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In order for cauliflower to remain tasty and healthy for as long as possible, you need to know how to properly store it in the cellar and apartment.

There are several ways to help extend the life of cut heads. The main thing is to properly prepare the vegetable for storage and create the necessary conditions to increase shelf life.

We will tell you in the article whether it is possible to store cauliflower in an apartment or in a cellar, and how to properly organize storage at home for the winter.

How to prepare for storage?

It is important to choose the right time to harvest. Yellowed inflorescences are a sign of overripe cabbage. Such a vegetable loses its taste and shelf life.

The following heads of cabbage are allowed for storage:

• with a clean surface of white or pale yellow color, the coloring should be uniform;
• tight, juicy, with whole inflorescences;
• at least 10-13 cm in diameter, weighing about 0.-1.5 kg (depending on the variety).

Only late-ripening varieties are suitable for long-term storage. After harvesting (purchasing), the crop must be hidden from direct sunlight as soon as possible, otherwise it will wither and turn yellow.

• divide the heads into parts;
• cut off leaves and roots;
• Rinse;
• dry thoroughly.

In this form, the ripe forks are ready to be placed in the refrigerator, preserved, or dried.

The necessary conditions

The most optimal for preserving cauliflower are the following conditions:

1. Temperature - from 0 to +3? C. At lower values, the inflorescences will quickly freeze, and at higher values, they will begin to actively germinate.
2. Humidity - 90-95%. With an increase, the inflorescences may rot.
3. Lighting. Forks are stored in the dark.
4. Ventilation. The room must be dry and well ventilated.

How to properly store at home?

There are several storage methods that have their pros and cons.

Fresh in the refrigerator

Before putting vegetables in the refrigerator, you need to:

1. Clean the head of cabbage from leaves and roots, if any remain.
2. Rinse the cabbage thoroughly under cool water (there may be cobwebs, aphids, and dirt between the inflorescences).
3. Dry and put each head in its own plastic bag. You can wrap each vegetable tightly with cling film in two layers.

Unfortunately, the refrigerator will not solve the problem of winter storage - the fresh shelf life of this product is too short (1-2 weeks depending on the density of the head).

Cauliflower When boiled, store in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours, especially if it is used to feed children.

How to store cauliflower in the refrigerator, read Here.

In the freezer

The best option for storing cauliflower is the freezer. Here it can lie from 6 months to a year.

Before putting vegetables in the freezer, you should:

1. Place the head of cauliflower in cold salted water so that insects and larvae come out.
2. Dip the head of cabbage for 2-3 minutes in boiling water with the addition of citric acid or juice.
3. After blanching, place the cabbage in a pan of clean, cold water. This will preserve the beneficial properties, color and juiciness of the product.
4. Dry the head of cabbage, trim off leaves and damaged areas.
5. Divide the forks into inflorescences and arrange into portions, place in sealed bags.

The bottom compartment of the refrigerator is best suited for defrosting. If re-frozen, cauliflower will become more like liquid porridge and will not be suitable for consumption.

He will tell you about freezing cauliflower for the winter. this article.

Is it possible at room temperature in an apartment?

Healthy, undamaged forks will keep at room temperature for 12-20 days.. At home, cabbage is stored in a dark place, for example, in a pantry.

On the balcony

An insulated loggia with a temperature of at least 0°C is suitable for storing cauliflower. The heads can be hung, as in the basement, if you cover the windows with dark film, paper or blinds.

In the cellar

A cellar or basement is an ideal option for storing a large harvest. The main thing is that optimal temperature and humidity are maintained there.

Periodically you will have to check the condition of the vegetables. If mold and rot appear, spoiled heads must be immediately removed.

Keep Cauliflower Fresh The following methods will help:

1. Hang them upside down by the stalk at a distance of 6 cm from each other. So they hang for 1-1.5 months.
2. Bury the roots in clean sand and moisten as they dry. The shelf life will be 5-6 months.
3. Place in boxes on shelves. Remove the top leaves and roots. Arrange so that the heads do not touch each other.

   Then cover the boxes with cardboard or opaque film. You can simply pack each head of cabbage in a plastic bag and put it on the shelves. Shelf life: 2-3 months.

Regardless of storage method, cauliflower should be checked every week for rot.

Which method will help the vegetable stay fresh for as long as possible?

Frozen cauliflower retains its consumer properties for 12 months. This is the maximum shelf life.

This sign indicates that the vegetable has begun to rot. Pathogenic microflora penetrates deep inside, infecting the product completely.

Alternative options for preparing for the winter

If there is no cellar or free space in the refrigerator, cauliflower stored dried or canned.

Drying

During the drying process, the inflorescences will decrease by 7 times; such a semi-finished product will not take up much space. The shelf life will be 7-10 months.

To dry cabbage you need:

• divide the head into inflorescences;
• dry in the oven for 3-5 hours at 60? C;
• distribute into glass jars or containers, cover with parchment paper;
• store in a dry, preferably cool place.

Before use, simply add water to the dried inflorescences and let them soak in moisture.

When drying in the oven, open the door slightly to allow steam to escape., this will prevent stewing and frying vegetables.

Conservation

Canned cauliflower can be stored for 1-2 years. If you wish, you can use the following recipe:

Ingredients:

• cauliflower - 10 kg;
• water - 6 l;
• coarse salt - 400 gr.;
• vinegar 6% - 400 ml.

Recipe:

1. Sterilize jars.
2. Bring water to a boil, add salt and vinegar.
3. Divide the head into inflorescences, rinse and blanch in salted water for 2-3 minutes.
4. Place the inflorescences in jars and fill with cooled brine.
5. Add spices to taste (2 bay leaves, 5-6 pieces of black and allspice, garlic).
6. Roll up the jars with lids, turn them over and cover with a warm blanket.
7. Cooled preserves should be stored in a cellar or pantry.

Canned food with swollen lids should not be eaten.

How long is it stored, how to increase the shelf life?

The shelf life of cauliflower varies greatly. Depends on the quality of the crop and the chosen method:

• in a cellar or basement - 2-3 months;
• in the refrigerator - up to 1 month;
• in the freezer - up to 1 year;
• on the balcony - up to 1 month, provided the balcony is sufficiently insulated.

What not to do?

Cauliflower will quickly deteriorate if:

1. Close the boxes with a tight, airtight lid.
2. Grow under artificial light.
3. Do not check vegetables for spoilage and rot for a long time.
4. Transfer from cold to warm and back (re-freeze).
5. Tie and hang in bunches.
6. Place undried inflorescences in the refrigerator and freezer.
7. Wrap forks in newspaper. Printing ink is very harmful to health. For storage, it is better to choose paper towels or parchment.

You should not try to preserve the flaccid heads, and also place them several at a time in deep boxes to save space on the balcony or in the basement. The cabbage will begin to actively release ethylene gas, which will accelerate wilting and lead to rapid spoilage of the crop.

Adviсe

Properly grown and harvested crops last longer. The following rules will help increase shelf life cauliflower:

• do not abuse nitrogen fertilizers;
• collect the product in dry weather:
• cut off the heads along with a few leaves;
• before canning, soak fresh cabbages from the garden in salt water for 10 minutes to release the insects and larvae hidden inside;
• blanch in salted water to avoid bitterness;
• freeze once;
• in the refrigerator, store in the vegetable compartment (bottom shelf);
• to store forks in a basement or cellar, the cabbage should not be cut, but twisted;
• Before storing the crop in the cellar, you should check it for the absence of mold and rodents (even an inconspicuous fungus on the walls or ceiling can ruin the entire cabbage).

Conclusion

There are plenty of ways to preserve cauliflower:

• in the cellar,
• on the balcony,
• to freeze,
• make pickles

or choose another option - everyone decides for themselves.

It should be remembered that Failure to comply with temperature and humidity conditions will lead to rapid deterioration of inflorescences. To avoid this, you should adhere to the above tips and recommendations.