Beets are often used to prepare different dishes, so housewives always try to keep it at hand. After the autumn harvest, you can arrange for storage even in a city apartment, if you know some requirements. This article describes how to properly prepare beets for wintering in the absence of a special cellar.

What varieties of beets are better preserved

Many farmers, when planting this vegetable, want to get an early harvest and prefer varieties with early ripening. But for long-term storage during the winter, early ripe vegetables are completely unsuitable. In apartments, only mid-ripening and late-ripening varieties can lie for a long time.

Did you know? The darker and richer the color of the internal beet pulp - the more vitamins and mineral salts it contains.

Consider several varieties of beets that are best stored in the winter:

1. Cylinder. This variety received its name due to the elongated cylindrical shape of the fruit. Vegetables have a rich burgundy color, covered with a thin peel. The length of the root crop is up to 10 cm, weight is up to 350 g. The fruit tastes juicy and sweet, have good immunity to common diseases. Plant "Cylinder" in mid-May, the ripening period is 4.5 months. Productivity from 1 sq. m is about 10 kg.
2. "Detroit". Root crops are round, dark red in color, weighing about 200 g. The fruits are juicy and sweet. Detroit is particularly resistant to low temperatures. Root crops are planted in April; it takes about 3.5 months to ripen them. Depending on growing conditions with 1 sq. Km. You can harvest 3–6 kg of vegetables.
3. "Bordeaux". One of the most common cultivars. The vegetables are round, characterized by a sweet taste and dense pulp. The color is maroon. Weight can reach 340 g. Landing is carried out in the second half of May. Harvest ripens after 3 months; with proper cultivation with 1 square. m collect up to 8 kg of ripe fruit.
4. "Mulatto". Vegetables of this variety have a flat and smooth peel. The weight of the root crop is up to 360 g. The pulp is dark burgundy and has an excellent taste. "Mulatto" can be grown in high humidity. It needs to be planted in late April or early May. Harvest ripens after 4 months. m is from 2.5 to 4.5 kg.
5. Egyptian Flat. The fruits of this variety are round and large, have a slightly flattened shape. Weight - up to 530 g. The pulp is dark and juicy, with a characteristic purple hue, the skin is dark red. Vegetables have a delicate taste. They are planted in the first half of May. The ripening period is up to 4 months. m is 6-8 kg.
6. Renova. The fruits have a cylindrical shape, and their weight can reach 350 g. The flesh is dark purple and very juicy. Beets of this variety are recommended to be planted in late April or in the first half of May. Harvest ripens after 110 days. Under good growing conditions with 1 square. m collect up to 9 kg of vegetables.
7. "Bravo". Beets of this variety are round and large, the weight of the fruit is up to 652 g. The root pulp has a dark red color, characterized by a sweet taste and juiciness. This variety is planted in the second half of April or early May, harvesting is carried out after 110 days. m is up to 8 kg.

Preparing beets for storage

To beets retained its freshness, juiciness and taste for the whole winter, you need to properly prepare it for wintering in the apartment.

Preparation begins at the time of harvest. Depending on the geographical location of the region, beets must be harvested in October or early November. It is important to dig out root crops from the earth before the onset of the first serious frost. The procedure for digging up fruits is best done on a sunny day.

Important! Before storing beets, they must not be rinsed in water.

The further preparation process consists of several important steps:

1. Carefully digging fruit out of the ground - It is important to maintain the integrity of the peel, which prevents the rapid evaporation of moisture and keeps the vegetable fresh longer.
2. Brushing off large earth clods and removing dirt from the skin with a dry piece of cloth. If at the same time a thin layer of adhering earth remains on the vegetables, it is recommended to leave it on the peel. This procedure will prevent rapid rotting of the vegetable.
3. Drying root crops - helps to dry the top layer of the peel, especially if the vegetable was dug out from very damp earth. In sunny weather, drying is carried out in the fresh air for several hours. Harvested vegetables are laid out in the shade or under a canopy. In rainy weather, the fruits are dried for several days in a closed and dry room.
4. The choice of root crops with a diameter of about 10-12 cm and average sizes. Small vegetables quickly begin to dry out due to rapid loss of moisture, and too large fruits have a not very pleasant watery aftertaste and fibrous structure.
5. Removing rotten or damaged vegetables - they will quickly deteriorate and begin to cause rotting of good root crops, next to which they will lie.
6. Leaf pruning - it is made only with scissors or secateurs, it is recommended to leave about 1 cm of tops on beets.
7. Root pruning - it is carried out only if the root system is very long, for better storing on the fruits leave a root of about 5 cm.

Did you know? The largest beet was grown in 2001 in the city of Somerset. The weight of the fetus was 23.4 kg.

Optimal storage space in the apartment

Beets are best stored in rooms with an air temperature of + 2 ° C and a humidity of at least 85%. In the apartments for storage of vegetables, those places that are the coolest and located far from batteries, stoves and heating appliances are suitable.

Consider the most popular places for storing beets.

1. Balcony. If the apartment has a glazed balcony, the root crop can be stored there. It is important to take into account the peculiarities of the local climate: if the winter is very frosty, it is necessary to equip a heating system on the balcony. Usually, special boxes are made for beets, which are placed along the balcony walls. It does not tolerate subzero temperatures, therefore, during severe frosts, such boxes need to be covered with a few warm blankets. It is possible to insulate the walls of the container with foam. Subject to the correct temperature conditions on the balcony, beets can be stored in such designs until the end of April.
2. Refrigerator. It is the most popular method of storing vegetables, but is suitable only for a small number of them. To keep the fruits fresh for a long time, you need to know how to properly store beets in the refrigerator.

   Important! During the first two months of storage of beets in the apartment, it is necessary to carefully observe the appropriate temperature regime.

   It is best to put root vegetables in a bag; if a regular plastic bag is used, holes must be made in it so that excess moisture is released, and before being placed in a vacuum bag, the root crops are pre-treated with saline. Plastic containers with a tight-fitting lid are also suitable. A container of vegetables is placed in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator; in such conditions they can be stored for no more than 1 month.
3. Storage or dark place away from heat sources. Vegetables are put in bags or plastic boxes and put them under the bed or in the pantry. The bags are left open to ensure the release of excess moisture and prevent the process of rotting root crops. Containers or bags are placed at a height of at least 15 cm from the floor - this improves air circulation and the fruits remain juicy and tasty longer.

Storage methods

Beets are covered with a dense and thick peel, which prevents the evaporation of the liquid, so it can retain freshness even at room temperature for at least 7 days. But if you have to store beets in the apartment all winter, it is better to choose one of the methods below.

Video: Winter beet storage

In sand or sawdust

A simple and convenient way to store beets for several months is sawdust or sand. These materials prevent the evaporation of moisture and do not allow fruits to rot.

Vegetables need to be layered in a prepared box and pour each layer with the selected filler - sand or sawdust. It is important that the space between the fruits is occupied by the filler, and the root crops themselves do not touch. It is recommended to cover the inner walls of the box with a film. If sand is used to fill the tank, it must be sieved and thoroughly heated in the oven.

When the fruits are laid in a box, a layer of sand or sawdust at least 2 cm thick should be poured on top of them. Then the box with root crops can be placed on the balcony or near the front door on the stairwell.

With potatoes

In urban apartments, potatoes are usually stored in small bags. To preserve the freshness of both root vegetables for a long time, beets can be put in a bag of potatoes. At the same time, it is necessary to place it on the potato in one layer, so that it absorbs the moisture given off by the potato. As a result of this neighborhood, the beets will remain juicy for a long time, and the potatoes will not rot.

A bag with these root vegetables can be placed on the insulated balcony, in a cool and dark pantry or near the front door.

In bag or foil

The easiest way to put beets in plastic bags and put them in a cool place. The main thing is not to tie packages to provide root access for air.

Did you know? During the Roman Empire, beets were used as an aphrodisiac.

You can also wrap the beets in a dense layer of foil and put them on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or in any other dark and cool place. Moreover, for better storage, each root crop is wrapped separately. The foil stops the evaporation of moisture and even at room temperature will help to preserve the freshness of the vegetable longer.

Harvesting for the winter: freezing, drying, preservation

A popular way to use beets in the winter is various vegetable harvesting. The methods of their preparation and storage differ from each other, but they always allow you to have ready-to-cook ready-to-cook foods for preparing various dishes.

Consider the most common ways to create beets from beets.

Frozen beetroot

Vegetables are peeled and chopped with a knife or on a grater. Then put in small plastic bags or closed plastic containers and keep them in the freezer. You can store chopped frozen vegetables for up to 6 months. After defrosting, beets can be used to prepare salads, soups and other dishes.

The disadvantage of this storage method is the loss of most vitamins and the deterioration of taste.

Dry seasoning for dishes

Wash beets, peel, finely chop or rub on a grater. The resulting mass is laid out in one thin layer to dry. When the pieces have dried, they are interrupted in a blender and placed in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

If desired, carrots, onions, bell peppers, herbs and garlic are also used to make this seasoning.

Borsch dressing

Such a preparation will help to save time for preparing this dish.

To prepare 2 liters of refueling you will need:

• 1 kg of beets;
• 350 g each of carrots, sweet bell pepper, tomatoes and onions;
• 3 tablespoons of sugar;
• 1 tablespoon of salt;
• 70 ml of vegetable oil;
• 40 ml of 9% vinegar.

Progress:

1. Grated peeled beets and carrots, finely chop the remaining vegetables.
2. Put all the ingredients in a large pan, add sugar, salt, vinegar and vegetable oil.
3. Stir the mass and put the pan on a small fire.
4. Bring dressing to a boil and cook for about half an hour.
5. Arrange the hot mass in sterilized jars and immediately roll up.

Beetroot caviar

This product is a delicious and lean dish.

To prepare 5 l of caviar you will need:

• 6.5 kg of beets;
• 0.5 kg of carrots and onions;
• 2.5 kg of tomatoes;
• 75 g of parsley and celery;
• 85 g of salt;
• 40 g of sugar;
• a pinch of ground black and allspice;
• 500 g of vegetable oil.

Progress:

1. A tomato mass is made from tomatoes - for this they are slightly welded in a separate bowl and the resulting mass is passed through a sieve.
2. The remaining vegetables are peeled and ground in a blender or passed through a meat grinder.
3. Then they transfer the vegetables to the pan, add the tomato mass, finely chopped greens, spices, vegetable oil and sugar.
4. Everything is thoroughly mixed and cooked over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
5. Hot beetroot caviar is laid out in jars, sterilized and rolled up with lids.

How to extend the shelf life of vegetables

Sometimes, during long winter storage, root crops can begin to deteriorate.

To avoid this, you need to know the general recommendations for extending their shelf life:

• root crops need to be inspected periodically: if there are spoiled or damaged fruits in the container - they are thrown away so that they do not cause rotting of other vegetables;
• beet peel damage must not be allowed: if a root crop with a damaged skin is found, it must be immediately removed from the container with vegetables;
• it is necessary to monitor the maintenance of the desired temperature - in a hot room, the beet tops will quickly begin to sprout;
• keep at least 80% humidity - if the air is too dry, root crops quickly lose water from the pulp and wither.

If it is impossible to store beets in the basement, the vegetable can be successfully placed in the apartment. It is only necessary to provide him with suitable conditions and carry out some simple recommendations. Then the crop will surely remain at least until mid-spring.