How to properly store cauliflower in an apartment

Cauliflower It's a source of many vitamins and minerals that our bodies need, especially during the winter. By maintaining optimal storage conditions, you can keep this vegetable fresh not only in a basement or cellar, but also in an ordinary apartment.

Depending on the chosen storage location, the cabbage will keep for 1 to 12 months.

Choosing vegetables for storage in an apartment

When purchasing cauliflower, we give preference to heads with the following characteristics:

• inflorescences are white, a slight yellow tint is allowed;
• dense structure of both inflorescences and stems with leaves;
• absence of plaque, stains, or damage on the surface of the vegetable;
• green leaves.

Preparing cauliflower from the garden for storage

If you grow the vegetable yourself, harvest it as it ripens. Choose clear, cloudless weather for this. Heads of cabbage that have accumulated moisture should be processed as quickly as possible. The ideal size for the cabbage is 8-12 cm; avoid overripening it, as this leads to a significant loss of nutrients.

Trim the cabbage heads, along with the four outer leaves, and immediately place them in a shaded area. The vegetable doesn't tolerate direct sunlight well and quickly turns yellow.

After the heads of cabbage are collected, cover them with a thin cloth and leave them to dry a little.

How to keep fresh

This vegetable thrives on low temperatures and high humidity. Therefore, we store it at 0-2°C and 90-95%. For indoor storage, we can use:

1. Balcony. If your apartment has a glassed-in balcony and the temperature there never drops below 0°C, it's perfect for storing the vegetables. Place the heads of cabbage in wooden or plastic boxes, ensuring they don't touch. Cover the containers with dark, opaque film or use cardboard. If you don't have plastic, you can use plastic bags – wrap the heads in them and place them in the refrigerator. Check the condition of the vegetables regularly and change the bags if condensation forms.
2. Pantry. We also use boxes for storage and wrap them or vegetables in plastic wrap. However, since the pantry temperature is significantly higher than 2°C, the shelf life of vegetables will be much shorter. Therefore, it's better to choose low-temperature storage.
3. Refrigerator. To store cauliflower in the refrigerator, remove the core and any wilted leaves, then wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the vegetable storage area and inspect the harvest regularly. Cauliflower retains moisture well, which minimizes condensation.
4. Freezer. First, separate the cabbage into florets, soak them in salted water for 15 minutes, and rinse them. You can then freeze them with or without pre-boiling. You can dry the cabbage and freeze it as is, but it will become soft and fall apart when defrosted, and its flavor will also change. If you plan to use it for frying or battering, pre-boil the florets for no more than 5 minutes, dry them, and freeze them. Use plastic containers or special zip-lock bags.

How to store in jars

To preserve cauliflower for a long time, you can additionally use the following methods:

• pickling;

Let's cook sauerkraut using:

• cabbage – 4 kg;
• carrots – 2 pcs.;
• garlic – 6 cloves;
• black and allspice – 10 peas each;
• water – 3 l;
• salt and sugar – 200 g each.

Wash the jars and lids thoroughly and dry. Separate the cabbage into florets, soak them in salted water for 15 minutes, and rinse. Peel and coarsely grate the carrots. Chop the garlic and mix with the prepared vegetables. Boil the water, dissolve the salt and sugar in it. Place the spices and vegetables in the jars, and pour the cooled brine over them. The dish will be ready in 3-4 days.

• pickling;

For one 1 liter jar of pickled cauliflower we take:

• cabbage – ½ head;
• carrots – ½ vegetable;
• water – 1 l;
• salt – 2 tsp;
• sugar – 2 tsp;
• vinegar – 2 tsp;
• bay leaf – 1 pc.;
• cloves – 3 pcs.;
• black pepper – 5 peas.

Sterilize the jars and lids. Separate the cabbage into florets, soak them in salted water for 10-15 minutes, and rinse. Peel and chop the carrots into rounds. Place the spices in the bottom of the jar, add the vegetables, and pour boiling water over them. Let them sit for 5 minutes, then pour the water back into the pan. Bring to a boil again, add the sugar and salt, and pour in the vinegar. Then pour in the boiling water and seal the jar.

• canning.

To prepare canned cauliflower, take:

• cabbage – 5 kg;
• water – 2.5-3 l;
• coarse salt – 0.2 kg;
• vinegar – 200-225 ml.

Sterilize the jars and lids. Separate the vegetables into florets and soak them in water with salt for 15 minutes. Rinse them and blanch them in slightly salted water for 3 minutes, then drain in a colander. Boil the water, add salt, and pour in the vinegar. Arrange the cabbage in the jars, cool the brine, and pour it into the containers. Enhance the flavor and aroma of the dish by adding black and allspice pepper and bay leaves. Cover with lids, roll up the jars, turn them over, and wrap them in a blanket. Once the jars have cooled, transfer them to the pantry.

Storage life of cabbage

The shelf life of cauliflower depends on how it is stored and the location chosen for its storage:

• fresh:
  • storage room – up to 2 weeks;
  • balcony – up to 1 month;
  • refrigerator – up to 1 month;
  • freezer – up to 1 year.
• pickled – 1-2 months;
• pickled or canned – 1-2 months.

Storage errors

Mistakes made when harvesting and storing cauliflower can affect its shelf life and overall product quality, so we try to avoid the following mistakes:

1. Overripe cabbage has poor shelf life and loses a significant portion of its nutritional value. If harvested incorrectly, it will begin to spoil.
2. It's not recommended to store cauliflower heads touching each other. This increases the risk of rot developing and spreading quickly.
3. Do not expose the vegetable to sudden temperature changes, as it may turn black or grayish and become bitter in taste.

Adviсe

The following tips will simplify the process of storing cabbage and improve its shelf life:

1. At freezing cabbage It is recommended to pack it in small portions, since the vegetable does not tolerate repeated freezing.
2. Periodically inspect canned food jars for swelling of the lid, which indicates product spoilage.
3. To store the vegetable in the refrigerator, place it in a jar with some salt. Line the jar's neck with parchment paper.

When storing cauliflower at home, it's important to follow basic rules and recommendations for its preservation. If you can't store the heads on the balcony, the refrigerator and freezer are the best options. The freezer will keep the vegetable fresh until the next season. Canning is an alternative way to preserve the harvest.