2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Quince has long been considered a symbol of fertility and love. In ancient Athens, newlyweds always ate these juicy fruits - according to legends, this was supposed to bring them happiness in marriage. Beliefs, beliefs, but in everyday reality, these bright fruits bring great benefits to our health - quince is very rich in vitamins and valuable microelements. In addition, it is considered an excellent antidepressant and significantly improves the overall health of the body. Of course, any summer resident wants to keep the quince as long as possible. And this is not impossible - these wonderful fruits are distinguished by excellent keeping quality, and, if stored correctly, they can easily hold out until spring
Harvesting quince
Early varieties of quince are usually harvested in late August or early September. And late and mid-season varieties begin to be harvested with the onset of October. By the way, early varieties can be used immediately. As for the later varieties, their technological maturity usually occurs only after twenty to forty days - the physiological and biological processes occurring in the quince during this time contribute to the improvement of the aroma, taste and color of juicy fruits.
Quince should be harvested only in dry weather, ideally in the morning, as soon as the dew melts. Ripe fruits are harvested carefully, either using pickers or by hand. You may also need ladders for cleaning.
The harvested quince is put into pre-prepared baskets, and then sorted, selecting only intact and healthy quince for storage. With regard to fruit with defects, it is recommended that they be processed immediately.
During storage, the juicy quince finally matures, acquiring a characteristic yellow color. Also, the fruits lose their former pubescence, and their pulp becomes less tart and dense. About two weeks after the quince is sent for storage, the highest percentage of sugars and pectins with acids will accumulate in it. And then their concentrations will start to decrease gradually.
How to choose the right fruit?
The most important thing is to choose a ripe quince. However, it will not be difficult to select ripe fruits - they are all endowed with a uniformly colored yellow skin. In addition, the fruits must be firm enough, without dents, dark spots and other damage. The fact is that a damaged quince deteriorates very quickly.
It is also important to know that quince does not tolerate moisture, so all fruits sent for storage must be dry.
If the quince is purchased for immediate consumption, then it is better to prefer softer fruits - they will be much tastier and much more aromatic.
Quince storage
Quince is stored in the same way as other pome fruits. By the way, it is allowed to store it together with apples. But it is categorically not recommended to lay the quince for storage together with the harvested pears - the pears will accelerate its ripening, as a result of which the keeping quality of the quince will noticeably decrease.
The best temperature for storing harvested quince is considered to be in the range from zero to one degree. In any case, the storage temperature should not exceed eight degrees. As for humidity, it should be in the range of eighty to ninety percent.
The fruit should be stored in a well-ventilated and fairly cool area, either on sturdy shelves or in drawers. Quinces are pre-wrapped in paper. Some summer residents keep these wonderful fruits in straw. Another great option is to store the quince in boxes, sprinkling it with sawdust.
Depending on the storage conditions, as well as on the variety, quince can be stored from twenty to one hundred and twenty days.
Storing quince in the refrigerator
It is possible to keep a ripe quince in the refrigerator for three to four months - for this it is placed in the lowest drawers. All fruits are pre-wrapped with paper or laid out in polyethylene bags.
In addition, you can always make amazing jam, aromatic candied fruits, delicate jelly or rich jam from quince.
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