Turnip is a healthy vegetable that is grown throughout Russia. Turnips used to be the main dish from which almost everything was prepared. But over time, the popularity of this vegetable faded. And it’s a shame, because the plant is rich in nutrients. Turnips can also be stored for the winter.
When to harvest turnips?
Root crops intended for storage for the winter should be one of the last to be collected. The most acceptable harvest dates are the end of September or the end of October. The plant has a long growing season, so the roots take a long time to ripen. It takes at least three months for the vegetable to fully ripen.
Selection of root vegetables suitable for storage
Only ripe and healthy root vegetables are suitable for winter storage. The peel should show no signs of damage by insects or rodents. You can harvest fruits of any shape for the winter. The main thing is that they are whole. If there are black spots or any other damage on the peel, then they are not suitable for winter storage.
Conditions for storing turnips
To preserve root vegetables throughout the winter, you need to think about storage conditions in advance. Turnips do not absorb foreign odors, so they can be stored with other vegetables. To extend the shelf life, you need to sprinkle the fruits with chalk.
It is advisable to store the harvest in a cool room (refrigerator or cellar). It is not advisable to cut off all the tops. You need to leave 2-3 cm. Before harvesting fruits for the winter, it is not recommended to wash them.
Ways to store turnips
In order to preserve root vegetables for the winter, there are many ways. Each of them has its own characteristics. Vegetables are stored both fresh and cooked.
How to keep turnips fresh?
Preserving turnips fresh is a little more difficult than preserving them cooked. But preserving the taste of the vegetable is quite possible. To do this, you need to comply with the storage conditions of root crops.
In the cellar
The easiest way to store turnips in the winter is in the cellar. This does not require special devices. Before storing in the cellar, you need to place a wooden box and fill it with sand. Then put the root vegetables there and lightly sprinkle with sand.
These measures are quite enough to preserve the fruits. Carrots and beets are stored together with turnips.
At home
It is not difficult to store vegetables in a city apartment. Before storage, the tops of the fruits are cut off and the soil is cleared from them by hand. After this, the harvest is placed in a plastic bag. It is not recommended to tie the bag. Or you need to make small holes in it so that water does not accumulate. If this is not done, the fruits will become moldy.
But in such conditions, the crop is stored for no more than two weeks. In addition, you can store the harvest in wooden boxes filled with sand and straw. It is important to ensure that the humidity in the room is high. Otherwise, the turnip peel will begin to dry out.
In the vegetable pit
An unusual way to store vegetables is in a vegetable pit. This method is considered as effective as storing it in the basement.
To store vegetables in a pit you need:
- Dig a hole 800 deep? M.
- Lay a thick layer of dry straw at the bottom of the hole.
- Place vegetables in such a way that they do not touch each other.
- Cover the root vegetables with a thick layer of damp sand.
- After this, completely bury the hole with soil, cover it with spruce branches or leaves from the garden.
- On each side of the pit, grooves are dug through which water will drain and not flood the vegetable pit.
This method, although not complicated, is not the most popular. It’s easier to store vegetables in the cellar rather than build them. This method is suitable only for those who do not have a cellar and have little storage space in the house.
Harvesting and processing of root crops
It is not necessary to store turnips fresh. There are other ways to preserve a tasty vegetable for the winter. The fruits are canned, dried and frozen.
Drying
Another way to preserve vegetables for the winter is to dry them.You can dry it in the sun, in an electric dryer or oven. The easiest way to dry vegetables is in an electric dryer. But if you don’t have an electric dryer at hand, then an oven will do.
Method for preparing dried turnips in the oven:
- The turnips need to be washed and cut into slices.
- After this, put it in boiling water for a few seconds.
- Drain in a colander and let all the water drain.
- Then the workpiece is transferred to a towel to allow the turnip to dry.
- After this, the circles are laid out in one layer on a wire rack and placed in the oven.
- The oven temperature is set to 70 degrees.
- Dry the fruits for ten hours, periodically checking them and, if necessary, shifting or turning over.
The disadvantage of this method is its duration. To dry the fruits, you need to stay at home all day and constantly monitor the oven.
Freezing
The easiest way to preserve your harvest for the winter, while still keeping the root vegetables fresh, is to freeze them in the freezer. In home urban conditions, this method is most preferable. The turnips are washed and cut into cubes. After this, the root vegetables need to be dried. The workpiece is laid out on a towel in one layer. You need to wait until all the water on the surface of the peel evaporates. Then they are transferred to plastic bags. In this form they are sent to the freezer.
You can store the frozen product for a long time. But it is still recommended to use the fruits faster. If they sit for a long time, they will lose all taste and aroma.
Conservation
Some summer residents prefer to preserve vegetables for the winter. There are many recipes for canned turnips. It is canned alone or other vegetables are added. For example, you can marinate turnips with apples.
Ingredients:
- 2 kg turnips.
- Several medium apples.
- 2 liters of water.
- 200 ml apple cider vinegar.
- 1.5 tbsp. l. fine table salt.
- 200 ml sugar.
- Spices to taste.
Wash the turnips and apples. Cut into cubes and place tightly in a jar. To prepare the marinade, you need to boil water, add salt, spices and sugar. Stir until the crystals dissolve. When the water has cooled and becomes warm, add vinegar. Pour cold brine over vegetables. A weight is placed on top to prevent the fruits from floating.
