How to store apricots at home for the winter so that they do not deteriorate

The fruiting period of apricots is short, and the massive return of the crop requires immediate action to process the fruits, since their shelf life is limited. Today, there are several ways in which it is possible to obtain a valuable source of nutrients for a long time. To choose the best option, it is important to learn how to properly store apricots.

Optimal conditions

Required storage conditions depend on the degree of ripeness of the apricots, the preparation method chosen, how large the quantity, how many of them, and how much preservation is required.Fruits can be used fresh, dried and frozen, be part of compotes, jams and desserts, which directly affects what the storage temperature should be.

At home, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

• Overripe apricots are stored in the refrigerator, at room temperature they will begin to rot in a couple of days, lose the quality of the pulp, appearance and taste characteristics;
• to store fresh fruits, do not pack them in polyethylene, it is better to use a paper bag;
• It is acceptable to store the product in plastic containers with a lid.

When stored in an apartment and at a temperature of +10 C, apricots will begin to ripen quickly, so in such conditions it is recommended to store unripe fruits or those that are planned to be consumed in the near future.The optimum humidity for fruit storage is 90% and temperature 0 C, which corresponds to cellar conditions.

Storage of unripe fruits

Eating unripe apricots is fraught with poisoning. For a person in this state, all signs of intoxication are characteristic, including vomiting, abdominal cramps and fever. It is optimal to wait for the harvest time so that the fruits ripen and gain the proper taste.

Some advise picking unripe apricots when they cannot ripen naturally, saying that apricots are able to "reach" the desired state at home. Green fruits cannot be kept in the refrigerator; there will be no chance of them ripening. It is required to put each unripe fruit in a paper bag and place it in a warm, well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight on them.The average time to improve fruit quality is 5 days.

Methods for storing ripe fruit

There are several ways to store fresh apricots. In order to ensure a long term and not lose the harvest, it is important to correctly select the harvested fruits. Fruits without external damage and signs of rot are suitable for these purposes.

In paper bags

After harvesting, apricots can be stored in paper bags. This method allows free air flow to the fruits and does not create condensation, which is often present when using plastic bags.

In wooden boxes

For storage in wooden boxes, each fruit is wrapped with parchment or thin-layer paper. Before laying, fruits with signs of defects are removed.Fruits are placed in a container in several layers, not allowing them to fit too tightly. Periodically, control checks should be carried out to identify spoiled fruits, if any, such fruits are removed. The neighborhood of good and bad apricots in a short time can lead to spoilage of all apricots in the box.

In the fridge

Apricots keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. It is recommended to use airtight containers for these purposes, as this blocks the access of oxygen. If fruits are stored in a bowl, then the proper taste qualities will last 2 days. With a refrigerator temperature setting of 0 ^{C, the duration can be extended up to 30 days.}

In the freezer, fruits can be stored whole, cut into 2 or more slices or pieces. To do this, use plastic bags or plastic containers. The nutritional value of fruits is not significantly reduced by this method.

Drying

Not all varieties of apricots are suitable for drying, so this nuance should be taken into account when choosing fruits. Large, but not very juicy specimens are selected for the process. It should be borne in mind that the initial weight of fruits during the drying process decreases on average by 5-6 times. The product can be dried naturally, using an oven or special household appliances.

The easiest way is to simply hang the pitted fruit on a string and place it in a place with good air circulation.

Before starting work, washed apricots are kept in water with lemon juice, using proportions of 1 liter and 1 tsp. wringing, which will allow them not to darken. From pre-selected and processed fruits, the stone is removed, if desired, cut into pieces.

When choosing the natural drying process, the apricots are laid out on a flat surface, leaving in a cool, ventilated place for several days. They should be laid out in a thin even layer, they should not touch each other. Then for 7 days they are taken out in the sun and dried for 7 days. The finished product is laid out in bags, it must be consumed within 6 months.

When using the oven, the following sequence of actions should be followed:

• lay a cotton cloth on the grate, on which apricots are laid out in a thin layer;
• heat the oven to +50 C, gradually increase the temperature to +70 ^C;
• periodically turn the fruit to achieve the effect of drying uniformity;
• after 1 hour, transfer the dried fruits to a baking sheet lined with baker's paper to dry further.

To get the finished product, you need to dry the apricots for 10-12 hours. If the fruit has become elastic and does not release juice when pressed, then the process can be completed.

Bookmark for long laying

Bookmark for the winter allows you to get a valuable source of vitamins and minerals in the winter. The advantage of such methods is the minimum time for preparation and processing of the crop, while the product retains its useful qualities almost in full.

Freeze

When using the freezing method, it is important to take into account the varietal characteristics of a particular variety. There are species that, due to their breeding qualities, are not suitable for storage at low temperatures. A convenient way to cut is to form small pieces with preliminary removal of the stone, since after defrosting the raw material can immediately be used for its intended purpose.

Some people practice the method of freezing the pureed apricot mass, which is placed in small containers or containers for ice, which makes it possible to use the product in small portions in the preparation of teas or decoctions.

It is recommended to adhere to the following sequence of actions:

• wash and select suitable apricots;
• remove bones and cut into slices;
• spread out on a flat surface and send to the freezer;
• take it out and put it into containers immediately.

In this way, you can achieve uniform freezing of fruits and avoid the problem of lump formation. Recommended storage time is 6 months.

In the cellar

Cellar conditions are considered ideal for storing apricots. Keep fruits wrapped in thin paper. With a temperature regime of +5 ^{C, the harvest is able to maintain its quality for a month.}

What to do if the fruits start to deteriorate

At the first sign of apricots losing their external qualities, a number of actions should be taken. It is impossible to store good and defective fruits together, so fruits without signs of rot are separated from their "spoiled" counterparts.

So that the fruits do not completely deteriorate, you need to freeze them or use them as an ingredient for making sweet and tasty treats for the winter. For the second option, it is better to use recipes for jams, marshmallows or preserves, since the fruits do not have to be “perfect” in this case.

It is worth paying attention to the five-minute recipes, for which it takes a minimum of time to save the product and get a delicious treat. Overripe fruits are optimal for them, and from this preservation acquires an even richer taste. For cooking, a simple rule is used - sugar by weight is needed as much as kilograms of apricots are taken. The processed fruits are covered with sweet sand for a couple of hours to extract the juice, after which the mixture is brought to a boil and kept in this state for 5 minutes. After the workpiece has completely cooled down, the process is repeated 2 more times.

Apricot expiration date

For apricots, the maximum shelf life at home is 3 weeks. After this period, the fruits become loose and lose their taste and external qualities. Under optimal conditions, the storage time can be extended up to 50 days. In the refrigerator, apricots retain their freshness for no more than 10 days, being in such conditions disrupts the structure of the fruit, and the fibers lose their appearance.

Frozen apricots keep up to 6 months. Only a single defrosting of the product is allowed, with repeated exposure to cold and repetition of the procedure, it will acquire a state of watery porridge and will be unsuitable for consumption.

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