Have you ever wondered how to store eggplant long term or how to store eggplant in the fridge? You have come to the right place to find out. These are some of the healthiest vegetables, but they are susceptible to change when not in a favorable environment. If you want to implement this fantastic ingredient in your kitchen, you will have to learn the best ways to store it.
Otherwise, you risk your eggplants going bad quickly, losing their nutritional value, and gaining nothing from eating them. There are three very effective methods you can implement to store your eggplants properly. Stay to learn much more about them!
Store your eggplants at room temperature
Believe it or not, eggplants react very favorably when they are at room temperature. You don’t need to store them all the time in the refrigerator because the extreme cold can cause them to start going bad faster than expected. To do so, you just have to follow these steps:
- Wrap the aubergines with a paper bag: In this technique, it is essential that the aubergines are not cut and that the paper bag is big enough to wrap them completely. Its function will be to absorb moisture and prevent early decomposition. If you do not have paper bags at home, you can wrap the eggplant with napkins or paper towels and store it in an open plastic bag, never closed.
- Store the bag with the eggplant in a cool place: Avoid placing it in a place exposed to direct sunlight. The ideal is that the temperature where you place it is at 10 ° C, so a drawer in the cupboard where a good current of air circulates will be more than enough.
- Keep it away from other products: Remember that the eggplant is very sensitive to other odors, so do not keep it together with other vegetables or fruits. The more separated it is from the rest of your ingredients, the better it will be.
- Use it within the next four days: This is an excellent short-term method because it keeps the eggplant looking new. However, after four days, it will begin to deteriorate. At this point, although you can still eat it, you will be faced with a vegetable with little nutritional value.
How to store eggplant in the fridge?
When you want to store your aubergines for a longer time, it will be necessary to use the refrigerator. However, as we mentioned before, eggplants do not usually react very well to shallow temperatures. Therefore, you will see the best way to protect your aubergines while you keep them quietly in the refrigerator.
- Store the eggplant in an open bag: The bag you use should be clean and completely free of other odors. Make a few small holes along with the bag so that the eggplant enjoys proper air circulation. Also, to keep moisture at bay, we recommend covering the eggplant with a paper towel before placing it in the plastic bag.
- Store it in a fridge drawer away from the cold: The vegetable drawer is the ideal place for your aubergine. While keeping it away from intense cold, you should also protect it from other fruits and vegetables by placing it at a safe distance. Don’t try to force the eggplant into the drawer because you could damage sensitive skin.
- Remove the other vegetables and greens from the drawer: Ideally, the eggplant occupies a space on its own. So if possible, keep all your other vegetables separate to prevent them from damaging the highly sensitive eggplant.
- It will last a maximum of eight days: Once you finish with the storage process, you should use it in the next three or eight days. After this time, the decomposition process will begin and it will lose its nutritional value.
Store eggplant in the freezer
If you have already used your eggplant, but you have a little leftover, and you are wondering how to store eggplant after the cut, we will bring you the step by step. Do not worry because it is a simple procedure that can save the rest of your eggplant. Take note of the step-by-step to know how to store eggplant after cut!
- Cut the aubergine into slices: Make sure to use a sharp knife so as not to damage the skin or the center of the aubergine. The slices should be at least ⅓ inch thick. Before cutting it, we recommend rinsing it with plenty of cold water so that the interior is not contaminated.
- Submerge them in boiling water: In a large pot of boiling water over high heat. This process destroys the enzymes that change the flavor and texture of the eggplant over time, slowing down the spoilage process. You must wait until the water is boiling before placing the aubergines.
- Take them to a bowl of ice water: Have a bowl of ice water ready, and immediately after removing the eggplants from the boiling water, place them inside. This will immediately stop cooking. Then, drain the water from the eggplants by placing them on a kitchen napkin.
- Store the eggplant in a plastic bag: The ideal ones are those with an airtight seal, which are suitable for freezers. In this case, before sealing the bag, make sure to remove as much air as possible. Once they are completely frozen, you will be able to use them within six months.