How to properly freeze fresh peaches for the winter in the freezer at home. How to store peaches at home so they don't spoil for a long time

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You can often find similar fruits next to peaches in stores. They are distinguished by their smooth skin. The name of these fruits is nectarine. This is what will be discussed in this article. More precisely, about benefits and harms of nectarine, cultivation history and storage conditions.

What are we talking about?

Nectarine is nothing more than a variety that, unlike its counterpart, has the
hellish skin, like . The fruits of the plant are very often used in the preparation of various jams, preserves, compotes, etc.

According to English-language sources, nectarine has been known to Europe since the beginning of the 15th century. The fruit became very popular in the last century, when large fruits appeared, the weight of which reached 200 grams. It was they who acquired the juicy yellow pulp familiar to many today.

The distribution of this fruit is wide. It is grown in many countries around the world. However, the main suppliers of the fruit are considered to be Mediterranean countries, such as Cyprus, Italy, Former Yugoslavia, Tunisia and Greece.

Nectarine has a distinctive characteristic from peach. And this is the much stronger winter hardiness of fruits and plants. Therefore, they are grown and cultivated in the North Caucasus and the Volgograd region.

Nectarine - “naked” peach

It is widely believed that nectarine is the result of the work of many breeders who decided to cross plum and peach into a single fruit. However, scientists themselves claim that nectarine appeared without human intervention and represents a natural degeneration of the peach in natural conditions. Therefore, the product can be called a natural mutation, but not an artificial product.

History and cultivation

China is considered to be the birthplace of nectarine. It was from there that the fruits spread throughout the world. At first, the fruit was considered a joke of nature and the fruit did not receive due attention. Much later, scientists became acquainted with benefits and harms of nectarine and the way of its origin. It turned out that in the area where the peaches grew, at some point there were unfavorable climatic conditions that affected the plants. One of the results was the nectarine with its smooth skin.

Over time, people appreciated the fruits of the plant, began to collect their seeds, and planted entire plantations. Since then, many varieties of nectarines have appeared with their own ripening periods, storage periods and other criteria. To this day, some peach trees may produce smooth fruit, but the opposite is true - never.

Chemical composition

By chemical composition nectarine is close to its ancestor. Therefore, per 100 grams of product there are:

9 grams of proteins;
2 grams of fat;
8 grams of carbohydrates.

The calorie content of the product seems tempting for diet practitioners. It is equal to only 48 kcal. Therefore, they are often used as a healthy and low-calorie alternative to sweets. Of the vitamins, vitamin C, as in, and vitamin A, as in, are present in large quantities. There are also a lot of macro and microelements. This is especially true for iron, potassium and phosphorus.

Useful properties

After analyzing the composition, you can understand that the benefits and harms of nectarine undoubtedly deserve attention. Thus, the following parameters should be highlighted from the positive aspects:

The substances contained in the fruits of this plant, especially sodium, are useful for diseases of a hypertensive nature and atherosclerosis. This is also explained by the fact that these substances help remove fluid from the body;
Nectarine enhances the secretion of the digestive glands. Therefore, it helps in assimilation of large amounts of food and heavy, fatty dishes. So nectarine is a must-have on most holiday tables;
Despite the fact that the fruit helps remove fluid from the body, nectarine still retains moisture in the cells. Due to this, they do not lose their youth. This has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin. She is not decrepit, she remains fresher. Regular use nectarine can even rid the body of small wrinkles that have just appeared;
Nectarine, along with chocolate, is an excellent antidepressant. The fruit can calm you down nervous system, restore peace of mind and improve your mood. It is recommended for use by people who are subject to frequent stress;
Substances that are found in nectarine effectively fight free radicals formed in the body. It is worth recalling that the latter are responsible for the formation of intractable oncological diseases;
If the activity of the medium-vascular system is impaired, it is also recommended to eat nectarine or drink the juice of this fruit. This will strengthen the walls of blood vessels, help the heart function, and improve blood composition. This fact will be especially significant for patients with anemia;
If we are talking about blood, it is worth saying that nectarine can get rid of bad cholesterol. If you eat nectarine in moderation, the risk of developing cholesterol plaques, which lead to blood clots, will also decrease.

Possible contraindications

But besides benefits, harms of nectarine has a certain So, people who suffer from nectarine juice should not drink diabetes mellitus. In general, the benefits of freshly squeezed juice for the body are a very controversial issue. IN in this case, the level of sugar in them is prohibitive, which often leads to an increase in its amount in the body. But also useful substances it contains more than the industrial drink.

Like peach seeds, nectarine kernels contain a dangerous poison - hydrocyanic acid. Therefore, eating them is not recommended at all. Nectarine peel can also cause possible skin lesions.

Moreover, individual allergic reactions, which, in fact, are the above-mentioned skin formations, the fruit can cause. Therefore, before use, it is best to consult your doctor.

However, this applies, in general, only fresh fruits. Peeled and canned fruits will not cause any significant harm. Therefore, they can be safely included in food. They will be especially good as a filling for baked goods or as part of jams and syrups.

Selection and storage

Before you buy a nectarine, you need to pay attention to its color. Ripe fruits have a dark red color. However, there are also fruits with a creamy white color. It all depends, rather, on the plant variety.

You should not buy nectarines that have been cut or damaged in any other way. Such a product will most likely spoil very quickly, unless w;t rotted. The surface should be smooth, without dents, and the flesh should be elastic: with a slight squeeze, the fruit will return to its original shape.

The fruit must be stored in the refrigerator for several days. If unripe fruits were purchased, you can pack them in separate paper bags and leave them in storage. room temperature. Soon benefits and harms of nectarine will come to a peak, and you will be able to enjoy the taste and aroma of this fruit.

Typically, when we bring fruit home, we do one of two things: put everything in a vase on the counter or throw it in the refrigerator. There's not much room for error since almost all fruits can be stored in the refrigerator, and almost all fruits can last at least a couple of days at room temperature. But if you want to get maximum pleasure and benefit from the gifts of nature and save your budget, it’s worth understanding this issue a little.

In this material you will learn the general principles of storing bananas, apples, pears, lemons, tangerines and other fruits, and you will find a reminder on storage conditions and periods different types fruits and berries, and also get ideas for organizing “vitamins” at home.

8 general principles on how to properly store fruit at home

Principle 1: Do not store fruits and vegetables together. Fruits that emit large number ethylene (ripening agent) can speed up the ripening of nearby vegetables and spoil them.

Principle 2: Remove moldy fruit immediately. Before storing fruit in the refrigerator, cabinet or tabletop vase, be sure to remove any spoiled fruit to prevent the spread of mold. Try to eat overripe fruits first.

Principle 3. Store under ripe fruits at room temperature, preferably in a paper bag. This is especially true for apricots, peaches, pears, plums, persimmons, avocados, kiwis and mangos. The bag will become a trap for ethylene, a gas that is released by the fruit and acts as a ripening agent. Want to speed up the process even more? Place an apple in the bag. Ripe and, especially, overripe fruits are best stored in the refrigerator.

Principle 4. Store fruit on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or in a special compartment for fruit. The exception is fruits that need to be stored at room temperature (whole melons, bananas, citruses, unripe fruits), as well as apples - they are best stored on the top shelf of the refrigerator, separately from other fruits.

What fruits cannot be stored in the refrigerator? The answer is easy to remember: bananas and citrus fruits

Principle 5: Do not store fruit in a crowded refrigerator container. Air should circulate freely around the fruit.

Principle 6: Eat cut fruit as quickly as possible and do not store it in the refrigerator for more than two days. This is especially true for watermelons, melons and pumpkins, as well as persimmons. Cut fruits cannot be stored at room temperature - firstly, they will quickly deteriorate and wrinkle, and secondly, they will attract gnats and flies.

Principle 7: Store unwashed fruit in the refrigerator. original packaging or free package. Fruits stored at room temperature should be removed from the packaging immediately.

Principle 8. Always have a vase of fruit on the table or countertop. It is better to choose a place that is always visible and easily accessible. So you and your household will not forget about these delicious vitamins, and the interior will only be decorated.

Below are several photo ideas on how you can beautifully, conveniently and correctly organize fruit storage at home at room temperature.

A bowl of fruit makes a great centerpiece. dining table. In a beautiful vase, bright fruits will seem even more appetizing

Homemade fruit holder from boards and metal baskets

The system of kitchen rails and baskets is ideal for storing apples and pears

It is convenient to store a juicer and a stationary blender next to the fruit.

You can compactly store a large amount of fruit in this bookcase

Where and how long to store fruits and berries - a brief reminder

The rules for storing fruit are often confusing, because each fruit has different requirements for conditions and timing. For example, some species ripen on a tree, and some already ripen at home with their owner. Some fruits need to be stored at low temperatures, while some, on the contrary, love warmth. This guide will help you avoid mistakes. Keep in mind that the recommendations below assume your produce is ripe and ready to eat.

Bananas

To prevent bananas from turning black, they should be stored in a cupboard or on a table, but not in the refrigerator.

Shelf life at room temperature: 5 days.
Ideal location: in a vase on a table, in a closet or in a cool, dry place.
Clue: ripe bananas can be frozen for baking or consumption as natural "ice cream" (the skins will turn black, but the flesh will be fine).

How to store bananas at home? Thanks to his bright color they are simply created for interior decoration. Place them in a cute dish/vase or hang them on a special holder or on a hook screwed into the bottom of a wall cabinet

Apples

These are the most convenient fruits to store at home, as they can be stored both in the refrigerator and in the cupboard or on the table longer than all other fruits.

Shelf life: up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
Place: it is best to store apples on the top shelves, most importantly, separately from other fruits.

How to store apples at home? Ideally, on the top shelf of the refrigerator. The main rule is that they cannot be stored for long periods of time together with other fruits.

Melon, watermelon, pumpkin

At long-term storage In the refrigerator, these melons lose their taste and aroma.

Place: in the refrigerator in the fruit compartment or in the cabinet/table (except for overripe and damaged fruits).
Shelf life: up to 5-7 days whole, up to 2-3 days cut.

Apricots

Place: Unripe apricots should be stored at room temperature, preferably in paper bags.
Refrigerated shelf life: 5 days.

Citrus

Citrus fruits are those fruits that are best stored in a vase on the table, in a cardboard box in a closet or other dry and preferably cool place, but not in the refrigerator. Therefore, it is worth buying them only a week in advance, but no more. However, you can also store them in the refrigerator for quite a long time (up to 2-3 weeks), although after a week or ten days the fruits will begin to lose their aroma, juiciness and taste. Lemons and limes will completely absorb foreign odors.

Place: in the closet, on the table. If in the refrigerator, then on the bottom shelf or in a special compartment for fruit.
Shelf life: on the table - from 3 to 7 days, in the refrigerator - oranges up to 2 weeks, lemons, limes and grapefruits up to 3 weeks, tangerines - up to 1 week).

You can decorate your holiday table with this fruit arrangement. Simply place a smaller vase in the center of a large vase and fill it with water and flowers, then stack your citrus fruits in the remaining space

Pears

Do not rush to be upset if the pears on the store counter are only green and hard. The fact is that these fruits are picked unripe, since they begin to rot on the tree even before ripeness. It turns out that you should buy unripe pears a week in advance and wait for them to ripen at home. When buying soft and juicy fruits, try to eat them as quickly as possible.

Place: in the closet, on the table. To speed up the ripening of pears, place them in paper bags and keep them at room temperature. Ripe and overripe pears can be stored in the refrigerator for one or two days (on the bottom shelf or in a special fruit compartment).
Duration: 5 days. Asian pears last longer - up to 7 days at room temperature and several weeks in the refrigerator.

Location: Grapes are best stored in a paper bag (or perforated plastic bag) in the refrigerator.
Shelf life: from 1 to 2 weeks. But it is better to eat the grapes within 3 days; later they will begin to wrinkle.

Kiwi

Place: ripe fruits– in the refrigerator, unripe ones – at room temperature.
Duration: 4 days on the table, and up to several weeks in the refrigerator.

Mango

Place: refrigerator.
Duration: 4 days.

Peaches and nectarines

Place: refrigerator.
Duration: 5 days.

Pineapple

Place: in its entirety - at room temperature on a table or in a cupboard; cut or sliced pineapple is stored in the refrigerator.
Terms: 5 days whole at room temperature and 3 days in the refrigerator (cut).

Plum

Place: refrigerator, unripe plums are stored at room temperature;
Duration: 5 days.

Persimmon

Place: Unripe fruits are stored at room temperature until ripe, then eaten as quickly as possible.
Duration: after ripening – 2-3 days.

Grenades

Place: refrigerator.
Duration: a whole pomegranate can be stored for up to 3 weeks, pomegranate seeds can be stored for 3 days.

Blackberry

Shelf life: 2 days

Place: in the refrigerator.
Shelf life: 1 week.

Cherry

Place: in the refrigerator in an open bag or bowl.
Duration: 3 days.

Cranberry

Cranberry - the healthiest berry, which you can safely buy for future use.

Place: refrigerator.
Duration: 1 month.

Raspberry

Place: in the refrigerator, spread out in a single layer on a paper towel.
Shelf life: 3 days

Strawberries

Place: in the refrigerator.
Shelf life: 3 days.

Storing ripe peaches is characterized by a number of features, but there is nothing complicated about them. There are many ways, but in most cases it is best to preserve fruit at a low temperature, for example, in the refrigerator.

Peach trees begin to produce fruit in the second half of summer. The first ripe fruits on the tree can be seen already at the end of June. But the peak ripening of the crop occurs in July and August. To understand when to pick peaches from the tree, you need to lightly press on any fruit. If when pressed it is soft and slightly springy, it means that the harvest time has come. In this way, it is advisable to check all the fruits so as not to pick unripe ones.

The crop is harvested in several stages. Only fruits that have reached technical maturity should be harvested. Unripe peaches are tough and tasteless. The fruits are removed immediately from the tree as soon as they are ripe. If some of the peaches have fallen off, you should not pick them from the ground. Such fruits are overripe and not suitable for food.

Selection of high-quality and tasty peach

In mid-summer, peach season begins. You can see fruit on store shelves at any time of the year, but you can find truly tasty and useful fruits impossible during the cold season. But even during peach season, it is important to be able to choose the right one. quality fruits. Ripe peaches are aromatic and spring back slightly when pressed. If you are looking for fruit at the market, you need to pay attention to bees and wasps. Insects sense good fruits and flock to them.

Peaches should be purchased without damage to the skin. The skin should be smooth and velvety, and its shade should be natural. Too bright a color indicates that the fruit has been treated with chemicals. If after purchase it is discovered that the seed inside the fruit has shriveled and cracked, this indicates that the fruit has been treated with chemicals that allow it to maintain its beautiful appearance. appearance during transportation.

General storage conditions for ripe peaches

It's not enough to just pick the peaches; it's important to preserve them properly so that they for a long time remained fresh. The easiest way to preserve fruit at home is in the refrigerator, but there are several other options for storing the harvest just picked from the tree.

At what temperature

When choosing warm or cold storage for any fruit, preference should be given to the latter. If you leave the harvest in a warm place, very soon the peaches will begin to rot and ferment. Under such conditions, the crop is stored for about 2-3 days. Most optimal temperature content is 0 degrees.

Optimal humidity for fruit

Peaches can be kept fresh for a long time at very high humidity, about 90%. To increase the humidity in the refrigerator, you can place a container of water next to the peaches. Low humidity levels cause fruit to dry out. If the fruits are provided with all the necessary conditions, they can be stored for up to 2-4 weeks, depending on the ripening period. Late varieties are stored longer than earlier ones.

Storage duration

Peaches are one of those fruits that are not stored for a long time after picking, so it is worth deciding in advance how quickly you plan to eat them. Late-ripening varieties are stored for up to 4 weeks (if they were collected slightly unripe). At the technical maturity stage, the shelf life is about 2 weeks. In the refrigerator, the shelf life is about 10 days for early varieties, if the fruit is ripe.

Outside the refrigerator, the fruits remain intact for about 3 days. The main thing is to find out where it is better to keep the crop.

How to process for long-term preservation

It's no secret that store-bought fruits are treated with chemicals to increase shelf life. But is it possible to carry out such procedures at home without compromising quality?

IN industrial production fruits are processed:

methyl bromide;
ethylene;
biphenyl;
sulfur oxide;
sorbic acid;
wax.

At home, treating fruits with chemicals is problematic and undesirable. It's better to find safe ways storage

How to store unripe fruits

Unripe peaches last much longer than ripe ones, but they also taste qualities however, they will not be as tall even after they are fully ripe. Unripe fruits have lower sugar levels. If ripe peaches are stored in the refrigerator or basement, where the temperature is cool and high humidity, then unripe peaches are stored the opposite way.

It is recommended to place peaches somewhere in the kitchen so that they gradually reach technical maturity. If you leave them in the refrigerator, the fruits will either disappear or remain as hard as they were. Unripe fruits can be stored on the balcony and in the basement. If there are a lot of them, ordinary wooden boxes are suitable for this. Peaches are placed in them in one layer.

How to make peaches ripen

After harvesting, there is a need to speed up the ripening of fruits at home. There are several ways to do this without spoiling the taste of the fruit. In order for the fruits to begin to ripen faster, they are not put in the refrigerator, but left at home at room temperature. Another effective way speed up the ripening of the harvested crop - place the fruits in the same bag with bananas. Bananas secrete special enzymes that help accelerate the ripening of not only peaches, but also many other fruits.

Also, the harvest, if it has not yet ripened, is left for several days in the sun, for example, on a window. Three days are enough for the peaches to reach technical maturity.

We use a paper bag

Another method to speed up the ripening of unripe peaches is to place them in a paper bag. Unlike plastic bags, fruits in paper bags do not rot or rot. And if you put a bunch of bananas in a bag, the ripening process will go even faster. The container with fruit is stored at room temperature in the shade. It is not advisable to place it in the sun so that the fruits do not begin to rot.

It is also worth checking the bag regularly, and if signs of rotting begin to appear on the fruits, such fruits are immediately thrown away before the rot spreads to the entire contents.

Using linen fabric

To speed up the ripening of green fruits, use a bag made of natural linen fabric. 4-7 fruits are placed in one bag so that they do not lie on top of each other, and put away in a cool room.

How to prepare for the winter

There are two ways to preserve your harvest for the winter - freeze the peaches in freezer or dry them in the sun or in the oven. An electric dryer is also used for drying. But at the same time, frozen fruits last longer than dried ones. You can also grind peaches with sugar for the winter. To do this, the pulp is crushed in a blender, mixed with sugar and placed in jars. Then they put it in the freezer. This jam is suitable for making teas, for decorating ice cream and as a filling for pies.

Store in the refrigerator

Only ripe fruits should be stored in the refrigerator. The main thing is to ensure favorable temperature and humidity. This way you can significantly increase the shelf life of fruits. Peaches are stored separately from all fruits, especially bananas. Being near bananas speeds up the ripening process. And if this is not included in the plans, it is better to put bananas away. To increase humidity, place a bowl of water next to the fruit and change it daily.

Storing nectarines in the freezer

Many people mistakenly believe that nectarines are a hybrid of peach and plum. But in fact, these are the same peaches, only with smooth skin. In addition, nectarines and peaches can grow on the same tree. The difference is that nectarines are juicier and contain less sugar. That's why they are stored exactly the same.

You can increase the shelf life of fruits by storing them in the freezer. To do this, just rinse the nectarines and dry them. Place in a plastic bag and put in the freezer.

Whole peaches with pit

Before placing fruits in the freezer, they should be thoroughly washed and dried so that there is no water on the skins. Place the fruits in a bag or plastic container and put them in the freezer. The disadvantage of this storage method is its limited use. Frozen fruits are only suitable for heat treatment. IN fresh they are not very tasty.

Slices without skin

To simplify the work before using fruits for cooking, you can peel them in advance and cut them into slices. To make the skin easier to remove, the fruit is immersed in boiling water for a couple of minutes. Then the top is cut crosswise and the skin is removed. After this, fold and put the plastic bag in the freezer.

With parchment

You can prepare peaches for the winter by drying them in the sun. parchment paper. To do this, the fruits are cut into slices and laid out on parchment paper in one layer. It is better to lay it out so that the slices do not touch each other. Place the parchment in the sun and leave for several days. As soon as the slices begin to dry out, turn them over. This continues until the peaches are completely dry.

Drying

The collected fruits can be dried for the winter. To do this, the fruits are washed and cut into 4 parts. Preheat the oven to 40 degrees. Place the slices on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 2 hours. The slices need to be checked and turned over regularly. Dried workpieces decrease in size and become tough. Dried peaches stored in a glass jar.

This wonderful fruit is truly of Persian origin. Its Latin name sounds like Persian plum. According to historians, Alexander the Great himself brought it to Europe from a military campaign. To Persia itself natural delicacy came from China. The taste of the fruit left no one indifferent and people started growing peaches not under the influence of fashion, but to please their own taste buds.

Peach pulp has not only exquisite taste, but also nearby useful properties. It is saturated with moisture and can quench your thirst. Peach contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals, necessary for a person. The list contains magnesium, iron, vitamins PP and from group B. This makes the fruit natural remedy prevention and complex treatment cardiovascular diseases. The pulp is rich in fiber, so peach can satisfy hunger. It can be used as an ingredient fruit salads and desserts for those who want to lose weight.

To ensure that peaches can be eaten for several days, you need to pay attention to them when purchasing. You should choose fruits with clean skin, evenly covered with fluff. If there are bald spots, then the peaches were probably subjected to mechanical stress during transportation and their flesh was damaged. Such fruits can spoil in just one day.

You should not put your purchase in a bag so that even the lightest products or things can be placed on it. It is very easy to damage the juicy pulp or tear the skin of a peach. Also, do not swing the bag while walking. If the potatoes are not surprised by such dances, then the peaches will turn into puree.

At home, the fruits should be transferred from a plastic bag to a paper bag, or to a container lined with writing paper. Newspaper is not suitable for this, as the paint from its sheet can stain the peaches. It is advisable to place the fruit in the refrigerator so that the juice inside does not begin to ferment. This also helps isolate the product from insects that are attracted to the sweet smell.

The idea of allowing peaches to ripen after they've been picked is not new. It is known that 100 years ago, transporting provisions took much longer than it does now. Fruits and vegetables from warm regions quickly spoiled, and in the markets of northern countries they were awaited by buyers willing to pay top dollar. Merchants were concerned about safety delicate fruits and they preferred to purchase them unripe. Then each fruit was wrapped in soft material and hoped that the lack of climate of the ship's hold would do its job.

Centuries have passed, and instead of merchants, housewives began experimenting with the ripening of peaches. In imitation of their predecessors, they came up with this method: Peaches should be wrapped in a piece of linen and left indoors for several days. The method is not bad, if only because if one of the fruits begins to deteriorate or bursts, the liquid will be absorbed by the tissue and it will not affect the safety of other fruits.

An opportunity to resort to science in bringing peaches to condition. Modern food industry For this purpose it uses ethylene gas. It is isolated not only from oil, it is present in almost all plants. There is very little of it in peaches, because You should put apples or bananas in a paper bag with them. This method is considered more effective than the one above.

How long and at what temperature should you store peaches?

At room temperature, ripe peaches can stay fresh for several days. When choosing a storage location, you should choose dark and as much as possible cool places. If the peaches are soft or have the first signs of rotting, then after a while they will begin to rot. A similar situation will happen with bruised fruits.

Optimal temperature conditions for storing peaches, a level of 0 degrees is considered. This mode is provided in compartments for storing fruit in refrigerators and is created in cellars or basements. The higher the temperature, the less the peaches will retain their freshness. At 0 degrees the fruits are stored for several weeks depending on the degree of ripeness.

The difference in shelf life at room conditions and in the refrigerator for peaches is approximately one week. In the cold, the fruits remain juicy and fresh longer. However, you must follow the rules for storing them in any case. Peaches can remain fresh for several months only in special warehouses, so immediately after purchasing them, you need to determine the time of consumption of the fruit and take appropriate measures for their storage.

Once cut, peaches should only be stored in the refrigerator. Their shelf life in this case will be several days. You can extend it by placing the fruits in a container with a lid. If the peaches have been cut and not eaten within two days, it is best to freeze them, which will extend their shelf life by months.

Frozen peaches will keep for several months.. It is better to pre-sort the fruits into portions. Like any other food, peaches should not be re-frozen. Distinctive feature This type of fruit is the ability to maintain the structure of the pulp after exposure to low temperatures.