The secrets of harvesting lemon for the winter. How to store this citrus?

A lot is known about the benefits of citrus fruits and the content of a large number of vitamins in them. All year round, lemons occupy an honorable place among them on store shelves. The modern rhythm of life forces families to shop once every couple of weeks to save time. Therefore, when purchasing this fruit, it is important to take care where to store it correctly at home and to prevent the loss of taste and health benefits.

Which citruses are best to choose?

Before choosing lemons for storage, look at their appearance. Pay attention to ripe and hard fruits without damage. If you notice brown sunken spots on the lemon - do not take it. The softness of the fetus, the presence of crystals in the pulp and damage to the films mean that the fetus is frostbitten and not suitable.

How to prepare?

If you want lemons not to deteriorate, retaining an attractive appearance and bright taste for a long time, wrap each fruit individually in paper - this will help to absorb excess moisture. And then put the lemons in the general refrigerator storage room.

Please note that lemons do not need to be washed before storage.

How to keep chopped product and how long will it be fresh?

Unfortunately, storing chopped lemon for a long time at room temperature will not work, however, there are tricks to slow down the process of drying it. So, how to store the cut lemon in the refrigerator in order to preserve its beneficial qualities? Consider in detail:

1. Apply a thin layer of egg white to the lemon slice.
2. Put the lemon on the surface with a slice, treating it with apple cider vinegar or fresh honey.
3. Put salt and bay leaf next to the sliced ​​lemon.
4. Natural preservatives in the form of sugar will help keep lemon fresh for 4-6 months.
5. Remember that when storing chopped lemon in sugar, vitamin C is lost.
6. To save, put the cut lemon on a plate with the slice down and cover with a glass from above. To prevent air from entering, cover all with cling film.

Methods for storing sliced ​​lemon in the refrigerator:

1. Get a special lemongrass in the store that will allow the cut lemon to stay fresh in the refrigerator for about a week.
2. Put the lemon slice down on a saucer, sprinkled with salt or sugar, and then put it in a cool dark place.

We offer you to watch a video about the nuances of storing lemon at home:

Storage methods

• Shelf life of lemon at room temperature can reach 14 days. To extend it, grease the peel with vegetable oil. This trick will allow citrus to be stored for another 7 days.
• If you notice that the lemon peel has begun to dry, then the situation can be saved by placing citrus in boiling water for a couple of minutes.
• Keep lemons away from moisture.
• It is forbidden to store them in plastic bags.
• In no case should direct sunlight fall on the fruit.
• Do not store lemons at low temperatures.

In a dark place

1. Lubricate the skin of lemons with vegetable oil.
2. Put them in a convenient dish.
3. Hide in a cool, dark place.

You can store lemons in any cool place., for example, in the refrigerator or on the balcony in a special box. The main thing is that the temperature does not exceed +8 degrees. It is better to do this by pre-wrapping the fruit with parchment paper.

In wax

1. You will need to purchase wax paper.
2. Wrap it around every fruit.
3. Melt the candle.
4. Coat each citrus with a thin layer of wax with a brush.
5. Fill the lemons in an open container.

In sand

1. Anneal the sand in the oven.
2. Pour about 3 cm of sand in a dense layer into the container.
3. Wash the lemons.
4. Wrap lemons with parchment paper and place on sand.
5. Sprinkle sand on top.
6. Clean in a dark place.

In a vacuum

1. The glass jar must be half filled with lemons.
2. Place a burning candle on top and close the jar with a lid.
3. After some time, the oxygen in the jar will end, the candle will go out and a vacuum will form.

For convenience, you can also use a special vacuum cleaner and a suitable container.

How to prepare for the winter, step by step instructions

Freezing in the fridge

1. Wash the lemons and dry them.
2. Cut into circles without cutting the peel.
3. On a flat plate, place the slices at a distance from each other.
4. Put the plate in the freezer for a day.
5. Transfer the slices into freezer bags and close tightly.
6. Hide it in the freezer again.

Frozen lemons are great for eating., as well as for the treatment of certain diseases. The beneficial properties of the fruit will not disappear after storage at low temperatures, so this type of preparation for the winter will be a real salvation in the cold season, relieve sore throats and strengthen the immune system.

Add lemons to tea or water, and the zest will be a wonderful addition to any dish, giving them a bright taste and aroma. And lemon slices or circles will decorate salads and cocktails on your holiday table.

And what if there is no refrigerator?

Drying

1. Thinly lemons into circles.
2. Place on baking trays in a warm room with good ventilation or use an oven.
3. Turn the mugs occasionally to dry evenly and maintain a beautiful appearance.

Add dried lemons to the drink to make it more fragrant, tasty, and most importantly healthy. Dried lemon zest can be used in cooking, adding it to cakes and pastries to give aroma and pronounced taste, as well as decoration.

Preservation

1. Place the lemons in cold water for half an hour.
2. Rub the peel thoroughly with a brush.
3. Pour boiling water over the lemons, wipe with paper towels and set to dry.
4. Trim the tails on each fruit on both sides.
5. Cut into circles or slices about 0.3-0.5 cm thick.
6. Remove the seeds.
7. Pour a thin layer of sugar on the bottom of dry sterile cans.
8. Stack lemons in 2-3 layers on top.
9. Fill the container to the top and close it tightly with a plastic lid.
10. Put in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
11. Turn the jars regularly so that the sugar dissolves.
12. As soon as the amount of contents decreases, report lemons again, sprinkling them with sugar (in the end, its layer should be the last).
13. Roll up the cans. Previously, they can be sterilized (0.5 liter containers will last 20 minutes).

It has become a tradition for many to drink hot lemon tea on cold winter evenings, so feel free to add canned lemon slices to your drinks.

Candied fruit

1. Remove the lemon zest.
2. Soak it in water for 3 days.
3. Then scald the crusts and boil them in sugar syrup.
4. Dry the candied fruit in the oven.

Candied citrus fruits are among the most healthy.. It is an excellent source of vitamins and fiber, which has a beneficial effect on the digestion process and helps to cleanse toxins. Candied fruit is also recommended to replace any candy.

Lokum

1. In a suitable container, boil lemon juice, sugar syrup and chopped nuts.
2. Then pour the mixture onto a wide, flat dish and let cool.
3. Dice after cooling and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Of course, partially useful properties of such a Turkish delight are destroyed during the heat treatment of the juice, but nuts make this dish useful. Using natural Turkish delight as a food, you can not be afraid to harm the body.

Which method will leave the most vitamin and beneficial properties?

There is an opinion that only fresh fruits should be eaten with the maximum benefit for the body.

Indeed, useful vitamins are partially destroyed due to heat treatment, so the choice is best made in favor of freezing lemons, which retains up to 90% of nutrients, as well as drying, but only indoors at room temperature. In this case, the properties of lemons can be compared with fresh fruits.

How much time is lemon stored in the refrigerator, is there a certain time frame?

• Remember that if the shelf life of the lemon in the refrigerator or freezer exceeds 4 months or 15 days at room temperature, then you can find fungus and rot on its surface, therefore, such fruits are strictly prohibited.
• Unnatural spots of green and white are also an alarm - the fruit is not suitable for food, and you risk poisoning.
• All components of lemons in the form of pulp, zest or juice are used as a treatment for diseases and their prevention, as well as for decorating dishes and baking.
• Lemon is a fruit that is indispensable on the farm in winter and summer.

Useful video

We offer you to watch a video about the methods of harvesting lemon: