How can you keep tomatoes fresh? How to store tomatoes How to store tomatoes with mustard

Many gardeners try keep tomatoes as long as possible collected from own site, fresh. After all, such tomatoes are much more fragrant and tastier than those sold in winter on store shelves. There are ways that will allow you to enjoy fresh tomatoes from your site, even on New Year's Eve.

There are rules for choosing tomatoes that will keep them fresh longer. First of all, you need to know that greenhouse tomatoes are less resistant to storage than those grown in open ground. Tomatoes that grew in the garden will be best stored.

If you grow tomatoes in your own garden, then you can be advised to plant certain varieties - "Giraffe" or "Masterpiece", which are bred specifically for long-term storage and transportation.

Tomatoes have a wonderful property: they can be harvested unripe, and they will ripen already during storage. This method allows you to extend the period of freshness, and they will remain intact longer.

Ripe tomatoes, under normal conditions, are stored at home in excellent condition for three days, after which they begin to wither and deteriorate. If you store these in the refrigerator, then their freshness is extended for up to one week. Tomatoes, which boast a thick skin, will lie in a special vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for ten days. It is not worth cooling the tomatoes strongly (less than two or three ° C of heat), the fruits do not tolerate freezing, they will deteriorate very quickly after thawing.

We store tomatoes until the New Year

There are two ways to store fresh tomatoes.

(advertising) First way

Tomatoes can be stored for a long time in glass jars, while remaining fresh. Moreover, they are stored in jars without adding brine or conservation. For storage, you will need three-liter jars and fresh tomatoes. We must carefully choose the fruits. They should not be overripe, whole and without any damage. This method will require small tomatoes, for each jar you should take at least four tablespoons of dry.

Tomatoes need to be washed in running water and wiped dry, then put in the air to dry. At this time, sterilize the jars and also dry them. When everything is prepared, pour a heaping tablespoon of mustard powder into the bottom of each jar. Layers of tomatoes should be placed on the powder. Place the tomatoes carefully so that they do not squeeze the sides of other fruits.

Tomatoes should be put in jars with their tails up. Sprinkle each layer of tomatoes with mustard in sufficient quantities. After filling the jar with fruits, put another full tablespoon of mustard on top and cork it with a dry and sterile lid. Next, the banks must be put on their side and carefully rolled. But don't shake! Store tomatoes in a dark and cool place.

Second way

You can use another method. For him, you must also take three-liter sterile jars, but dry mustard in it is replaced with alcohol.

Wash medium-sized tomatoes, place in jars, then pour a couple of full tablespoons of alcohol into each container. We then close the jars with clean and dry lids, but do not cork them.

We turn the jars on their side and roll them so that the alcohol moistens everything. Next, the lids should be removed, the end of the long wick placed in a jar and set on fire. As soon as the alcohol catches fire, quickly close the jars with a lid and immediately roll up. If you do everything quickly and correctly, then the tomatoes do not have time to burn themselves, and the alcohol quickly burns inside along with oxygen. Tomatoes with this method are in a vacuum and are well stored.

Tomatoes (tomatoes) are juicy fleshy fruits, without which it is impossible to imagine summer salads, rich sauces and casseroles. They are very tasty, rich in vitamins and minerals. Those who grow tomatoes themselves know that the fruits do not ripen all at once, but gradually. Tomatoes that ripen first should be preserved until conservation, and the latest varieties are often harvested unripe to protect them from frost. That is why it is important to know how to ensure the correct storage conditions for both ripe and unripe tomatoes.

Source: depositphotos.com

Green tomatoes are stored in order to gradually bring to maturity, red - to accumulate enough volume for preservation during gradual harvesting or to keep them fresh for the longest possible time. General recommendations for preparing tomatoes for long-term storage are suitable for any occasion:

when harvesting, it must be borne in mind that any, even minor damage to the fruit will not allow it to be stored for a long time. The place where the skin is crushed or torn will quickly rot, and if the tomato is not removed from the total mass in time, it will quickly spoil the neighboring vegetables. Therefore, preparation for long-term storage should begin with a careful selection of the highest quality specimens;
varieties with thick skins and fleshy flesh should be selected. And cherry tomatoes, for example, are best eaten first or canned, because they have a very thin skin and they will not last long;
fruits must be sorted not only by variety, but also by degree of maturity and size. Ripe tomatoes release gas that will speed up the ripening of green vegetables, and if stored for a long time, this will be completely inopportune. It must also be borne in mind that large specimens ripen faster than small ones;
when harvesting, it is better to leave the stalks, as it has been proven that in this form vegetables are stored longer.

Source: depositphotos.com

After the vegetables are prepared, the housewives have a question whether it is possible to store tomatoes in the refrigerator. It must be remembered that at low temperatures, tomatoes quickly lose their taste, aroma and become loose. The fact is that special volatile compounds, which make the fruits so fragrant, decompose at temperatures below +15 ° C.

It is better to use the refrigerator only for short-term storage of tomatoes: put in it a small amount that you plan to eat in the near future. Lay the tomatoes in a special compartment for vegetables, which is usually located as far as possible from the freezer. A significant change in taste will not occur during the day.

If you store tomatoes at a room temperature not exceeding +25 ° C, their quality will only improve, since the substances responsible for the taste of the fruit begin to be produced more actively. Do not place vegetables in direct sunlight or heat them above +25 ° C - under such conditions, decomposition processes are activated.

How to store tomatoes at home if they are already fully ripe, but they are not planned to be used soon? The ideal option is to lay them out in wooden or plastic boxes with a bottom and walls in the form of lattices in one layer. Tomatoes will rot much less if the box is treated with an alcohol solution and dried properly. The bottom of the container must be lined with paper without printing ink. It is best to put the prepared container in a dark place with a temperature of +8 ... +12 ° C and ventilation, which will allow the released carbon dioxide to escape. Ideal conditions create a cellar, cellar or a special cabinet for wine.

Source: depositphotos.com

It is permissible to put vegetables in a box in several layers, separating the levels with sheets of paper or sprinkling with sawdust. It is best to stack the tomatoes with the stalks up. There is a secret that will help prolong the freshness of fruits: treat them with boric acid or a weak solution of gelatin. If you follow these rules, ripe tomatoes will retain their properties for several weeks.

Proper storage of tomatoes will help other simple tricks. For example, red tomatoes can simply be poured with vegetable oil so that its level is 1 cm above the layer of vegetables.

Prevents spoilage of vegetables aqueous solution of vinegar and salt; the ingredients are taken in the following ratio: 8 parts of water and 1 part of salt and vinegar.

Storing unripe tomatoes

Where to store tomatoes if they were picked unripe? In order for the tomatoes to remain in their original state for as long as possible (did not ripen for a long time), you need to place them in a cool dark place (basement, cellar, underground, garage).

Source: depositphotos.com

In order for the tomatoes to ripen gradually, the container with them is placed in a dark place with room temperature, for example, under the bed (periodically checking the fruits, eliminating ripe or rotten ones).

For long-term storage, tomatoes are placed in the same boxes as ripe fruits. The difference is that each fruit is wrapped in paper. Varieties collected in late autumn can be placed on the balcony if the storage containers are insulated. Inside, the layers of tomatoes are poured with polyurethane foam balls, which serve both for insulation and for softening the load of fruits on each other. The temperature should be +5…+7 °C. Under such conditions, green, unripe tomatoes are stored for several months.

Source: depositphotos.com

If it is necessary that the tomatoes ripen as quickly as possible, the container with them is taken out into a lighted room and left at a temperature of +15 ... +20 ° C. You can put a few ripe fruits in the box to speed up the ripening process.

Storage of processed tomatoes

When there are no suitable conditions at home for long-term storage of fresh tomatoes, the best solution is to process them.

Source: depositphotos.com

Dried, dried and canned vegetables do not deteriorate much longer and do not require special storage conditions:

Sun-dried tomatoes can be stored like dried fruits - in linen bags in the kitchen cabinet. The main secret is to protect stocks from excessive moisture, insects and the proximity of fragrant products. Many housewives put sun-dried tomatoes in an airtight plastic container or glass container, pour in olive oil and refrigerate. You can also use the freezer, but you need to remember that after defrosting, the tomatoes will lose their rich red color.
Dried tomatoes can be stored in the same way as sun-dried ones: in bags or containers filled with oil. It is convenient to put large volumes in wooden or plastic boxes and place them on darkened shelves with a temperature of 0…+10 °C. Dried tomatoes do well in the refrigerator.
Sealed canned tomatoes can be stored at room temperature. The shelf life of conservation is no more than 12 months. If the container in which the vegetables are pickled or fermented is not airtight, the shelf life is reduced to 6-8 months, and such blanks should be stored in a cool room or refrigerator.

How to dry tomatoes, read

Most people are under the misconception that tomatoes can only be kept fresh for a very short time. This is an extremely delicate, even capricious vegetable. But it turns out that you can cook a delicious fresh tomato salad almost all year round, for this it is not at all necessary to go to the supermarket for expensive imported fruits, you are quite capable of preparing your own crop. Want to learn how to keep tomatoes fresh until the New Year? We will gladly tell you.

Not every variety of tomato can be stored for a long time. Therefore, breeders have identified a special gene responsible for delayed fruit ripening.

Such hybrid varieties of tomatoes are able to tolerate transportation more easily, and their storage time varies from 30 days or more. The very first representative among the tomato is considered the Giraffe variety. Later, experts bred other varieties with different shelf life:

2-3 months

New masterpiece;
Oak;
Lunar;
Japanese crab;
Dominator;
Radical.

3-5 months

New Year;
Red Stone;
Podzimny;
Rio Grande;
Kyrgyz late.

6-7 months

Lyn Keeper;
Giraffe;
Orange Ball;
Vasilisa.

A notable feature of maturing varieties of tomatoes is their color. When ripe, the skin turns orange, while the flesh turns bright red.

Where to store tomatoes

Any housewife wants to forget about going to the grocery store for a long time. That is why everyone wants to keep tomatoes and other vegetables as long as possible. An important issue that worries all housewives is the place of storage of tomatoes. Most often, gardeners recommend storing fruits:

In the refrigerator;
On the balcony;
In the basement.

No matter which location is chosen, keeping a tomato fresh is a top priority for any gardener.

Preparing a tomato for long-term storage

Only those tomatoes that have been properly harvested from the garden can be stored for a long time. Another important point is the variety of tomatoes. Long-term storage of tomatoes is possible subject to the correct choice of varietal variety.

In order for the tomatoes to lie long enough, you will have to choose the right moment for harvesting, namely, to catch the stage of milky ripeness of the fruit. Of course, you can collect completely green tomatoes: they will lie for a long time, but they will be completely deprived of all taste and nutritional qualities. And if the fruits fully ripen in the garden, it is unlikely that they will be preserved for a long time.

Harvesting should be carried out on a warm, dry and fine day, paying maximum attention to each tomato: for storage we select only those that have no damage to the skin, they are devoid of stains or foreign inclusions, there are no dents on them. For greater safety, the tomatoes are carefully placed in a strong container lined with soft material from the inside. Try to pick tomatoes in such a way that the stalk remains on the fruit - this will extend the storage period of vegetables for the maximum possible period.

How long can tomatoes be stored

The shelf life of tomatoes largely depends on the chosen method of saving, as well as on the degree of ripeness of the fruit.

Fresh ripe tomatoes without additional processing will lie less than green ones. But on the other hand, their taste will fully correspond to summer products, which is a prerequisite for many.

Temperature and humidity readings in home storage are rarely constant. Therefore, it is quite difficult to create an ideal microclimate that would ensure long-term storage of tomatoes. As a result, the keeping quality indicators can vary greatly.

Approximately focus on the following expiration dates:

red tomatoes in storage - up to 3 months, depending on the variety;
frozen at home - 6-8 months or until defrosted;
sun-dried and dried tomatoes - 4-8 months;
canned fruits under iron lids - up to 2 years.

What conditions are needed for storing tomatoes

The storage room (place) should be dark and cool. Ideally, this is a refrigerator shelf designed for vegetables, a cellar or basement.
The storage temperature should be between +5 and +12°C with a relative humidity of 80%.
The fruits must be carefully placed with the stalk up in wooden or plastic containers (boxes, trays).

For successful and long-term storage, we should remember the following rules. All fruits must be checked for integrity, so that among them there are no rotten and diseased tomatoes. All tomatoes are carefully wiped and placed in a container with the stalk up, preferably in one layer. A box or basket is well suited as a container, the main thing is that the tomatoes are well ventilated in it. After laying in a container, it must be placed in a cool and dry room with a temperature of 8-10 ° C. If the temperature is higher, then the fruits will quickly ripen and they will need to be eaten otherwise they will deteriorate. Otherwise, at low temperatures, they may not ripen at all and the risk of diseases in them will also increase. But, no matter which place you choose, it is necessary to take into account the conditions of harvesting and pre-prepare the tomatoes.

How to keep tomatoes fresh with a jar until the New Year

Ingredients per 3 liter jar

5-6 Art. l. mustard powder
tomatoes

Cooking

Sterilize jars. Wash the tomatoes and dry thoroughly.
With a dry and clean spoon, generously scoop up mustard powder and pour it into the bottom of a dry jar.
Trying not to press against each other, put the tomatoes in 1 layer, placing up the place where the petiole was. Sprinkle with mustard again.
Repeat layers until the jar is full. At the end, pour in another portion of the powder and close the lid (sterile and dry).
After that, tilt the jar and gently roll it on the table so that the mustard is evenly distributed.
Store the workpiece in a cool, dark place.

Essential oils contained in mustard inhibit the growth of putrefactive bacteria, allowing tomatoes to stay fresh. Try to prepare a portion of tomatoes in this way and be sure: the method will not fail!

How to keep tomatoes fresh with crates until New Year's Eve

Take wooden or plastic boxes with a slatted bottom. Drawers must be clean and dry. Cover them with paper.
Lay the vegetables with the stalks up, shifting each row with paper.
For best effect, you can wrap each fruit in paper.
Fill the box with sawdust or wood peat.

Select milky tomatoes.
Wrap each vegetable in black paper.
Put in a box.
Cover with straw.
Store tomatoes in a dark, well-ventilated area at a temperature of +8 ... +10 °C.
For ripening, put the right amount of tomatoes in a bright and warm room for 5-10 days.

Subject to all these rules, it is possible that on New Year's holidays you will please your guests with a fresh tomato salad.

Growing tomatoes is under the vigilant control of every vegetable grower. Very often, ripe or unripe fruits have to be massively removed from the bushes. Consider how to store tomatoes at home in an apartment so that they remain juicy and fresh for a long time.

There are many reasons that can cause you to pick unripe tomatoes from the bush.

There are many reasons for picking tomatoes in quantities exceeding the current needs of the vegetable grower:

Theft.
The plant is loaded with fruits.
The fruits are too heavy, break branches.
Tomatoes ripened en masse.
The threat of frost, signs of serious diseases of tomatoes.

Collection rules

It is important not only to harvest tomatoes on time, but also to do it right so that the fruits are well stored.

Unripe tomatoes can be stored much longer than ripe ones.

Collection rules apply to all tomatoes, regardless of the degree and timing of their maturity.

It is important to remember: Not all varieties of tomatoes are intended for storage.. Early ripe thin-skinned or so-called "salad" tomatoes should be used for food or processed into sauces and lecho first.

Training

Transportation of mature tomatoes should be very careful, as there is a high probability of crushing the fruits. Ripe tomatoes are stored at home without loss of taste for about 3-8 days.

For long-term storage, tomatoes harvested at the stage of milky ripeness, which have reached the size characteristic of their variety, but are green, are preferred.

The fruits of milky ripeness are almost green tomatoes, just starting to turn red.

Tomatoes at the stage of partial ripening - blange ripeness , will be in time for 1.5-2 weeks. Therefore, you should not put them in the "far box".

These tomatoes are already ripe and will not lie for a long time!

Terms

Optimal storage conditions:

After harvesting, all the fruits are carefully examined and sorted by size, varietal early maturity (mid-ripening, late-ripening), by visual signs of ripening (green, white, brown, pink).

You should not harvest from the bushes,.

sick plants

Harvest from diseased plants is harvested separately, in the absence of signs of disease on the fruits themselves (rot, pigmentation).

Cracked tomatoes will not last long, they are eaten first.

Tomatoes are dropped on 1.5-2 minutes hot (approx. 60°C) water and wipe dry. You can try to prevent by rubbing the fruits with vodka, or a pinkish solution of potassium permanganate.

Unfortunately, if the tomato is infected, then no type of treatment will give results. You need to get rid of the tomato immediately.

Accelerating the ripening of tomatoes

Tomatoes will ripen as quickly as possible if placed on a battery.

It's nice to pamper yourself and loved ones with fresh ripe tomatoes until late autumn or even winter, but not everyone has the opportunity to create optimal conditions for long-term storage of a rich crop of tomatoes. Unripe tomatoes contain a poison - solanine, which can cause serious poisoning in humans to death. Therefore, gardeners need to quickly bring tomatoes for processing.

Secrets of accelerated ripening of tomatoes:

Tomatoes acquire a second life in preparations for the winter. There are a lot of ways of salting, pickling, drying, drying and other processing, but only shock freezing in the freezer keeps ripe tomatoes “fresh”.

Can tomatoes be stored in the refrigerator?

In the refrigerator, tomatoes are stored in a special vegetable compartment.

Scientists have proven that storing ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator worsens their taste.. Green tomatoes will never ripen on a refrigerator shelf, and ripe ones will become tasteless.

In case of urgent need, you can store tomatoes in the refrigerator, but no more than a week (up to 8–12 days). To do this, you must follow a number of rules:

Store in the compartment (zone) intended for this purpose. At temperatures below +5–8 °C heat-loving crops get frostbite and quickly deteriorate.

Do not seal in airtight plastic bags or tie them.

Store separately from other vegetables and fruits.

Take the tomatoes out of the fridge in 12-24 hours before use and let them warm up at room temperature, then the lost aroma will be partially restored, and the taste will improve.

Tomatoes in jars without preservation

Recently, some methods of preserving ripe tomatoes without heat treatment in various containers (mainly 3-liter jars) have become very popular.

The vacuum method does not always work and has many negative reviews.

Conclusion

Successful storage of tomatoes largely depends on the correct choice of variety.

When stored properly, late (especially hybrid) tomatoes can gradually mature until February while maintaining its freshness. For tomatoes in the bed, constant monitoring is necessary: selection of actively ripening and spoiling fruits.

If the vegetable grower managed to grow a rich crop of tomatoes on his own, then he will have the patience to keep it until the right moment or finish it for processing, following the simple, time-tested rules for storing tomatoes at home.

Video on how to prepare tomatoes for the winter without conservation

Kira Stoletova

Many of us love a salad made with fresh vegetables, such as cucumbers and tomatoes. In the article, we will consider how to keep tomatoes fresh for as long as possible at home.

Tomato storage rules

At 5-6º, red vegetables lose all their beneficial properties. The optimum storage temperature is above 20º. Tomatoes in such conditions became more useful, rich in composition.

Red, ripened fruits can be stored for about a week. Again, the shelf life of tomatoes depends on their degree of maturity, appearance and transportation conditions.

Storing Green Tomatoes

Green tomatoes should not be stored in the refrigerator. They will go bad or stay green.

The process of ripening tomatoes should take place at room temperature (15-20º). If the room is too hot, the fruits will stop emitting a coloring pigment and will not ripen. It is best if the temperature reaches 13º. Only in this case they will turn red and retain their taste properties.

Tatyana Orlova (Candidate of Agricultural Sciences):
If there is a need for the plucked green tomato fruits to ripen faster, it is enough to put 1 red to a group of green tomatoes. After 3-5 days, all the fruits will also turn red. The same effect is given by a fresh ripe banana, placed in a box with green tomatoes. This is because ripe fruits release ethylene gas, which speeds up fruit ripening.

Properly store fresh tomatoes in the refrigerator in the fruit and vegetable compartment, where the optimum temperature is maintained. You can also store tomatoes on the bottom shelf. This will keep fresh tomatoes as long as possible.

Ripe tomatoes are stored for 2-3 days. Unripe - up to 7 days.

It is best to store tomatoes by placing them in one row. Of course, you can put them in two rows, but so that the bottom row is not squeezed too much.
If a tomato lies in the refrigerator for several days, and then it enters a room at room temperature, then it begins to release useful substances.
Wrap each tomato in paper. This will keep the fortress for a long time. In addition, the tomato is not squeezed in paper, if the fruits were laid out in two rows.

Storing tomatoes in a plastic bag will not lead to anything good. The fruits do not breathe, the humidity in the bag rises and after a few hours such vegetables can simply rot.

Storage in a glass jar

Storing tomatoes in glass jars allows you to keep the fruits for several months. The main thing at the same time is to choose tomatoes that do not contain rot and mechanical damage.

A new way that allows you to store tomatoes in this form is as follows. Fresh tomatoes should be thoroughly washed and dried. Next, put them in a glass, necessarily sterilized jar. When the jar is full, pour in 3 tbsp. l. alcohol. After that, close the plastic lid and turn it well in your hands. Then we need to lower the wick inside the jar and set it on fire. When the alcohol starts to burn, the jar needs to be rolled up with a metal lid.

Balcony storage

You can store tomatoes on the balcony at a temperature of 5 to 12º. How to do it right:

First you will have to find a box, preferably wooden.
We cover it with paper and put tomatoes there. Paper can be replaced with cotton fabric.
If the tomatoes are laid out in several rows, then we will definitely lay paper or cloth between the rows. But it is absolutely impossible to use plastic bags or film.
Boxes with vegetables can be stacked on top of each other.

In order to extend the period of ripening of green fruits and thereby lengthen the period of its consumption, all collected green tomatoes are divided into several batches and stored at different temperatures. One group of fruits can be placed in a room (for example, on a windowsill). They will come to maturity in 7-10 days. Keep the second batch on a balcony or glazed loggia, where the usual autumn temperature is + 12-15 degrees. The third batch is in the refrigerator, in the vegetable compartment.