How to store apricots at home: rules and best practices

Apricots are rich in vitamins, iron salts, iodine, and potassium. They influence metabolism, digestion, and brain activity, and increase hemoglobin levels. Therefore, it is recommended to consume them for as long as possible. To do this, you need to know how to select apricots and how to store them properly. These include maintaining the right temperature and humidity, as well as choosing the right container and storage location.

Conditions for long-term storage of apricots

The fruits are used frozen, dried, and fresh. To ensure long-lasting storage in any condition, pay attention to the variety and harvest time.

Choosing a variety

There are many varieties, each differing in taste, aroma, fruit size, and ripening time. For long-term storage, late-ripening varieties are recommended:

• Fire;
• Spark;
• Present;
• Lel;
• Delight;
• Surprise;
• Northern Triumph;
• Joy;
• Hardy;
• Favorite;
• Kichiginsky;
• Honey.

The fruits of the listed crops are suitable for storage in fresh, dried, frozen and canned form.

Harvest rules: timing

The harvest begins when the fruits reach maturity. That is, when they develop the characteristic appearance, flavor, and aroma of the variety.

Important: the fruits must be collected in dry weather, after the dew has evaporated.

Fruit picked during the hottest part of the day will not store well. To harvest from high branches, it's recommended to use a fruit picker. Properly picked apricots will keep well.

Selection of crops for storage

Choose fruits with firm, smooth skin. There should be no blemishes, marks, or signs of pests on the surface. You can check for shelf life by pressing the fruit. When pressed, it should remain firm.

When sorting, soft, rotten produce is set aside to prevent undamaged specimens from becoming rotten. These can then be processed into compotes.

Is it possible to pick unripe fruits?

Apricots contain ethylene, which stimulates ripening. Therefore, they can be safely picked from the tree when they're still slightly green and unripe.

How to ripen unripe fruits at home

To ripen the fruit, they are placed in a warm room where the temperature reaches 15-20 degrees Celsius. The produce is placed in a paper bag and covered. After a few days, the fruit ripens.

Storage conditions required

To preserve apricots in a city apartment, you should choose a location with the appropriate temperature and humidity.

Location and lighting

The key to fruit storage is choosing a location with the appropriate temperature. Favorable locations include:

• pantry;
• kitchen cabinet;
• fridge;
• freezer.

Cold prevents fruit from spoiling, but it does affect its flavor and texture. Storage areas should have adequate light, but care should be taken to ensure fruit is not exposed to direct sunlight.

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Harvested apricots are best stored in paper and wooden containers.

In paper bags

Fruit can be packaged in thin paper bags or cardboard boxes. Fruits should not touch each other.

In wooden boxes

It is recommended to wrap each fruit in thin paper and place it in wooden crates. Stacking should be done in one or two layers.

Stored fruit is checked regularly. If any spoiled fruit is noticed, it should be removed from the drawer to prevent others from spoiling.

Temperature

The shelf life of produce depends on temperature. At 0°C (32°F), fruit can last 1-2 weeks. At -5°C (-4°F), it can last up to a month. At 10°C (50°F) and above, fruit will spoil faster.

Important: the recommended temperature for storing fruits is 0-2 degrees Celsius.

Humidity

Relative humidity should be 90-95 percent. This microclimate exists in cellars and basements. It's important to monitor the relative humidity in fruit storage and avoid allowing it to drop.

How to protect crops from insects

To protect the fruits from insects and dust, cover them with thin paper or gauze. To prevent ants from getting in, place the legs of the table where the fruits are stored in water.

Shelf life of fresh apricots

At 0 degrees Celsius and 90% humidity, produce can be stored for up to two weeks. Fresh produce can be stored in a refrigerator for up to one month.

Methods of preparation for winter

Preserving aromatic fruits is the best way to enjoy them both summer and winter. There are several ways to preserve them for long-term storage.

Store in the refrigerator

You can enjoy fresh produce for a whole week if you store it in the refrigerator on the crisper shelf. Place the fruit in airtight food containers. If you simply refrigerate it in a bowl, it will last no more than two days.

At 0°C, the fruits will keep for 30 days. After this period, it is recommended to consume them, as they begin to lose their flavor and aroma.

Drying

To prepare dried fruit, rinse the harvested produce under running water, remove the pits, and arrange them on a tray. Keep the area dark.

The cut fruits are placed in a drafty area for 4-5 days. The slices are spaced apart. They are then taken out into the sun and left for another week. After this process, the dried fruits are packaged in individual bags. They can be stored in this form for six months.

Freezing in the freezer

You can preserve produce for a long time by placing it in the freezer. There are several options for storing fruit in the freezer.

In syrup

To prepare fruit in syrup, the washed and dried fruit must be cut into slices. These slices are then placed in special containers.

To make sugar syrup you need to prepare the following ingredients:

• 500 grams of sugar;
• 0.5 liters of water;
• 1-2 tablespoons of lemon or any other natural juice.

Combine the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once the water boils, remove the pan from the stove. Pour the cooled syrup over the sliced ​​fruit and place it in the freezer. Before serving, move the container to a shelf in the refrigerator to allow the fruit to defrost gradually.

In puree

To make the puree, select ripe, soft fruits. Wash them, pit them, and place them in a blender. You can also puree them through a sieve.

To prepare the dish you should take:

• 1 kilogram of ground fruit;
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice;
• 200 grams of sugar, if the fruits are not sweet enough.

All ingredients are mixed, poured into containers and placed in the freezer.

With sugar

The easiest and fastest way to preserve fruit is to seal it in sugar. To do this, take soft fruit and cut it into quarters. Then, layer it in a special container and sprinkle it with sugar. Place the container in the freezer.

The good thing about this recipe is that the fruit doesn't lose its color or aroma when defrosted.

Apricot halves

The product is best preserved in frozen halves. To do this, follow these steps:

• cut into halves;
• remove the seeds;
• spread in one layer;
• place in the freezer for 2 days;
• Place in freezer bags.

This method saves space in the refrigerator. The halves can also be added to pies or used to make compotes.

In its entirety

You can freeze whole fruits without cutting them. Lay the whole fruits out in a single layer and freeze. Once frozen, transfer them to bags or containers. This form of frozen fruit is perfect for making fruit drinks and compotes.

What is the best way to store apricots?

To preserve the nutritional value of fruits, they should be stored properly. To do this, we recommend following these guidelines:

• separate good fruits from spoiled ones;
• unripe fruits should be ripened at room temperature;
• Store in the refrigerator on a separate shelf, away from fish and meat.

It is recommended to freeze fruits that were picked just before freezing.

Storage errors

Many people make mistakes when storing fruit. To prevent spoilage, don't put unripe fruits in the freezer. At low temperatures, they won't ripen fully and will remain tasteless.

Washing fruit right before freezing can cause mold. Therefore, only freeze washed and dry fruit.

Properly stored apricots will keep them fresh for a long time. There are several ways to do this. Any of them allows you to enjoy the fruit not only in summer but throughout the rest of the year as well.