Article content
Do you have carrots grown during the season left over and are wondering how to store them so they don’t spoil? Carrots contain a lot of medicinal substances and vitamins and will therefore be beneficial to us in winter. With proper storage they will last until the following spring. The first step is a thorough sorting of the harvest and discarding any vegetables that show signs of rot or damage. If you don’t do that, the rot will spread to healthy pieces and spoil the whole crop.
Ideal conditions
Then clean the carrots of all dirt and sort them by size. Cut off the tops; you won’t need them. The room where you will store the carrots should meet several conditions. First of all, it must be sufficiently cool. The air temperature should ideally be in the range from -2 to +2 °C. Relative humidity should reach 90–95 % and pay attention to cleanliness as well. Before storing a new batch, clear the room of residues from last year’s harvest and all dirt so that bacteria cannot infect the fresh carrots.
Place the prepared vegetables in a wooden or cardboard box and cover it with a lid. Try not to press too hard against the walls of the box so that moisture does not get inside. If you don’t have any box on hand, you can also try storing them in a breathable bag or mesh filled with onion skins.
Carrots are very beneficial
And why is it worth always keeping a good supply of carrots at home? They lower cholesterol, improve eyesight and delay the signs of aging. They are rich in beta-carotenes and fiber, contain plenty of antioxidants and vitamins A, C, K and B. They also contain pantothenic acid, folic acid, potassium, manganese, iron and copper.
Carrots support digestion and especially in the winter season we will appreciate their ability to strengthen the immune system. They act against constipation and even reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Crunching carrots also improves the health of our oral cavity, as it stimulates the gums and increases saliva production. They are easy to grow, so they should not be missing from any garden bed.
