Many gardeners faced a situation where during storage, potatoes are frozen. This is a fairly common problem, because with improper storage and non-compliance with temperature regimes, this is usually unavoidable. Let us examine what to do, how to act and save the potatoes in such a situation.
Table of contents
What can freeze the potatoes
Frozen potatoes are common, as winter weather is often unstable. It can freeze for the following reasons:
- First and foremost.
Non-observance of temperature conditions during storage. This is due to the fact that not all cellars are adapted for storing potatoes. The optimum temperature for storing planting tubers is +3 - +6 degrees, in which case the vegetables will not rot or freeze.
- The second and no less important.
Air humidity. It can fluctuate between 85-93%.
- And the third.
Directly affects the state of the potato - air ventilation. It is used to adjust the temperature, humidity, as well as air exchange.
Saving Frozen Potatoes
If it so happened that the potato froze sharply, then the situation is more complicated. When transferred to heat, it will become soft and slippery.it will be better to get rid of it.
Is it possible to plant frostbitten tubers
If sprouts appear on the potatoes, then sprinkle with warm water or a weak solution of manganesesprouts will begin to swell and then you can safely plant such tubers.
Dried potatoes - good harvest
If you find that your potatoes are frozen after wintering in the basement - this is not a reason to get upset. Gardeners with experience share their experience on how to get an excellent harvest from frozen tubers.
In early April, the tubers should be planted in a greenhouse, and after a few days, the potatoes, instead of the usual eyes, will be covered with small green bushes. After planting, when the height of the shoots reaches 15-20 cm, you can safely spud.
How to determine that your crop is frozen
Let's see how to determine that the potato is frozen.
First you need put the potatoes in a warm place and leave for a couple of hours. After that, to cut, if it was easy to do it, your harvest is in order, and if blackness is visible on the cut, then it is better to throw it out immediately.
When, if you cut the vegetable with difficulty, then the potatoes are frozen, it should be left for another few hours in the heat, then cut into several pieces and boil, it will be a little sweet.
Is it possible to cook frozen potatoes?
There are many different theories on whether it is possible to eat frost-bitten potatoes. Opinions differ on this.
Some say that such potatoes are completely harmless, while others argue that in the process of defrosting this vegetable emits a toxic substance, which will cause significant harm to your health and the body as a whole.
Contrary to popular belief - you can! Potatoes are absolutely not poisonous, and the substance released, while it freezes it is nothing but sucrose, which will give an unusual sweetish taste to your dishes.
Here are some tips on how to cook frozen potatoes:
- We take the right amount of potatoes, put in water whose temperature can be from 40 before 60 degrees. Then the tubers should be thoroughly washed, dried and left for some time in a dark room. So, it will thaw faster, and you can easily clean it and use it in cooking.
- You do not like the sweet taste? - You can also get rid of it. Leave peeled and chopped potatoes for a while in cold water. After - boil in salted water with the addition of vinegar (1 tablespoon. Vinegar per 1 liter of water), and unwanted sweetness will go away.
Potato harvesting should start in the fall. It is necessary to warm the basement and build storage space. Also take care that the humidity and temperature of the air correspond to the generally accepted standard.
And only under such conditions you can protect the crop from cooling or sharp freezing,what could make it worthless.