How to store turnips for the winter at home: in the cellar, apartment and vegetable pit

Turnip is a he althy vegetable that is grown throughout Russia. Previously, turnips were the main dish, from which almost everything was cooked. But over time, the popularity of this vegetable came to naught. And it's a pity, because the plant is rich in nutrients. Turnips can also be stored for the winter.

When to harvest turnips?

One of the last to collect root crops intended for storage for the winter. The most acceptable harvest time is the end of September or the end of October. The plant has a long growing season, so the roots ripen for a long time.It takes at least three months for the vegetable to fully ripen.

Selection of suitable root crops for storage

Only ripe and he althy root crops are suitable for winter storage. The peel should not show signs of damage by insects or rodents. Harvest for the winter can be any shape of the fruit. The main thing is that they are whole. If the peel has black spots or any other damage, then they are not suitable for storage for the winter.

Conditions for storing turnips

To keep root crops all winter, you need to think about storage conditions in advance. Turnip does not absorb foreign odors, so it can be stored with other vegetables. To extend the shelf life, you need to sprinkle the fruit with chalk.

Store the crop preferably in a cool room (refrigerator or cellar). It is undesirable to cut off all the tops. It is necessary to leave 2-3 cm. It is not recommended to wash them before harvesting fruits for the winter.

Ways to store turnips

There are many ways to save root crops for the winter. Each of them has its own characteristics. Vegetables are stored both fresh and cooked.

How to keep turnips fresh?

Keeping a turnip fresh is a little more difficult than keeping it cooked. But it is quite possible to preserve the taste of the vegetable. To do this, you must comply with the storage conditions of root crops.

In the cellar

The easiest way to store a turnip in the cellar in winter. This does not require any special tools. Before storing in the cellar, you need to put a wooden box and fill it with sand. Then put the roots there and lightly sprinkle with sand.

These measures are enough to keep the fruits. Carrots and beets are stored together with the turnip.

At home

It's not hard to store vegetables in a city apartment.Before storage, the tops of the fruits are cut off and cleaned from the soil with their hands. After that, the crop is folded into a plastic bag. It is not recommended to tie the package. Or you need to make small holes in it so that water does not accumulate. If this is not done, then the fruits will become moldy.

But in such conditions, the crop is stored for no more than two weeks. In addition, you can store the crop in wooden boxes filled with sand and straw. It is important to ensure that the humidity in the room is high. Otherwise, the turnip skin will begin to dry out.

In the vegetable pit

An unusual way to store vegetables - in a vegetable pit. This method is considered as effective as storage in the basement.

To store vegetables in the pit you need:

• Dig a hole 800 deep? M.
• Lay a thick layer of dry straw at the bottom of the pit.
• Spread vegetables so that they do not touch each other.
• Top with a thick layer of root crops covered with wet sand.
• After that, completely fill the hole with soil, cover with spruce branches or leaves from the garden.
• Dig grooves on each side of the pit, through which water will drain and not flood the vegetable pit.

This method, although not complicated, is not the most popular. It is easier to store vegetables in the cellar, rather than engage in construction. This method is only suitable for those who do not have a cellar, and there is little storage space in the house.

Procurement and processing of root crops

You don't have to keep turnips fresh. There are other ways to save a delicious vegetable for the winter. The fruits are canned, dried and frozen.

Drying

Another way to save vegetables for the winter is to dry them. You can dry it in the sun, in an electric dryer or in an oven. The easiest way to dry vegetables in an electric dryer. But if there is no electric dryer at hand, then an oven will do.

How to cook dried turnips in the oven:

• Turnip needs to be washed, cut into circles.
• After that, put in boiling water for a few seconds.
• Pan in a colander and let all the water drain.
• Then the workpiece is transferred to a towel to dry the turnip.
• After that, the circles are laid out in one layer on the wire rack and put in the oven.
• The oven temperature is set to 70 degrees.
• The fruits are dried for ten hours, periodically checking them and, if necessary, shifting or turning over.

The downside of this method is its duration. To dry the fruits, you need to be at home all day and constantly monitor the oven.

Freeze

The easiest way to preserve the harvest for the winter, while leaving the roots fresh, is to freeze them in the freezer.In home urban conditions, this method is most preferable. The turnip is washed and cut into cubes. After that, the roots must be dried. The workpiece is laid out on a towel in one layer. You need to wait until all the water from the surface of the peel has evaporated. Then transferred to plastic bags. In this form, they are sent to the freezer.

You can store a frozen workpiece for a long time. But it is still recommended to use the fruits faster. If they lie for a long time, they will lose all taste and aroma.

Preservation

Some summer residents prefer to preserve vegetables for the winter. There are many recipes for canned turnips. It is preserved alone or other vegetables are added. For example, you can pickle turnips with apples.

Ingredients:

• 2 kg of turnip.
• A few medium apples.
• 2 liters of water.
• 200 ml apple cider vinegar.
• 1.5 tbsp l. fine table s alt.
• 200 ml sugar.
• Spices to taste.

Wash the turnip and apples. Cut into cubes and place tightly in a jar. To prepare the marinade, you need to boil water, add s alt, spices and sugar. Stir to dissolve the crystals. When the water cools and becomes warm, add vinegar. Vegetables are poured with cold brine. A load is placed on top so that the fruits do not float up.

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