As summer gets stronger, pumpkins, one of nature's generous gifts, begin to spread across markets. Pumpkin is loved by everyone for its rich nutritional value and affordable price, which can not only help us protect our eyesight, detoxify and nourish our skin, but also improve our immunity.
However, pumpkins are usually large and often difficult to consume all at once, and if they are not stored properly, they can become moldy and spoiled in just a few days. So, is there a way to keep your cut pumpkin fresh and avoid waste? The answer, of course, is yes! Today, I'm going to share five unique pumpkin preservation tips to help you store your pumpkin for up to half a year and still be fresh and delicious.
First of all, for uncut pumpkins, as long as they are stored in a cool, ventilated, dry place, they can be properly stored for a month or two. However, once the pumpkin is cut, its interior comes into contact with the air, which can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and accelerate the spoilage process.
Method 1: Seal and refrigerate
Cut pumpkin, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap at the first time, and place it in a cool and ventilated place or refrigerator, this method can maintain its freshness for about 3 to 5 days, but beyond this period, the quality of the pumpkin will gradually deteriorate.
Method 2: Salt to keep fresh
After the pumpkin is cut, the incision is susceptible to bacterial infestation. At this point, you can apply a little salt to the incision, then cover it with a paper towel, seal it again with plastic wrap, and place it in a cool, ventilated place. Salt has a natural antibacterial effect, although it will give the pumpkin a slightly salty taste, but as long as the surface is removed, the inside is still delicious and edible.
Method 3: Dry and store
Peel and slice the pumpkin and expose it to the sun for a few days, turning it over frequently until the pumpkin slices are completely dehydrated and dry, crispy to the touch, and rustle when shaken. Then put it in a plastic bag and seal it, store it in a cool and ventilated place, and it can maintain its fresh taste for half a year. Just soak and soften before eating, whether it is stir-fried or stewed, it has a unique flavor.
Method 4: Cook and freeze
Peel and cut the pumpkin into pieces, steam for 10 minutes, wait until it is cooked and cool, then pack it into a plastic bag and seal it and send it to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. The pumpkin treated in this way, whether directly taken or processed into pumpkin puree, is used for cooking porridge, soybean milk, and stewed soup, even if it is stored for one year, it can still maintain the original delicious taste.
Method 5: Fry and freeze
Cut the pumpkin into small pieces, add oil to the pan and stir-fry to coat the surface with a layer of grease, let it cool after frying, and also put it in a plastic bag to seal and freeze. This way of preserving pumpkin will keep it fresh for a year, making it an excellent choice for stir-frying or making pumpkin stew.
It is worth noting that the last two cryopreservation methods are recommended to be individually packaged according to the required amount of each meal, so that it is easy to take it in the future and avoid the trouble of thawing.
In addition, in order to give full play to the charm of pumpkin on the table, here are two recommended ways to make pumpkin delicacies:
【Pumpkin Pie】
Ingredients: pumpkin, glutinous rice flour, sugar, breadcrumbs, cooking oil. Steps: Peel and steam the pumpkin and mash it into a puree, mix in an appropriate amount of sugar and glutinous rice flour and knead it into a dough, divide it into small portions, roll it flat, dip it in breadcrumbs on both sides and compact, fry it in a hot oil pan until golden brown, you can take out and taste this sweet and soft pumpkin pie.
【Pumpkin soup】
Ingredients: pumpkin, rice, pure milk, water. Steps: Peel and remove the seeds of the pumpkin and cut it into pieces, put it into a wall breaker together with the washed rice, add water to make rice cereal, add pure milk and an appropriate amount of sugar to taste, and a bowl of mellow and smooth pumpkin soup is born.
Through the above five ways to preserve pumpkin and two pumpkin delicacies making tutorials, I believe you have mastered the tricks of pumpkin preservation and cooking. Try it and let this autumn pumpkin feast continue into the seasons and enjoy the gift of the earth.