Melon culture is considered to be the birthplace of Central Asia. The first mention of it can be found in the Bible. This is a very heat-loving plant that can have 2 – 8 fruits, depending on the variety, conditions, and place of growth. The storage conditions for melons are almost the same as for Cantaloupe: in order for the fruits to last longer, they are removed from melons a little unripe, having a hard surface without dents or damage. Let’s take a closer look at the question of how to store Cantaloupe at home.
How Long Does Cantaloupe Last?
Whether the fruits will keep well depends on how dense their flesh is. It is also important to how much pectin they contain. This indicator should not be less than 4%.
Early or “summer” varieties are not stored at all. Therefore, they are consumed immediately after they are removed from the melon. And varieties that have a long growing season, within a few months after harvesting, should lie down until they are fully ripe.
- Fruits of late varieties can be stored for up to six months.
- Early – up to 1 month.
- Mid-season types of melons are stored for 3-4 months.
These data are given for those cases when the melon is stored in a cellar or places with similar conditions. On the shelf of the refrigerator, any variety can be kept for no more than a month.
How to choose fruits for storage
When choosing a Cantaloupe, you should pay attention to some things. For example, the mesh on the skin of the fruit should not be too bright or dark in color and occupy more than half of the entire area. It can be used to determine the quality of the product and its degree of maturation.
If the melon has a pronounced aroma, this indicates that it has already reached the stage of ripeness that is needed for long-term storage.
The nose of the fetus should be elastic. It becomes soft only in overripe fruits that cannot be stored for a long time.
The melon must not be damaged. If the stalk is completely torn out of it, or the peel has burst in some places, it will not be suitable for storage. Such fruit will quickly begin to rot, and you need to use it first. Fruits that have dents and brown spots rot even faster.
When growing a melon with your own hands, it is removed from the melon a week before full ripeness. The peduncle is left at least 3 cm. In this case, it is better to pluck the fruit, rather than cut it off.
Storage conditions for Cantaloupe
Storage of melon, like other melons, will be long-term if certain conditions are created for it.
- The air temperature in the room where the fruits are located should be + 2 ° С to + 4 ° С,
- Humidity should not exceed 85% and be below 60%.
- In addition, you need a constant supply of air. Therefore, the fruits are kept in containers with holes in places with good ventilation.
- In conditions of high humidity (more than 85%), melons are not stored. This culture does not tolerate dampness and quickly begins to rot.
- If the humidity is very low, the fruits will dry out soon.
If in the process of harvesting or transporting any of the fruits turned out to be without a stalk, the recess remaining from it is poured with melted wax so that the melon does not start to deteriorate in this place.
This vegetable absorbs third-party flavors very well. Therefore, the melon should be stored separately from vegetables that have a strong smell. Its proximity to potatoes and beets is unacceptable. But the most dangerous thing for her is to be near apples. These fruits emit a volatile substance – ethylene, which increases the rate of ripening. Such a neighborhood will significantly reduce the shelf life.
Before storing a melon, it is not washed. A washed vegetable is stored much worse. If there are dried particles of earth on the peel that could not be shaken off, it is better to leave everything as it is. When scraped off with a knife, scratches can form, which will significantly shorten the shelf life of the melon.
Storage at room temperature
At room temperature (+20°С -+23°С), melons remain fresh for no more than 7 days. An important condition for saving this fruit in an apartment is its complete isolation from sunlight. Ultraviolet light can significantly increase the rate of maturation, and make further storage impossible.
Thus, you can store a melon in an apartment in a pantry, under a bed, or in a closet, but not more than 7 days. For better preservation, you can wrap each fruit on paper.
If you need to extend the shelf life up to 2-3 weeks, it is recommended to use a refrigerator.
Storing Cantaloupe in the cellar
If there is a room with suitable conditions, the fruits are hung there in mesh bags made of cotton fabric, trying not to damage the peel. In a suspended state, the force of attraction has the least effect, and the storage time is maximized.
The storage of melons in boxes must follow certain rules. Fruits must be placed vertically in the container. Fill in half, or a little more with sand, grain, or sawdust. To fill the space between the fruits, you can also use forest moss, straw, or reeds.
Once a week, the crop is inspected, carefully turning each fruit in order to notice in time if any of them begin to deteriorate.
How long can Cantaloupe be stored in the refrigerator?
Prolonged storage of melons in the refrigerator is not desirable. The refrigerator is used if you need to keep the freshness of the vegetable for two to three weeks. The fruit is wrapped in paper and placed on the bottom shelf. You can also use cotton fabric or film. You need to wrap loosely so that there is air access.
With normal air circulation, a melon wrapped in cloth or paper will keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks. Further, high humidity, against the background of low temperatures, will lead to the formation of mold. The pulp will lose its elastic texture, and the taste will not change for the better.
If the conditions necessary for storage are created, the melon can remain usable on the shelf of the refrigerator for up to 10-20 days.
How to store cut Cantaloupe
When the Cantaloupe is already cut, it is not left directly on the table, but put in the refrigerator. Seeds must first be cleaned. You can store cut melon in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.
The cut vegetable is covered with paper or a light cotton napkin. Polyethylene, a bag, or a tight lid are not used – this will lead to the opposite effect.
The cut melon begins to release ethylene, which will increase the concentration in a confined space. After a while, she and other fruits around will quickly deteriorate.