Tomatoes are perhaps the most common product in our kitchens. They are consumed fresh, harvested for the winter. However, not many people know how to properly store the product.

Basic rules for storing tomatoes

Tomato is very susceptible to light and temperature extremes.

To save the fruits for as long as possible, you need to know some of the subtleties of saving:

• you need to choose varieties with a dense skin, they are less susceptible to external factors;
• fruits cannot be washed before laying;
• if the tomatoes were collected together with the stalks, you do not need to pick them off;
• overripe vegetables should be consumed immediately, they will not stand for long;
• when laying for storage, the stem must look up;
• vegetables need oxygen; storage should be ventilated;
• the best temperature regime in the room where the fruits are located is from +8 to +12 ° C, air humidity indicators are 80%;
• if the fruits need to be arranged in several layers, remake each with thick paper;
• protects against sintering and rotting the interbedding of tomatoes with wood chips or peat crumbs;
• onions and garlic secrete volatile, killing microbes, so the joint storage of crops is also the prevention of decay.

Important! Dry air, temperature above + 12 ° С and lack of ventilation will turn tomatoes into a wrinkled and tasteless product, the flesh will become hard and dry.

Is it possible to store fresh tomatoes in the refrigerator

In a refrigerator, tomatoes are stored in extreme cases, because under the influence of low temperature they begin to deteriorate.

Suitable conditions

When placed in the refrigerator, you need to take into account the maturity stage: almost ripe vegetables are stored longer than overripe ones. To extend freshness and taste, each fruit is wrapped in thick paper. The temperature in the refrigerator should be zero or not higher than + 2 ° С, and humidity - 90–95%. In this case, the skin should be intact, without cracks and suspicious spots.

In which section of the refrigerator can I keep

Place the product on a shelf for vegetables and fruits. At the same time, more than one layer is not made so that the upper tomatoes do not take on the lower layer. Many people have a question: why can’t you leave vegetables in a plastic bag. The answer is simple - condensation forms on the walls of the bag, and excess moisture provokes damage to the product.

Tomatoes can be placed in the freezer for winter use. But it must be borne in mind that during defrosting they will be watery. Such fruits are not suitable for salad; they are used in the preparation of the first and second hot dishes.

Storage time

5-7 days is the maximum how many tomatoes are stored in the refrigerator, during which time the pulp of the fruit retains its taste. Then, with a change in its structure, proliferation of putrefactive bacteria begins.

Did you know? There is an interesting story about an attempt to poison the future US President George Washington with tomato. The cook, bribed by the enemies of Washington, sincerely believed that the dish he cooked with tomatoes was deadly poisonous.

Tomato storage features

Often leave green fruits for ripening, they are also used for harvesting for the winter.There are many options for processing and procurement:

• sluggish;
• dry;
• marinate;
• sour;
• salt;
• crush juice;
• cook pasta and stuff.

Heat-treated or green tomato also has its own nuances of storage.

Green

Green vegetables in size should reach just over half the size of a ripe fruit. In this case, they will last longer, and the risk of withering or rotting is less.

Small-fruited varieties are ideally preserved together with branches. Collected in bunches they are suspended in a dry, cool room.

The second option is to put it in mesh boxes or wooden with cracks, layered with paper and sawdust. Place - glazed balcony or insulated veranda. Slots in the container will provide ventilation.

If you want to get a ripe fruit, the required amount of tomatoes is transferred to heat - +20 ... + 24 ° С.

Sun dried

In a dry, dark place, the dried product is stored in a bag of parchment or cotton. Can be placed in a plastic container and refrigerated, pouring the product in olive oil. In the freezer, dried product is rarely left, because after defrosting it loses color.

Did you know? According to the findings of bioenergy, each vegetable has its own effect on humans. The abuse of tomatoes, for example, leads to anxiety of thoughts and psychological disharmony.

Dried

Dried tomatoes do not store at low temperatures. They need a dark, dry place.

Options:

1. Put in a cloth bag.
2. Place in a glass jar and cover with parchment on top.
3. Dried tomatoes are placed in sterile containers, spices are added to taste and vegetable oil. Close the capron cap.

Canned and pickled

When preserving and pickling the product undergoes heat treatment, in addition, its safety is ensured by spices, so you can store them in the cellar or basement, as well as in the pantry. The main condition is the lack of lighting and dampness.

The answer to the question: is it necessary to put in the refrigerator, twofold. For normal storage, it is not necessary, but if you opened the jar and did not eat all the contents, then it is desirable.

How to collect and prepare tomatoes for long-term storage

The shelf life of the product depends on the correct harvest and preparation.

Fundamental rules:

1. Fruits must be harvested in the stage of technical ripeness.
2. Green vegetables must be ripe.
3. The peduncle should not be torn off, since the open area around it is vulnerable to infection.
4. Tomatoes should be firm and firm.
5. Tomatoes are sorted, removing damaged and cracked.

Important! On the surface of the skin of even whole fruits, harmful microorganisms may be present. To get rid of them, tomatoes are wiped with a cotton pad soaked in strong alcohol or alcohol.

What to do if tomatoes begin to deteriorate

From time to time, you need to inspect the tomatoes in order to notice signs of spoilage in time. Any spots, suspicious stripes and dots are signs of the disease. It is also necessary to remove fruits that are too soft, since they often deteriorate from the inside. Untouched vegetables after contact with infected people need additional processing.

Apply the sterilization method:

1. Water in a wide pan is heated to +60 ° C.
2. Tomatoes must be placed in water for 2 minutes.
3. Then dry thoroughly.
4. After processing, you need to save in another container or sterilize the old container.

Tomato is a tasty and healthy product that is used in many dishes and fresh. To enjoy it in the winter, you need to know the intricacies of storage of both fresh fruits and preservation products.