Methods for storing garlic in the winter at home

At the time of harvest, when the summer season was left behind, people who have their own garden are interested in how to preserve the products so that they do not deteriorate during the winter. For example, the actual problem of storing garlic in the winter at home. After all, this is both a good medicine and a delicious spice, without which most dishes can not do.

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Garlic is the record holder for shelf life. If certain conditions are met, then he will lie perfectly and maintain his qualities until the new crop. The gardener is able to extend the shelf life of the vegetable.

Proper preparation

Preparation is a very important step that should not be neglected. When harvesting, you need to consider some points:

• The right time to harvest. The heads, which are removed at the right time, do not fall apart and are therefore suitable for storage. As a rule, spring or winter garlic is grown. The first is removed when its leaves turn yellow and lie on the ground, that is, at the end of August. When the leaves turn yellow at the winter and the skin of inflorescences bursts, it is time to collect it. This happens at the end of July.
• Garlic should be removed with care, without damaging the head. The plant can not be pulled out of the ground. It must be carefully excavated. At the same time, hands must be removed from the heads. Shaking garlic and banging it on objects is unacceptable. Damaged vegetables cannot be stored.
• The dug out crop needs to be very carefully dried. For this, the heads are suspended together with leaves in a dry room. The heads should face down. So, the beneficial substances from the leaves and the stem will go to the head and improve the taste of the vegetable. Drying lasts 3-5 days under favorable conditions.
• When sorting a vegetable, it is necessary to reject damaged and empty specimens. Further heads are grouped by size. For long-term storage, large heads are selected that lie better. Unsuitable garlic should be dried, salted or pickled. It can also be frozen.

Best grade

Summer varieties are much longer than winter. This is due to covering flakes, which the winter vegetable has much less. It dries quickly and loses moisture, can rot and mold.

The necessary conditions

There are several factors that can significantly affect the shelf life of a vegetable. The main ones are:

• Air temperature. It is recommended to store winter varieties at temperatures from -2 to +2 degrees. In a warm room, the fruits will simply sprout, in a cold room they will freeze. With constant temperature fluctuations, the vegetable loses its properties. Spring varieties can be stored at higher temperatures, but the room should not be warmer than +20 degrees.
• Humidity indoors. Well, if it is not higher than 80%. Too high humidity will rot the heads, and in a dry room with a humidity of less than 50%, the teeth will dry out.
• Lighting. Garlic harvest is better stored in a dark room. Direct sunlight adversely affects the vegetable.
• Good ventilation. It is best to store garlic in bags, boxes, or open crates.

Storage

Garlic is unpretentious, so it can be successfully stored in an apartment, storage or on the balcony, as well as in the refrigerator. The place slightly affects its quality, but there are some conditions.

Basement or cellar

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• In braids. So our ancestors kept the vegetable, the method is still popular. Thus, the heads receive the necessary air and take up little space.
• In kapron tights. This method may be primitive, but it is perfect for garlic. Small gaps allow the heads to breathe, and they do not take up much space.
• In boxes or boxes. Garlic should be stored in layers that are no thicker than 20 cm. It is imperative to ensure that there are openings for air.

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Ways for an apartment

In a city apartment, it is preferable to store spring varieties. The ways of storing garlic for the winter in the apartment are similar to storing in the basement: from the heads you can weave braids or put them in boxes.

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You can also save garlic for the winter and in glass jars. This method is performed step by step as follows:

1. The container is washed and dried.
2. Dry and sorted vegetables are placed in jars with whole heads or individual cloves.
3. Open cans are put in a dark, dry place.

Stacked vegetables can be sprinkled with salt. It will absorb moisture and disinfect heads. In this case, you first need to pour a thick layer of salt, then lay a layer of garlic and repeat the layer to the top of the container. This method will keep the crop until spring.

Correctly keep garlic for the winter can be in the refrigerator, however, with this method, the main problem may arise - high humidity. The maximum shelf life under such conditions is 3 months.

Freezing is one of the storage options. You can send garlic into the freezer with whole cloves, wrapping them in cling film or foil. Also, the vegetable can be stored in the freezer portionwise. Peeled cloves need to be chopped with a knife and put in an ice mold. Frozen cubes are stacked and sent to the freezer. When defrosting, the vegetable can be used as usual. Frozen garlic cube can be thrown into hot dishes.

Possible problems

When storing the vegetable, some problems may arise. You can prevent them by observing the rules and choosing the optimal storage method. The table will help you evaluate errors and gather information together.

Table: Garlic storage errors and their elimination

Ways storing garlic at home for the winter a lot, every housewife chooses for herself a more optimal option that suits her. If you save a large crop in several ways, then the vegetable will be on the table all year round.