Important tips on how to store sauerkraut on the balcony in winter

Sauerkraut is one of the favorite dishes of the inhabitants of Russia and the post-Soviet space. It is cooked in large quantities in autumn and eaten until the onset of heat.

In those days, when refrigerators did not differ in impressive dimensions, and not everyone had cellars, the products were stored on the balcony.

This method also comes to the rescue of modern housewives, but you need to resort to it wisely.

How to store sauerkraut on the balcony in winter, at what temperature, is it possible in the cold, read the article.

Is it possible?

You can store cabbage on the balcony. It is taken out into the street when large volumes have been prepared and there is not enough space in the refrigerator.

Under such conditions, the cabbage will freeze and thaw several times, which will negatively affect its condition. Plaids and blankets that cover the cans or buckets help slightly improve the situation.

Storage conditions: at what temperature?

By sending cabbage for storage, you need to take into account the weather conditions typical for a particular region of the country... For example, in Siberia, the thermometer in winter drops to -40 degrees, and in the Krasnodar Territory it rarely drops to -10.

The cabbage will stay fresh if air temperature remains within + 4 ... -2 degrees. At lower levels, it will begin to freeze, and at high levels, fermentation processes will start in it, which will lead to its souring.

The product does not tolerate exposure to the sun... Ultraviolet rays are destructive for him. Therefore, you need to shade the container in all possible ways. If glass jars were chosen for storage, then there are:

• wrapped in food foil,
• covered with blankets
• put away in balcony cabinets.

Containers must be covered. The less the cabbage is in contact with oxygen, the better. Banks can be closed with nylon or metal lids, buckets are covered with plates of suitable size, wrapped with cling film, bags are tightly tied.

Any vegetables and fruits can be stored next to sauerkraut, since the container will be closed, so they cannot mutually influence each other. The main thing is that the conditions created are suitable for all products.

Training

Preparation for storing cabbage on the balcony is a prerequisite, which determines its shelf life.

Actions to be taken:

1. Select healthy heads of cabbage, rinse them, chop and ferment.
2. Wash storage containers. You can use baking soda to remove germs. Before laying the cabbage, the container must be scalded with boiling water.
3. Drain the brine if storing in bags. In jars, buckets and barrels, cabbage "hibernates" with liquid.

Cabbage on the balcony stored in different containers, namely:

1. In glass jars. Most often, containers with a volume of 3 liters are used.
2. In enameled or oak barrels. Frozen products are chopped with a hatchet or stabbed with a knife.
3. In enameled buckets.
4. In plastic bags. You need to expel excess air from them and tie tightly. Before placing the cabbage in bags, the brine must be drained from it.
5. In vacuum bags or containers. The air is sucked out of them with a special pump.

Product content features

You do not need to store cabbage on the balcony on the floor. It must be on a dais, for example, on a table or in boxes. Depending on whether the room is insulated or not, some features of the content of the product will differ.

On the insulated loggia

You can store cabbage on the insulated balcony all winter. If the loggia is equipped with adjustable heating, then there will be no problems.

The balcony should be slightly blown out, as the heat is destructive for it. In warmth, the product will turn sour.

On an uninsulated

On an uninsulated balcony, cabbage must be covered. If the winter is warm and the air temperature does not drop below -5 ... -8 degrees, then you can save it from freezing as follows:

• insulate the cabinet with foam;
• put banks in it;
• wrap them with several blankets, wrap them with plastic wrap on top;
• close the closet.

This will keep the cabbage crisp and fresh. If the winters are frosty, then you need to be prepared for the fact that it will completely freeze.

In this case, you do not need to cover it. The blanket is used if the air temperature drops below -20 degrees.

Timing

If the cabbage freezes, then you can store it on the balcony until the onset of heat. When the product begins to thaw, it is put into the freezer.

Helpful information

Storage tips sauerkraut on the balcony:

1. It is not recommended to take it out to the balcony from mid-November. Banks are put up after a stable low air temperature is established outside, not exceeding +4 degrees.
2. To avoid spoilage of large volumes, it is not recommended to take out more than 2-3 cans of 3 liters to the balcony.
3. If there is a sharp and unexpected warming, you can temporarily transfer the product to the refrigerator. The weather situation will have to be monitored all the time.

You can find even more useful information on storing sauerkraut in this section.

Conclusion

You can store sauerkraut on the balcony. If the winters are not harsh, then with the right approach, it will stay fresh for several months.

In severe frosts, the product will freeze, but after defrosting it returns to its original taste... This cabbage can be eaten fresh or added to various dishes during cooking.