How to keep radishes fresh for the winter

Preparing vegetables for storage

Proper harvest preparation will ensure that radishes remain not only tasty but also nutritious. Store them after preliminary preparation, following proven recommendations, which will be discussed later. Provide ample watering as they grow. This will ensure juicy radishes. It's best to plan harvesting for the morning. At this time, the roots have not yet had time to become too hot from the sun. When sorting radishes, keep only ripe, unrotted, and undamaged vegetables for storage.

If you plan to store radishes for a long time, it is recommended to sow them from August 1 to 5, which is relevant for the Central zone. If grown with late sowing, harvesting can be done 6–8 weeks later. The length and appearance of the root should also be taken into account. Vegetables are considered ripe when they are approximately 2 cm in diameter with a firm, crisp skin.

Many housewives wonder how to properly store radishes. If they're stored with their tops, be sure to moisten the green part periodically. When refrigerated, they should be kept in an untied plastic bag. It's best to break off the tops rather than cut them off. If the harvest is bountiful, it's recommended to store the vegetables in wooden boxes filled with river sand or sawdust. They should always be kept dry. To maintain their juiciness, don't store them for too long. Radishes that are medium-sized and home-grown, rather than store-bought, are best.

Storage in a basement or cellar

How do you store radishes in a basement or cellar? The optimal temperature is considered to be 0-1°C. Humidity is around 90-95%. You can spill water on the floor. Store in tightly sealed boxes holding up to 20 kg. Fill them with peat or sand. Then add a layer of ash or dry chalk. You can also arrange the vegetables on shelves and sprinkle them with damp sand. It is recommended to mix the sand with lime or chalk at a ratio of 1 kg of lime to 50 kg of sand. Sawdust can also be used instead of sand.

The claying method, in which root vegetables are dipped in a prepared clay slurry and placed in slit-filled boxes, is rarely used today. It's also acceptable to overwinter radishes in thick plastic bags up to 50 kg in capacity. These bags do not need to be tied. The bags should be placed vertically on special racks. Alternatively, you can line the bottom of the box with plastic film and place the harvest there. Then, stack the boxes one on top of the other.

Cold storage

Before refrigerating, trim the tops of vegetables, wash them with water, and dry them. Then, store the root vegetables in plastic bags that don't need to be tied.

Under these conditions, early-ripening radishes can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 1 week. Mid-season varieties can be stored for up to 2 weeks.

Radishes can also be stored in a moistened plastic bag or a two-liter jar with two tablespoons of liquid added. In this case, close the jar, tie the bag, and place the container in the refrigerator. To prevent condensation, place a couple of paper towels inside the bag. If you pour boiled water over the vegetables at room temperature and seal the lid tightly, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Freezing

Radishes cannot be frozen at home. They spoil and lose their nutritional value at temperatures between -18 and -24°C. Proper freezing requires specialized equipment capable of blast freezing, which means reaching a temperature of -40°C. The pre-peeled and sliced ​​radishes are then blasted with air for 10 minutes. This prevents moisture from crystallizing and spoiling the beloved vegetable. Therefore, the radishes immediately become firm, preserving their original appearance and flavor.

Video: How to Preserve Radishes for the Winter

This video will teach you how to properly store radishes at home.