washed, dry it before placing it in the refrigerator. In the case of packaging in plastic bags, many holes must be made in the latter so that condensation does not collect on their inner surface.
How to store apples
Many varieties are well stored under normal conditions - in a dry and not very hot place in the apartment (away from the stove and direct sunlight). Kitchen shelves and a balcony will do. The storage time can be increased if each apple is wrapped in oiled parchment and then stacked in layers in a box of sawdust. Summer varieties can be stored this way for up to one and a half weeks, autumn varieties - 2-4 months, while winter varieties can be stored for up to six months or longer. It should be borne in mind that small apples are worse than large ones.
If the apples are overripe or need to be determined for a long shelf life, then it is better to place them in the refrigerator - away from the freezers.
Pears
The rules for storing them are not much different from apples. It should be dry and cool out of direct sunlight. To keep them longer, it is better to cut them off a little unripe from the tree.
If kept in a box, wrapping each fruit in parchment, then it must be borne in mind that the part near the stalk especially delicate and easily wrinkled even under slight pressure, therefore pears should be laid with stalks up.
Pears are stored in the refrigerator worse than apples. Only overripe, soft fruits should be sent to it.
Plum
They last similarly to apples and pears, although not for as long. If you select slightly unripe fruits, then under normal storage conditions they will not lose their qualities within a few days. Of course, they will stay in the refrigerator longer. Ripe (unwashed and dry) plums can remain in it for up to 10 days without quality loss.
The refrigerator is the best storage place for most other fruits and berries. In this case, the main thing before placing them in it is not to wash them and place them away from the freezer. Also (if available) it is undesirable to cut off the stalks - with them the berries will last longer. The shelf life of some berries can be increased by first washing them with an vinegar composition prepared in a 1 to 3 ratio with water.
Apricots and peachessince they wrinkle easily, it is not recommended to store them in a crowded state. It is better to take a container with separate cells under them or put it in a box in one layer. If these recommendations are followed in the refrigerator, they can be stored for up to a month.
Under grapes the warmest place is selected in the refrigerator. Moreover, it is desirable to pack it in plastic or paper bags with holes.
And here tropical fruits such as bananas, pineapples, kiwi in the refrigerator are not stored for a long time, as they quickly become damp and lose their properties. It is better to keep them in a cool place with a temperature of 8-13 degrees.
Do you know the basic rules for storing fresh fruits and berries?
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