How to preserve melon for the winter or at least until the New Year?

Melon is considered a perishable product that can only be enjoyed during the season. All the fruits brought from abroad that are found on store shelves in winter and spring bear little resemblance to the taste we loved from childhood. To extend the shelf life, this crop is picked green. Fortunately, if you know a couple of secrets on how to store melon, you can keep it fresh until spring.

Which varieties are suitable for long-term storage: choosing the “right” fruit

According to the ripening period, fruits are divided into three groups:

• early varieties;
• medium grades;
• late varieties.

Only late fruits have a chance to last as long as possible.

Only late fruits have a chance to survive as long as possible

Of these, only 4 varieties retain their quality and aroma best:

There are tricks to avoid spoilage of the fruit and preserve it for as long as possible:

1. Fruit removal takes place in dry and sunny weather.
2. When harvesting a melon, a tail of at least 5 centimeters in length is left. In good fruit, it looks a little dried out.
3. Unripe fruits cannot be removed and stored; they will spoil before they reach maturity.
4. A good melon is brightly colored, its skin is intact, and it is free of stains and damage.
5. Fruits just picked from the garden cannot be immediately brought indoors; they need to be allowed to rest - lie in the open air. This will help the melon prepare for winter.

What's the best thing to do with the remaining slices?

How to be? Is it really possible to throw away a half-eaten melon every time? Or the one that was slightly damaged and had to be cleaned?

There is a much better way out, or rather two:

• freezing;
• drying.

Freezing

Important!

Only fruits with dense pulp, such as the “Kanetalupa” variety, are suitable for freezing, otherwise there is a risk of ending up with an unappetizing mush.

Pre-washed and dried melon is cut into small slices or balls are made with a special spoon, which are good for cocktails and desserts.

Then the pieces are laid out on a tray, leaving space between them, and sent to the freezer. When the cuttings “set”, they are packaged in slide bags or sealed containers and brought to condition at -18ºС. A higher temperature will not preserve the taste of the product.

Melon storage conditions: how long is it stored and at what temperature

There are tricks to avoid spoilage of the fruit and preserve it for as long as possible.
The length of storage of melon depends on the method of its preparation:

Tip: when storing fresh product, an important condition is maintaining the required humidity in the room. To do this, you will need a special device - a hygrometer.

Recommended varieties

Not all varieties that ripen at the same time have the same shelf life. Among the varieties most suitable for this process are the following:

• Gulyabi;
• Slavia;
• Orange;
• Torpedo;
• Wintering.

Slavia

An unpretentious, late-ripening variety that retains its taste well for a month after harvest. It is in great demand both among ordinary summer residents and large agricultural lands.

Gulyabi

A hybrid bred in Uzbekistan, which has gained popularity outside the country due to its excellent taste and good preservation. They have sweet flesh with a pleasant, honey taste.

Wintering

A late variety that pleasantly pleases summer residents on the festive table on rainy autumn evenings. The flesh is juicy, but not as crunchy as other representatives of the culture.

Turkmen

An extremely popular melon in agricultural circles, it produces abundant harvests in almost all growing regions. It stores well without losing its juiciness and aroma.

Orange

It has a rich orange flesh color and a good shelf life. It has a pleasant, tart taste. Recommended for breeding.

Kassaba

It ripens during storage, which allows you to enjoy the fresh, juicy taste of melon not only in summer, but also in winter. They do not have a strong, pronounced aroma.

Torpedo

Melon is popular in agricultural circles due to its large size and pleasant taste. Keeps for a long time if properly prepared.

Ways to keep melon fresh

Advice: melons in storage should be periodically inspected; if a spoiled fruit is found, it should be removed from storage and thrown away, since rotten fruit can cause damage to the rest.

If you want to preserve the fruit for a long time and subject to the correct storage technology, you can use several placement methods:

1. In grids. These can be simple products for vegetables, woven from dry twigs and bark. Fruits are stored well in cloth bags. You need to hang the melons so that they do not touch each other or other objects.
2. In boxes. Containers with sand will help retain moisture; for this, the melons need to be placed in a vertical position; when covered with sand, the stalk should remain in the air. The sand should be clean and dry, and the fruits should not come into contact with each other or with the walls of the boxes. The lid of the box does not close tightly to maintain air circulation in the storage.
3. On the shelves. To do this, the shelf is prepared for storage - covered in one layer with sawdust, straw, cloth. Periodically you need to inspect the place where the fruit comes into contact with the surface: there should be no signs of rotting there.

Read more ► How to properly dry rose hips at home: drying fruits, leaves and flowers

If there are other fruits or vegetables in the storage room, then you should keep them at a distance from the melon so that the fruit does not pick up foreign odors.

How to increase shelf life

To keep the fruit longer, you need to remove all the seeds from the cut slices . Cover only with natural cloth or parchment. The fruit itself should not be overripe. This can be determined by the soft peel, which is strongly dented when pressed.

It is better to choose slightly unripe melons, which were 7-10 days short of full ripeness.

Good to know:

How to choose the right melon: useful tips and life hacks

What to do if the melon is not ripe

How to properly store melon at home

Preserving fresh melon for a long time is the most difficult task. To successfully preserve the fruit, you must follow strict rules, otherwise the melons will spoil and have to be thrown away.

Preserving fresh fruits is advisable, since their pulp is as tasty as possible and rich in nutrients, compared to processed products.

Storage in a cellar or pantry

Advice: fruit will be more successfully preserved in the cellar or basement of your own home; it is easier to create storage conditions there and it takes time to maintain them.

The room where fruits are stored must meet the following requirements:

1. The air corresponds to a temperature of 3 to 10 degrees.
2. Humidity is maintained at 85 to 90%.
3. Ventilation equipment is required in the room; the air should not stagnate.
4. The access of light to the storage is limited, preferably its complete absence.

In a city apartment, it is possible to store fresh fruit in the pantry or on the loggia, where it is possible to create the necessary conditions.

Advice: in order to preserve fresh melons until the chimes strike, you will also have to acquire a room thermometer: without it, there is no way to determine the exact air temperature in the storage.

Storage at room temperature

Important: before storing the fruit, you cannot wash it: this will cause it to spoil much earlier.

If it is not possible to create the right conditions for the fruit, but you really want to preserve the ripe fruit, then the only option is storage at room temperature.

Before storing fruit, do not wash it.

A ripe melon will last no more than 3-6 days under the following conditions:

• to retain moisture inside the ripe fruit, it should be wrapped; paper or cloth is suitable for this;
• With this storage method, you should not cut the melon: if the peel is damaged, it begins to quickly deteriorate;
• if the melon is not yet ripe, then it can last a little longer: up to two or three weeks.

Read more ► How to properly store bananas at home so that they don’t turn black; can they be frozen?

Cold storage

If there is damage to the skin or the melon was simply cut for testing, then in the future it should be placed in the refrigerator.

To successfully store such a melon, you must first wash and dry it, then cut it into slices and place it in a plastic food storage container.

The temperature in the refrigerator will allow you to preserve the fruit for 1 to 3 days. If it stays there longer, then it is no longer worth eating its food - it is unsafe.

Cut melon

Some varieties of melons are quite large and it is not possible to eat the whole fruit at once. What to do with the leftover slices from the feast? You can’t leave them on the table, they will become airy or begin to deteriorate. Many housewives resort to a proven lifesaver - the so-called “freshness zone” for vegetables and fruits.

Attention!

If you cut a melon, it’s better to eat it right away.

The cut slices are placed in an airtight plastic container or carefully wrapped in cling film, in full confidence that the product is being preserved in the best possible way.

However, cut melon actively releases ethylene, the concentration of which increases in a tightly closed container. The slices stay in the refrigerator for no more than two days - they cannot be preserved longer. During this short period, they not only lose their benefits, but also become harmful to our body.

“Stale”, but no less tasty melon for the winter

Storing melons at home can be an overwhelming task for those who do not have the opportunity to create optimal conditions and maintain temperature conditions. This is not a reason to give up the idea of ​​enjoying an exquisite delicacy for the New Year. It is not necessary to try to preserve a fresh product if you can use the methods of drying, freezing, making aromatic jam, compote.

Freezing and drying

Preserving fresh melon in an apartment is almost impossible due to the lack of a room with suitable temperature and humidity conditions. This is a good reason to try drying or freezing the product. Drying melon includes certain stages:

1. Cut the fruit into slices, 2 cm thick.
2. Distribute the prepared vegetables evenly on a baking sheet and place in the oven (220 degrees).
3. After 15 minutes, reduce the temperature and open the door.
4. Continue drying at 85 degrees for 6 hours, remembering to turn over every half hour.
5. Leave for 2-3 days in a ventilated place until dehydrated.

Place the finished product in glass jars or fabric bags.

On a note! For freezing, it is better to choose varieties that have dense pulp, so that after heating you do not end up with an unappetizing puree.

How to freeze melon correctly:

1. Cut the fruit into small pieces of arbitrary shape.
2. Place on a tray and place in the freezer.
3. After 24 hours, pack in sealed bags and store in the freezer.

After defrosting, the pieces lose their shape, which is why it is better to add them to cocktails, drinks, and ice cream.

Jams and compotes

You can store melon in winter in the form of jam or compote. Most housewives are not afraid to experiment with preparing delicious delicacies for the winter, adding new products to basic recipes. If you want to surprise your family and friends with delicious jam, you can create it from melon. The healthy fruit will give the dessert new fresh notes and make it refined.

List of ingredients:

• 1 kg of ripe fruits;
• 1 kg sugar.

Preparation method:

1. Cut the fruits, remove the seeds, peel the peel.
2. Cut into slices 1 cm thick.
3. Cover the prepared vegetable with sugar and let stand for 4 hours.
4. Place the container with the fruit mass on the stove for 7-10 minutes, turn on low heat. Remove, cool and after 3 hours boil again for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. After cooling, cook until done for 15-20 minutes.
5. Place the jam into jars and seal with lids.

Use the preparation as an independent dessert, use it to create confectionery products, adding it to pies, pastries, layering cakes, or enjoy the taste by spreading it on a piece of fresh loaf.

Melon compote will perfectly complement the festive table and will become an indispensable drink on cold evenings.

List of components:

• 1 kg melon;
• 3 liters of water;
• 600 g sugar;
• 1 g citric acid.

Compote preparation technique:

1. Remove the fruits from seeds, peel and chop into small slices.
2. Boil water and put the prepared fruits in it.
3. After 2 minutes, add sugar and citric acid. Boil for 15 minutes.
4. Pour the compote into sterilized jars and close.

A refreshing drink will allow you to remember the taste of summer in cold, bad weather, give strength, energy, and saturate the body with a complex of vitamins and minerals.

Rules and methods of storage

Melon as an agricultural crop has been known for a very long time and during its cultivation many storage methods have been tested. Among the methods recommended for use are:

1. Storage in a cellar or basement.
2. At room temperature.
3. In the refrigerator compartment.
4. In the freezer.
5. Dried.
6. In specially prepared containers.
7. Storing melons on racks or in nets.

At room temperature

Not the most effective way to store vegetables, suitable only for those cases when the melon is used for food within the next week. In this case, the following conditions must be met:

• the product should not be exposed to sunlight;
• The melon will be wrapped in a thick layer of paper.

In the cellar or basement

The most optimal place for storing the melon harvest, 100% suitable for these purposes. And since almost every citizen has access to either a cellar in a summer cottage or a basement in an apartment building, problems should not arise.

If you still don’t have access to the above places, use the refrigerator or freezer.

In a refrigerator

The refrigerator is significantly inferior to the cellar and basement, since the melon retains its taste in it for no longer than three weeks. After this period, the product begins to deteriorate, and its pulp loses its dense consistency and begins to mold.

When using the refrigerator as storage for melons, keep in mind:

1. Only whole melon is stored in the refrigerator, since the cut fruit becomes unusable faster.
2. The bottom shelf is chosen as a place for storage.
3. The product is wrapped in cling film or paper. Do not wrap it too tightly, completely blocking access to oxygen.

cut

The cut product is not stored for a long time, and its pulp begins to deteriorate quickly. Try not to leave the melon uneaten in hopes of preserving it for several weeks. The only effective way to protect the cut product is deep freezing.

In the freezer

The freezer allows you to preserve the taste and healthy ingredients in a vegetable for a long period of time, but this requires some preparation:

1. Wash the vegetables thoroughly under the tap, then wipe dry with a towel.
2. Cut the fruit into equal slices.
3. We clean out all the pulp from the slices using an ice cream ball maker.
4. We carefully place the resulting balls on a tray and send them for preliminary 12-hour freezing.
5. After the preparations are transferred to small bags and sent to the freezer until required.

Dried

Fans of dried vegetables and fruits will like the following method of preparing melon for the winter:

1. The vegetable is cut into neat slices, the size of which should not exceed 2 centimeters.
2. Distribute them in an even layer on a baking sheet and place in a preheated oven.
3. Heat the vegetable at a temperature of 220 o for 15 minutes.
4. After the specified period of time, reduce the heat to 85 o and leave the melon to dry for 6 hours.
5. Do not forget to periodically turn the slices on the other side so that they dry evenly.
6. We remove the baking sheet with the melon into a well-ventilated room and let the product reach readiness within 2 days.

Afterwards, we put the dried vegetable in a container with a tight lid or in special bags made of natural fabric.

On the grid

The use of mesh as a storage container shows good results in increasing the shelf life of the product. The mesh makes it possible to hang the vegetable on a beam or ceiling, which reduces pressure on the fruit and peel, plus provides uniform ventilation.

In boxes

To store them in boxes, they must be properly prepared. For this:

• place the vegetable in a vertical position;
• fill the box to half its volume with sawdust, sand or grain;
• Every week, each melon is turned over and inspected for mold or rot.

On the racks

Before placing the crops on the racks, they must be carefully prepared:

• cover the shelves with soft cloth or sawdust;
• We arrange the fruits freely, not close to each other;
• Several times a month the fruits are turned from side to side.

Dried melon at home

In order to dry or dry the product, only durum melons are suitable. The peculiarity of this fruit is that after drying the slices remain flexible and can be easily braided or rolled into balls.

Let's start cooking:

Peel the melon and cut it into slices 2 cm thick. It is necessary that you get two undivided slices, in this case you can conveniently hang the pieces to dry.

It will take about two weeks to dry, you need to constantly turn it over. You can store it woven and sealed from air in polyethylene. The pieces are well preserved in glass jars.

Recommendations for use

Several useful recommendations for consuming the melon crop in question:

1. Fresh produce should not be consumed on an empty stomach - optimally 2 hours before and 2 hours after the main meal.
2. Do not combine the use of the product with alcohol and lactic acid products.
3. Melons go well with seafood. Some leading restaurants serve fresh melon halves stuffed with shrimp and caviar.
4. An interesting flavor combination can be achieved with prosciutto ham and green grapes.
5. The permissible daily intake is 300–500 g. This amount is best consumed in several doses.
6. Melon pulp is perfect for making cold puree soups.
7. In traditional dessert terms, the fruit is suitable for making sorbets, soufflés, and mousses.

Melons of various varieties can be stored whole fresh from 2 days to 6 months. Late varieties are characterized by high keeping quality.

Buying the “right” fruit

When choosing a melon, you need to pay attention to the following aspects:

• The grid on the peel will tell you about the desired degree of ripeness. It should be light, not too bright and cover no more than 50% of the surface.
• The deep, pleasant aroma is also a big plus.
• A melon can only last for several months if it has a strong and elastic nose. If it is soft, the fruit is overripe.
• It is very important that the melon is intact, without damage or cracks, with a whole tail, otherwise bacteria that have penetrated inside will quickly lead to rotting. Stains and dents are also unacceptable.