Proven secrets for storing zucchini until spring

Zucchini

Zucchini is a nutritious vegetable, rich in healthy carbohydrates and vitamins. Regular consumption helps strengthen the immune system and improve gastrointestinal health. Proper storage allows you to enjoy this healthy vegetable not only in the summer, but throughout the fall and winter.

List of varieties that are suitable for wintering

Only zucchini with a thick rind and small seeds are suitable for winter storage. Vegetables that meet these criteria include the following varieties:

'Aeronaut' – from 3 to 4 months;
'Pear-shaped' – 4 months;
'Asset F1' – from 3 to 4 months;
'Yellow-fruited' – no more than 3 months;
'Aral F1' – from 3 to 4 months;
'Little Negritenok' – 2 months old.

The shelf life of zucchini depends largely on how well they were selected and prepared for winter. Adherence to the correct storage conditions and temperature is also crucial; if even one rule is violated, the vegetable will quickly perish.

Attention!

Harvest before frost sets in. Even if vegetables sit in cold soil for even a short time, they will spoil within a few weeks of harvest. Infected or damaged fruits should not be stored.

Selection and preparation of fruits

After harvesting, separate the vegetables into those that can be used immediately for cooking and preserves, before they spoil and are suitable for storage. Fruits that meet the following criteria can be stored for the winter:

thick and dense skin;
determination of dull sound when tapping;
absence of any defects and damage.

Harvest vegetables only in dry weather, cutting them so that 4-5 cm remain from the stem. Do not wash them before preparing them for winter, as this will initiate the rotting process.

Wipe each fruit with a dry cloth and dry for 10-12 hours in a well-ventilated area, placing them in boxes or laying them out on a wooden surface.

Winter storage options

The best place to store any vegetables is a basement or cellar. This location provides the right temperature and humidity to maintain freshness. If such a place is unavailable, a refrigerator or any available space in the house or apartment can serve as an alternative.

In a cellar or basement

A good environment for long-term storage of zucchini is 80% humidity and a temperature of 4 to 10 degrees Celsius. Install devices in the basement or cellar to measure these parameters and create the ideal storage environment.

Ventilate the room several times a month to prevent vegetables from going sour and developing a musty smell.

At room temperature

If you don't have a cellar, find a suitable storage space in your apartment or house. This could be a pantry, hallway, balcony, landing box, entryway, or corner of any room. It's important to keep vegetables away from heating appliances. A small amount of vegetables can be stored on a windowsill. Wrapping the vegetables in paper is recommended.

In the refrigerator

Zucchini can only be stored in the refrigerator for a short time—no more than 1 month. Place young, thin-skinned vegetables in bags with small holes. Carefully transfer them to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, where the temperature remains at least 5 degrees Celsius.

Secrets of bookmarking for storage

It's important not only to choose a storage location with favorable climate conditions but also to stack vegetables properly. The best place for this is a wooden container or tray.

If you don't have a special container, lay paper or straw on the floor in a thick layer and spread the fruit out, making sure they don't touch each other. When storing indoors in a private house or apartment at room temperature, carefully place the fruit in a cardboard box. Cover them with paper or a rag.

Regardless of the storage method chosen, check the integrity of the vegetables 1-2 times a month, separating rotten fruits from healthy ones to prevent contamination of the entire crop.