Storing tomatoes in the apartment (in the refrigerator, freezer, for the winter). How to keep tomatoes fresh for a long time How to keep tomatoes fresh in the refrigerator
The tomato is a simple, but at the same time mysterious fruit, which until the thirties of the twentieth century had the status of a fruit, and then was transferred to the category of juicy vegetables. The literal translation of the name of the tomato is apple of paradise, which is why in some countries tomatoes are still consumed as a dessert.
Thanks to B vitamins and lycopene, tomatoes can prevent cancer, reduce the risk of intestinal diseases, and also saturate the body with almost all essential microelements.
How to store tomatoes
The shelf life of red tomatoes without refrigeration is about 5-7 days. Tomatoes that are pink or slightly greenish in color can stay fresh longer. Storing tomatoes is very easy: purchased vegetables must be washed and wiped dry, put in a plate or bowl and left in a cool, dry place.
How to store tomatoes in the refrigerator
It is not recommended to store tomatoes in the refrigerator, since if the temperature is too cold and dry, the fruit may shrink and begin to deteriorate. But if it is necessary to increase the shelf life of these fruits, they can be placed in a special compartment (freshness zone), where they are created favorable conditions for storing vegetables. In the zero chamber, tomatoes will be fresh for more than 2-4 weeks.
How to freeze tomatoes
A frozen tomato loses its taste due to the fact that it consists of more than 90% water. The most acceptable option is to use tomato for color or in cooking, since nutrients are stored in it.
Freezing instructions:- Wash and dry fresh tomatoes.
- Choose required size frozen pieces and cut the tomatoes (finely, into quarters, in halves, whole).
- Drain the juice and seeds and pack the tomatoes in a vacuum container or bag.
- Freeze at temperature freezer from -12 degrees.
Tomatoes are a favorite vegetable for many, used as the main component of salads and as an addition to hot dishes. At the end of the season, I really want to find the best way to store tomatoes so that they remain juicy and tasty longer. In our article we will talk about how to properly preserve the harvest of ripe tomatoes at home, and also talk about storing green fruits at the ripening stage.
Storage conditions
To keep tomatoes fresh for a long time, you need to create the right conditions. Without meeting certain requirements, for example, in a package in kitchen cabinet, tomatoes only last a few days, after which they begin to quickly deteriorate.
Many people are accustomed to storing tomatoes in the refrigerator, where they can last up to 10 days. But if you want to save tomatoes longer, for example, until the new year, you need to consider the following factors:
- choose for storage only whole fruits, without the slightest damage or traces of deterioration;
- give preference immature tomatoes, not ripe specimens;
- take care of a suitable one temperature conditions. It will depend on the degree of ripeness and the specific storage method;
- ensure regular air ventilation indoors.
Methods for long-term storage of tomatoes
Each of the methods below is suitable for tomatoes of varying degrees of ripeness - from completely green to ripe and overripe fruits. Both homemade tomatoes, just picked from the garden, and those purchased at the market are suitable for saving.
Check the tomatoes where they are stored at least twice a week. The point is not only in the possible spoilage of fruits, but also in the speed of their ripening. Ripe (or already ripening) tomatoes emit ethylene, which activates the ripening process of the rest. Therefore, specimens that begin to turn red must be removed from storage as quickly as possible. For the same reason, apples or pears from the autumn harvest should not be kept next to tomatoes.
Ripe fruits Stores well in clean lattice boxes made of plastic or wood. Cover the bottom of the container with clean paper/parchment and place the tomatoes on it, additionally placing each row with paper or wrapping the vegetables in it. When all the tomatoes are laid, fill the contents with peat or sawdust. In this form, tomatoes can last for several months if the room temperature is maintained at no more than +8…12 ℃.
To keep tomatoes fresh for the winter, it is important to harvest at the stage of milk maturity. If weather permits, it is best to harvest green fruits from the garden as late as possible, for example in October. Wrap each vegetable in thin black paper and carefully place it in a wire box, layering each row with straw. The workpiece should be stored in a dry, dark place with good ventilation system at a temperature of +10 ℃. If all conditions are met, the tomatoes will gradually ripen and last until January.
To destroy microbes and extend the shelf life of tomatoes, before storing the boxes should be treated with pharmaceutical alcohol and dried.
- in vegetable oil. Place the tomatoes in glass jars and pour in sunflower or other vegetable oil until it completely covers the vegetables. The layer of oil on top should be at least 1 cm. Cover the workpiece with an iron or plastic lid;
- in brine. Mix water, salt and vinegar in a ratio of 8:1:1. Place the washed tomatoes in a container and fill with the prepared solution.
For fast ripening green fruits (5-10 days), place the tomatoes on the floor in a well-lit place with a temperature of about +25 ℃. You can pick the fruits directly with the stalks and stalks and hang them in a ventilated room. A small amount of unripe vegetables can be laid out in the apartment right on the windowsill so that they turn red.
To keep tomatoes fresh longer, do not wash them before storing them.
A proven method for storing ripe tomatoes - pickling. Select strong red fruits for harvesting, free them from the stalks. Separately prepare overripe tomatoes: they need to be cut into large pieces. Place a layer of chopped tomatoes 8-10 cm thick in a pan or jar, add a little salt, place a layer of whole fruits on top and sprinkle with salt again. Fill the container to the top so that last layer there was salt. Seal the container tightly and store in a cool place.
For detailed recipes for preparing tomatoes for the winter, see this section of our website.
Where to store tomatoes in an apartment?
Still wondering how to store tomatoes at home in an apartment? If in rural areas there is almost always a cellar - best place To save tomatoes, city dwellers have to choose between storing them in the refrigerator and storing them at room temperature. Decide on the best option The following principles will help:
- Suitable for storing tomatoes intended for use in the near future. any place protected from the sun. Place the tomatoes flat side down on a windowsill or kitchen table. In a couple of days they will become more tasty and will not lose their aroma.
- To store ripe red tomatoes for 5-7 days, place them on the vegetable shelf of the refrigerator closer to the door.
- It is recommended to keep slightly unripe fruits at room temperature until they ripen, and then move the refrigerator.
- It is convenient to preserve ripe tomatoes in autumn and winter on glassed balcony or loggias, where the temperature ranges from +10 to +20 ℃. In such conditions, it is enough to lay out the tomatoes in one layer on the floor or other flat surface, covering the top with a thick cloth to avoid direct sunlight.
Tricks
Regardless of where and at what temperature you decide to store tomatoes, some tricks can extend their shelf life:
- The variety of tomatoes is important (plan storage at the stage of selecting seeds);
- store ripe tomatoes separately from unripe ones and at different temperatures;
- keep in mind that large fruits ripen faster than small ones;
- when sorting tomatoes, conduct a thorough inspection of each vegetable, because even the slightest traces of late blight can lead to damage to the entire crop;
- remember that tomatoes are stored longer without stems;
- Dry vegetables before storing;
- To keep fresh tomatoes longer, treat them with a 0.3% solution boric acid or a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate).
Video
In the following video you will learn about three in different ways storage of tomatoes:
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Who doesn't love fresh, juicy, sweet and sour tomatoes, which most often remind us of hot summer! Yes, this is all true until you put the tomato in the refrigerator, hoping to preserve its freshness and taste. As a result, we feel neither taste nor freshness, but instead of a juicy fruit we get a cold, tasteless, watery product. Why can't tomatoes be stored in the refrigerator? Let's understand the reasons.
What is a tomato? A juicy fruit that combines acids, sugar, aromatic substances, and herbaceousness. Of all the above, it is the fragrant substances that are the most capricious in relation to temperature. Ask any gardener why it is worth growing tomatoes in a greenhouse or at home? And he will answer you, it’s all about the temperature.
In order for a tomato to be aromatic and for you to feel all the notes of taste, it needs to constantly release volatile aromatic substances, which are fully produced only with constant elevated temperature. At low temperatures, for example, about 5 degrees, the tomato not only does not release volatile aromatic substances, but also destroys those already formed, which, of course, greatly affects the taste of the product. As soon as a tomato enters a cold environment, the first thing we lose is its herbaceousness. It is this that gives the tomato a fresh, interesting taste. Then the form is lost, and the sugar and acid practically dissolve, leaving behind only water.
That is why it is best to store tomatoes at room temperature, but if for some reason you still have to put it in the refrigerator, return it to a warm environment as soon as possible, and perhaps it will be possible to improve the release of volatile aromatic substances.
It is important to know that this does not apply to already prepared dishes, tomato sauces, since after heat treatment There are no aromatic substances there, but the tomato has managed to give up all its juices, sugar, and acids. It is worth considering the fact that many sauces and tomato-based dishes become tastier after they sit in the refrigerator, but the point here is not at all about the tomato and its components.
The unique taste and smell distinguish freshly cut tomatoes from those that were stored under unfavorable conditions. The refrigerator is considered such an unfavorable storage place for them.
When comparing tomatoes that have been in the refrigerator for some time and without, there is a significant loss in the quality of the product in the first case. The sugar, acids and volatile substances included in the composition are responsible for the special sweet taste and unique aroma of the fruit.
If the temperature is incorrect, the taste properties are destroyed.
At low temperatures Not only volatile substances disappear, but all such compounds are destroyed. Tender berries receive a dose of “frostbite.” The result of the influence of cold is a soft fruit, devoid of taste.
Can tomatoes be stored in the refrigerator?
This method is also possible if it is not possible to keep the room fresh. But it should be remembered that from long-term storage(more than three days) decay is in progress chemical elements. And the former taste and aroma will be lost. But research shows that a tomato can regain its lost properties if it is moved from the cold to more favorable conditions. This is only possible when it has been left at a low temperature for a short time. At optimal conditions substances responsible for taste begin to be produced again.
Attention!
There is no point in storing unripe tomatoes in the refrigerator.
They can ripen only at a temperature not lower than room temperature.
Where to store tomatoes in the refrigerator?
The optimal place for tomatoes in the refrigerator is the compartment for vegetables and fruits. Modern models equipped with a special function to maintain the necessary temperature regime for long-term storage.
If it is not possible to store them in a special compartment, place the tomatoes on a shelf.
Conditions for storing tomatoes in the refrigerator
Observe storage conditions correctly. This will allow the fruits to remain “in shape” longer. After purchasing, immediately remove them from the plastic bag. Place in a drawer for vegetables and fruits in one or two rows, but no more. Cover the first row with paper, then lay out the second. Try to arrange it so that the top one does not overwhelm the bottom one.
You can wrap each tomato in paper before placing it in the vegetable drawer. This method of protection will allow them to come into less contact with each other. Spoiled fruits will not negatively affect good ones.
Shelf life of tomatoes in the refrigerator
The exact timing can be predicted if you know exactly when the berries were cut and the conditions of their storage before they came to you.
They should not be stored in the cold for more than 2-3 days. If tomatoes are prepared to be sealed for the winter, do not leave them there for more than a day.
Remember, tomatoes can be stored in the refrigerator, but to preserve all their beneficial properties and taste, do so at room temperature.
Tomatoes are one of the most famous vegetables that are canned for the winter. You can easily keep them fresh for 10-15 days if you place them in a paper bag and put them in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. How to properly store tomatoes at home so that they remain fresh until the New Year or even longer? The answers can be found in this article.
Shelf life of tomatoes
Having no idea how long tomatoes can be stored, it is better not to purchase them large quantities. They just won't stay fresh for long. You should definitely know how to properly store tomatoes. And then you can keep the vegetables fresh for several months or all winter.
If you need to buy a large batch of tomatoes, it is better to choose those varieties that:
- have a fleshy consistency,
- thick peel,
- not divided into a large number of cameras.
The storage conditions for tomatoes are chosen based on the stage of ripening they are at. Brown fruits require one storage temperature, and red fruits require another. And they are not at all capable of ripening at low temperatures.
There are some types of tomatoes that tolerate storage better. These are mid-late and late ripening varieties.
So, the shelf life of tomatoes in a city apartment before they are processed:
- green fruits – from 25 to 70 days;
- ripe red ones - from 7 to 10 days.
If the tomatoes are overripe and have already become soft, they cannot be stored.
Storage conditions for tomatoes
Fruits at different stages of ripening require individual storage temperatures:
- milk-ripe tomatoes are stored at a temperature of +8°C -+10°C;
- red - +4°С - +6°С;
- brown – 0°С -+2°С.
Tomatoes should be kept in cool, dark places. It is best to store tomatoes in an apartment in the freshness zone of the refrigerator. In your home optimal place This basements or cellar.
- Tomatoes should be stored at a humidity of 80%, in a room equipped with ventilation.
- The fruits are placed with the stalk up, trying to prevent damage, in containers made of wood or plastic.
- Tomatoes sense temperature changes very well thanks to volatile substances ensuring their taste. Therefore, any change in climate where tomatoes are stored will cause them to become soft, wrinkled and lose their flavor.
Preparation for storage
First, the tomatoes are sorted: whole, dent-free fruits that have reached milky ripeness are selected. These are vegetables that have grown to normal size who have already started to turn red.
Before sending tomatoes for storage, they should not be washed. It is better to lightly wipe with alcohol, applying it to a piece of cotton wool. This “disinfection” will get rid of various bacteria and microorganisms that may be on the surface of the fruit.
When preparing tomatoes for storage, the stems are not removed. You can cut them only immediately before use.
Storage in cellars and basements
Tomatoes are placed in layers in wooden or plastic containers, sprinkled with chopped wood or covered with paper. If there are not many tomatoes, it is better to wrap each tomato in paper. Afterwards the boxes are sent to cellars or basements. The temperature in the basement must correspond to the storage standards for fruits of a certain degree of maturity.
In containers made of cardboard or wood, tomatoes are placed in no more than 3 layers. Otherwise, the fruits located at the very bottom will be deformed under the weight of the upper layers.
You need to check the condition of the crop at least once a week. Then it will be possible to notice in time if some fruit begins to deteriorate. In this case, you should immediately isolate it from the rest of the crop.
Cold storage
Tomatoes, stem side up, are placed in layers in plastic container refrigerator intended for vegetables. The layers are separated using paper, and for greater safety they wrap each fruit with it so that they do not touch. This will significantly increase the shelf life of tomatoes. You need to place the fruits in the container in a maximum of 2 layers, and if they are already ripe, in one.
Tomatoes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
IN plastic bag These vegetables cannot be kept. It is not capable of allowing air to pass through, and condensation forms very quickly inside the bag. In such conditions, the fruits will soon deteriorate.
If tomatoes have been at too low a temperature for some time, their taste may change. But if after the cold you let them lie for a day at room temperature, some of them taste qualities will return.
Freezer storage
You can store tomatoes for the winter in the freezer. Tomatoes are frozen by first cutting them into rings, pieces or slices. Small fruits can be frozen even whole. But large tomatoes are not recommended to be frozen entirely. You can peel them and freeze them in the desired form:
- The peel is removed with a knife from a well-washed tomato using crosswise cuts in its upper part.
- The tomato is immersed in boiling water until the cut skin begins to curl (20 seconds).
- After which it is quickly removed and cooled with cold water.
- Then they are carefully removed from the skin and frozen in food containers or special ziplock bags.
To freeze tomatoes whole, you don't need anything other than ripe, firm fruits with firm skin. Small tomatoes are placed several pieces in one bag. Remove as much air from the bags as possible, tie them up and put them in the freezer.
Freezing in pieces
- In order to freeze tomatoes cut into circles, you will need fleshy fruits with a dense peel.
- Washed and dried tomatoes should be cut into slices up to 1 cm thick. If the slices are very thin, they will lose their shape during defrosting.
- Then the slices are laid out in layers in a food container, not forgetting to separate the layers with foil or cling film.
- Then put it in the freezer for 6 hours.
- After 6-12 hours, the frozen tomatoes are transferred to bags and sent into the cold for long-term storage.
When freezing tomatoes into pieces or cubes, you can first remove the skin, then cut them and place them in small batches into portioned bags. It is not necessary to ensure that the pieces are crumbly. They are added without defrosting to already prepared dishes.
You can make a homogeneous mass from tomatoes and freeze it in special molds. To do this, the fruits are crushed using a blender or meat grinder to a puree consistency. Then put into molds for freezing. As a last resort, you can use silicone baking molds or plastic ones for ice. It is important not to put tomato puree in each mold all the way to the top: when freezing, the mass will expand and go beyond its limits.
After freezing (8 - 10 hours), the puree should be removed from the molds and placed in freezer bags, packaged in small portions.
Correct defrosting
Only if the tomatoes were frozen entirely, they need to be thawed in conditions room temperature up to 20 min. Other types of frozen tomatoes (mugs, pieces, briquettes, stuffed tomatoes) do not need defrosting.
Now you know how to store tomatoes at home. And if you have any questions, wishes or suggestions, be sure to leave them in the comments to the article.
