Introduction: As the temperature gradually rises, vegetables at home are more prone to spoilage. Let's learn a few tips for preservation and freshness.
Why is preservation important?
Usually, when eating vegetables, fruits, and meats, fresh is the preferred choice. When produce is separated from its source, it loses its vitality and begins to rot. If they are left for too long, it not only provides excellent conditions for microbial growth, but their own substances will also break down. In order to slow down the aging of food, prevent damage from microorganisms, and be able to eat safer and fresher products, people have developed various preservation methods.
Preservation Tips
For fruits and vegetables, their preservation mainly requires attention to three aspects: First, try to inhibit respiration to reduce the loss of internal nutrients, such as using low temperatures or adding carbon dioxide. Second, inhibit the growth of bacteria to prevent spoilage, such as using bacteriostatic agents. Third, control transpiration to reduce water loss, maintain a certain humidity, and retain a fresh state.
How to preserve fruits?
So, specifically, what should be特别注意 when preserving fruits? The simplest method is to put them in the refrigerator for low-temperature storage after buying them home, but there are a few points to pay attention to:
First, do not wash the fruits before refrigerating. It is best to wrap them in a paper bag to prevent moisture evaporation. If you don't have a paper bag, a plastic bag can also be used, but you need to poke some small holes in it for ventilation to avoid the moisture evaporated from the fruit becoming a source of microbial growth.
Second, pay attention to the storage temperature. The suitable storage temperature and shelf life of each fruit are different. The general storage temperature of a refrigerator is 3-6°C. If this temperature is not the optimal one, their shelf life will be shortened. Therefore, it is best to eat the fruits as soon as possible after buying them, generally within a week is best.
Third, for some tropical fruits, such as bananas, pineapples, papayas, mangoes, etc., their optimal storage temperature is relatively high, so it is not necessary to put them in the refrigerator. Storing them in a cool, dark place at room temperature is sufficient. If the storage temperature is too low, it can instead cause the peel to sink or produce spots or browning. For example, the peel of a banana will turn black quickly if placed in the refrigerator.
Fourth, certain fruits produce ethylene during storage, which has a ripening effect. For example, apples, pears, bananas, etc. It is best to store them separately from other fruits to avoid accelerating the ripening and aging of the fruits and affecting their quality.
Vegetable Preservation Tricks
Vegetables contain a large amount of vitamins. If preserved improperly before consumption, it will lead to a significant loss of vitamins, especially water-soluble vitamins of the B group and vitamin C. Therefore, before consumption, do not peel head lettuces, do not remove pods from beans, and potatoes should be protected from light. Fresh vegetables have an extremely low nitrite content, but as storage time increases, the nitrite content also increases, especially in cases of spoilage and decay. Here are several methods for preserving vegetables:
Potatoes: Low temperature and dryness to prevent sprouting.
Garlic: Place in a sealed plastic bag and check weekly. If any cloves are shriveled, discard them immediately.
Garlic seedlings and chives: There are two methods. One is to air-dry them for a relatively longer storage time. The other is to wrap them in a damp cloth, which can effectively prevent the leaves from drying out and also has a certain effect of reducing transpiration. This method can maintain the original flavor, but it is best to consume them as soon as possible.
Winter melon: Choose a winter melon with an intact skin and no bruises. Place it on a wooden board in a cool, ventilated place, and it can be stored for 4-5 months.
Winter bamboo shoots and ginger: Find a relatively deep container, line it with wet sand, bury the winter bamboo shoots and ginger in the sand with the head side up, and then store it in a cool, ventilated place. It can be stored for 4-7 weeks.