Shelf life of carrots in the refrigerator and how to do it right

In private houses, the harvest of fresh carrots is stored in the cellar or basement, in apartments - on the balcony or pantry. For the winter it is dried, frozen and canned. A small amount of root vegetables can simply be placed in the refrigerator.

Let's figure out how to store carrots in the refrigerator at home so that they don't sprout, rot, wilt, remain juicy and don't lose their taste.

Can I keep carrots in the refrigerator?

Carrots can be stored in the refrigerator and used as needed.

For storage in the refrigerator, it is better to use late varieties., which practically do not get sick and do not release the arrow, for example: Queen of Autumn, Sweet Winter, Moscow Winter, Flakoro, Dolyanka, Red Giant, Emperor, Samson, Typhoon, Chance.

It is not recommended to store early maturing varietiesthat do not tolerate cooling well, for example, Carotel Paris, Amsterdam.

Varieties with shortened fruits are worse stored.

Root vegetable in the refrigerator stored in vegetable compartments, on shelves for ready-made food and in the freezer... The choice of place depends on the form in which it is planned to save the root crop.

The optimal temperature for storing carrots in the refrigerator:

• in the compartment for vegetables - from 0 to + 3 ° С;
• on shelves for finished products - from +2 to + 6 ° С;
• in the freezer - from -8 to -20 ° C.

Before sending root crops for storage, they are prepared.

If carrots are purchased with tops, then they are cut off, leaving a stump of 2-3 mm... Clean off the rest of the soil with a napkin.

The vegetables are sorted out. For storage, whole specimens are taken without signs of damage or deterioration. Dry thoroughly to avoid premature spoilage of wet carrots.

Features of storage in the refrigerator, so as not to wither

Hso that the root crop in the refrigerator does not sluggish, it should be protected from warm air and moisture - for example, sealed packaging will help. But even in it, the root crop can soften, germinate and wither, if the optimal moisture regime is not maintained. For carrots, it is 65-70%.

During storage, temperature is also important.... Typically, the vegetable compartment is kept at a temperature between 0 and + 3 ° C, which is optimal for storing carrots.

When stored properly in the refrigerator, a fresh root vegetable can retain its beneficial and flavorful properties for several months.

For longer storage it is frozen.

Freeze in the freezer

For freezing for the winter, medium-sized carrots are selected.

Reference. Small carrots lose their taste when frozen.

Selected root vegetables are thoroughly washed under running water, the top layer is cleaned off and the ends are cut off. Then they are dried.

For freezing raw carrots use plastic containers, plastic bags, ice or baking trays.

Frozen chopped

Prepared root vegetables are cut into circles, thin strips or cubes... The cutting method depends on the dish you plan to add the piece to. The chopped vegetable is laid out in bags or containers in one-time portions and put away for long-term storage in the freezer.

For convenience of storage and tracking the expiration date, the containers are labeled with the name of the product and the date of freezing.

To prevent the pieces from sticking together into one lump, they are frozen in two approaches.... For this, chopped carrots are laid out on a cutting board or tray and placed in the freezer for 1-2 hours. Then they are taken out and laid out in portions in bags or containers. The containers with the finished product are signed and put into the freezer for long-term storage.

Freeze grated

Prepared root vegetables are grated. Placed in portions in bags or containersput in the freezer.

Or laid out in baking tinsput in the freezer. After the carrots are frozen, they are put in bags and put into the freezer.

Freezing puree

Boiled washed and peeled carrots for 20-30 minutes without salt... Grind with a blender. The resulting puree is laid out in ice molds, placed in the freezer. After freezing, the cubes are put into a container and put into the freezer for long-term storage.

Other ways to preserve carrots:

Time-tested, delicious recipes for winter carrots in jars

Delicious carrot salads for the winter: recipes with photos

Cooking delicious and healthy carrot jam with lemon for the winter

In the vegetable compartment

The vegetable compartment is kept at a constant temperature to prevent rotting and spoilage of the root vegetable.

Before storage, washed and unwashed carrots are thoroughly dried.... Packed in containers, bags or plastic wrap, which protect the vegetable from excess moisture and preserve its juices.

Council. Before placing carrots in the vegetable compartment, keep them open on the ready-to-eat shelf in the refrigerator. This will dry it completely.

Storage in bags

To preserve unwashed roots, use plastic bags... It is recommended to put each carrot in a separate bag, since under a layer of dirt you may not notice slight rotting. If all vegetables are stored in one package, then rotting from a sick specimen will go to healthy ones.

Carrot cleaned of adhering soil, dried and laid out in bags... Air is released from the bags, tied tightly and sent to the refrigerator, to the vegetable box.

Unwashed in polyethylene

So that unwashed carrots do not wither, packed in cling film.

Root crops are cleaned of adhering dirt. Then they are dried. Each piece is wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a vegetable drawer in the refrigerator.

Unwashed in paper

It is advisable to use white paper for packaging, without paint, so that the root crop does not absorb foreign odors.

Unwashed carrots are wrapped in paper in 5-6 pieces, stored in a vegetable drawer.

The paper is capable of absorbing moisture... Therefore, it is important to periodically check its condition. Wet paper should be replaced with new one.

Council. Do not use newspapers to package carrots, as the ink may contain substances harmful to the body: lead, cadmium and others.

How to store washed carrots

Whether or not to wash carrots before storing them in the refrigerator is a moot point. This method has its pros and cons. Damage and rot are visible on the washed one... This allows you to divide carrots into shelf-stable and damaged carrots, which should be eaten first. Water washes off not only dirt, but harmful microorganisms that affect the spoilage of the vegetable.

But if the harvest is large, then this process takes a long time. The carrots are washed and each dried thoroughly to avoid premature spoilage.

Store clean carrots in plastic or containers in the vegetable compartment... The shelf life of a washed vegetable is less than an unwashed one.

Storing washed in a container

Instead of plastic bags for storing carrots, containers are used: ordinary and vacuum ones.

Washed carrots are thoroughly dried with paper towels... Place in clean containers and refrigerate.

It is recommended to cool the container in the refrigerator before laying the vegetable.so that there is no sudden temperature drop.

Read also:

Step-by-step recipes: how to salt carrots for the winter

"Golden" recipes for carrots for the winter

In cling film

To prevent the carrots from flabbing, wrapped in cling film (each root vegetable separately) and refrigerated.

During storage, the cling film covers the root crop very tightly and blocks the flow of air. Carrots wrapped in polyethylene release less ethylene, a substance that stimulates overripening.

In a wet towel

If you have not only washed, but also cleaned the root vegetable, place it in a container of water and refrigerate.Carrots in water retain their beneficial properties for up to 5 days.

A damp towel is the same if you wrap vegetables in it.

Boiled

Boiled carrots are a finished product. Her stored on a shelf for finished products, in a container.

From long-term storage, it becomes flabby and slimy. It is no longer possible to eat it.

Grated

So that the grated carrot does not quickly wind up and does not lose its beneficial properties, for its storage use containers or glass jars with a lid... Store in the compartment for finished products.

Shelf life of carrots in the refrigerator

Shelf life of root vegetables in the refrigerator depends on the method and location of storage.

The frozen product is stored in a freezer at a temperature of -8 ... -20 ° C for up to a year.

Washed and cleaned

Washed and peeled carrots stored in the compartment for finished products at temperatures from +2 to + 6 ° С... In a container of water, it retains its freshness for up to 5 days. If you change the water periodically, the shelf life will last for another 2-3 days.

If the root vegetable is wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in the vegetable compartment, then its shelf life can last up to a month.

Unrefined

Unwashed carrots are stored in the vegetable compartment at a temperature from 0 to + 3 ° С for 1-2 months... Washed root vegetables can be stored for up to a month.

Grated

Grated root vegetable is stored in a container, in the compartment for ready-made products, shelf life - 10-12 days.

Boiled

How much boiled carrots can be stored in the refrigerator? The finished product is stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, then begins to deteriorate, becomes soft and mucus. You cannot eat it.

Useful Tips

A few helpful tips for storing and using carrots:

• For long-term storage, choose late varieties of carrots.
• The root crop must reach maturity for storage, unripe fruits deteriorate quickly.
• When storing carrots in the refrigerator, pay attention to condensation inside the container. Its presence indicates the concentration of carbon dioxide. If condensation occurs, remove the stored product, dry it and reseal it.
• Do not store the root vegetable in direct contact with other vegetables and fruits. Eliminate the close proximity of carrots to apples. Apples release ethylene, which can ruin the taste of carrots.
• Small, branched, ugly root vegetables are poorly stored, so it is better to eat them right away, and not send them for long storage.

Conclusion

In the refrigerator, carrots are stored in small quantities. In order for it to remain juicy and fresh for several months, certain conditions are observed. They choose the right variety, select healthy specimens, observe temperature and humidity. To extend the shelf life, the root crop is frozen.