How to store carrots in the refrigerator?

Carrots are one of the healthiest vegetables. It contains many essential substances, as well as vitamins needed by children and adults. Therefore, such a product is often purchased in large quantities. However, you need to be able not only to choose it, but also to save it correctly. One option is refrigeration. That is what we will consider in the article.

It happens that you need to put carrots obtained from your own summer cottage in the refrigerator. In this case, it must be properly assembled. So, Harvesting is carried out before frost, and the tops are cut off almost completely, leaving only about 10 mm. Such recommendations will keep carrots longer. If you bought the product in the store, then upon arrival home, you must immediately remove it from the package. The tops will also have to be cut off, since it will most likely be on a store carrot. Only those vegetables that do not have deformations are laid for storage. Cracks, cut ends and similar defects are unacceptable.

To store prepared carrots, you can use different containers. Most often, housewives take vacuum or thermal bags for these purposes, as well as cling film. However, some prefer to lay the product in molds for baking dough, plastic bowls.

It is worth considering that the refrigerator is not the best place for long-term storage of carrots. With very large quantities of product, it is better to choose a cellar. But if there are few carrots, then the refrigerator is quite acceptable. So, for several months it is best to lay it in the freshness zone. The temperature there is from 0 to +3 degrees. In the main compartment, where the temperature parameters often reach 6 degrees Celsius, carrots will lie less. And storage in the freezer can last up to a year, subject to the correct laying of the product.

Fresh carrots can be stored in the refrigerator, but it is recommended to process the product before placing it in the chamber. Many tend to wash vegetables. And such a procedure does have advantages. After washing, you can see the slightest defects and deformations on the carrots, as well as wash off the dirt, which can contain fungal spores, leading to rot and damage to vegetables.

If the shelf life is short, up to 10 days, then the washed carrots are placed in a container filled with cool clean water. Then the container is hermetically sealed and placed at the very bottom of the refrigerator. Once every two days, the container must be opened to change the water.

If you want to keep vegetables for a month or two, you will need to do the following:

• vegetables are washed well, but without undue effort, in cool water, removing lumps of dirt; then spread on waffle towels and wait for complete drying;
• then the carrots are placed in the refrigerator for 24 hours, then they are taken out and laid out in bags, each of them is supplemented with a paper napkin, which will absorb excess moisture;
• it is also worth releasing the air from the bags in advance, the containers are closed with high quality, and then laid out in the freshness zone.

Unwashed carrots keep even better. Vegetables are wiped with a dry cloth, especially large clods of earth are treated with a brush. Then leave in a dark place for 24 hours to dry the roots. After that, you can choose several storage methods:

• sealed polyethylene bags, with no more than 5 carrots placed in one bag;
• cling film, and here it is already better to take 1 vegetable each;
• paper moistened from a spray gun (also 1 carrot each);
• plastic container.

Whatever storage method is chosen, vegetables should also be placed in the freshness zone.

Some housewives prefer to pre-clean root crops before placing them in refrigerators. Peeled carrots can also be stored in the cold, but the time will be even shorter than in the case of washed ones. Such root crops will last up to a month, and then if they are placed in a sealed container made of food-grade plastic.

It’s no secret that there are many ways to make carrot blanks. If you do not want to constantly engage in the manufacture of a fresh product, then you should think about the proper storage of blanks.

It is worth being prepared for the fact that boiled carrots will not lie for a long time, as, in principle, any product that has undergone heat treatment. But for a few days it is quite possible to lay it, and in any form. Boiled carrots can be peeled or left in the skin, cut into cubes or circles. Prepared and cooled root crops are placed in a plastic container and placed in the upper part of the refrigerator. Do not close the lid tightly, otherwise the vegetables will rot.

There is another option for storing boiled carrots. It is laid out on a flat plate, and then covered with a towel moistened with water or a paper napkin. Such carrots can lie for several days.

The best way to preserve any product is to simply freeze it by placing it in the freezer. This technique is very convenient, because you can spend time preparing the product once, and then get a little bit for a whole year, using it for different dishes. It is worth noting that with this method of storage, vegetables do not lose vitamins, unlike cooking, for example.

Before storage, vegetables should be thoroughly washed and cleaned, then dried. After that, the root crops are cut in any convenient way: cubes, circles, straws, stars. The cut product is laid out in bags, making sure that it does not lie too tightly. Then air is released from the container and fastened tightly.

In addition to chopped carrots, you can store whole root vegetables. The main thing is that they are not too large. Before putting them in the freezer, they should also be washed and dried well.

Blanching is a procedure in which vegetables are exposed to boiling water and then cold water. This technique allows you to destroy bacteria on a solid surface of food in a matter of seconds. In addition, blanched carrots always remain tasty and bright in color.

The procedure is carried out as follows:

• root crops are washed and cleaned;
• immersed in boiling water for 180 seconds;
• pulled out of the water, it is best to take a special spoon or colander for this;
• dipped for a couple of minutes in a cold liquid.

When the vegetables have cooled, they are pulled out of the container and immediately placed on a towel, which must be placed on a tray or a thick sheet. Then the tray, along with all its contents, is placed in the freezer for about 120-180 minutes. After this time, frozen carrots are taken out of the freezer, packaged in selected containers. Root crops can be stored both in the upper part of the refrigerator and in the freezer.

Carrots can be grated before storage. This is convenient if you often make salads and soups from this product. Vegetables are thoroughly washed and cleaned, then dried. After that, the root crop is rubbed and laid out in separate piles for packaging. Prepare containers and fill with carrots in portions. Then put it all in the freezer for a couple of hours. After the allotted time, they are taken out of the chamber, shaken and returned back.

There is another option on how to save the grated product. This is where cling film is needed. The vegetable is prepared in the same way as in the first variant, and then placed on the film in a dense path. Then they roll it up as if they are preparing shawarma. The side parts of the twist are fastened with thick threads. Next put in the freezer. After a couple of hours, they take it out and knead it well with their fingers so that the carrots do not stick together during the freezing process.

Such blanks are kept exclusively closed, otherwise all products of the refrigerator will be saturated with aroma. Glass or ceramic dishes are suitable here, the lid should be tight. Carrots lie in the freezer before use, and defrosting must be done at the bottom of the refrigerator.

Actionable recommendations for storing carrots in the refrigerator will be useful for those who are used to harvesting vegetables for future use.

• Carrots go well with beets. Therefore, such root crops can be safely stored together in sealed bags.
• You should always remember about the shelf life of products. So, grated or boiled carrots cannot be stored without a freezer for longer than a couple of days. Peeled root crops can lie for a week, but not cleaned, but washed – up to 60 days. Vegetables that are not washed may well retain their appearance for 6 months. Humidity when storing vegetables should be between 85 and 95 percent.
• Root crops are stored only in containers, it is forbidden to fold them just like that. In this case, the packaging must be completely sealed.
• If the refrigerator needs to be defrosted, then the carrots are placed in a cold place for this time.
• Sometimes it happens that there are too many products or blanks. In this case, it is recommended to stick a sticker on the bag, by which you can understand exactly when the vegetable was stored.
• Keep carrots away from other foods, do not mix them with prepared meals. It is especially dangerous if there are apples nearby. They will cause rapid spoilage of root crops.
• If you want to keep carrots longer, you should choose the right variety. For a long bookmark, medium-late options are suitable, as well as those that have a long shape. Short root crops are stored worse.
• Fully ripe carrots are the best choice. If the vegetable is not ripe, it will soon deteriorate.