A note to thrifty housewives: how to store leeks at home?

Leeks are one of the most valuable vegetables grown throughout the world. It is rich in B vitamins, ascorbic acid, iron, phosphorus and calcium.

To get the maximum benefit from it, you need to eat it fresh.

Read the article about how to properly store leeks in winter at home so that they do not spoil, and how to prepare the vegetable for storage.

How to properly prepare for storage at home in winter?

Harvesting should be done before the onset of cold weather, in sunny, dry weather.. After the onions are removed from the garden, they immediately begin to prepare them for storage:

1. Gently shake off the soil from the stems and leave them in the garden for 2 hours.
2. Sort the onions, removing spoiled and rotten specimens.
3. The roots of the bulbs are trimmed, but without touching the bottom itself. 1/3 of their length is left.
4. Remove diseased and yellowed leaves.

Sorted onions are ready for storage.

Conditions: humidity and temperature

Leeks can be stored at temperatures from -1 to +1 degrees. Optimal air humidity is 85%.

How to keep it fresh?

Maximum benefits can only be obtained from fresh bulbs. With the right approach, leeks can remain edible for 5-6 months.Store it in the refrigerator, on the balcony and in the basement.

In a refrigerator

The vegetable is stored well in the refrigerator if wrapped in plastic wrap. You should not place more than 5-8 tables in one roll.

Before storing in the refrigerator, wash and clean from dirt. Before wrapping the vegetables in film, cool them in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. This will prevent condensation from forming.

The package itself should also be cool. Several holes must be made in it so that the bow can breathe.

Advantages of this storage method:

• the vegetable does not lose moisture, remains juicy and meaty;
• reduced vapor permeability prevents the proliferation of microbes;
• The shelf life of onions in cling film is 5 months.

The only drawback of this method is that the onion will take up a lot of usable space.

On the balcony

Leeks can only be stored on a glazed balcony, provided that the temperature on it does not drop below -1 degree. Wooden boxes are considered the best packaging.

Step-by-step algorithm of actions:

1. Sand is poured into clean boxes. Its layer should not be more than 5 cm.
2. Place vegetables next to each other.
3. Cover the stems with parchment or other thick paper.
4. The leek is insulated with a blanket on top. This will maintain a normal level of humidity in the box and protect the crop from freezing.

In the basement

Onions can be stored fresh in the basement for up to six months. It is recommended to place it in boxes or pallets, sprinkled with calcined river sand. At a temperature of about 0 degrees, the vegetable will retain all its beneficial properties.

The vegetable is placed vertically in the sand. So that it bends less, is not injured and does not rot. Sand is carefully poured between the rows. Layer thickness – 10-15 cm.

As necessary, the trunks are removed from the box by pulling the top. With this storage method, you can promptly notice and remove fruits with signs of spoilage.

Read more about how to store leeks in a cellar or basement. Here.

Three ways to store leeks are discussed in the video:

Alternative methods

Most often, only part of the harvest can be preserved fresh, since leeks take up a lot of usable space in the cellar and in the refrigerator. The remaining onions can be frozen, dried or pickled.

Freezing

You need to freeze vegetables correctly. Procedure:

• rinse the product under running water, it should not be too hot;
• dry the onion on a paper towel;
• cut it into rings;
• spread the crushed product on a flat board of suitable size and put it in the freezer;
• After 3 hours, transfer the frozen pieces into a plastic bag.

You need to pack onions in small portions, enough to prepare one dish. Defrost it in parts so that the bulk does not come into contact with warm air.

Drying

There are several ways to dry onions. To carry out this procedure, use devices such as:

1. Electric dryer. The optimal drying temperature is 60 degrees. It will take about 4 hours for the moisture to completely evaporate. Pallets need to be swapped periodically.
2. Oven. Dry the onions on a baking sheet lined with parchment. The oven temperature should not exceed 50 degrees. Drying time is 5 hours.
3. Air fryer. This is the fastest way to rid the onions of moisture. It will evaporate from the cut stems in half an hour.

Regardless of the chosen drying method, the algorithm of actions remains the same:

• wash the stems and let the water drain completely;
• chop the onion;
• place the pieces on a surface intended for drying;
• After its completion, remove the product for storage.

Dried slices can be poured into a glass jar and closed with a nylon lid. Alternatively, store the product in fabric or paper bags.

Pickling

Pickled onions have a pleasant sour taste and are great for salads. Method of its preparation:

1. Coarsely chop 200 g of onion.
2. Prepare the marinade. Add 0.5 tbsp to 0.5 liters of water. l. salt, 1 tbsp. l. sugar, 2 bay leaves, several peas of allspice and 40 g of vinegar 9%.
3. Bring the marinade to a boil, add the onion and leave for 1 minute.
4. Place the leek in a jar, pour in the marinade and roll up.

You can store such preparations in the pantry or cellar.

Video recipe for pickling leeks:

Pickling

Pickling leeks is easy. For 1 kg of onion you will need 50 g of salt. Step-by-step instruction:

• cut the onion into rings, place it in an enamel bowl and lightly crush it;
• salt and mix the main mass, if desired, add spices and seasonings to the dish;
• cover the vegetables with a lid, you can place a load on top;
• leave the product in a dark place for 10 days;
• The prepared onions are placed in clean jars and stored in the refrigerator.

Conservation

You can preserve vegetables in the following way:

1. Wash and chop the vegetables, place them in a sterilized jar.
2. Boil the brine. To prepare it you will need: 0.5 liters of water, 12 g of sugar, 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp. citric acid, 10 g salt, 1 tbsp. l. vegetable oil.
3. Pour the boiled solution over the onion, cover with a metal lid and leave for 10 minutes.
4. Pour the brine back into the pan and boil again.
5. Pour it back into the jar and roll it up.
6. Turn the pieces upside down, cover with a blanket and leave to cool.

After a day, the jars can be removed to their permanent storage location.

Useful tips

To keep onions fresh longer, The following tips should be taken into account:

1. You cannot cut leaves from a vegetable before storing it. Without greenery, it will quickly wither or rot due to attacks by microorganisms.
2. If you plan to store the leek fresh, do not wash it. Removing the protective layer from the stems will lead to their accelerated deterioration.
3. Onions do not tolerate temperature changes. Because of them, most of the vitamins are destroyed.
4. Leeks do not like being in proximity to other vegetables and fruits. Store it in separate boxes, away from other crops.
5. The onions need to be sorted periodically. Spoiled specimens are removed from the total harvest.

You can learn more about ways to store onions Here.

Conclusion

Storing leeks is a simple task that anyone can handle.

Frozen leeks do not spoil for 12 months. Therefore, you can provide yourself with onion supplies for the whole year.