Garlic has long been an integral ingredient in many dishes and folk recipes. To have fragrant and fresh heads on hand all year round, you need to know how and where to store them at home in the winter.
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How can you store garlic at home in the winter?
There are several common ways to store this vegetable, which allow it to remain fit for human consumption up to and including the collection of a new crop.
As a rule, the following places are selected for this:
- underground;
- balcony;
- fridge;
- dry places in the apartment.
It is more convenient for owners of private houses to choose a cellar, as there may not always be enough space in the refrigerator. The presence in the apartment or house dry place is perfect for placing garlic streamers and bunches or hanging mesh. Glazed balcony is a great place to “winter” this vegetable in cans and boxes.
Storage in braids
The time-tested way - This braided spit of dried with a stem of heads. The finished braid is left in a dark and dry room. For this fit a closet or pantry. Garlic braids take up very little space, but they require skill and skill to weave the stems well together.
Bundled storage
Heads, dried with stalks, are tied into a bunch with a rope and suspended in a dry room. The method is practically no different from the previous one, and the beams can also act as an interior decoration.
Using cans and boxes
Many people choose three-liter jars for wintering vegetables, without falling asleep at all. This allows it not to dry and not to germinate. Banks must be placed in the refrigerator or on the balcony.
To keep the garlic in the box, pour the bottom of it with salt, then lay out part of the heads, sprinkle with salt again and lay out this way layer by layer. This option allows the vegetable to remain fresh and juicy for a long time.
Waxing
This method allows you to avoid germination and the appearance of parasites. Waxing is the alternate lowering of young heads in paraffin wax. It forms a protective film around them, which prevents damage to the product. The period of preservation in a paraffin shell can reach six months.
Bagging
For this purpose, bags made from natural materials are used. RIt is recommended to periodically iterate the contents of the bagto clean the spoiled heads.
Cold storage in a city apartment
To leave a vegetable for the winter in the refrigerator, it need to dry well, put into paper bags and put apart from other products.
Freezing and canning
It is possible to freeze both whole peeled cloves wrapped in foil or food wrap, and finely chopped to shorten the cooking time when using them. This option is suitable for those who use vegetables when cooking less frequently, because freezing changes the taste and structure of this product.
For preservation, you can use wine or vinegar. To do this, peeled cloves are placed in a jar and filled with dry wine or white vinegar. A tightly closed jar is placed in the fridge. The method allows the garlic does not deteriorate to four months.
How to prepare the crop for storage?
Proper preparation is a guarantee that the product will not deteriorate in the winter in a city apartment.
Preparing for the winter should begin at the harvest stage. It is important to know that there are two types of garlic, which determine the timing of its collection:
- Winter:
- collection time: end of July;
- determination of readiness: the leaves turn yellow, the scales become thinner, the skin of the inflorescences begins to crack;
- storage temperature: + 1-3 °;
- Spring:
- collection time: first half of August;
- determination of readiness: the leaves turn very yellow and begin to bend down and lie down on the ground;
- storage temperature: + 16-20 °.
Digging should be done carefully, since damaged heads deteriorate much faster than whole and are more susceptible to the development of bacteria. For this purpose, forks or shovels are used.
After digging the garlic must be well dried. Do it better under the open sun. The stems must be cut off, except in cases where weaving of braids or bunches is expected.
After harvesting, you need to get rid of all:
- damaged heads;
- rotted or infected by bacteria;
- empty heads.
After carrying out all of the above manipulations, you can proceed to sending the vegetable for the winter.
Storage problems
The most important and practically the only problem that may arise during wintering is damage to the heads. It can occur for several reasons.
First of all, it is infection with a fungus. This can be avoided by very careful sorting. Also, the product may deteriorate due to improper storage conditions.
The following signs allow to determine the deterioration:
- foul odor, reminiscent of overcooked garlic;
- the presence of rotten slices or entire heads.
In order for garlic to remain usable during the winter season as long as possible, it is necessary to strictly observe the wintering preparation algorithm and the conditions of the method chosen for this purpose.
Save garlic for the winter at home is quite simple. The main thing - to comply with all measures to prepare and choose the most suitable method for themselves. After completing all the established recommendations, you will be able to please yourself with a tasty and juicy vegetable until harvesting a new crop.