How to correctly organize the storage of carrots in bags?

foto14578-1Growing an excellent harvest of carrots is half the battle. It is necessary to preserve the roots until spring so that they do not lose vitamins, remain juicy and tasty.

One way to store carrots for a long time is to pack them in plastic bags.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the ways storing carrots in bags (vacuum, polyethylene), which varieties are suitable for this, is it possible to store it together with beets.

Can I store?

This method of preserving root crops is suitable for those gardeners who plant a small amount of vegetables for the winter.

Clean and healthy carrots are harvested in a bag in small portions (1-3 kg each). Packages are removed to the cellar, cold storage room or refrigerator.

A root crop isolated from the external environment is not negatively affected:

  • a sudden increase or decrease in humidity in the storage;
  • the spread of fungal spores from diseased vegetables.

foto14578-2But the vegetable itself emits heat and carbon dioxide during storage. At a storage temperature of 0 degrees, 1 kg of carrots releases up to 5 mg of CO2 and 0.5 kcal of heat per day into the atmosphere.

With increasing room temperature, heat generation increases many times and the vegetable itself. Over time, the amount of carbon dioxide in the bag accumulates, and the temperature rises, which leads to an acceleration of metabolic processes in the root crop.

The root crop loses its turgor (withers), the vitamins in it begin to break down. When the storage temperature rises to 10-12 degrees, the biological sleep of the vegetable is interrupted, and tops and roots begin to grow.

You can store carrots in packages for 2-3 months, provided that the vegetable is stored in cold storage.

Pros and cons

According to the reviews of experienced gardeners, storage of root crops in packages has undoubted advantages:

  1. Convenient for use portion volume of vegetable in a bag.
  2. Carrots are laid clean and during storage they do not get dirty.
  3. In a transparent container, it is easy to see the beginning of spoilage of vegetables.
  4. With the formation of rot in one bag, the disease does not spread to other vegetables.
The main disadvantage of "batch" storage is the lack of ventilation inside the closed bag, which leads to an excess of the permissible humidity and storage temperature.

Some growers solve this problem by making ventilation holes in the sides of the bag.

Training

foto14578-3Proper harvesting is of great importance for the safe preservation of a vegetable.... It is necessary to dig out the carrots when they have reached full ripeness.

Overexposing the root crop in the garden is impractical, at a soil temperature below +5 degrees, carrots stop growing and may crack.

In cold and wet soil, the root crop begins to rot, its shelf life decreases.

Harvested in dry weather, trying not to damage the root crop... The tops are cut immediately after harvesting, since the root crop quickly loses moisture through the greens. It is necessary to trim the greens flush with the shoulders, without damaging the root crop itself.

After harvesting, the vegetable is laid out under a shed or in a shed to dry. It is advisable to arrange the root vegetables in a single layer on a net or trellis tray. Depending on the air temperature, drying takes from 3 hours to 2 days. The hotter it is in the room, the shorter the drying time.

Do I need to wash?

There is no definite answer to this question. There are pros and cons to washing carrots, they are shown in the table:

prosMinuses
Wounds and traces of disease are clearly visible on the washed root crop.Labor intensity of the process.
Washed carrots are not affected by infection, the pathogens of which are in the soil.If you rub the vegetable with brushes when washing, there is a danger of damaging the skin.
A pure root vegetable looks attractive.Water is a favorable environment for the development of bacteria, therefore, the carrots are especially carefully dried before storage.

To wash or not wash carrots is up to the gardener to decide, based on his own capabilities. If the root crop was harvested in dry weather and visually looks clean, there is no urgent need for additional washing.

Vegetable selection criteria

foto14578-4For storage in bags, carrots are selected especially carefully, since the bulkhead of root crops stored in plastic bags is not carried out.

For storage, choose a vegetable that meets the following requirements:

  • the average size;
  • the skin is smooth, without wounds, cracks, traces of being eaten by pests;
  • high hardness.

Do not store soft and damaged carrots. It is allowed for processing, as an option - it is grated and frozen in portions in the same bags.

How to keep in bags?

Storage bags are taken tight and new. Thin packing bags are not suitable, they are fragile.

In polyethylene

It is better to use a small container with a capacity of up to 3 kg. A small amount of vegetables emit less heat and carbon dioxide during storage, which means that the roots stay fresh longer.

In a small bag, it is easier to assess the condition of the root crops and remove the spoiled ones:

  1. Clean, dried, hard carrots are placed in a new, dry bag. It is not necessary to stuff the bag too tightly, the freer the vegetables, the better.
  2. The bag is tightly tied.
  3. An awl is used to pierce several holes in the bag from different sides.
Some growers do not tie bags of vegetables, leaving them ajar. In this case, it is not necessary to pierce the walls.

In vacuum

foto14578-5Without access to air, the root crop can be stored for a very short time - no more than 3 weeks... Vacuum is used to preserve carrots prepared for consumption (cleaned, chopped, boiled):

  1. The product is placed in a bag, tamping tightly. There should be at least 4 cm to the edge of the bag for easy insertion into the vacuum sealer.
  2. Air is evacuated from the bag using a vacuum device.

Together with beets in one container

The temperature and humidity requirements for carrots and beets are similar. However, different skin densities of root vegetables can damage the beets during storage.

Arguments for Sharing:

  • you can put vegetables in one container in such a ratio as needed for further use;
  • beets during storage absorb excess moisture formed in the bag, and the carrots lie better.
The disadvantage of storing in one container is that harder carrots, with a sharp tip, can scratch the skin of beets.Through micro wounds, an infection enters the vegetable, it deteriorates.

To avoid this, the root vegetables are not mixed into the bag: carrots are laid on the bottom in layers, beets are placed on top of it.

Where is the best place to place the packaged root vegetable?

foto14578-6Plastic bags with root vegetables are kept in a cellar or pantry, at temperatures from 0 to +3 degrees. They are laid out in 1-2 layers on shelves or in mesh boxes.

Do not pile in a large pile as it obstructs ventilation... You can hang the bags from the ceiling so they will be well ventilated.

You can place vegetables in the refrigerator, in the vegetable compartment. Vacuum bags are kept only in the refrigerator or in the freezer.

How long will it be stored, how to increase the term?

In packages, the vegetable is stored for no more than 3-4 months in the cellar, and no more than 2 months in the refrigerator. You can extend the shelf life if you cool root crops and containers to 0 degrees before laying.

Vegetables should also be harvested in a chilled room. In this case, condensation does not form on the walls of the bag, and the roots will quickly fall asleep.

Are all varieties suitable?

For winter use, late-ripening and mid-ripening varieties of carrots are grown, which have a high hardness and a high dry matter content. Early varieties are suitable for current consumption and freezing.

Such varieties are well stored:

  • Queen of Autumn;
  • Samson;
  • Flaccoro;
  • Karotan;
  • Vitamin;
  • Nantes.

Tips on the topic

foto14578-7Only healthy and clean carrots with intact skin are suitable for packing. Chopped root vegetables can be immediately chopped and frozen in a vacuum package. Use later for soups and stews.

During storage, you need to monitor the presence of condensation inside the container... If perspiration has collected on the walls of the bag, untie it or make additional holes.

It is recommended to choose bags with a capacity of 2-3 kg. Fewer vegetables are easier to control.

Conclusion

Storing carrots in bags is gaining popularity among gardeners, despite the short duration of such storage. It keeps vegetables clean and always accessible for inspection.

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