{"id":6638,"date":"2017-11-05T14:11:01","date_gmt":"2017-11-05T21:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/?p=6638"},"modified":"2017-11-05T14:17:09","modified_gmt":"2017-11-05T21:17:09","slug":"proper-food-storage-root-vegetables","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/articles\/proper-food-storage-root-vegetables\/","title":{"rendered":"Proper Food Storage for Root Vegetables"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2005, thirty-five Swedish households were asked to keep a diary about food purchasing and usage habits. 44.1% of all root vegetables were wasted after storage.*<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 This was second only to dairy products.\u00a0 Based on the number of potato eyes staring at me from my food storage, I would guess that Americans are experiencing the same results.\u00a0 Temperature is not the only factor, and not all root vegetables need the same thing.\u00a0 Do you know how to properly store root vegetables?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Food Quality<\/h2>\n
\"Simple<\/a>
Simple Living<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whenever I teach dehydrating class, there is something I say about four times an hour: \u201cYou\u2019ll only get out what you put in.\u201d\u00a0 If you\u2019re starting with root vegetables knicked from the garden spade, limp, or diseased, you will have food waste.\u00a0 If you have vegetables or fruits that are cut or bruised in some way, you need to process those immediately.\u00a0 Make fruit leathers<\/a> or fruit leathers<\/a> instead of attempting food storage.<\/p>\n

Root Cellars<\/h2>\n

Root cellars are a fantastic way to go; I used to have one and am still mourning its loss upon our move.\u00a0 But don\u2019t be fooled; they don\u2019t solve all of your problems, as rodents and insects, air too dry or too humid, or light can still ruin your harvest.\u00a0 Root cellars come in all shapes and sizes and need not be elaborate, so consider researching them to see if it could be an option for you in some form.\u00a0 A hole in the garden with a cooler might even do the trick for you.\u00a0\u00a0 Of course,\u00a0 once you open it, you\u2019ll need to remove everything from it, and that might not be so easy to do if you live in the frozen tundra.<\/p>\n

Chilling Out in the Garden<\/h2>\n

Most root vegetables are best left in the ground<\/strong>, with some things (like parsnips) getting sweeter as those sugars freeze.\u00a0 Let the great outdoors serve as your natural refrigeration.\u00a0 If your ground freezes and you live where snowshoes are fashionable footwear (like our home state of Montana), then leave only what you will want to harvest in the Spring. Pull out what you will need through the winter.\u00a0<\/strong> When you do harvest them, be sure to only dig them up when the soil is dry; you can brush away snow, but if you have had a thaw, you will need to wait until the soil has dried out.\u00a0 Potatoes, parsnips, carrots, beets, leeks, turnips, and many hardy leafy greens\u00a0 (like kale) are best in the ground. \u00a0\u00a0Root vegetables should be put to bed; cover them with straw or other bedding<\/strong>.\u00a0 Also keep in mind the risk you might be taking with wildlife; Brussels sprouts also overwinter well, but the deer will get to them if not protected.<\/p>\n

Humidity<\/h2>\n

\"MeatsYou will hear a lot of differing opinions about the right temperature and humidity.\u00a0 The best thing to understand is that not every vegetable thrives in the same conditions.<\/strong>\u00a0 For instance, onions, potatoes, pumpkins and squash, and garlic do best in extremely dry locations, but nearly everything else needs a high humidity content (with airflow, to avoid mold).\u00a0 If you are keeping your vegetables in the basement laundry room, you might get enough humidity in there already, but the goal is around 90% humidity<\/strong>.\u00a0 !\u00a0\u00a0 Just keep checking on your storage to see if water droplets are forming, an indication that it\u2019s too humid.\u00a0 Keep rotating the foods so that they do not develop mold and have proper ventilation.<\/p>\n

Note about shriveling: <\/strong>The food has simply started dehydrating.\u00a0 You can try to adjust your storage conditions, but foods that have slightly dehydrated will maintain it\u2019s nutritional value and will pop back when put into fruit leathers<\/a><\/p>\n

Temperature<\/h2>\n

Keep a thermometer near your food storage<\/strong>.\u00a0 You might be surprised at the actual temperature of the space, regardless of what your home thermostat registers; everything has a \u201cmicroclimate!\u201d\u00a0 Just like there are some root vegetables that like a dry climate instead of a wet one, there are some root vegetables that like a warm climate instead of a cool one.\u00a0 Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins and squash, and even potatoes do not like to be too cold.<\/p>\n

Packaging Root Vegetables for Food Storage<\/h2>\n

This is a good time to mention apples:<\/strong>\u00a0 although apples can also go into your food storage, it is best to keep them separate from your root vegetables.\u00a0 They can emit gases that speed up the decay process in other foods.\u00a0 \u00a0Some other foods really should be kept apart, such as your onions and potatoes.\u00a0 Now, I will tell you that I\u2019ve broken this rule a time or two, so do what you will, but supposedly it speeds up sprouting.<\/p>\n

Always keep the location perfectly dark.\u00a0<\/strong> If you use the space for other purposes, use burlap bags or cardboard boxes.\u00a0 It\u2019s ideal to keep the vegetable from resting against others, so many people fill the boxes with sawdust, etc.\u00a0 That\u2019s because \u201cone bad apple spoils the bunch\u201d and it\u2019s a way to protect them from the gases emitted by the others. You could, alternatively, separate \"radisheslayers with packing paper.<\/p>\n

Only use food grade containers.\u00a0 If you build a bin, use untreated wood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Here is a quick list of how different vegetables like to be treated.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

How to Store\u00a0 Each Vegetable<\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Beets:<\/strong>\u00a0 They should be stored dirty and with their tops.\u00a0 The longer they store, the more they turn bitter.\u00a0 They do best refrigerated and with some moisture, but don\u2019t suffocate them! Make sure they are not bagged, or they will mold.\u00a0 A crisper drawer works well. If you are concerned they will be too dry, wrap them in a moist paper towel.<\/p>\n

Cabbages:<\/strong>\u00a0 Increase the nutritional value by making homemade sauerkraut, nothing needed but sea salt, shredded cabbage, and a jar or crock.\u00a0 Cabbage heads will also store, best if hung instead of packed in a box.\u00a0 Check for insects under the top leaves or they\u2019ll be ravaged when you want them.\u00a0 Cool, dry, dark environment is best.\u00a0 Cabbage will lose some of it\u2019s vitamin C content if kept at room temperature, so cold is best!<\/p>\n

Carrots:<\/strong> medium storage life.\u00a0 Cut tops off (use those in a soup or smoothie immediately).\u00a0 Cover and store in a cool, dark location.<\/p>\n

Garlic:<\/strong> Beautiful braided, but not necessary.\u00a0 Leave them out in the sun for a day, do not wash.\u00a0 Store in a dry, dark location. Garlic also does well in a paper bag.<\/p>\n

Onion:<\/strong> Leave out in the sun for a day to \u201ccure it\u201d (and ensure dryness).\u00a0 Store in a dark, dry location.\u00a0 And if for some reason one sprouts, plant it in a pot and put it in your windowsill for a quick snip of chives. Keep them away from the potatoes.<\/p>\n

Parsnips:<\/strong> Remove leaves, do not wash.\u00a0 Short storage life (about a month).\u00a0 Keep cool .<\/p>\n

Potatoes:<\/strong> they can stay in the ground all winter, or you can harvest.\u00a0 Long storage life.\u00a0 Best left with dirt on them.\u00a0 Set out for a day to ensure they are completely dry, then pack in small batches in paper bags with a few holes punched into it, covered.\u00a0 Store in darkness.\u00a0 Never refrigerate.\u00a0 Consider dehydrating potatoes.<\/p>\n

Radishes:<\/strong>\u00a0 Remove tops and store without cleaning first.<\/p>\n

Rutabaga:\u00a0 <\/strong>Will store best if smooth and not cut or nicked in any way.\u00a0 Will stay fresh for about a week in the refrigerator.\u00a0 Consider dehydrating and powdering.<\/p>\n

Turnips:<\/strong> They should be stored dirty and with their tops.\u00a0 The longer they store, the more they turn bitter.<\/p>\n

Squash:<\/strong> Squash does best at room temperature, not in cold environments, for overwintering.<\/p>\n

Sweet Potatoes:<\/strong> Store in a paper or burlap bag in a dark, place at just cooler than room temperature.<\/p>\n

\"Proper<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

*Sonesson, U., Anteson, F., Davis, J., & Sj\u00f6d\u00e9n, P.-O. (2005). Home Transport and Wastage: Environmentally Relevant Household Activities in the Life Cycle of Food. Ambio; Stockholm<\/em>, 34<\/em>(4\/5), 371\u20135.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 2005, thirty-five Swedish households were asked to keep a diary about food purchasing and usage habits. 44.1% of all root vegetables were wasted after storage.*\u00a0\u00a0 This was second only to dairy products.\u00a0 Based on the number of potato eyes staring at me from my food storage, I would guess that Americans are experiencing the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[229,230],"tags":[370,711],"yst_prominent_words":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Proper-Food-Storage-Root-Vegetables.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Fvks-1J4","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6638"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6638"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6638\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6638"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=6638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}