How to store tomatoes in winter? Master the correct preservation method
The key to storing tomatoes in winter is keeping them warm. Tomatoes used for winter storage are green-mature fruits harvested from plastic greenhouses with delayed autumn cultivation. Green-mature tomatoes are most afraid of low temperatures. If stored below 8°C for a long time, the fruits will suffer cold damage, with water-soaked sunken spots and browning on the surface, the area around the stem turning light brown, and in severe...
The key to storing tomatoes in winter is keeping them warm. Tomatoes used for winter storage are green-mature fruits harvested from plastic greenhouses with delayed autumn cultivation. Green-mature tomatoes are most afraid of low temperatures. If stored below 8°C for a long time, the fruits will suffer cold damage, with water-soaked sunken spots and browning on the surface, the area around the stem turning light brown, and in severe cases developing white mold, blue mold or black mold. Severe cold damage can cause water to seep out of the tomatoes, and the entire fruit becomes semi-transparent, water-soaked and rotten. Experiments have proven that green-mature tomato fruits should first be slowly ripened to red at 10-14°C, and then stored at 5-7°C, with the relative air humidity kept at 85%-90%. If the humidity is low, it will cause excessive water loss from the fruit, shrinkage of the skin, and a weaker aroma. The commonly used winter storage and preservation methods are introduced below:
1 Storage method: Using a cold frame for storage, spread wheat straw or rice straw and other insulation materials inside the frame, place the green-mature fruits on top, with a thickness of 15-20 cm being suitable. Cover with plastic film and maintain the temperature at 12-14°C, which must not fall below 10°C. Under these conditions, the fruits can slowly ripen to red. If there are consecutive sunny days and the frame temperature rises, cover with straw curtains to shade the sun. As the fruits ripen, select them at any time for market, or move them to storage at 5-7°C.
2 Storage method: In a warm room where the temperature can be kept no lower than 8°C, spread a layer of rice straw or wheat straw on the ground, then spread a layer of plastic film, place the green-mature fruits on the film, with a thickness of about 20 cm, and cover with plastic film. After the fruits ripen, lower the temperature to 5-7°C.