How to store pears at home

How to store pears at home? The question is very burning. Because pears are not apples to you. This is a subtle substance that does not tolerate rough treatment. Some people do not even try to save juicy sweet fruits, but in vain. After all, with competent actions, pears are perfectly stored until March. Now we will tell you how to do it right.

We will not describe methods such as drying, cooking jam, stewed fruit or freezing. These are common truths, most know about them. It is important for us to figure out how to keep pears fresh at home. We’ll talk about this.

General rules

Before laying pears for long-term storage, the preparation process always goes on. It is from him that the success of the entire enterprise depends on 80%.

Collection. Fruits are very important to remove from the tree. It is to remove, not to wrap. Be sure to try as little as possible to damage or beat off the pears. The leg is left whole, the fruits themselves are carefully removed with your hands or with a special device. It is impossible:

• throw
• compress
• crumple
• rub
• to scratch

Any of these damages reduces the shelf life by several times.

Important! Pears must not be washed. They can only be gently wiped with a soft cloth or napkin, being careful not to damage the layer of natural wax on the skin.

Now you need to carefully inspect the fruit for wormholes or damage. For long-term storage, only absolutely whole pears are suitable. Everyone else, with the slightest sign of even a scratch, will certainly clean. They can be eaten now or processed.

If you are greedy and put the “wounded” fruit along with the rest, then it will begin to rot and spoil nearby fruits. It’s better to get rid of one pear now than to throw away the whole crop.

And further. For storage of pears at home only winter varieties are suitable. Moreover, they are removed from the tree a little immature. Such fruits lie well. Summer spoils very quickly, autumn lasts a little longer. But for a long time only late-ripe pears are harvested.

Where to store pears at home

There are several places where fruits can be safely stored for the entire shelf life. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Cellar, basement
This is the most common place to store pears, which many neglect. Fruits are placed in wooden boxes or cardboard boxes in no more than 2 layers. It is advisable to sprinkle with clean, dry sawdust or calcined sand. You can wrap each pear separately in paper or re-dry it with dry straw. Hay does not fit; it speeds up the onset of decay. Even if nothing from the litter is at hand, the pears are still very well stored in the basement or cellar. Only be sure to monitor the level of humidity. If it is too damp, then many spoiled fruits will appear.

Pros. The optimal ratio of air humidity and temperature. A large volume of fruits is placed. It is convenient to clean the pears for storage and get them for consumption.

Minuses. Antibacterial treatment with sulfur or tobacco saber is required. Mandatory ventilation.

Underground
The method is suitable for those who live in a private house or have the opportunity to come to the country in the winter. You will need dense plastic bags, a cut of the greenhouse film and a peg for marking. It is necessary to put unripe fruits in bags of 1.5-1.8 kg, no more. Then you have to pick up a shovel and dig a hole in the ground. Just choose a place higher so that it does not flood with rains or thawed snow.

The depth of the pit is approximately 35-40 cm, the width is equal to the width of the packets. The length depends on how many pears you will put in storage.Tie the fruit bags, make several holes for breathing. Then carefully place the bags on the bottom of the pit.

From above, to protect against mice, you need to lay a little spruce branches or pour dry burdock. Rodents do not like such surprises. Now the whole structure is covered with boards, a greenhouse film is laid on top and a soil layer of at least 20 cm is poured.

Remember to stick the peg. It will serve as a beacon. Otherwise, in winter you will have to dig up a good part of the site in search of bookmarks.

Pros. In such an improvised bunker, pears are well stored until mid-spring. No need to monitor ventilation and temperature. The design allows you to save space in the cellar.

Minuses. In winter you’ll have to get the whole package, you won’t climb over a pear for lunch. Some rodents ignore spruce branches and love pears very much. Sometimes such structures are flooded with melt water. There is no way to check the safety of the fruit.

Fridge
A good option for residents of cities that do not have their own cellar or basement. You will need dense packages, fruits and free space on the shelves of the unit.

You need to carefully bag the prepared pears, close them or tie. Now we need to make a few holes so that the fruits do not suffocate. Carefully place blanks on the shelves of the refrigerator so as not to wrinkle the contents. That's all, now it remains only to periodically inspect the bags for the presence of spoiled or starting to rot pears. And of course, periodically get fresh fruit to enjoy it.

Pros. Suitable temperature and high humidity allow you to keep pears until spring. No additional preparations and dances with preparation are needed. It is easy to quickly identify a rotting "saboteur" and get rid of it.

Minuses. There is too little space on the bookmark. Some varieties of pears absorb odors very well. In a refrigerator with an anti-freeze system, the fruits dry very quickly.

In the pantry, on the balcony, under the bed
In some apartments the pantries are quite cool, and the floor is very fresh. All this can be used for good. For example, put the pears in boxes, wrapping each in parchment. Then put them in the pantry, under the bed or behind the sofa.

If there is no room in the room, but there is a balcony or a loggia, then the pears can be kept there fresh until the frost. What to do with the onset of cold weather? Cover boxes or boxes warmer. It is strange to hear, but under a thick coat of blankets or old coats, the fruits feel great up to -10 ° C. Some craftsmen separate some part of the balcony for storage and build there a structure of 2 boxes with a layer of foam. Such a system allows pears to survive even a harsh winter without loss.

Pros. Fruits are always at hand, within walking distance. It is convenient to inspect and easily notice damaged fruits. No forced ventilation and compliance with the level of humidity.

Minuses. You have to select part of the balcony or pantry. If the temperature is too hot, the pears quickly ripen and begin to deteriorate. Other fruits cannot be stored, because the pears begin to ripen too quickly.

How to store pears at home? It turns out that there are at least 4 options to keep the fruit fresh until March. You just need to choose the method that suits you and not neglect the preparatory phase. But treating yourself in the middle of the winter with a living pear from your own garden is an indescribable feeling and a great surprise for family members or good friends.

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