How to store cauliflower properly

Cauliflower contains a number of vitamins and minerals that humans need. But under normal room conditions, the vegetable does not retain its composition for long - only a few days. To extend the shelf life to 2-4 weeks or even a year, you need to select the correct temperature and packaging for the cauliflower.

How to properly store cauliflower in the refrigerator

There are several ways to store cauliflower at home. The most affordable option is a refrigerator. But if you create the wrong storage conditions, the vegetable can darken and lose most of its beneficial properties.

To prevent this from happening, you should first of all pay attention to the cabbage itself. It should be fresh, dry, firm, immature, weighing 0.5-1.2 kg. If the head of cabbage has a yellowish tint, it will not last long even if the basic rules are followed.

How much can you store

The quality of a product depends not only on the degree of ripeness and freshness, but also on the storage conditions. In the refrigerator, the vegetable will not lose its beneficial properties and its original appearance. If you put the cabbage heads on the shelf without packaging, they will stay there for no more than two weeks.

It is not recommended to defrost the refrigerator or transfer the vegetable from place to place. Temperature drops long-term storage often lead to darkening of heads and the appearance of bitterness. They lose their natural taste, appearance and benefits, and become unsuitable for human consumption.

Important. Cauliflower loves moisture. For a weekly storage (for a short period), just wrap it in a damp towel and leave it in a cool place. Then the vegetable will remain fresh, crispy and healthy.

A proper dry cauliflower wrap will extend the shelf life from three weeks to a month. But first you need to choose the most suitable packaging.

What is better to wrap

There are several optimal ways packaging of cauliflower for storage in the refrigerator:

• cling film;
• plastic bag;
• bank.

In the first and second cases, you need to pack each head of cabbage separately. When they do not touch and "live" independently, a kind of microclimate is formed inside the bag or film, thanks to which the cauliflower is stored for a long time.

Previously, the product must go through several stages of processing:

1. It is necessary to separate the dense stumps from the inflorescences.
2. Remove stems and dead leaves from heads of cabbage.
3. Remove seedlings.
4. Wash the heads of cabbage under running water.
5. Dry naturally.
6. Pack each inflorescence in a separate bag or plastic wrap.
7. Use a knitting needle in the package to pierce several small holes for ventilation.

Proper preparation and wrapping will keep the product in the refrigerator for at least three weeks.

Bank storage method requires special preparation. Cauliflower needs to be divided into several parts and rolled in a little salt... Put the inflorescences in a glass jar, cover with parchment and refrigerate.

Important. It is strongly not recommended to store the cabbage heads under the freezer, on a shelf at the back or in the upper compartment. It is in these places that the temperature in the refrigerator is the lowest and is not suitable for long-term storage of the product.

You can put cauliflower in the vegetable compartment, but there are a few important tips to follow as it only works with a few other foods.

Neighborhood with other products

Cauliflower is a finicky culture that does not tolerate outside presence. Some fruits and vegetables emit ethylene gas, which negatively affects the freshness of their neighbors in the compartment:

• apricots;
• melons;
• plums;
• tomatoes;
• mango;
• bananas;
• pears.

Cauliflower will go bad next to these foods in a few days. If there is not much space in the refrigerator and you want to put the cabbages next to other vegetables, it is better to choose broccoli, carrots, pumpkin.

If you can store the cauliflower separately, you do not need to add any vegetables. This will keep the product fresh for a longer period.

Despite following all the recommendations, dark spots and mold may appear on the head. Further storage is strictly contraindicated - it will have to be thrown away.

Storing cauliflower in the freezer

Cauliflower is a source of nutrients that humans need all year round. Since the vegetable grows only in summer, it is advisable to freeze the cabbage heads for the autumn-winter period.

But first, you need to prepare the cauliflower for storage, avoiding common problems.

Can I store in the freezer

Cauliflower requires special preparation for storage as in the refrigerator and in the freezer.

Important. First of all, you need to choose the heads of cabbage suitable for freezing. The inflorescences should be firm, milky white, without yellowness. Young leaves and shoots do not need to be removed.

If you see blackheads, lethargy or softness when examining the inflorescences and stems, this could indicate mold and mildew. Such heads of cabbage should not be frozen and left in the refrigerator for a long time. It is recommended to cut off the affected areas.

How much is stored

Freezing significantly prolongs the shelf life of the cabbage. Heads of cabbage can lie in the chamber from two months to one year, provided that the temperature in the compartment is always at the same level:

• at -12 ° C, cabbage is stored for up to two months;
• at -18 ° С - before the summer harvest.

The lower the temperature in the freezer, the longer the inflorescences lie, but from -17 to -20 ° C is considered optimal.

Important. If, for some reason, the heads of cabbage have been thawed, they cannot be re-heated. Re-storage in the freezer will lead to a change in color and aroma of the vegetable, loss of taste and benefit, and the appearance of bitterness. In some cases, such a product becomes hazardous to the health of children and adults.

How to freeze correctly

There are several popular ways to freeze cauliflower:

• fresh;
• in boiled;
• with broccoli.

Each of these methods requires some preparation, so before freezing, you should familiarize yourself with all the methods and choose the most suitable one for yourself.

To store raw cauliflower you will need:

1. Cut off the leaves and young seedlings, break the head of cabbage into inflorescences and place in a cup of cold salt water for 5-7 minutes.
2. Lay dry cotton napkins or clean towels on the table and lay the cabbage pieces on them.
3. When the fabric absorbs moisture, place the inflorescences in a container prepared in advance.

You can put cauliflower in plastic bags specially designed for freezing. Ordinary ones break quickly at low temperatures, and vegetables are scattered throughout the chamber.

To prevent such problems, it is best to keep the cabbage in plastic containers with an airtight lid. Then getting a few inflorescences for cooking is not difficult.

To store boiled cauliflower you need:

1. Rinse the heads of cabbage under running water, remove the leaves and chop coarsely.
2. For blanching, prepare two pans: with boiling water and cold water.
3. Simmer the cauliflower for three minutes over low heat. Then put it in cold water, immediately take it out and put it on napkins.
4. When the cabbage dries up, put it in bags or containers, and then send it to the freezer for long-term storage.

The heads of cabbage should not soften in boiling water, they remain elastic and firm, having passed only the first stage of cooking.

It is not necessary to cut the cabbage into pieces. In this case, the head of cabbage must be cooked immediately after defrosting. At the stage of preparation, no additional operations are required - the technology is the same as when dividing the inflorescences.

Cauliflower is combined with broccoli not only in taste, but also in storage method:

1. Wash vegetables, remove leaves and stems, divide into inflorescences.
2. Dip in boiling water for ten minutes, then remove from the water and dry thoroughly.
3. Place all cabbage in containers and freeze.

If desired, you can add green peas or bell peppers to the vegetables. They go well together in a stew or soup.

Conclusion

It is quite possible to preserve cauliflower for a long time if you adhere to the above rules. Our methods and advice will help you prepare healthy and tasty meals at any time of the year and support the body with vitamins and microelements.