Onion is a vegetable that no housewife can do without. But in order to wait out the time until the next harvest, it is important to know how to properly store it. Consider the main stages of preparation, as well as the storage conditions of this vegetable.
Did you know? One of the oldest images of the bulb can be found in the tomb of the youngest Egyptian pharaoh — Tutankhamun. Date Created — 1352 BC
Varieties of onions for long-term storage
There are many varieties of the described vegetable. If you take into account the onion turnip, then it is yellow, white and red. At the same time, it differs not only in color, but also in the content of nutrients, as well as in its longevity and taste. Some varieties are best used fresh, while others are better for preservation and heat treatment. To taste you can distinguish sharp, peninsular and sweet varieties. The former can be saved the longest without loss of quality. The period of their rest reaches 8 months. These include:
Of the peninsulas, they have proven themselves well:
Sweet varieties are stored the least, but the best of them are Exibishn and Yalta.
Preparing onions for storage
Preparation of vegetables for storage should begin from the moment of harvest, which depends on the variety and can occur 3-4 months after planting. A sign of a ripened vegetable is a lodging of its leaves. Usually they start collecting in August. It is very important to follow the rules during the collection and pruning of root crops.
Important! In the room where the onions are stored, there must be a good air circulation.
Proper harvest
Dig onions in a dry trip. It is necessary to injure the vegetable as little as possible: for this, the soil is carefully dug up, trying not to cut the bulbs. After that, the fruits should be pulled out and folded, and not the land thrown and beaten from them.
Pruning and peeling
Much better stored onions if dried. To do this, it must be decomposed in a single layer in the air, it can be directly on the bed under dry weather conditions. It is better to do this under cover to protect from rain - you can hang it in separate beams. It is possible to dry a small amount of vegetables in the oven, but at the same time you need to make sure that the fruits do not dry out.
After drying, there is a cutting stage - it is better to do this with scissors. The leaves are cut so that there remains a small stump up to 6 cm. The roots also need to be cut without hooking the bottom. After this, the vegetable should be peeled of the earth and cracked husks and left for another couple of weeks to dry. In this case, it is periodically necessary to turn it over. For storage, the most dense, whole, not sprouted bulbs with dried necks are selected.
Optimal storage conditions
You can store the vegetable in a warm and cold way. The best temperature for warm storage is considered to be the range +15 ... + 18 ° С. But the sharper the variety, the lower the temperature should be. But with the cold version, a stable temperature should be maintained not lower than –30 ° С. Accordingly, at home it is better to use the first method. Humidity should be at least 60%. Onions begin to sprout only with excess moisture. If this happens, then you need to lower the moisture level in the room.
How to store onions at home?
There are a lot of ways of how and in which it is better to store onions at home: these can be different boxes and bags. The main thing is to ensure air access. For storage, polyethylene containers and any other similar materials in which condensate will accumulate are not suitable, and vegetables will not be able to “breathe”. The container should not be too large, this also applies to bags. The more onions are bombarded, the more likely it is to begin to deteriorate inside such a package.
Wicker baskets
This option is very good for apartments where it is not possible to put a large number of boxes. In baskets, onions are perfectly preserved. True, if you fall asleep too much vegetable, then the lower fruits can choke and rot. It is more correct to follow the principle: it is better to have less vegetables, but in more containers.
In a plastic box
The height of the boxes should be small (recommended up to 30 cm), and the bottom as wide as possible. So you can put the boxes on top of each other, but the bow will not be too large. However, it’s still better to periodically check the crop, as the bulbs may begin to rot at the bottom.
Carton boxes
Cardboard boxes are not the best option, since paper accumulates moisture well, and there will be poor air circulation inside such a package. But for an apartment option, it is also suitable.
Nylon stockings and tights
This method is good for small volumes of onions. At the same time, vegetables breathe well in such a package, and it is convenient to hang them.
Special nets
The nets have good air access and can be noticed in time if the bulbs begin to deteriorate. For cellars and basements, nets are not suitable, but for an apartment - completely.
Where to store?
If you live in a private house, then finding a place to store is easier: these are cellars, cellars, sheds. But in the apartment you can find suitable options.
Did you know? You can find more sugar in onions than in fruits such as apples and pears. One slice of onion contains about 6% sugar.
On the balcony
It is best to store onions on the balcony, collecting them in a scythe and hanging them under the ceiling: this saves space and conditions are optimal for the vegetable. It is noteworthy that it can withstand frosts, so if you have an unheated balcony, the freezing temperature of up to 3 degrees will not spoil your crop.
In the cellar
It is best to store vegetables in wooden or plastic crates, but try to ensure that the containers do not touch the floor and walls of the cellar. It is better to put them on stands or benches.
In fridge
Onions are not stored in the refrigerator for long, as there is high humidity and inappropriate temperature. However, you can cut the vegetable into rings and store it in the freezer.
Possible storage problems
Onion is extremely unpretentious. It begins to rot with increased humidity and temperature. You need to ventilate the room more often and store the bulbs in breathable packaging. You can sprinkle the fruit with ash or sawdust to absorb excess moisture.
Important! If the humidity is still high, the onions should be dried, for example, in the oven.
From time to time you need to check the bulbs for rot and mold. Do not peel the vegetable. Thus, in order to keep the onion well at home in the winter, it is necessary to study all the simple rules and follow them.