Types, pros and cons of vegetable storage boxes
Despite all their benefits and excellent taste, vegetables have one drawback. Namely, you need to be able to store them correctly.
Otherwise, sunlight and lack of ventilation will turn plant products into something inedible and foul-smelling.
The solution is to buy boxes for storing vegetables. We’ll tell you further how to choose them and what to look for when choosing.
Content
Kinds
Vegetables can be stored in boxes, made from different materials:
- wood;
- plastic;
- metal
Wooden structures
These products are leaders among the main types of home vegetable storage. A wooden box is simple, convenient and does not require special care.
It is durable, easy to repair and recycle. Wooden products are easy to make with your own hands.
Vegetables are stored in wooden containers for a long time without losing their taste and beneficial qualities.
The disadvantages of wooden boxes include the difficulty of cleaning them. Vegetable residues often accumulated on the wooden parts of containers can lead to the spread of fungi and mold.To avoid this, simply coat the wooden box with varnish or paint. This product is easy to wash and clean. Read more Here.
Plastic
The main advantage of plastic boxes and containers for storing vegetables is their light weight. These products are easy to wash and clean.
The disadvantage of plastic vegetable storage facilities is their fragility - fragile plastic can crack or even break.
Read more in this article.
Metal
Not the most popular option for storing vegetables. Metal boxes are heavy, and if you put vegetables in them and send them to a cold room, the contents of the container may freeze. Only those vegetables that are insensitive to temperature changes can be stored in such a product.
A metal box can be affected by rust, it is difficult to repair, and making such a container with your own hands is not very easy. The main advantage of such products is their low cost.
Storage systems
To store vegetables, you can use free-standing boxes or special designs - storage systems.
They can be made of metal mesh, plastic, wood or woven materials. Such designs usually provide an optimal ventilation system, which helps vegetables to be stored for a long time without losing their appearance.
Wooden box for the kitchen
The built-in drawers are installed on a rail mechanism and are very convenient in their location - the housewife can reach the necessary vegetables without leaving the kitchen.This storage system is functional, spacious and convenient.
Roller guides allow you to easily pull out drawers. They glide silently, with virtually no effort on the part of a person, allowing you to quickly get to vegetables. Another option is a folding section; this design is also convenient in its own way.
Kitchen wooden boxes are especially useful for storing vegetables that require storage in the dark. Some systems involve dividing each cell into sections with narrow strips. This avoids the accumulation of vegetables.
Pull-out wicker baskets
These boxes are well ventilated and at the same time well protected from light, which is very important for many herbal products. Wicker baskets are a useful and aesthetically pleasing element in many kitchen systems.
Metal mesh
Another functional and convenient type of home vegetable storage. Like wicker baskets, metal mesh baskets prevent vegetables from retaining excess moisture by allowing air to circulate freely.
The design of metal mesh baskets can be different. They are installed in grooves in the wall of a kitchen cabinet or they move out one section at a time on roller mechanisms.
Such systems are practical and durable, easy to care for. It is better to store large vegetables in metal mesh boxes.
Plastic containers
Plastic containers for storing vegetables can be located inside built-in kitchen drawers. These products may or may not have a lid..
It is most convenient to store small-sized vegetables here that are regularly sorted.This system is not suitable for long-term storage of plant products.
Products made of cardboard, polystyrene foam and other materials can also be used as containers for storing vegetables. But such boxes are considered disposable and are not particularly popular. In such containers, vegetables quickly deteriorate, rot and freeze.
Features of choice depending on the room
The choice of a specific type of box depends on the room in which the vegetables will be stored. Many root vegetables are recommended to be stored in a cool place.
In a private house, such storage can be a basement or cellar, in an apartment - a balcony. But in winter it gets too cold here and root crops run the risk of freezing. In this case, plant products need to be additionally insulated.
Other varieties of vegetables and root vegetables do not like the cold. Therefore, you can store them in the kitchen, in plastic or wooden boxes, or simply in a bag.
How to do it yourself?
Before making a homemade vegetable storage facility with your own hands, You need to take into account some subtleties:
- decide which vegetables will be stored in the container - the material used to make the container will depend on this;
- take into account the temperature and humidity of the room in which the vegetable storage will be located: kitchen, balcony, basement, etc.
- determine the size, shape and design of the desired container.
Box of slats and bars
This storage option is suitable if there are racks in the room on which you need to place vegetables. The boxes can be placed in a room with a stable temperature, then the structure will not require additional insulation.
Materials:
- bars 2 or 1.5 cm thick;
- slats;
- nails, hammer/screws, screwdriver;
- hand saw or electric jigsaw.
Stages of work:
- Cut the bars to the size of the future box. If the dimensions of the product are 80 x 60, you will need 2 bars 80 cm long and the same number - 60 cm each. You will also need 4 more bars with a length that is equal to the height of the box.
- Connect the bars together to obtain a three-dimensional frame. The parts are connected with self-tapping screws and nails.
- Using slats, knock down the end sides first, then the sides, and then the bottom. This will not require much effort, the main thing is to connect everything evenly so that the product does not warp. Be sure to leave 2-3 cm gaps for ventilation between the slats.
How to make a wooden box with your own hands, video instructions:
New life for an old refrigerator
If the refrigerator has served its purpose, do not rush to throw it in a landfill. This device will make a good mini-chamber in which you can store vegetables on the balcony in winter. Not quite a box, but a very convenient and functional product.
How to use:
- Move the refrigerator to the balcony, rinse and dry.
- Place back side down on the floor. The doors are located at the top and the device plays the role of a chest.
- Place the vegetables inside the chest and cover with a cloth - it is needed to absorb excess moisture.
- In winter, the chest must be periodically opened for ventilation.
How to choose the right one?
Properly selected containers are the key to long-term storage of vegetables. Therefore, before choosing boxes and containers The following points need to be taken into account:
- the volume of the product depends on the number of stored vegetables; the best option is a container of 20 liters;
- breathability;
- material;
- ease of use.
If the box is plastic, you need to pay attention to the strength of the product - it should not bend much when pressed. It’s good if the box is equipped with comfortable handles and has a reinforced frame - these conditions make transportation easier. Wooden products on the bottom and walls should not have nicks or burrs that could damage delicate vegetables.
Where can I buy?
You can purchase wooden and plastic containers for vegetables, as well as entire storage systems, in hardware stores (there are many similar models in the Fix Price store). You can also order products in online stores Wildberries, Ozon, Sima-Land, etc.
The cost of home vegetable storage varies depending on the design of the box:
- wooden—300-1,500 rubles;
- plastic—150-500 rub.
Storage systems:
- wicker baskets - 2,500-5,000 rubles;
- plastic structures - 1,500 - 5,000 rubles.
TOP 3 popular products
What vegetable storage boxes are in demand:
POLYMERBYT
Durable and convenient box made of high quality plastic. Suitable for long-term storage of vegetables. Equipped with a natural ventilation system, the product will keep plant products fresh for a long time.
Wooden box 46x30x24 cm
A convenient and compact box made of solid pine needles is suitable for storing or transporting vegetables. Several of these products can be placed on top of each other and make it easier to store more plant products.
Features a lightweight design. Environmentally friendly production. Lightweight design.
Rack with pull-out containers for vegetables, Polimerbyt
Compact and convenient trolley with 3 sections of retractable containers. The best option for storing vegetable harvests in an apartment or private house.Spacious drawers are made of high-quality and durable plastic.
The structure is easy to assemble and disassemble, will fit perfectly into the space of any room.
When is additional heating needed?
If vegetables indoors are at risk of freezing due to temperature changes, they need additional heating. Therefore, it is best to store them in wooden boxes insulated with a blanket. Or purchase a special thermal box, thermal cabinet or flexible container.
Thermal cabinet - a box with a lid, made of metal. A thermostat and heater are built in here, thanks to which an optimal microclimate is maintained inside the storage facility. Thermal cabinets can have different dimensions and volumes.
A flexible container is a fabric bag with several layers of insulation inside. A heating element is built between them, which is responsible for increasing the temperature inside the bag. The product is convenient and compact. Read more Here.
What vegetables can be stored in boxes?
It is recommended to store inside containers and boxes not all plant products, but only part of them:
- Carrot needs ventilation, so it is better to store it in wooden or metal boxes that allow air to pass well between the slats.
- Sunlight is harmful to potatoes, so it is best to store them in tightly closed boxes. It is convenient to place the tubers in plastic boxes that are covered with a lid.
- Cabbage It is not advisable to store it in a closed container; it is better to store it in an open box or on a shelf.
- Onion and garlic is stored outdoors or in a wooden plastic box, but always separately from other vegetables.
Practical advice
Some useful tips for the housewife for choosing containers for storing vegetables:
Cut vegetables will stay fresh longer if you store them in a glass container.- Small plastic containers keep prepared foods fresh: stewed, fried, boiled.
- An organizer with handles is convenient for storing herbal products that do not need to be kept under lids.
- It is convenient to put large and long vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, leeks or corn in a large vegetable storage container, made in the form of a pot.
Conclusion
Vegetable storage boxes are a convenient design that will keep plant foods fresh and tasty. Such home vegetable storage facilities can be made of different materials and have different volumes.
