When going to the country, every gardener dreams of growing a rich harvest of fruits and vegetables. With the onset of the first warm days and until late autumn, summer residents work on their plots to get maximum quantity tasty and healthy fruits. Undoubtedly, several beds are also allocated for growing tomatoes. After all, bright, ripe and aromatic vegetables are rich in serotonin, which is often called the hormone of happiness, vitamins A and C, as well as a large amount of organic acids. Unfortunately, a tomato on its own may not retain its elasticity and original beauty for long, but with a little effort, the juicy fruits can last all winter.
Which tomatoes can be stored for a long time?
Not every tomato can last a long time after being picked. For winter storage Late-ripening species are suitable. Thanks to the work of breeders, a special gene was discovered that is responsible for delayed ripening, and the bred hybrid varieties They tolerate transportation better and can be stored for a month or more.
The very first hybrid suitable for winter storage is the Giraffe. Over time, scientists have grown large number varieties with varying shelf life:
Before storing tomatoes, they must undergo preliminary preparation, as this will increase the chance of successful and long-term storage.
Processing methods
Whatever method is chosen, vegetables must undergo simple preparation. This will increase shelf life and maintain a fresh aroma.
- 1. First of all, it is necessary to sort the fruits by size and degree of ripeness. Since ripe and unripe tomatoes are stored at different temperatures, and large specimens ripen much earlier than small ones.
- 2. For storage, choose undamaged and strong tomatoes, since the slightest rot can damage the entire crop.
- 3. To ensure that tomatoes last a long time, they are removed from the bush before the first frost, along with the stalks.
- 4. Before laying, the fruits are dried and treated with a 0.3% solution boric acid or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
After sorting and processing, you can proceed to the second stage - bookmarking.
Cherries are not suitable for long-term storage due to their thin peel.
Storage conditions and location
Tomatoes are very sensitive to sudden changes in temperature, and if the thermal balance is disturbed, they become lethargic and lose their unforgettable aroma.
The location chosen for storage also plays an important role. Any dark room is suitable for this: a basement, a pantry, a closed vegetable compartment in the refrigerator, or the space under the bed.
How to preserve tomatoes
We will consider the most common storage options in a house and apartment below.
In boxes
The lightest and effective way. Wooden or plastic boxes with a lattice bottom, thoroughly washed and treated on all sides with alcohol, are suitable for this.
The bottom is covered with paper and the sorted vegetables are carefully laid out with the stalks facing up. The main thing is to make sure that they do not touch each other. Each row must be lined with paper.
The stacked fruits are covered with dry sawdust or wood peat.
In the straw
Select milk fruits and wrap them in dark paper. Carefully place in a box and sprinkle with straw. The container is placed in a dark, well-ventilated room, where the air temperature will be between +8–10 degrees. To make the fruits ripen faster, they can be moved to a warm, bright room for several days.
In banks
| Photo | Description |
| For the first method, small fruits are suitable. Place the vegetables in sterile jars and fill with brine prepared from water, vinegar and salt in a ratio of 8:1:1. Seal the jars with lids and, after cooling, store them in a cool room. | |
 | In the second case, wash the tomatoes thoroughly, place them in prepared jars and pour in sunflower oil so that it covers the tomatoes by 1 cm. Cover with lids and put in the refrigerator. |
 | When choosing this option, place clean and small fruits in a jar. Sprinkle each layer with dry mustard. A three-liter jar should take at least 6 tablespoons of mustard powder. Seal the jars with lids and store them in a cool place. |
In a saucepan
Ripe and overripe tomatoes are suitable for this method.
We sort vegetables by degree of ripeness. We cut the overripe ones into large slices and place them in a saucepan, sprinkle with salt, lay out the whole fruits, and also sprinkle with salt. We carry out this alternate procedure until the container is completely filled. Store in a cool, dry place.
In the refrigerator
When stored in this way, tomatoes can only be kept fresh for a week.
To prevent the tomatoes from starting to rot, we wrap each fruit in dark paper and place it in the vegetable compartment, making sure that they do not touch each other.
Plastic bags are not used for storage, as they retain moisture, which leads to rapid spoilage of the product.
You can also store tomatoes in the freezer. To do this, ripe fruits without signs of rot are cut into small pieces and placed in an airtight container. These tomatoes will be an excellent addition to the preparation of soups, sauces and adjika.
Ripening
Unripe tomatoes are laid out with their stalks facing up in a bright, well-ventilated room. To make them turn red faster, you need to place ripe specimens nearby.
Storage of workpieces
Tomatoes retain their taste and aroma even in canned form. Sun-dried, marinated, pickled and salted tomatoes will be a good addition to any dish.
| Photo | Description |
 | There are three ways to store sun-dried tomatoes: in cotton or linen bags; in plastic containers, pre-filled olive oil; in the freezer, but when defrosting the tomatoes lose their color |
 | Dried tomatoes can be stored in 3 ways: in linen bags; Place vegetables in jars, cover with wax paper and seal with wax or resin; dried tomatoes are placed in jars and filled with refined oil. You can add any spices if you wish. Cover the jar with a lid and store in a cool, dark place. |
| Preservation is stored for no more than one year. Pickled or salted tomatoes can be stored in a barrel for no more than 8 months. Canned tomatoes, like cucumbers, thanks to vinegar, can be stored at a temperature of +15–18 degrees, pickled and salted only in a cool place |
In order not to ruin the entire crop, during storage you must adhere to simple rules:
- 1. Once every 7 days you need to check the fruits for rot and mold.
- 2. To extend shelf life, each copy is wrapped in paraffin or Vaseline.
- 3. For quick reddening, place straw and ripe tomatoes in the box. Bananas will also work.
- 4. An intact stalk is the key to long storage.
- 5. Before placing in boxes, each fruit is wiped with alcohol. This will preserve freshness and aroma.
- 6. Only those vegetables that are grown in open beds are subject to long-term storage.
- 7. Onion peels placed in boxes with tomatoes will help prolong freshness.
- 8. To disinfect, the boxes are treated on all sides with alcohol and dried thoroughly.
How to save spoiling tomatoes
Even if you follow all the storage rules, you cannot insure tomatoes against rot 100%. With sudden changes in temperature and humidity, brown and dark spots may appear on the fruits.
To save tomatoes, you need to heat the water to 60 degrees, put the fruits in it and leave for 3-5 minutes. After this, the vegetables are wiped and dried.
Knowing all the storage methods, you can easily delight your household with tasty and healthy fruits until the New Year. This is very economical, because you don’t have to spend money on expensive and not always environmentally friendly tomatoes. You just have to choose the right jar or take out the juicy and beautiful fruits. If you do not neglect the storage rules at home, you can consume your tomato harvest for up to 7 months.
Tomatoes are one of the most common and popular types of vegetables grown by gardeners on their personal plots. And preserving the grown crop always remains an urgent task.
To successfully solve this problem, there are many fairly simple and available ways that allow you to keep tomatoes fresh for a long time at home.
The main condition for storing tomatoes fresh for a long time is right choice their varieties. As practice shows, late and medium-sized ones are best stored for a long time. late varieties tomatoes, for example, such as “San Marzano”, “New Year’s”, “De Barao”, “Zhanina”, “Rio Grande”, etc.
In addition, today breeders have developed special varieties specifically designed for long-term storage, for example, “Masterpiece”, “Long Keeper”, “Giraffe”, etc. These varieties, subject to their proper storage, are able to maintain their freshness until the spring of next year.
It should be noted that, regardless of any variety, in the best possible way Tomatoes grown not in greenhouse conditions, but in simple beds, are preserved.
Choosing a convenient storage location
An equally important condition for long-term storage of tomatoes is the correct choice of a suitable place for storing them. Such places are best in cool and dark rooms, for example, a basement or cellar in a private house, an insulated loggia or balcony, a storage room or just free space on the floor under the bed.
As a last resort, a special drawer for vegetables in the refrigerator is suitable if the tomatoes are planned to be stored for a short time (two to three weeks).
Necessary storage conditions
Based on current practice, the optimal temperature for storing tomatoes is 8-15 ° C with a relative air humidity of 70-80%, as well as indoor air ventilation.
It should be taken into account that fresh tomato fruits are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, therefore an important condition for their preservation is the stability of these parameters; sudden changes in this case are unacceptable. This leads to rapid fading of the form and loss of the original taste of fresh tomatoes.
Unripe fruits are best kept in the light for rapid ripening. At room temperature, tomatoes can last for one and a half to two weeks without losing their shape and specific taste.
Preparing tomatoes for storage
To ensure long-term preservation of tomatoes in fresh, a number of certain conditions must be met:
- It is necessary to harvest the crop before the temperature drops to 8°C and below;
- Tomato fruits should be picked together with the tail so that they can be stored longer;
- It is better to pick tomatoes in the daytime or evening and in dry weather, when the dew has disappeared from them;
- after harvesting the fruits, they must be carefully sorted, choosing only whole, elastic tomatoes for storage;
- It is best to select slightly unripe fruits of milky ripeness, beginning to turn red and having a light green or pale pink color;
- Before placing tomatoes in containers for storage, it is advisable to wipe them with an alcohol solution to kill all pathogenic microbes.
Compliance with these simple rules will significantly increase the shelf life of fresh tomatoes.
Basic storage methods
There are quite a few ways to store tomatoes, which can be divided into two main groups:
- Ways to preserve tomatoes fresh.
- Methods for preserving processed tomatoes.
Let's take a closer look at the most well-known and common methods.
In boxes
Fresh tomatoes are best stored in wooden or plastic boxes; suitable for this purpose and cardboard boxes. To do this, the bottom of the box is covered with paper and a layer of tomatoes is laid out on it with the tail facing up.
At the same time, the fruits should not be placed closely so that they do not come into contact with each other. For better preservation, each fruit should be wrapped in paper or covered with dry peat or sawdust.
Having laid the first layer, paper is laid on top and the second layer is laid in the same way. In total, no more than three layers should be placed in the box, so as not to crush the tomatoes placed in the lower layers.
Periodically, every 8-10 days, it is advisable to check the contents of the boxes and remove the fruits that are beginning to deteriorate so that they do not infect the rest.
Instead of paper, the layer between the layers can be made of straw, which is an excellent antibacterial agent and allows you to preserve the crop much longer.
In banks
There are several options for storing fresh tomatoes in glass jars. In any case, the jar must first be pasteurized (pour boiling water over it for a few minutes).
After this, in the first option, two or three tablespoons of dry mustard powder are poured into the bottom of the jar and the tomatoes are laid in layers, sprinkling each layer with dry mustard. After this, the jar is closed with a lid (preferably metal) and sent for long-term storage.
In the second option, tomatoes are placed in a jar in layers and 2-3 tablespoons of alcohol are poured in (depending on the capacity of the jar). Then the jar is shaken vigorously (but gently) so that the alcohol moistens all the fruits and a lit wick is inserted inside the jar. When the alcohol inside the can catches fire, close it immediately metal lid, rolled up and stored.
It is also possible to preserve tomatoes in jars using the “liquid method”. To do this, prepare a solution of water, vinegar and salt in a ratio of 8:1:1, place the fruits in a jar and fill it with this solution. Pour a layer of regular sunflower oil about the thickness of a finger and roll it up with a lid.
In a saucepan
Large-capacity pots are best suited for this method. A layer of table salt is poured onto their bottom, then a layer of large tomatoes cut into pieces is laid out, then a layer of salt is poured again and a layer of whole tomatoes is placed on top of it.
After this, again a layer of chopped tomatoes, salt and whole fruits, and so on, alternating layers until the pan is completely filled. In addition to salt, you can add various spices to the pan: pepper, bay leaf, dill, etc.
In the refrigerator
The best place in this case is a special shelf (pallet) for storing vegetables. With this storage method, the tomatoes are placed on the shelf in layers with their tails up in such a way as to prevent them from touching each other. For better preservation, it is better to wrap each fruit in paper.
Alternatively, fresh tomatoes can be placed in the freezer. Their shelf life in this case will be practically unlimited. But it is best to use such tomatoes after they have been frozen as an addition to various dishes: soups, stews, etc.
Dried (sun-dried) tomatoes
In this way, it is possible to preserve tomatoes for quite a long time (up to six months).
There are three main ways to prepare them for storage in this form:
- In a special electric dryer for fruits and vegetables.
- In the oven of a gas or electric stove.
- Natural drying in the sun.
To do this, the tomatoes are cut into slices, excess pulp is removed from them, then they are placed on a baking sheet and placed in the dryer or oven. Or they are simply laid out on a tray and exposed to the sun. They are dried until all the moisture comes out of them.
After this, the dried tomato slices are placed in a canvas bag or some suitable container (jar, box, etc.) and left for storage in a cool, dry place.
Salted tomatoes
This method allows you to preserve tomatoes for a long time (up to six months or longer). Salting can be done cold or hot. In any of these options, a solution is prepared from water and salt in the ratio: about 1 liter of water 30-40 grams of salt.
The tomatoes are placed in layers in a prepared container, on the bottom of which various spices are first placed: currant leaves, cherry leaves, horseradish leaves, bay leaves, allspice and black pepper, etc.
After this, the tomatoes are poured with hot or cold marinade and covered with a regular lid. A particularly aromatic taste is obtained if you pickle tomatoes in this way in a wooden, preferably an oak, barrel.
Canned tomatoes
Canning tomatoes allows you to preserve them for as long as possible (up to a year or longer). For this purpose, ripe fruits of medium size are selected that do not have any external defects. They are thoroughly washed and placed in layers in a pre-pasteurized glass jar. After this, the jar is filled with boiling water for several minutes.
At the same time, the marinade is prepared in the following proportions: for 5 liters of water, 1 glass of salt, 1 glass of granulated sugar and 1 glass of vinegar. In addition, various spices and seasonings can be added to the jar: lava leaf, garlic, dill, pepper, currant or cherry leaves, etc.
This solution is brought to a boil and poured into a jar with packed tomatoes. After this, the jar is closed with a metal lid and rolled up. Tomatoes prepared in this way can be stored in any suitable place: pantry, closet, basement, etc.
Way preparing tomatoes for the winter, which we propose to use, does not imply the use of salt, vinegar, or water. No hint of fermentation or pickling!
Tomatoes will remain elastic and fresh, as if straight from the garden. Everyone will be surprised when New Year's table you will serve not greenhouse tomatoes, but those that have ripened under the summer sun!
For this preparation, choose tomatoes that are dense, fleshy, small size, without dents or other damage.
How to preserve tomatoes
INGREDIENTS FOR A 3-LITER JAR
- 5–6 tbsp. l. mustard powder
- tomatoes
COOKING
1. Sterilize the jars. Wash the tomatoes and dry thoroughly.
2. Use a dry and clean spoon to generously scoop mustard powder and pour it into the bottom of a dry jar.
3. Trying not to press them against each other, lay out the tomatoes in 1 layer, placing the place where the stem was facing up. Sprinkle with mustard again.
4. Repeat layers until the jar is full. At the end, add another portion of powder and close the lid (sterile and dry).
5. After this, tilt the jar and carefully roll it on the table so that the mustard is evenly distributed.
6. Store the workpiece in a cool, dark place.
The essential oils contained in mustard inhibit the growth of putrefactive bacteria, allowing tomatoes to remain fresh. Try preparing a portion of tomatoes this way and be sure: the method will not let you down!
Vegetables and mushrooms
The tomato or, as it is also called, the “golden apple” is one of those fruits that are associated with summer, sun and light, healthy dishes. A tomato acquires its extraordinary taste as a result of a combination of sugars and acids with volatile substances. And the latter, as is known, are extremely susceptible to low temperatures.
This is why a fragrant tomato loses its taste and smell in the refrigerator fresh vegetable. How best to store tomatoes so that they do not turn into insipid, tasteless fruits, and how the degree of their ripeness affects storage conditions - many housewives want to know about this.
Therefore, this article is devoted to how much, where and how to properly store fresh, sun-dried, dried and canned tomatoes.
How and where to properly store fresh tomatoes
French scientists have long studied at what temperature to store tomatoes so that their structure is not destroyed and their beneficial properties are not lost.
So, at a temperature of 20°C, the same volatile substances that were already discussed not only did not collapse, but also began to be produced even more intensely. That is, the tomato became even more fragrant.
And when it was placed in conditions where the temperature did not rise above 4 degrees Celsius, the volatile compounds immediately stopped being released, and those already present in the tomato immediately began to break down.
Milk tomatoes should be stored at 8 - 10 degrees, red ones - from 4 to 6 degrees, but brown tomatoes tolerate the cold best of all - they are best stored at 0 - 2 degrees above zero.
Storage conditions depend mainly on the degree of ripeness, that is, the ripening temperature will be determined based on whether the tomato is green, milky, red or brown.
For example, green tomatoes certainly will not ripen at low temperatures.
So, how to store tomatoes in an apartment before processing? As a rule, green tomatoes can last from 21 to 70 days, but ripe ones can last from 7 to 10 days (of course, if you know how and where to store tomatoes).
Tomatoes should be stored in one layer; it is better to place them with the top to the bottom of the container. By the way, few people know that red tomatoes emit ethylene, which can speed up the ripening of other fruits.
How to store green tomatoes
In order for green or blanc tomatoes to ripen faster, you should leave them in a room where the temperature ranges from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, if it exceeds upper limit, then the fruits will stop producing lycopene (the main coloring component). In order for the tomatoes to remain green for as long as possible, the room temperature should be about 13 degrees.
How to store sun-dried tomatoes
Sun-dried tomatoes are very interesting way how to store tomatoes in winter. Ready-made sun-dried tomatoes can be placed in thick cotton bags, like dried fruits.
You can also use an airtight food container to store them, after filling them with olive oil. This container should be stored in the refrigerator.
You can store sun-dried tomatoes in freezer, but it is necessary to take into account that when defrosted they will lose color.
How to store dried tomatoes
Dried tomatoes can be stored in the same way as sun-dried tomatoes, that is, in a cotton bag. You can put them in glass jars, which must first be sterilized and dried.
It is advisable to add spices, garlic, herbs, salt and only then dried tomatoes.
Then you need to add refined oil to the jar so that it completely covers the tomatoes, and cover the neck of the container with cling film and a clean plastic lid.
Another way to store dried tomatoes is to put them in jars, cover them with wax paper or ground stoppers, you can also fill them with varnish, resin or wax.
Dried tomatoes are also packaged in boxes made of wood, plywood, cardboard, thick fabric bags, cardboard boxes, sieve, baskets, etc.
They will be stored well if you line the bottom of the container thick paper, and place it in a cool, ventilated area where the temperature ranges from 1 to 10 degrees Celsius.
It is also possible to store dried tomatoes in the refrigerator.
How to store canned tomatoes
Many people believe that canned tomatoes have no shelf life. However, it is still advisable not to store them for more than 12 months. The point is that even with vertical position jars, the acid can react with the metal lid, and harmful compounds will penetrate there. Pickled tomatoes should not be stored in a barrel for more than 8 months, so that harmful bacteria do not penetrate into them.
Canned tomatoes can be stored at room temperature, for example, in the pantry or under the bed, but pickled ones need lower temperatures. These tomatoes should be stored correctly in the cellar or refrigerator.
How to properly store tomatoes in the refrigerator
If it so happens that this fruit needs to be cooled, then you need to know how to store tomatoes in the refrigerator.
It is better to place them in a special compartment for vegetables - the so-called freshness zone, where they are maintained optimal conditions for maximum long-term storage of vegetables.
Fresh tomatoes should be in one, or maximum two, rows in the box so that the bottom row does not choke. If tomatoes are placed on the refrigerator shelf, it is better to place them in a plastic bag.
By the way, practice has shown that a tomato that had been in the refrigerator for almost a week resumed the release of aromatic substances when placed in favorable conditions. Currently, scientists are trying to develop new tomato varieties that would be resistant to low temperatures, and until this breakthrough in agronomy has taken place, it is necessary to take into account all the features of storing this fruit.
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How to properly store red brown and milk tomatoes?
Many housewives do not understand why they need to know how to store tomatoes if today this fruit can be purchased at any time of the year in a supermarket or vegetable market. But real connoisseurs of the product understand the difference between an imported offer without a distinct taste and a supply of tomatoes made at the peak of the season.
Storing such a perishable component is indeed not the easiest thing, but with the right approach, even at home you can find effective method. You just need to carry out quality pre-treatment items and find a suitable place to store supplies.
Preparing tomatoes for storage
To keep vegetables in optimal condition for the winter, they must be collected on time. The first harvest is harvested in July and this continues until the first frost. If the temperature is expected to drop to at least zero, tomatoes are harvested even when unripe. Delay will cause frozen workpieces to quickly turn black.
Products that will be put into long-term storage are subject to the following processing:
- We sort them, dividing them into groups by variety, size and degree of ripeness. Large and small tomatoes need different times for ripening, and red and green also have different temperatures.
- Only dense and beautiful components without dents, cracks, or signs of damage can be stored. Even a small dark spot on the surface of a vegetable can ruin the entire clutch!
- How to preserve tomatoes for the longest possible time? They must be left with the stalks, then the withering process will noticeably slow down.
Tip: To preserve cherry tomatoes for the winter at home, you don’t need to resort to any tricks. It is enough to dry them, put them in plastic container without a lid and put it in the refrigerator. From time to time, the bookmark is sorted out, using softened specimens for food.
- Regardless of where and how to store tomatoes, they must be thoroughly dried before storing. Moisture can cause mold.
- The chances of achieving the desired result will increase significantly if you wipe each fruit with a cloth soaked in alcohol or vodka. Disinfection will help get rid of microbes and reduce the risk of rot.
- There is one more preventive manipulation, which, when carried out at home, helps keep tomatoes in perfect condition. Prepare a 0.4% solution of edible gelatin and dip each vegetable into it one by one. The products will be covered with a film that performs a protective function.
- No less effective is the use of a 0.1% solution of potassium permanganate or a 0.3% solution of boric acid. We treat the tomatoes with one of them before storing and dry them.
Of course, you don’t have to follow these recommendations, but in this case, the vegetables won’t last long at home. In just a few days they will develop rot or mold. The process will develop so quickly that it will not be possible to use the tomatoes for cooking in a timely manner and the clutch will have to be completely thrown away.
How to store tomatoes for the winter in the basement?
The room in which tomatoes will be stored must be cleaned and well ventilated. Optimal humidity is 80-90%, temperature is up to 12ºС. Temperatures should not be allowed to drop below zero. If food starts to wrinkle after a while, it is a result of excessive dryness. Mold is the result of high humidity.
- We lay out red tomatoes in boxes in layers, sprinkled with sawdust. The petioles should look up. We form no more than 2-3 rows. Additionally, vegetables can be wrapped in thin paper so that they do not touch. We stretch one layer of cling film on top. At a temperature of 1-2ºС, the components will be stored for 1-2 months.
- We store brown tomatoes in the same way, but at a temperature of 4-6ºС, then they will ripen slowly, but will not spoil. After the workpieces turn red, the temperature should be reduced slightly to slow down biological processes.
- Green and milk tomatoes are stored on racks, each fruit is wrapped in paper and placed in a box. Vegetables are sprinkled with sawdust or onion peels. In such conditions they can lie for up to 3-4 months.
The masonry is regularly checked for signs of deterioration. If any are identified, you need to sort through the entire stock, wipe the fruits again or coat them with the selected protective composition.
How to store tomatoes for ripening?
Harvested green tomatoes are transferred to ripening warm room. They reach the desired state in about 3-4 days. It is better to keep vegetables in the dark. With this approach, it will take a little longer for the products to turn red, but they will ripen evenly.
If the situation allows, tomatoes are ripened directly in the garden according to a simple scheme. The main thing here is to think about how to keep tomatoes from freezing:
- We remove the supports and lay out the bushes on straw or similar warm bedding.
- We cover the blanks with film, creating a kind of greenhouse.
- We do not stop watering, providing the tomatoes with moisture. In this case, you must act carefully so as not to wet the fruits.
We harvest the crop as it ripens. It is not necessary to wait until the tomatoes turn red; they can be harvested already brown.
We store tomatoes in the refrigerator and on the balcony
When organizing the storage of tomatoes in an apartment, you need to remember that red fruits will last at room temperature for no more than 3-4 days, pink ones - up to 5 days, brown ones - no more than a week, green and milky ones - about 10 days. True, milky specimens can be placed in a cool and dark place, for example, under the bed. In this case, they will last much longer.
In general, at home the process is organized in the following ways:
- In the refrigerator. The optimal place is the vegetable chamber. Strong fruits without signs of spoilage are placed here. First, lay out one row of tomatoes, placing them with their tails up. Cover it with paper and make the same laying. We don’t fill the compartment completely, we leave a little space. If you additionally wrap each product in paper, it will be even more reliable.
- On the balcony. If the room temperature is kept within 5-12ºС, then simply lay out the vegetables in clean boxes covered with cloth or paper. Between the layers of vegetables we make spacers from the same material. Boxes can be stacked on top of each other. The top is covered with a cloth that prevents sun rays, but not blocking the access of oxygen.
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How and where to store fresh tomatoes
In spring and summer, we work hard on our plots so that when the cold weather arrives, we have fresh and tasty natural products on our tables.
By the time the harvest arrives, gardeners and gardeners are increasingly beginning to think about how to properly preserve what they managed to grow, and housewives especially often worry about how to preserve tomatoes at home.
Read on to learn about the most suitable methods for storing them and whether it is possible to keep tender fruits in the refrigerator.
Which varieties last the longest?
If you are going to keep the crop fresh for a long time at home, it is better to choose varieties for planting that are characterized by high shelf life. Thus, the varieties “Giraffe” and “Long Keeper” can be stored until spring, the fruits of the variety with the telling name “New Year” will decorate your winter holiday table.
Experienced summer residents know that when tomatoes begin to ripen, the main thing is not to miss the moment when the fruits begin to acquire a delicate milky pink hue. It is at this stage that it is better to collect tomatoes for long-term storage at home. Try to collect them together with the stalks - this way they will last longer.
Low temperature storage
Every housewife knows why you can’t keep tomatoes in the refrigerator for a long time: the fruits quickly lose their taste and become loose.
The fact is that fresh tomatoes owe their rich taste to a special combination of volatile substances, acids and sugars. Volatile substances are very sensitive to temperature effects, and if the air around is heated lower, like in a refrigerator, or much higher than normal, the aroma of tomatoes is lost.
A group of French scientists conducted research on the influence of low and high temperatures tastes like tomatoes. It turned out that at 20 °C the production of fragrant substances increases. The tomatoes become even more aromatic. And at a standard refrigerator temperature of 4 °C, on the contrary, the destruction of already existing volatile compounds begins. Moreover, first of all, the substances responsible for that fresh herbaceous taste for which we love tomatoes are lost.
In addition, when left in the refrigerator for a long time, harmful elements accumulate in tomatoes. Of course, this method should not be completely rejected - it is quite suitable for short-term storage of the product. It is advisable that fresh fruits do not spend more than a day in the refrigerator. For long-term storage of the crop, we recommend using one of the methods below.
Method No. 1
In clean, disinfected boxes with lattice walls and bottom. Don't forget to cover them with clean paper first. Tomatoes must be placed correctly: placing each row with paper or wrapping the fruit in it, as well as sprinkling the layers with sawdust or peat.
In the area of your home where tomatoes are stored, good daily ventilation should be provided to ventilate the carbon dioxide that the fruits emit. Check their condition at least once a week: under no circumstances should spoiled fruits be kept next to healthy ones.
Method number 2
Tomatoes collected at the stage of milk ripeness, at the end of October, are best wrapped in thin black paper and placed in a lattice box. Cover each layer with straw. At home, this method is most effective if you place the containers in a dark place with a temperature of about 10 degrees Celsius and good ventilation. If you carefully follow the recommendations, tomatoes can be stored until January.
As needed, tomatoes are exposed for ripening in a well-lit room with an air temperature of about 25 degrees. The process lasts from 5 to 10 days.
Method number 3
Tomatoes that need ripening are picked together with their stems and hung in a cool, ventilated place. You can also simply place the fruits in a cool, bright place for slow ripening.
Method number 4
If you are still puzzling over how to store tomatoes that have already ripened and are ready to eat, you can use the following instructions:
- Place washed fresh tomatoes in a bowl and pour in a mixture of water, vinegar and salt in the ratio: 8:1:1.
- Pour vegetable oil over the fruits so that the layer covers the top of the tomatoes by 1 cm.
Method number 5
Wash the strong red fruits, remove the stalks and sort them by ripeness and size.
Overripe ones are also useful: we cut them into large pieces.
Place the chopped tomatoes in an 8-10 cm layer in a jar or saucepan, add a little salt, place a layer of whole fruits on top and sprinkle with salt again. We repeat the pattern until the dishes are full.
What to do if tomatoes start to spoil?
Even if you did everything correctly, there is a high probability that the crop will begin to rot. Why is this happening? Most common reason- diseases such as bacterial cancer and late blight. The fact that the fruits are starting to hurt is indicated by the appearance brown spots. The salvation is the pasteurization procedure.
IN hot water(55-65 degrees) submerge the tomatoes and keep them there for a little over two minutes. The main thing in this matter is to observe the measure and not to overcook the tender tomatoes, otherwise they will soften. Then dry the vegetables on paper in a dry, well-ventilated area.
Source: http://HozObzor.ru/kak-hranit/pomidoryi.html
How to store tomatoes
Some people think that it is impossible to preserve such a perishable vegetable in excellent condition. But it’s enough to remember that you can buy ripe, strong tomatoes at the market even in winter to understand that this is possible.
The main thing is to choose the right vegetables and find the optimal place to store them.
What tomatoes can be stored
Tomato harvesting begins at the end of July and continues until frost. As soon as the temperature drops below zero for the first time, all tomatoes, regardless of ripeness, are removed.
Because even slightly frozen tomatoes cannot be stored, since they begin to turn black in places of contact with frosty air.
But even if, at first glance, the tomatoes are not damaged, they will quickly begin to deteriorate in storage.
Mid-late and late varieties of tomatoes are best stored: De Barao, San Marzano, Kumato, Zhanina, Giraffe, Masterpiece-1.
How to prepare tomatoes for storage
- Tomatoes are sorted by degree of ripeness and fruit size, because red and green tomatoes are stored at different temperatures. And large tomatoes ripen faster during storage than small ones.
- Tomatoes should be strong, without dents or disease damage. After all, even a small speck of late blight on one fruit can destroy the rest of the tomatoes lying in the same box.
- If possible, you should leave the stems, because these tomatoes store much better.
- The tomatoes must be completely dry.
- Before putting tomatoes in boxes, they are sometimes carefully wiped with alcohol or vodka and dried well. With this simple manipulation, microbes on the surface of tomatoes are destroyed, which also extends storage time.
- The tomatoes are dipped one by one for a few seconds in a 0.4 percent aqueous gelatin solution and then dried. A thin gelatin film will prevent the tomatoes from spoiling during storage.
- Tomatoes are stored well if they are treated with a 0.3% solution of boric acid or a 0.1% aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.
How to store tomatoes in a cellar or basement
The cellar for these vegetables should be clean and well ventilated.
It is important to set the optimal humidity in the room – 80–90%. If the storage is damp, the tomatoes become moldy, and due to dry air they gradually begin to wrinkle, dry out and do not ripen.
The temperature in the cellar should not exceed 12°C.
How to store red tomatoes
- Tomatoes are placed with their petioles facing up in shallow boxes in 2–3 rows. Each row is laid with chaff or sawdust.
- To prevent the tomatoes from touching each other, they are wrapped in soft paper.
- The boxes are covered with a thin film. But you need to ensure that access to tomatoes is not interrupted fresh air.
Store red tomatoes at a temperature of +1…+2°. Shelf life – 1–2 months.
How to store brown tomatoes
- Tomatoes are placed with the petioles up in clean boxes of 8–12 kg.
- To prevent them from touching each other, they are sprinkled with sawdust or wrapped in thin paper.
- Close with a lid and store at a temperature of +4…+6°.
How to store milk and green tomatoes
These are the tomatoes that are best stored—up to three months—since even in picked fruits the ripening process continues.
Method 1
Green tomatoes are stored on racks in complete darkness. In November, the fruits are wrapped in soft wrapping paper and placed in boxes lined with sawdust, burlap or chaff. The boxes are placed in a room with a low temperature. Store until January.
Method 2
Tomatoes are placed in boxes, sprinkling each layer with chaff or sawdust. If there is no chaff or sawdust, they can be replaced with onion peels.
Store at temperatures from -2 to +2°.
Ripening green tomatoes indoors
In order for green tomatoes to quickly turn red, they are transferred to a warm room, where they ripen within three days.
If green tomatoes are kept in the dark these days, the redness will go away more slowly, but the color will be more uniform than those kept in the light. But the latter will keep up faster.
Ripening green tomatoes in the garden
When there is no room to ripen tomatoes indoors, they can be left to ripen in the garden.
- To do this, the supports are removed, and the bushes themselves are laid on spread straw.
- The tomatoes are covered with film on top, making a kind of greenhouse.
- Water carefully so as not to wet the fruits.
- The crop is harvested as it ripens.
How to store tomatoes in an apartment
When trying to store tomatoes in an apartment, you need to know that at room temperature, red tomatoes can last no more than four days, pink ones - five days, brown ones - a week, and green ones - about ten days. And then they will start to deteriorate.
But if the tomatoes are at the stage of milky ripeness, then they can be laid out in a cool pantry or under the bed. Without access to light they will be stored for quite a long time.. True, they will be inferior in taste to tomatoes stored in the cellar.
Therefore, if there is no cellar, and the tomatoes need to be preserved for as long as possible, then they needs to be put in the refrigerator or taken out to a glassed-in balcony.
How to store tomatoes in the refrigerator
Tomatoes are stored in the vegetable compartment. Strong tomatoes without signs of spoilage are suitable for storage.
They are placed in a box, laid out in one row with their tails up. Then they are laid with soft paper and the second row is laid. For better storage Each fruit can be wrapped in soft paper. Then the tomatoes will not touch each other. And if one fruit begins to deteriorate, this will not affect the quality of other tomatoes.
But you will have to forget about plastic bags, since tomatoes in them quickly disappear without access to fresh air.
How to store tomatoes on the balcony
If the balcony is glazed and the temperature on it is kept within +5...+12°, then the tomatoes are placed in boxes covered with burlap or paper. Each layer of tomatoes is separated from each other using the same spacer material. The boxes are placed in stacks and covered with fabric that does not allow light to pass through, but does not impede the flow of fresh air.
- To make green tomatoes ripen faster, you need to take a few of them, put them in a paper bag and put an apple in it. The ethylene gas released by this fruit will help the tomatoes ripen quickly. A ripe tomato has the same effect.
- Tomatoes in storage are periodically sorted. Tomatoes that have turned red are moved to a cooler place or used for food, and those that have begun to spoil are removed. If necessary, change sawdust and bedding.
Source: http://OnWomen.ru/kak-hranit-pomidory.html
From the beginning of spring to the end of summer, many housewives work hard in their gardens to grow tasty, healthy and, most importantly, natural products. Several beds are certainly occupied by a common favorite - the tomato!
Its bright, ripe and incredibly aromatic fruits, tomatoes, are rich in the hormone serotonin, which gives us a feeling of happiness, vitamins C and A, as well as a whole list of organic acids.
Of course, you can find beautiful, even tomatoes in every store and supermarket. Fortunately, they are full of them all year round.
But is a store-bought copy comparable to a home-made one? Grown with care, incredibly healthy, aromatic and, well, very tasty!
It is no wonder that the goal and dream of many summer residents is to preserve tender multi-nest berries until late autumn. But is it possible? And if so, how to preserve tomatoes at home?
Surprising but true...
From a botanical point of view, tomatoes are nothing more than berries. But in the 19th century, the US Supreme Court ruled that tomato fruits should be treated as vegetables when collecting customs duties.
It is this difference in views that has become the reason for the question so often asked today, what type of crop the tomato belongs to.
Which varieties stay fresh the longest?
The most offensive thing for any housewife is to throw away a product grown with love because it has spoiled. And this, unfortunately, happens, and often. It’s better to play it safe in advance and choose a variety of tomatoes for planting that definitely won’t let you down. As one wise saying goes:
“It’s better to think for one day than to work in vain for a whole week.”
Moreover, nowadays there is plenty to choose from. The number of tomato varieties bred by breeders reaches 25 thousand. Among them there are both mid-late and late varieties. And even a wonderful new product - “bed-beds”, i.e. special long-lasting varieties.
Perhaps many have already had the opportunity to meet some of them:
- "De Barao" - round, slightly oblong fruits of various shades: red, green, yellow, black.
- "San Marzano" are fleshy burgundy fruits shaped like plums.
- “Long Keeper” - the fruits will remain juicy and fresh until February.
- "Giraffe" - round juicy fruits. You can decorate the table with them even on March 8th.
Of course, you can choose one of these varieties. But what to do when you really want to plant some special, too beautiful or too tasty and attractive varieties?
Try to create storage for them best conditions, so you will at least prolong their life as much as possible.
How to keep tomatoes healthy and fresh for a long time
Try to find a secluded, dark place in your apartment where the temperature always remains stable and is within 10 °C. The humidity is 80% and there is good air circulation.
This could be a basement, cellar or room, but in no case a refrigerator. In it, tomatoes will lose their herbaceous smell, for which they are so loved, and taste.
Here's the thing! All the flavor of tomatoes comes from acids, sugars and special volatile substances. This entire complex is extremely sensitive to temperature. environment. If it turns out to be lower than required, the aromatic berries will become less aromatic and less tasty.
Recent studies by scientists from France have shown that the optimal temperature at which the production of volatile fragrant substances is enhanced is 20°C. It is in such warm conditions Tomatoes are left to fully ripen 5 days before consumption.
However, you don’t have to completely forget about the refrigerator. This is a great and easy way to preserve beautiful berries if you intend to eat them within a few days. Or refrigerate before cutting into a salad.
What else is important to know about multi-celled berries in order to keep them fresh for as long as possible:
- Be sure to re-sort your harvest. Do not store whole and damaged, overripe and green fruits together.
Milk ripe tomatoes are best stored when they have reached their natural size, but are not ripe. As a rule, at this moment the berries acquire a pale pink tint.
- Pick tomatoes from the plant before the night air gets colder than 8°C. If ripe fruits freeze right in the garden, they certainly won’t last long.
- It is better to collect during the day, when the berries are already dry after the morning dew.
- Wash tomatoes before long-term storage no need, it’s better to wipe each fruit with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol. This way you will get rid of all germs at once.
The stem of tomatoes must be cut off immediately before slicing!
How to store tomatoes in trays and boxes
If you have already decided on the place allocated for storing fruits, it’s time to prepare boxes for them. Cover their bottoms with clean paper or fill them with sawdust.
Then wrap the paper around the fruits, each individually, and arrange them in rows. No more than 3 in one box. Cover each layer with paper or sprinkle with sawdust.
Remember to leave small empty spaces between the fruits for free air circulation. You don't need to pack them too tightly.
Wherever your berries are stored, visit them at least occasionally. Check the condition of each fruit, keep spoiled ones away from healthy ones. There is no need to feel sorry for them, otherwise you may lose the entire harvest.
Make your decision to try delicious tomatoes in advance. A week before, take the selected fruits to a bright and warm room for complete, final ripening.
How to preserve tomatoes in jars
You can increase the shelf life of berries to five months by placing them in simple glass jars. This method is suitable for both ripe and milk fruits.
1 option. Rinse and dry the tomatoes thoroughly. Place them in a sterilized jar, but do not press too tightly. Add a few spoons of alcohol and cover with a nylon lid.
Roll the jar in your hands. But there is no need to be cowardly and thereby damage the tomatoes. Perform the operation carefully, so that all the fruits get wet.
After this, insert the wick inside the jar and light it from the outside. As soon as the alcohol in the jar catches fire, quickly and carefully roll it up.
Option 2. You will need approximately 6 tbsp. l. dry mustard. Pour the first 2 into the bottom of a sterilized jar immediately. Then arrange the tomatoes, adding more to each layer. At the end add another 1 liter. mustard and roll up the jar.
Option 3. Place 9 mm in a sterilized jar. layer of chopped tomatoes and salt. Next we put the whole fruits to the end of the jar, sprinkling each layer with salt. Let's roll up.
How to Preserve Tomatoes That Are Fully Ripe and Ready to Eat
It also happens that the red berries are already overripe, you don’t want to eat them yet, but it’s a pity to throw them away. In this case, use the following method.
Mix water with salt and 9% vinegar in a ratio of 8x1x1. Place clean tomatoes in a jar or pan and fill with the resulting mixture.
Pour on top vegetable oil so that it covers 1 cm of food.
What's the best way to store tomatoes in the refrigerator?
You also need to know how to store fruits in the refrigerator. Each of them has a special shelf for vegetables, and that’s where they need to be placed. The cuttings should face upwards, and between each fruit it is necessary to leave very little space for air to enter.
We must cover each layer with paper, or even better, wrap it around each individual fruit.
Tomatoes should not be stored in the cold for more than 3-4 days, otherwise they will become useless and tasteless.
How to save tomatoes that have started to spoil
The first sign of a tomato “disease” is the appearance of brown or other spots.
But you can fight them too. True, in a more radical way - through pasteurization.
Heat the water to 60°C. It will become like this about 7 minutes after boiling. And immerse the tomatoes in it for literally 3 minutes. After this, dry the wet fruits in the fresh air.
Save your efforts and store food correctly. Enjoy natural, tasty and aromatic tomatoes all year round!