How much cut melon is stored in the refrigerator and how to keep it fresh longer

Melon is a delicious, aromatic and healthy treat. But her shelf life is short. Often the large fruit is cut but not eaten completely. The rest is placed in a refrigerator. A natural question arises - how long can melons stay in a cool place without losing their taste? In addition, many housewives want to serve slices of fragrant melon for the winter holidays. To do this, it is frozen in a special way.

You will find a detailed answer to the question of how long a cut melon is stored in the refrigerator in the article.

Can melon be kept in the refrigerator

Melon has a short shelf life and deteriorates quickly... The whole fruit without visible damage on the surface is stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. It is placed on the lower shelf for vegetables, where the temperature ranges from +3 to +5 ° C.

The fetus needs oxygenso that the premature process of decay and mold formation does not start. In addition, over time, the melon becomes soft and loses its taste and aroma.

Before choosing a fruit for storage, it is necessary to evaluate:

• the density of the pulp - the softer it is, the less the vegetable will be stored;
• a net on the surface of the fruit - it should have a moderate average color and occupy half of the entire area of ​​the melon;
• aroma - if pronounced, it means that the fruit has reached a stage of maturity suitable for storage;
• the nose of the fetus - elastic indicates that the fetus is not overripe;
• the integrity of the peel - no damage or dark spots.

It is advisable that the fruit was picked a week before full maturity.

How long is cut melon stored in the refrigerator

When you want to keep the cut melon wedges in the refrigerator, they are placed on a plate and covered with a loose cotton napkin or food paper. Open slices wind up, dry out and quickly lose their aroma and taste. Also, parts of the fetus should not be placed in an airtight container that prevents oxygen access.

Terms and conditions of storage

The cut melon is stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days.... Placed on the top shelf closer to the freezer and to the back wall where the temperature is lower.

Attention! When storing delicacies in the refrigerator for more than 2-3 days, ethylene is formed, which is harmful to the body, as it causes indigestion.

Differences in shelf life

The length of time a whole melon is kept in the refrigerator depends on the variety:

• early varieties - no more than 1 month without loss of taste and aroma, as well as presentation;
• mid-season - about 3-4 months, when used, it is necessary to monitor the change in the appearance of the pulp of the cut slices;
• late ripening - from 4 to 6 months, but it is not recommended to allow the fruit to lie in the refrigerator for six months.

Best stored winter melon varieties... The fruits are chosen a little unripe.

Common varieties: Walking, Orange, Wintering, Torpedo and Slavia.

How to store melon in the refrigerator

To preserve the fruit longer, you need to properly prepare it and comply with storage conditions.

How to prepare

Rinse the melon thoroughly with a brush and water with a diluted laundry soap, towel dry and wrap in parchment paper or cotton cloth.

Do not scrape off dirt with a knife or other sharp object... This can damage the peel and cause spoilage of the product.

How to store: temperature, humidity and container

To ensure long-term preservation of the pulp and not to lose the taste and aroma of the melon, you must adhere to certain conditions.

Fruit storage conditions:

• temperature is below +5 ° С;
• humidity 65-75%;
• cover the fruit slices with a cloth made of natural material;
• provide oxygen access using leaky packaging;
• the neighborhood with other vegetables is undesirable, since the fruit absorbs foreign odors.

Attention! If the fruit being prepared for storage does not have a stalk, then the recess in its place must be sealed with melted wax. Reception will prevent spoilage of the product, which will begin from this place.

How to increase shelf life

To keep the fruit longer, you need to extract all the seeds from the cut slices... Cover only with natural cloth or parchment. The fruit itself should not be overripe. This can be determined by the soft peel, which is heavily crumpled when pressed.

It is better to choose slightly unripe melons, which did not take 7-10 days to fully ripen.

Good to know:

How to choose a melon correctly: useful tips and life hacks

What to do if the melon is not ripe

Other storage options

Melon can also be saved with other ways... The cut fruit is placed in a freezer or dried. The whole is stored at room temperature.

In the freezer

This is the most effective way to preserve the cut fruit: all the beneficial properties, taste and light aroma of the melon remain in the slices.

Frozen delicacy stored for up to six months.

Preparation and freezing:

• rinse the fruit thoroughly, remove all dirt and pieces of earth adhering to the peel;
• dry with a kitchen towel;
• cut into oblong slices;
• remove the peel together with 0.5 cm of pulp near it;
• cut the remaining pulp into cubes;
• place on a tray and put in the freezer for 12 hours;
• place the frozen pieces in special bags intended for storage in the freezer.

Information... If the pulp is cut in various ways: in the form of balls (this is done with a special spoon with a round end), stars or other shapes carved with iron baking tins, they will decorate a variety of desserts.

At room temperature

In the apartment, at normal temperature, the melon is stored for no more than a week... The place should be darkened, without access to sunlight, so as not to provoke rapid damage to the fruit.

Suitable places: under a bed, closet or pantry. It is recommended to wrap the melon with cotton cloth or paper.

Dried

To preserve taste and aroma longer delicacies, the melon is dried in the oven.

Procedure:

• cut the pulp into 2 cm slices;
• spread out on a tray so that the pieces do not come into contact with each other;
• place in an oven preheated to 200-210 ° C and leave for 15 minutes;
• then reduce the temperature to 80-85 ° C and slightly open the oven lid;
• turn the slices every 30-40 minutes;
• after 6 hours, turn off the oven, remove the tray with pieces of melon;
• place for several days in a well-ventilated room for further drying.

Place the resulting dried slices in hermetically sealed glass jars or plastic containers. Store in a dark and cool place for about six months.

Outcome

It is possible to have a melon on the table all year round if you know how to properly preserve it. Freezing or drying will allow you to enjoy delicious pieces even after a few months. The harvested product is stored for about six months. Such a dessert for the winter holidays will be very useful.

The whole fruit is stored at room temperature for about a week, but without access to sunlight.The cut melon is placed in the refrigerator, covered with a cotton cloth or paper and stored for no more than 1-2 days.