Thanks to its taste and the presence of many beneficial micronutrients, Chinese cabbage has gained great popularity among lovers of vegetable dishes. Almost every woman uses it to prepare juicy and light salads. But after the cabbage ripening period ends, it’s time to harvest and store the crop. How to properly store this vegetable so that you can prepare various dishes with its addition in winter?
How to choose Chinese cabbage for storage
To prevent the vegetable you bought from quickly deteriorating during storage, it is recommended to select mid-late or late varieties grown in the Russian climate:
- Magician;
- Princess;
- Russian size;
- Half-headed;
- Asten;
- Vorozheya;
- Wineglass.
Harvesting of these varieties occurs from the end of September or mid-October. Cabbage leaves should not be frozen, otherwise it will quickly rot.
When choosing a vegetable, you need to pay attention to its appearance, since the possibility of its long-term storage depends on this:
- heads of cabbage are selected that are dense and uniform in color;
- the leaves should not show signs of pest bites or other defects.
Important!
Crushed or damaged leaves must be removed, as they can cause damage to the entire plant. If other heads of cabbage are adjacent, defects can spread to their leaves.
How to store Chinese cabbage at home
You can preserve the vegetable in different ways so that you can prepare dishes using it in the winter. In an apartment or house, it can be stored in the refrigerator, basement or on the balcony, while observing certain rules.
How to ferment Chinese cabbage
One of the most popular recipes for pickling vegetables is kimchi (Korean style). To ferment cabbage you will need additional ingredients:
- salt;
- sugar;
- onion;
- garlic;
- red pepper;
- water.
First prepare the brine. To do this, pour 1 tbsp into 1 liter of water. salt and place the container on the fire. Stirring constantly, you need to wait until the salt dissolves. Then the brine is removed from the heat and left to cool. At this time, the head of cabbage is freed from spoiled leaves and cut lengthwise for 4 hours, cutting out the stalk. The remaining leaves, the total weight of which should be 1 kg, are cut into thin strips. Chop 50-100 g of onion. The chopped vegetables are mixed in a saucepan or large bowl and poured with brine. The container is covered with a plate on top, on which a load is placed.
After 2 days, take out the pekin leaves and grease them with pre-prepared seasoning (mix 2 tablespoons of ground red pepper, juice of 6 cloves of garlic, 1 teaspoon of sugar). After this, the cabbage is again placed in a container with freshly prepared brine under pressure for 2 days. The prepared sauerkraut can be placed in screw-on jars and left in the refrigerator, or the container can be taken without pressure to the basement.
Pickling cabbage can be done without additional ingredients. They are used to improve taste. The most suitable for Beijing are dill, parsley, bay leaf, pepper and cloves.
How to dry cabbage
Drying whole heads of vegetables is not recommended. The prepared leaves are cut into strips of 3-5 mm and placed in the oven (60-90 degrees) or electric dryer (55-60 degrees). In the first option, the drying time is 4 hours, in the second – 5 hours.
For storage, the leaves are placed in linen bags.
Storing cabbage in a vegetable storehouse, basement, cellar, or balcony
Basic steps when storing Pekinka in vegetable stores:
- all heads of cabbage are placed in a plastic bag or box, placing them horizontally in 3 layers, while the forks should not fit too tightly to each other;
- the storage container is not tightly closed to provide the cabbage with sufficient ventilation (without drafts);
- The humidity in such a room should be at the level of 96-98%. At lower rates, the leaves will begin to dry out, since they do not have a waxy layer that protects against excessive evaporation. And at 100% humidity, the heads of cabbage will rot in a week;
- the air temperature is maintained at a level from 0 to +3 degrees.
Under these conditions, forks can be stored for 4 months. At temperatures from -3 to +3 this period is reduced to 16-20 days, and at temperatures above +4 degrees – to 2-4 days.
In a cellar or basement, the vegetable is stored in a box with damp sand, into which its roots are buried. Another method of storage in such rooms is to hang cabbage upside down on a cable. In this case, the forks are hung at a sufficient distance from each other, otherwise rot will begin to arise at the points of contact.
For long-term storage, cabbage should be wrapped in cling film, and it will remain unspoiled for 3 months. Humidity levels can be reduced slightly.
If you live in an apartment, then a loggia or balcony is suitable for wintering vegetables, where the temperature during the entire storage period is in the range from 0 to +5 degrees. Direct sunlight should also not hit the cabbage.
Storage rules on the balcony:
- remove spoiled leaves and dirt;
- Place each fork in a linen bag or food-grade plastic bag. You can wrap it in 2-3 layers of cling film, leaving a small hole near the stalk;
- the heads of cabbage are laid horizontally in wooden boxes (maximum 3 layers);
- Every 2 weeks the forks are checked for rot. If such a head of cabbage is found, it is removed from the total mass so that they do not spoil. They also remove all defective leaves and change the packaging material.
Following these rules will allow you to preserve cabbage for 90-100 days.
How to store Chinese cabbage in the refrigerator and freezer
If you need to store a small number of heads of cabbage, then the refrigerator is suitable for this. They must first be inspected and all damaged leaves removed. Then the cabbage is wrapped in cling film to prevent condensation from appearing on it, and placed in a vegetable compartment or plastic container, which is tightly closed. This method allows you to extend the life of the vegetable by 1 month. Periodically you need to check that the leaves have not deteriorated or dried out.
To store in the freezer, cabbage is cut into strips and placed in small portions in plastic bags. Many people recommend pre-blanching the leaves (dipping them in salted boiling water for 3 minutes). Then they should dry on a paper towel. This will reduce the risk of nitrates entering the body. This method of preparing vegetables for the winter is suitable for preparing stews, salads and soups.
If you like cabbage rolls, then the pekinka can be frozen with whole leaves. The head of cabbage is carefully disassembled into individual leaves, which are steamed in boiling water for 10 minutes. Then, using a sharp knife, cut off the thick stem and leave them to dry on a towel.
After completing these steps, the well-flat leaves are placed in a plastic container or plastic bag and placed in the freezer. In this form, cabbage can be stored for 4 to 7 months.
Important! It is recommended to freeze in small containers so that when preparing a dish you can use all the defrosted product. Putting it in the freezer again will result in loss of flavor.
Can Chinese salad be frozen?
The cost of Chinese cabbage in winter is much higher than, for example, in summer or autumn. Therefore, cabbage can and should be frozen. It is better to do this immediately after harvesting. Fresh cabbage should be finely chopped, compacted into small bags, the air released from them and placed tightly in the freezer. In winter, it must be taken out in the required portions and, without defrosting, used for preparing various dishes, stewing, baking, etc.
For example, as a preparation for cabbage rolls. To prepare it, you need:
- carefully disassemble one or more heads of cabbage into individual leaves and pour boiling water over them;
- after this, use a sharp knife to remove the thick part of the sheet rods;
- dry them with a paper towel;
- then place in a plastic bag or plastic container.
- The leaves should be even and straightened so that they do not become deformed during freezing.
How long can Chinese cabbage be stored?
The wintering period of vegetables depends on the temperature and humidity in the storage room. The optimal humidity level is 97-98%. When it decreases, the leaves will begin to dry and wither, and when it increases, they will rot.
To preserve cabbage for 3 months. the temperature must be kept at a level from 0 to +3 degrees. If it increases to +4 and above, the vegetable will begin to sprout and it is advisable to eat it in a few days. When the temperature ranges from -3 to +3, cabbage is stored for no longer than 20 days. The vegetable can be kept in the freezer for more than 3 months.
An important storage condition is also to place the heads of cabbage in a dark, well-ventilated and cool place.
Recommendations
To ensure maximum shelf life of Chinese cabbage, it is recommended to follow these practical tips:
- If you store heads of cabbage, then you cannot remove the limp, wilted foliage. On the contrary, Chinese cabbage is stored even better in it. The surface layer will serve as a natural “packaging”.
- Even if all storage conditions are provided, it is recommended to periodically inspect the heads of cabbage and turn them over to avoid the appearance of rot.
- If the cabbage begins to wilt, this is quite normal. This product is completely shelf-stable, but should be consumed faster.
- To preserve whole heads of cabbage for as long as possible, it is better to put them in a basement or cellar. Moreover, it is advisable to wrap each one in a paper bag or newsprint.
How to store Chinese cabbage
Various types of containers are suitable for wintering vegetables:
- freezer;
- plastic containers with a tight-fitting lid;
- food plastic bags or film;
- linen bags;
- glass jars or pan (pickling);
- wooden boxes in which the heads of cabbage are separated from each other by polyethylene liners.
The container is selected depending on the storage method.
Storage methods
Depending on the capabilities, each housewife chooses the most optimal way to store the crop. For this purpose, ordinary available means and devices are used.
In paper
For wrapping, use regular newspaper or sheets of office paper . Each head of cabbage is wrapped in 2 layers so that there are no uncovered areas left. The paper prevents the heads from touching, provides sufficient thermal insulation, and also protects the cabbage from light and moisture.
In sand
For maximum long-term storage, the Peking plant is dug up along with the root part , trying not to damage it. The heads of cabbage are lightly compacted in boxes with sand so that it covers the root and part of the stalk. This storage method is suitable for cellars and balconies. The sand is periodically moistened to keep the leaves fresh.
In boxes
Absolutely dry and not rotten heads of cabbage are placed in wooden boxes or special containers with the stalk up. A mound of no more than 3 rows is allowed; each copy is wrapped in cling film or plastic wrap.
Periodically, vegetables are inspected and rearranged , changing places, to prevent squeezing the sides of the heads of cabbage and the appearance of mold. The boxes must have holes for air access.
In limbo
If there is not enough space in the cellar, a wooden shelf is installed above the arranged boxes of vegetables or nailed to the ceiling . Each head of cabbage, wrapped with rope by the stalk, is attached separately to the nails driven into it. When harvesting, leave at least 3 cm of the stalk.
In this state, vegetables are stored well due to sufficient ventilation. It is convenient to inspect them to identify signs of rot and mold.
Errors
The main mistakes housewives make when preparing cabbage for storage:
- You can’t put vegetables in the same container or next to apples and bananas. They produce ethylene, so cabbage leaves will spoil quickly;
- packing the crushed leaves into a storage container;
- chopping causes moisture loss;
- removing a large number of leaves from the head of cabbage.
Such actions will accelerate the withering of the product and reduce its shelf life.
What varieties should be stored?
Chinese cabbage has many varieties with different ripening periods. Conventionally, they can be divided into early, middle and late. This gradation makes it possible to obtain a useful product throughout the summer season, and not be limited to a short time frame.
In early varieties of Pekinka:
- short growing season;
- short storage period.
Under any conditions, the product remains fresh for no more than a week. Cabbage leaves filled with moisture quickly wither and lose their taste. At home, such varieties are often used only for food, growing a small number of plants on the site.
However, it is possible to preserve Chinese cabbage of early varieties for the winter. Of course, it won’t lie in heads of cabbage. But if you choose canning as a method of storing a product, its minimum shelf life characteristics will not matter.
To store fresh Chinese cabbage for a long time, you should give preference to mid-season and late-ripening varieties. They have:
- tight head;
- quite good keeping quality.
The harvest period is August-October. The ripening time close to winter allows the cabbage to last longer.
Do not confuse Chinese and Chinese cabbage. In the register of selection achievements they are registered as different species
Of the 50 registered varieties, the following can be stored fresh:
- Up to 4 months: Turquoise, Market, Mojito.
- Up to 3 months: Nika (the only late hybrid), Orange Heart (the original variety with yellow leaves).
- For a short time: Spring Beauty, Hydra, Grenade, Janine, Kiseki, Princess, Custard, Natsuki, Miss China, Modern, Richie, Tenderness, Sotsi, Sprinkin, Taranko, Enduro, Yuki, Emiko, Shanghai, Philippok.
Tip of the day
Choose for planting local, zoned varieties that are best adapted to your climatic conditions, as well as hybrids that are resistant to bolting and sudden changes in autumn temperatures. This will increase the yield of full-fledged heads suitable for winter storage.
It is difficult to choose varieties. Do not sow a lot at once until you have “tested” several options. If you fail, do not despair, experiment with other varieties and hybrids.
Adviсe
You can increase the wintering duration of cabbage by following some rules:
- there is no need to leave the vegetable in a sealed bag, it needs good ventilation;
- The storage area should not be illuminated or exposed to direct sunlight;
- maintain a certain level of temperature and humidity in the room where the cabbage is located;
- periodically check the leaves for defects and rot;
- exclude the proximity of bananas and apples;
- Before packing into a storage container, the cabbage must be dried;
- When the first signs of wilting appear, it is recommended to consume the product.
Having learned about ways to store such a healthy vegetable, you can prepare dishes with its addition not only in the warm season of the year. Follow all storage rules, which will help the cabbage retain its freshness and taste for many months to come.
Where is kimchi used?
This spicy seasoning is used in many Oriental and Asian dishes. Kimchi paste sauce is suitable for marinating meat and fish. It is usually added to seafood-based first courses and soups, and used for sushi and rolls.
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