One of the vegetables that gives the grower the most satisfaction is undoubtedly the pumpkin. It is a plant that requires a lot of fertilizer, but pays well at harvest time with a good yield and in many cases also produces large vegetables.
Fortunately, this delicacy does not need to be eaten right away: indeed, squash is one of the easiest vegetables to keep for a long time, as long as it is not cut up. Therefore, we will find out the best way to store a whole pumpkin and at what temperature it should be.
Even if the opened pumpkin only lasts a few days, there are some good ideas to avoid waste and there is the possibility of freezing it.
Contents [Ocultar]
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Keep the Pumpkin Whole
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Where to keep pumpkin
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How long does a pumpkin last
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Keep the Pumpkin Cut
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refrigerated storage
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freeze pumpkin
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Other ideas: drying, canned jams
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Contents
Keep the pumpkin whole
The whole pumpkin can be stored for a long time, even six months, the important thing is to store it in the right place and make sure that it has ripened well before harvesting. Fortunately, storing a squash is much easier than storing a zucchini, even though they are similar plants, the fruit has very different flesh and skin, the rind of the squash is an excellent insulator and the pulp is less watery.
The proper conservation of this vegetable begins when it is grown, since it is essential that the pumpkin is only picked when it is fully ripe and has begun to dry. Otherwise, if you take a little unripe even if it is edible, it still has too much water and it rots much sooner. It’s not difficult to know when a pumpkin is ready to be picked, you can read some tips in the article on harvesting pumpkins.
Another important precaution is not to tear the petiole, but to leave it attached to the fruit when cutting it. In fact, the tearing could damage the rind by leaving part of the meat exposed to the air, in which case rotting of the vegetable develops easily as soon as it is opened.
Where to keep pumpkin
Many vegetables keep well in the cold, but squash does not. If the temperature drops below 10 degrees, the meat of our autumn vegetable may crystallize and then it will deteriorate rapidly. For this reason, the ideal temperature for storing the pumpkin is 18 degrees, so there is no cold room, but a simple room.
In addition to temperature, the right place for storing pumpkins should be slightly humid and, most importantly, ventilated. Air recirculation is essential to prevent rot by removing any excess moisture in the air.
How long does a pumpkin last?
A whole squash, stored properly, will keep for months and from fall harvest it can be stored until late spring and in some cases even summer. However, if cut, once opened it lasts 5/6 days.
The durability of the pumpkin also depends on its variety: there are types selected with precision to preserve better, for example, Marina di Chioggia is an excellent variety for conservation.
Store the cut pumpkin
If a whole pumpkin keeps for a long time once opened, this vegetable should be consumed fairly quickly, in a few days it could go bad. To avoid waste, it’s good to have an idea of how to use pumpkin, as it’s often a large vegetable.
After cutting the pumpkin, a first precaution to facilitate its conservation is to immediately remove the internal part with the filaments and the seeds, which is usually the first to rot. Remember that the seeds of this vegetable are edible and you can decide to roast them.
Storage in the refrigerator
The pumpkin can be kept for a few days in the refrigerator, it is best to cover it with the appropriate transparent film to prevent it from taking on a bad smell.
In the refrigerator, however, it does not keep for more than a week, because over the days the quality of the vegetables decreases and when they start to rot or mold, they are thrown away.
freeze pumpkin
The freezer can help preserve the pumpkin, which can be frozen raw or cooked.
Putting it in the freezer after cooking can be handy as it allows easy access to ready meals. A few minutes in the microwave will suffice to thaw. Virtually all pumpkin recipes can be frozen: steamed, boiled, fried, grilled, baked,…
Other ideas: drying, canned jams
There are pumpkin preparations that allow it to be put in the pantry for a few months, these are transformations that also open up new flavors and uses, such as drying, oil and jam.
dried squash it can be used in soups and other culinary preparations, by chopping it we obtain a flour which lends itself to various uses in the kitchen. To obtain it, it is preferable to use a dryer, because drying in the sun would be difficult to manage in the autumn season, when the weather is rarely suitable.
The can be stored in a jar in oil or marinated and allows you to have a delicious side dish or appetizer always ready to use.
pumpkin jam it can be either sweet, to be eaten in jam with bread, or more acidic, like chutney, which is delicious with meat and cheese.