How to store leeks properly at home
Leeks are considered a storehouse of vitamins, so many gardeners grow such onions for future use. It is very important to know how to store leeks properly so that they do not spoil. Leek retains its beneficial properties for a long time, therefore, with proper packaging, such a product can be harvested for future use. Before you start harvesting, you need to study the recommendations and reviews of people who already know how to keep fresh leeks at home and regularly cultivate them.
How to store leeks for the winter
It is recommended to store the vegetable in the refrigerator, even in a chopped form. Many housewives freeze the required amount of onions; this method is considered the simplest. The leaf and stem can be stored in the freezer for several months. With a long keeping quality, the leek accumulates ascorbic acid and does not lose its beneficial properties. If you live in a private house, then it is best to store vegetables in the cellar, where there is an opportunity to place a box and sand. Onions in the sand last up to 6 months.
Storing onions in the refrigerator
How to keep leeks for the winter at home? It is very important to correctly collect the onion, for this you need to clean it from the soil, rinse it and cut off the root a little. When cutting the spine, care must be taken so as not to accidentally damage the bottom. It is best to leave 1⁄3 of the entire root, this will extend the shelf life. It is definitely not worth trimming the leaves, since without them the leek will not be stored at all and will immediately wither. You can store chopped green onions in the refrigerator for a long time in winter. To do this, you need to cut it and pack it in plastic bags.
Leeks and their storage for the winter in the refrigerator should be carried out at a temperature not lower than 5 ° C.
In the refrigerator, the plant is normally preserved, since polyethylene does not allow the product to dry out and all the beneficial properties remain. For the winter, vegetables are stored for some time on the balcony, provided that the temperature there drops at least -7 ° C. You can see how to chop and harvest onions in the refrigerator in a photo or video.
Storing onions in a sand box
At home, it is recommended to store fresh onions in the sand. To do this, you need to take a suitable box and pour about 5-7 cm of a layer of fine sand on the bottom. Previously, the box for storing vegetables must be disinfected and cleaned of dirt and rot. It is recommended to bake the sand in the oven so that in the presence of bacteria, they do not attack the vegetable. The bow should be set upright on the bottom with sand. If there is a gap between the heads, it is better to fill it with slightly damp sand.
The root should be slightly dug into the sand. When using this method of storage at home, the vegetable can retain its beneficial properties for up to 6 months. In the cellar or basement of a private house, such a box will be perfectly stored. When living in an apartment, you should use a pantry or an insulated balcony.If the plans are to keep the box on the balcony, then first it must be insulated with a warm blanket.
Drying onions
If you want to get nutrients from vegetables in winter, but there is nowhere to store them, there is another interesting method that you can really use at home. Drying vegetables allows you to keep a minimum amount of vitamins in them, and in this form, vegetable rings can be stored for a long time. For drying, you must use an electric dryer or oven.
The optimum temperature for drying is approximately 50 ° C. After drying, onions cannot be left in an airtight package or a tight plastic bag. If this rule is violated, vegetables can become damp. Dried rings are very convenient for making soups. If you correctly observe the temperature regime and harvesting norms, then in the cold season you can enjoy a healthy and tasty vegetable.
Pickling leeks at home
If the previous methods don't work for you, you can pickle the onions. It is necessary to take the white part of the stem, wash thoroughly and remove rotten places, if any. Next, the prepared stem is cut to your liking, but generally it is better to cut into rings. Onions should be dipped in boiling water for a couple of minutes.
If you do not want the marinade to be fresh, you can lightly salt the water. Prepared rings must be tightly packed in jars and filled with marinade. The rings should be laid out so that the jar is not empty when the vegetable settles.
To prepare the marinade, you need
- water - 1 l;
- salt - 50 g;
- sugar - 100 g;
- vinegar - 100 ml.
All ingredients are mixed in a saucepan, and then the marinade needs to be boiled for a few minutes. After you roll up the jars of leek rings, cover them with a warm blanket for 10-12 hours. Housewives like this method of storage very much, it is prepared quickly and the vegetable turns out to be fragrant and juicy. This storage method is considered the most unusual, but even a person without experience can cook the marinade. Mostly vegetables are pickled at home in autumn or winter. Many gardeners harvest leeks as soon as they are harvested.