Storing Garden Vegetables
As the summer season approaches, it’s the perfect time to get started planting and harvesting your own garden vegetables. But what do you do when your harvest is more than you expected and you’re worried about finding enough space to store them? Here are a few tips to help you make sure your garden vegetables stay fresh until you’re ready to use them.
1. Choose the Right Container
One of the most important parts of storing garden vegetables is choosing the right container. Only select sturdy, air-tight containers that will keep moisture in and pests out. Examples include glass or ceramic jars, or glass storage containers like those made by Pyrex.
2. Prep Your Veggies
Once you’ve chosen the right container, it’s time to prep the vegetables. Make sure they are washed and dried before they go into storage to help reduce the risk of mold or rot.
3. Refrigerate or Freeze
Some vegetables store well in the refrigerator for a few weeks, such as carrots, potatoes, and peppers. Other vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, should be frozen for longer term storage.
4. Store in a Cool, Dry Place
For vegetables that don’t need to be refrigerated or frozen, like onions and garlic, store them in a cool, dry place. An ideal temperature is around 55°F with a relative humidity of around 65%. Store the vegetables away from heat sources like stoves and radiators.
5. Keep Out of Direct Sunlight
Direct sunlight causes vegetables to dry out and over-ripen, so make sure to store them away from windows and other direct light sources.
6. Make Use of Vacuum Sealing
Vacuum sealing is an excellent way to keep vegetables as fresh as possible for longer periods of time. With a vacuum sealer, you can remove the air from the container, locking in flavor and preventing spoilage.
7. Label Your Containers
Labeling your containers is a great way to keep track of what vegetables you have stored and when they need to be used by. This will help you to make sure nothing goes to waste.
Tips for Storing Garden Vegetables
- Choose the right container: select sturdy, air-tight containers like glass jars and storage containers that will keep moisture in and pests out.
- Prep your vegetables: wash and dry them before storage to help reduce the risk of mold or rot.
- Know when to refrigerate or freeze: some vegetables store well in the refrigerator, while others should be frozen.
- Store in a cool, dry place: an ideal temperature is around 55°F with a relative humidity of around 65%.
- Keep out of direct sunlight: direct sunlight causes vegetables to dry out and over-ripen.
- Make use of vacuum sealing: vacuum sealing locks in flavor and prevents spoilage.
- Label your containers: this will help you to keep track of what vegetables you have stored and when to use them.
Following these tips will help to ensure that your garden vegetables stay fresh until you’re ready to enjoy them!
