2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 13:49
Pears are a fairly popular fruit, so many are interested in the question of how to store them correctly. Under proper conditions, pears can last until spring. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to properly preserve pears for the winter, as well as other useful tips.
Requirements for conditions
In order for pears to look good for a long period, to be protected from rot, they must be placed in certain conditions. If you carefully approach the storage conditions, then these fruits will remain tasty and full of vitamins.
The main requirement is to arrange the fruit correctly. Of course, they can be put in different ways, even on their side, but you should definitely adhere to the distance between the fruits. It is not necessary to lay them in several layers, preferably in one, although it is allowed in two layers.
In the room where the pears will be located, the following conditions must be maintained:
- humidity should be within 80-90%;
- air temperature - about zero (plus or minus 1 degree);
- it is imperative to establish ventilation, since air circulation is very important;
- it is better to choose a place without lighting, since darkness guarantees ideal storage conditions for pears.
Important: in order to keep pears as long as possible, it is recommended to place them as far as possible from sauerkraut and potatoes.
Where can you store it?
There are quite a few places where you can store pears for the winter or ripening. Let's take a closer look at the most popular solutions.
Balcony
This option is quite popular, since a large number of pears can be laid out on the balcony at once. To properly store them at home, you need to place fruits in wooden boxes, it is recommended to wrap each pear in paper, and it is also imperative to fill in shavings or sand between them.
Important: the temperature on the balcony should be around zero degrees. If it is not possible to create an optimal temperature, then the storage time of this fruit will be significantly reduced.
Special attention should be paid to the structure of the box. There are two main ways.
If the loggia is unheated, but insulated, then the average air temperature on it will be about zero degrees . You can use cardboard boxes or ordinary boxes as boxes, but the fruit should be wrapped in paper, sprinkled with sawdust or sand. To create darkness, it is better to use a special fabric, but breathable. If the air temperature is significantly below 0, then there is no need to transfer the fruits to the apartment. You just need to cover the pears with a warm blanket to protect them from freezing.
If in your area the air temperature drops below -5 degrees, it is advisable to store fruits in boxes that have an insulated structure. To create such a box, you should adhere to the following algorithm.
- You need to take two cardboard boxes (one can be larger and the other smaller), insulation material and foam. You can use polyurethane foam, rags, shavings or sawdust.
- To begin with, it is recommended to place a small one in a large box so that an interval of about 15 cm remains between their walls.
- Put polystyrene at the bottom of the small box, then place the pears, cover the foam again, and another row of fruits, it is better to fill the rest of the box with insulation.
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The interval between the boxes should also be filled with any insulation. As a result, the insulated box will reliably protect the fruits from the cold. Dry sawdust will help fill all the voids, which will protect the fruit not only from low temperatures, but also from high humidity.
Refrigerator
This method is not suitable for everyone, since only a small number of pears can be stored with this method. Loading multiple boxes into the refrigerator will not work. The best option is a vegetable compartment, since the temperature in it is +4 degrees.
Important: if you decide to store pears in the refrigerator for the winter, then there should be nothing else in it - only pears.
It is advisable to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:
- wait a few hours for the fruit to cool, because without this action, condensation forms on the pears in the refrigerator;
- put them in bags, about 1 kg each, but in the bags it is initially recommended to make small holes to create ventilation;
- put fruits in the vegetable compartment, and when closing it is important to make sure that the fruits are not squeezed;
- it is advisable to review the harvested fruit every 7-10 days.
Cellar
In a cellar or basement, you can keep the pear harvest in excellent condition and in large quantities. But initially it is necessary to properly prepare this room, adhering to the following conditions:
- it is recommended to take out everything unnecessary from the room;
- disinfect the room with sulfur dioxide about a month before storing pears; you need to carefully close all ventilation holes and doors, then ignite lump sulfur, while processing 1 m² will require only 3 grams;
- it is recommended to ventilate the room after 72 hours.
Important: the cellar can be disinfected with other substances or solutions.
Before storing in boxes, it is imperative to make the correct laying of fruits, taking into account their variety and size.
It is imperative to adhere to the following tips from professionals:
- watch the temperature regime;
- root vegetables should not be stored in the same room as pears;
- think over the availability of ventilation in advance, otherwise you will need to ventilate the room every day;
- it is recommended to maintain one microclimate, and it should also be dark in the cellar;
- if the humidity level is low, then boxes of sand will help, which should be moistened from time to time;
- it is regularly recommended to inspect the fruit;
- if several pears are spoiled in one box, then you need to carefully sort through it all;
- pears can be stored both in wooden boxes and in cardboard boxes, but it is forbidden to put them on the floor, only on racks.
In the ground
As you know, over time, pears lose their taste and juiciness when stored in a cellar or basement, so experts recommend placing them in the ground. Please note that only a slope or a hill is suitable for this purpose, since moisture usually accumulates in the lowlands in the spring, which adversely affects the pears.
Important: this method is only suitable for long-term storage of fruits (until spring), since it will not be possible to get to them in winter.
To store pears in the ground, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:
- the hole can be dug at a distance of about two meters from the groundwater to prevent flooding;
- the depth of the hole should vary from 1, 2 to 1, 5 meters, but the length and width depend on the number of pears;
- the bottom of the hole must be supplemented with flooring from boards or use wooden pallets, and already on them place boxes with the harvest;
- it is recommended to bury the fruits even before the onset of the first frost;
- it is recommended to stick to half a meter between the edge of the box and the soil surfaces;
- the hole needs to be covered with boards, then the fallen leaves or straw should be laid, and then covered with soil on top;
- do not forget to create ventilation - in the center of the hole, draw a pipe that will conduct air inside.
If it is not possible to store pears in wooden boxes, then you can use plastic bags. Initially, pears should be placed in them and tied with twine.
It is recommended to wait for the first frosts, bury them in the ground and throw them over spruce branches, since the needles are an excellent protection against various rodents . This method will keep the fruits tasty and juicy for 4-5 months.
In sand
If this method is chosen for storing pears, then it is necessary to stock up on clean sand, and immediately before use it must be calcined. It is better to immediately abandon raw sand or with the addition of black soil, since in this case the fruits will quickly rot. This option is ideal when there is a need to store a large crop in a small room.
You need to adhere to the following recommendations using this option:
- the cellar must be disinfected before use;
- it is advisable to cover the floor with a film;
- pour sand into wooden containers with a layer of 1-2 cm, and spread the fruits at a distance from each other, cover with sand on top;
- repeat the procedure until the drawer is full.
Important: it is necessary to maintain optimal air humidity in the room, since with increased moisture, the sand will become damp, and the fruits begin to rot.
Possible capacities
If you choose the right storage container, then the fruits will last longer. Therefore, when choosing a container, pay attention to the following features:
- plastic containers should be avoided, it is recommended to use wooden containers, you can even take baskets;
- to protect against rot and mold, the boxes must be fumigated with sulfur;
- containers with poor ventilation or, in general, without it, should not be used, since pears immediately begin to rot;
- you can store no more than 15 kg of fruits in one box;
- it is advisable to make only two bookmarks in one container; if the pears are laid out in three layers, then there is a high probability that the lower layer will start to deteriorate under the weight of the upper two;
- it is advisable to do styling with the stalks up;
- fruits should be spaced apart from each other so that there is no touch;
- paper or straw can be used to separate fruits; shifting pears with dry moss, sawdust and even peat is allowed;
- polyethylene bags can also be used to store pears, but air should be pumped out of them;
- stacking of one container on top of another is allowed, but you need to adhere to a distance of 5 cm so that the bottom does not rest on the stalks;
- when storing a small amount of pears, wrap each in paper; spoiled fruit can be identified by wet spots on the paper.
Long-term storage varieties
It is very important to choose the right variety for storage, since not all pears can be stored throughout the winter while maintaining their original appearance. Autumn and summer fruits are not immediately suitable, since they will not be able to lie for a long time even if the necessary conditions are maintained. Winter varieties are an ideal choice, as they have the following features:
- unsweetened, taste improves over time;
- long shelf life (from two months);
- dense pulp - they retain both taste and shape even during heat treatment;
- pears are quite hard, they are picked still green, unripe - it takes time for them to ripen.
Important: to determine which pear variety grows in your area, pick the fruit in September and try it. If the pear is hard, then it belongs to the late varieties, and it can be stored until spring.
Useful Tips
Experienced gardeners recommend following these tips for storing pears properly:
- the choice of the variety is very important, since early varieties generally cannot be stored;
- it is forbidden to store fruits of different varieties in one box;
- usually in the underground or basement, the fruits are stored until the New Year, although some varieties remain fresh for quite a long time - even until May;
- it is necessary to inspect the fruits at least 2 times a month in order to immediately remove the damaged fruits, because they can ruin the entire crop;
- it is advisable to lay the fruit no later than 3-5 days after harvest; the removed fruits look good at first glance, but after a few days the first signs of fruit spoilage may already appear.
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