How to store fresh cucumbers so they don't spoil as long as possible

Cucumbers rightfully occupy one of the leading places in popularity among vegetables. Freshness and useful substances make it possible to use them not only in salads and preparations, but also in cosmetology.

But summer passes quickly, and in winter they can only be enjoyed canned... Fresh vegetables are sold in stores in winter, but their price is higher than in summer, and the taste of greenhouse vegetables is inferior to those grown in season. This article will show you how to choose and keep fresh cucumbers at home for the winter. Where to keep this vegetable until spring so that it does not lose its beneficial qualities?

How to store fresh cucumbers properly

Before proceeding with the preservation procedure, it is necessary to select the correct fruits.

Attention! Greenhouse-grown cucumbers are not suitable for long-term storage. Choose ground fruits with dense skin.

Selecting and preparing vegetables

For those who are going to store vegetables grown in their own garden, it will not be difficult to select good fruits. But when buying cucumbers the market should be careful about their quality.

For long-term storage of fresh vegetables, you must choose freshly plucked fruits. Lying and withered are categorically not suitable. Choose medium-sized fruits, as small ones will spoil quickly and large ones will taste bitter.

Pay attention to the presence of spots and damage on the fruits - it is also better not to use such specimens.

Often, when buying cucumbers in the market, you may come across the fact that they have water droplets. This means that the vegetables were kept in water for some time to give them density. In no case should you purchase such fruits for long-term storage.

It is not recommended to wash vegetables before storing them, as they have natural protection against spoilage and decay, which disappears upon contact with water.

Attention! Storing moist cucumbers leads to spoilage, rotting and the development of mold.

Before storage, the fruits should be dried in a well-ventilated place, but not in the sun - there they will lose their natural moisture.

Storage conditions and periods

Keeping cucumbers fresh at home for 3-5 days will not be difficult, but this period can be increased to 3-5 months.

The basic rule for storing vegetables at home is keeping the temperature: it should not exceed 15 ° С and fall below 0 ° С. With such indicators, vegetables are stored in the refrigerator, basement, pantry, on the balcony.

Cucumber is a vegetable with a high water content, which tends to evaporate even at temperatures close to zero. By following our recommendations, you will save your cucumbers until spring without significantly losing their natural moisture.

Storage options

There are many proven long-term storage methods. Let's consider in detail some of them.

In a refrigerator

The easiest storage option is to put cucumbers in the refrigerator:

1. In the storage compartment for vegetables. No additional preparation is required to store cucumbers in this compartment. Fruits plucked from the garden or bought on the market, without rinsing with water, put in the refrigerator. In this state, they will remain for 3-5 days.
2. In a plastic bag. You can increase the shelf life to 1-2 weeks using a plastic bag.Fold dry vegetables in a bag, put wet cheesecloth on top and store in the refrigerator.
3. In an egg shell. Brush each fruit separately with egg white and leave to dry. Then put everything in glass jars or plastic containers and place in the refrigerator. Do not use metal containers for storage. Egg white forms a protective layer on the fruit that does not allow oxygen to pass through, thereby preventing cucumbers from rotting. With this method, you will save them for up to 2 months.
4. In water... Cucumber is 95% water, so it deteriorates if moisture is lost. In a non-metal container, fold the prepared cucumbers with their tails down and fill with cold water. Do not pour a lot of water, it must be changed every day. As moisture is lost, the cucumbers will replenish it with water at the bottom of the container. The shelf life of cucumbers in this form is 3-4 weeks.

In the apartment

You can also store vegetables at room temperature. With this storage method, the cucumbers remain fresh for 2-3 days. Place vegetables in a wooden box, cardboard box or plastic tray.

The air temperature in the room should not exceed 15 ° С, humidity - 90-95%. At temperatures below 10 ° C, vegetables will last up to 10 days.

In the cellar

The basement provides the longest storage time. In it, the air temperature does not drop below 0 ° C, so the vegetables do not freeze and lie until spring, retaining the maximum amount of nutrients. It is recommended to store the product in the basement in earthenware.

In sand

Place the prepared cucumbers in a bowl and cover with dry sand, cover with a lid and lower them into the basement. It is better to dry the sand for such purposes in the oven. After drying, be sure to let it cool. Cucumbers prepared in this way are stored for up to 7 months.

In a vacuum

Modern technologies allow you to easily keep vegetables fresh and crispy for up to 3 months in an airless space, that is, in a vacuum.

Soak the cucumbers for 6 hours in cold water to deprive them of air. Then put in a jar and close with a special lid with a pump. Such a device can be purchased in the kitchen appliances and household appliances departments. It is allowed to open the can and close it again, creating a vacuum to continue storage.

In paper

Another storage method is in the basement in paper. Wrap each fruit separately in paper or paper napkin and fold into an open container. In this state, the cucumbers will remain until the new year.

In the vapors of vinegar essence

This method requires a non-metallic pan. Pour vinegar essence into the bottom of the pot about one finger. Place the wire rack on top, put the cucumbers on it in several layers and cover with a lid. The freshness of the fruit will last due to the evaporation of the vinegar essence.

In the bank

You can save cucumbers in a jar without resorting to the preservation process. To do this, rinse the vegetables with boiling water and dry them. Put chopped horseradish on the bottom of a clean, dry jar and fill with cucumbers. Close the lid tightly and drain into the basement. Such cucumbers should be stored for no more than 2 months.

Important! Regardless of which storage method you choose, cucumbers should be inspected every 2-3 days. Defective copies must be removed.

Can fresh cucumbers be kept until winter?

Another way to store fresh cucumbers is to freeze them. Housewives do not use this method so often due to the fact that when defrosting, the product loses moisture and becomes sluggish and tasteless. However, for the further use of cucumbers in the preparation of okroshka, this storage method is suitable.

How to do it

To freeze cucumbers, rinse them thoroughly and dry with a towel. After that, cut into cubes and divide into portions sufficient to make one pot of okroshka. Place each portion in a bag and place it in the freezer for storage.

It is not recommended to defrost such a workpiece.Put one serving of frozen cucumbers in the finished okroshka and let it brew for 10-15 minutes. When the cucumbers are thawed, they will not lose their beneficial properties and taste.

It is recommended to store frozen cucumbers in the freezer for no more than 12 months.

How cucumbers should not be stored and why

The most dangerous "neighbor" for ripe cucumbers during storage is ethylene. It helps to accelerate the ripening of fruits and vegetables. However, cucumbers, after being plucked from the garden, are not able to ripen. Instead, they turn yellow, lose fluid, and become unusable.

All vegetables and fruits that contain ethylene are not recommended to be stored with cucumbers. Such products include apples, pears, bananas, tomatoes, melons.

When storing cucumbers in plastic bags, do not close them tightly or make holes, then the product will last longer thanks to the air entering the bags. Condensation accumulates in a tightly closed bag, which leads to rapid rotting of vegetables.

General tips and useful tips

Here are some more helpful, proven cucumber storage tips to help you prepare:

1. For long-term storage, choose fruits with dense green skin. Seed (overripe) and yellowed are unsuitable for long-term storage.
2. Do not try to preserve gherkins for a long time. They will quickly lose moisture and deteriorate, just like greenhouse cucumber varieties.
3. Do not buy fresh vegetables from a very cold display case for long-term storage. Temperature changes accelerate the process of their deterioration.
4. When storing vegetables, carefully monitor the temperature regime. At temperatures below zero, cucumbers soften, mucus appears on them.

Read also:

Where and how to store green tomatoes so they turn red as quickly as possible.

What to do if the melon is not ripe: storage rules for ripening fruits.

How to freeze corn on the cob at home.

Conclusion

All of the listed tips and tricks for storing fresh cucumbers have been tested by a large number of housewives from around the world. Choose the method that suits you best and enjoy the taste of fresh cucumbers all year round. With a little effort, in winter you can please yourself with a healthy and tasty part of summer.