How to Keep Lotus Root Fresh? Master These Methods to Store It Longer

Lotus root is the underground rhizome of the lotus plant. The plump rhizome tastes sweet and crisp, contains rich nutrients, and can also be used as traditional Chinese medicine, making it an excellent tonic ingredient. However, lotus root oxidizes easily. If it cannot be eaten within a short time after being dug up, it will oxidize and turn black. This not only affects the eating texture but also affects the overall appearance, so to help keep lotus root fresh, people have come up with some methods.

1. Water storage method

First wash the lotus root clean, then put the lotus root into a large container, then soak it in clean water. Room-temperature cool water is fine. The lotus root must be fully submerged and must not stick out above the water surface, otherwise it will not work. The water should be changed about once every 3 days and cannot be used continuously. This way it can be kept fresh for about two months. But if storing in winter, the water must not freeze, so it may need to be done indoors.

2. Sand storage method

Use common fine sand, specifically clean, water-soaked wet sand. For the specific moisture level, it is about right when a handful held in the hand forms a ball and falls apart when released, with no water between the fingers. This is generally done indoors. Use bricks to form a pit shape, then spread wet sand, then place the lotus root directly, one layer of lotus root and one layer of sand. The top must also be covered with sand. This also keeps it fresh for about two months.

3. Constant-temperature water storage

One is constant-temperature water freshness preservation. Do not wash the lotus root. Build a water pool, or use an existing water pool, then use water with a stable temperature in the pool and soak the lotus root directly. Generally the water temperature should be stable at around 5 to 8 degrees. This method can preserve it for about one month.

4. Vacuum storage

Use a vacuum environment for preservation. Generally, use an appropriate amount of preservative, and after hydrolysis, soak the lotus root for one hour. Then put it into a specially made bag and use a vacuum packaging machine to package it directly, then place it under low temperature for cold storage. This method is very suitable for market sales. The freshness preservation time is relatively long.

5. Slurry coating storage

Use loess, remove impurities, add water and beat it into a uniform mud slurry, then soak the lotus root directly in it until it is completely wrapped in the slurry. Then box it for storage, but note that the mud slurry dries easily and falls off. If storing for a long time, this method is not recommended. For short-term transport, after it falls off, the lotus root can be soaked in the mud slurry once more.

Although lotus root is not easy to rot, it oxidizes extremely easily. If you want to keep it fresh, the main thing is to isolate it from air to achieve this. But in actual practice, you can actually choose the corresponding method, and you should choose the method according to your own actual needs.