{"id":11577,"date":"2022-03-28T07:26:24","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T07:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=11577"},"modified":"2022-03-30T08:44:15","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T08:44:15","slug":"how-to-store-quince-fruit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-store-quince-fruit\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Store Quince Fruit {Explained!}"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Quince is a wonderful fruit for making a variety of sweet and savory dishes<\/a>. The fruits, when treated properly, will keep for several months as they are. For longer storage solutions they can be refrigerated or frozen. In this article, we\u2019ll be looking at how to store quince fruits so they are ready to use whenever you need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Pick Quince Fruit for Storing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before you can store your quinces, first you need to know how to harvest them correctly<\/a> so that they remain at their best:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Firstly, ensure the fruits are completely ripe. They should have an even,  golden coloration all over.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    1. Quince usually ripens in late fall and early winter, although this can vary depending on where you live and the variety you\u2019re growing. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      There may be dew in the morning making the fruits damp. Picking damp fruit is not the best, as it can cause it to mold. Wait until late morning or early afternoon to avoid this problem and only harvest on a dry and preferably sunny day.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      1. To pick the fruit, grasp it gently in your hand and twist, or simply use a pair of secateurs and snip the stem above the fruit. Try to avoid allowing the fruit to fall to the ground as this could bruise it.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        1. Gather any fallen fruits that are lying under the tree before you start picking. These fruits won\u2019t be suitable for long-term storage without being processed and frozen, as they will quite likely be damaged and deteriorate rapidly. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          1. If any of the fruits you have harvested are not completely dry, they must be allowed to dry before storing. You can do this by laying the quince out in a single layer on a sheet of newspaper. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Don\u2019t use plastic sheeting for this as this can make them sweat.  Ensure that none are touching each other and allow them to air dry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Choosing The Best Quince Fruits For Storing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            If you\u2019re not lucky enough to have your own quince trees then you can purchase them from a garden store or farmers market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            When selecting quince for long-term storage without processing (cutting up, refrigeration, freezing, or transforming into something else) then there are a few things<\/a> you must check carefully first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            1. Any fruits you select must be a rich lemony yellow color.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              1. The fruit must be perfect without any imperfections such as bruises, dents rotten areas, scratches, or moldy spots. These will quickly rot the spoiled fruit and will also start to rot other fruits around them.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                1. Choose large fruits, as smaller ones tend to be less pleasant to eat<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  You don\u2019t need to throw away fruits that don\u2019t make the grade, simply wash and peel them, remove any damaged areas and the core and seeds, then chop them up and freeze them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  How To Store Quince Fruit At Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                  \"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                  There are a variety of ways to store quinces, from whole fresh ones through to processed frozen ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Storing Fresh Quinces<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                  If you want to store your quinces fresh the way they were when picked from the tree, first go through the selection process as described above. Quince can be stored in the same way that apples are, in single layers on newspaper in crates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Or, as I have done very successfully, on large, square, cardboard egg cartons. As these allow you to stack the quinces to about four height because of the way the egg cartons are made, the protrusions that the quinces sit on allow air to circulate freely around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Don\u2019t stack them any higher than this, as the pressure on the lower quinces may damage them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Wooden crates can be stacked as high as is safe to do so, providing that the quinces are not carrying any of the weight and there is good air circulation around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  It\u2019s vital that you don\u2019t allow the quinces to touch each other, as if one goes bad, it will quickly infect the rest and the rot will spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  The quinces must be kept in a cool, dry, dark place such as a root seller, or basement. High humidity is OK, it can even be preferable to help prevent the fruits from drying out. Keep them out of sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  In good conditions, quinces can last for around three months like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  1. Prepare the storage area by killing any bugs, molds, and bacteria. This can be done by spraying it with an enzymatic cleaner. Leave this on for at least 15 minutes then wipe down with a clean cloth and hot water.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    Or you can use a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda to wipe down all surfaces. Prepare this mixture in a bucket as it will fizz. Don\u2019t use it on metal surfaces as it is abrasive. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

                    1. The space must have good ventilation that allows the air to circulate.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                      1. The more constant the temperature, the better. It must stay below 59\u00b0F (15\u00b0C), but the cooler it is, the longer the fruits will last.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                        Refrigeration <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                        If you don\u2019t have a suitable cool, dark place to store your fresh quince, then you can keep some in the refrigerator in the fresh vegetable boxes at the bottom. The ideal temperature range is between 37\u00b0F and 41\u00b0F (3\u00b0C and 5\u00b0C). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        Here the fruits will remain fresh for a long time without losing any of their juiciness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        TIP<\/strong> – If you have a refrigerator that tends to build up a lot of condensation, you can place a wire cooling wrack in the bottom of the drawer first and cover it with several layers of kitchen paper and place your fruits onto that. This allows the condensation to drain into the bottom of the drawer, without contaminating your fruits. It should be emptied as often as necessary.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

                        1. Only select fruits with no signs of damage.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                          1. Wipe the fuzz off of each fruit carefully, ensuring you don\u2019t damage the skin.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                            1. Wrap individual fruits in kitchen paper. This is breathable and won\u2019t hold moisture next to the skin.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                              1. Place the fruits in the cold draw \u201ccrisp\u201d section of the refrigerator.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                1. The cooler the refrigerator, the longer the fruits will last. On average at 39\u00b0F (4\u00b0C) they will last for around 70 days. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                  In this video, you will see some tips on how to tell when your quince fruits are ripe and how to store them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                  \n
                                  https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5ATQ4evKZzo<\/a>