The main reasons for quinces rotting quickly can be high humidity and high temperature in a room. If all the rules are followed, quinces can be stored for months without spoiling either the taste or the juiciness.
A small amount of quinces can be placed in the refrigerator. If you have many quinces, then you will have to try to find the most suitable place and create special conditions for storing the fruit.
Storing quinces at home
- if you have a lot of quinces, then it is better to store them in a cellar or basement (to preserve their freshness, these fruit need cool conditions, it is difficult to keep a large number of fruit in an apartment);
- a large amount of quinces should be stored in boxes with partitions, so that the fruit do not touch (you can sprinkle the fruit with sand or wrap each of them in paper);
- bury the quinces in sand, which can be replaced with sawdust or dry grass;
- quinces can be stored near apples (but not one on top of other);
- pears can accelerate the ripening and rotting process of the quinces, therefore it is not recommended to keep these fruit nearby in any case;
- it is better to preserve the freshness and juiciness of the quince by using paper or foil (each fruit is wrapped separately);
- you can store the quinces in polyethylene, but it is better to use plastic wrap, not plastic bags;
- you can increase the shelf life of quinces if you buy unripe fruit in advance (but you cannot store such fruit in the refrigerator, you can put them in the fridge only after they have fully ripened);
- too small, damaged or battered fruit should not be stored (it is better to prepare compote, quince jam or quickly eat them in other forms);
- you can freeze quinces not only fresh, but also after heat treatments (for example, the fruit can be boiled first, then chopped with a blender and frozen in the form of puree);
- chopped quinces should only be stored in the refrigerator (like apples) and you can wrap them in cling film);
- ripe quinces are best stored exclusively in a dark place;
- at room temperature, ripe quinces should be stored for no more than two weeks (you can not put the fruit in the sun);
- drying is considered an additional way to store quinces (the fruit are dried in the oven for several hours at a temperature of about 50°C, the fruit are previously cut into pieces and the cores are removed);
- if it is not possible to put the quinces in a refrigerator or cellar, then in room conditions the fruit should be stored in dark places (the fruit are previously placed in paper bags);
- you can treat the quinces with melted wax or rub them with vegetable oil (this technique will help to avoid the drying of the skin of the fruit).
Where and how long to store quinces for
The refrigerator is considered an ideal place to store quinces at home. In the fruit compartment, the temperature regime fully meets the requirements of this category of fruit.
The optimal temperature for quince storage is considered to be from 0 to +4°C. Under such conditions, the fruit is able to retain its juiciness and remain fresh for 2 months.
If you use additional means, then the shelf life of the quince in the refrigerator will increase to 4 months. In this case, you will have to follow all the rules exactly as they are.
Temperature and shelf life of quince:
- from 0 to +1°C - 4 months;
- from 0 to +4°C - 2 months;
- from +4 to +8°C - 1 month;
- above +8°C and at room temperature - no more than 1 month (maximum 3 weeks).
In the freezer, quinces can be stored for more than 7-9 months and after exposure to low temperatures, its taste properties become more saturated. Before placing it in the freezer, the fruit should be cut, the seeds and skin should be removed and the pulp should be cut into small pieces. Repeated freezing of fruit should be completely excluded.
Read also what quince seeds are good for, how to dry quinces, why you should drink quince tea and about quinces in folk medicine.
