How To Store Leeks Properly [A Complete Guide]

There are onion beds in almost all gardens and summer cottages, there are a lot of varieties of this culture. Leek is a juicy and savory vegetable with many health benefits. Moreover, the stalk of the fruit is light in color, dense, and is the junction between a small, weak onion and a thickened stem with voluminous foliage. Young green foliage is also eaten, mainly for salads. But do you know how to store leeks properly?

The most valuable part of the leek is the white flesh, pungent, and expressively smelling. The taste is spicy and much softer than onion. Onions can be consumed fresh or cooked, but it is important to properly preserve the harvest. Then, almost all winter, you can enjoy delicious leeks grown in your garden.

Table of Contents

Beneficial features

Leek is not in vain considered one of the most useful vegetables growing in the garden. Onion contains a lot of vitamins, and also contains trace elements necessary for health. There is one valuable advantage – during storage, the vegetable is able to increase the amount of vitamin C, and accumulate it. In addition, as part of the leek:

vitamins A, K, and PP;
the whole group of vitamins B;
essential oils;
protein;
sulfur, phosphorus, calcium;
magnesium, iron, and potassium.

Fresh and properly stored leek is indicated for increased fatigue, including physical and mental fatigue. Also, it has a beneficial effect on the urogenital area, liver function, and joint health. Likewise, onions are recommended for eating by those who want to lose weight and try to stick to a healthy diet.

But we must not forget about contraindications. Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and individual intolerance are taboo for eating leek.

Harvesting dates for leeks

Mature strong onions are not afraid of frost, but it is recommended to harvest the first crop without waiting for frost. In the first month of autumn, sampling should be carried out in order to collect plants that interfere with the development of others. They also remove those specimens that clearly have no chance of growing to the required size.

A full-fledged harvest of fruits falls on the period before serious frosts, as a rule, in October or early November. The exact timing depends on the region of cultivation. Onions are dug as carefully as possible if you plan to store them for a long time. It grows quite deep, so a pitchfork is required.

The day for harvesting should be dry and sunny to eliminate the risk of rotting, which shortens the shelf life. Onions begin to prepare immediately after digging. The procedure is as follows:

you need to shake off the soil from the stems and spread it on a dug-up bed for several hours;
then the fruits are sorted, and everything spoiled, rotten, and injured is removed;
cut off the roots, but do not touch the bottom itself, it must be intact;
from the length of the roots indent in ⅓ parts ;
check the foliage and cut off all yellow and diseased.

Rules and errors for preparing leeks

After sorting, plants can be considered suitable for storage. There are rules and errors for preparing leeks.

Right Action	Mistakes
Rejection of defective fruits for special storage or consumption.	Leaving onions for a long time with damage or traces of rot.
Remove diseased and yellowed leaves, and leave them whole.	A cut of green strong leaves.
Cutting the roots, leaving a third intact.	Removing the bottom along with the roots.
Manual collection of dirt.	Shaking the bow, holding it by the trunk.
	Washing fruits with water.

Leek storage conditions

To understand how to store leeks properly it is important to understand that different parts of the leek are stored differently, we are talking about root crops and leaf plates. First of all, you need to prepare the fruits, then separate the greens from the fruits if you plan to store them separately. Frozen, dried, or fresh onions require different conditions. Optimal parameters for fresh vegetables:

temperature from -1 C to +1 C ;
air humidity is about 85%.

In an excessively warm room, the foliage will quickly fade, and the keeping quality will only suffer from this. The lack of humidity in the air is also dangerous, if the level is low, then the plates will begin to dry and this will again affect the shelf life and quality of the fruit.

How long can leeks be stored?

In itself, storing leek properly is not a very difficult task, you can find a lot of options that are right for you. The expiration date depends directly on which storage method you have chosen. In the refrigerator, it can sometimes lie quietly for 6 months without loss of properties, freezing will lie for a year. In order not to get confused about the timing, you can rely on the data in the table.

Storage	Maximum storage period
Basements and cellars	6 months
Sand	6 months
A balcony	6 months
Freezer	12 months
Refrigerator	2 to 6 months
dried onion	12 months

How to keep onions fresh

This option is the most preferable in terms of preserving nutrients. The taste of fresh leeks is impeccable. It is possible to ensure that fresh leeks have lain for 5 to 6 months, but it will no longer work. Fresh onions are stored in the refrigerator, on the balcony, or in the basement.

How to store leeks properly? – In winter at home

There are many ways to ensure the store leeks properly by traditional methods for a long time. The choice of method depends on how many vegetables you want to save and what options are available for this.

How to store leeks properly? – In the cellar

The easiest way to organize storage is in the presence of a basement or cellar. Moreover, the vegetable lies there for about 6 months without problems. The main thing is that the temperature regime is kept at a level of about 0 C. Storage containers can be anything – boxes, pallets. Sand will help to increase the storage period, it is introduced into the container, and fruits are inserted there and spilled between them.

The stems are placed vertically, so the onion retains its shape and is not injured, and the layer density is from 10 to 15 cm. As needed, the vegetables are removed from the container, simply by taking them by the top.

Periodically, you need to inspect the fruits and remove those that turned out to be spoiled.

How to store leeks properly? – In the refrigerator

In the refrigerator, this vegetable is stored very well, especially if you use polyethylene. The ideal solution is clinging film, one roll is enough to pack 5 to 8 stems, depending on the size of the vegetables. First, you need to rinse the fruits properly, then send them to the refrigerator and cool them there for several hours. This is necessary so that condensation does not form inside and the vegetables do not begin to rot.

The package must also be refrigerated, you need to make holes for air exchange. This method has several significant advantages:

no loss of moisture, so the onion retains a fleshy and juicy structure;
since there is no condensate, then microbes will not multiply due to the greenhouse effect;
fruits can be stored in this form for up to 5 months.

But there are also disadvantages – if the crop is large, it will take up too much usable area of the refrigerator.

How to store leeks properly? – In cling film

This option is preferable, vegetables are also washed before packaging, cooled and holes are created. In cling film, vegetables are also stored in a refrigerator; at room temperature, they will lie for no more than a couple of days.

Balcony storage

If you have a glazed balcony or loggia that is sufficiently insulated, you can store onion crops there. The main thing is that the temperature does not drop more than -1 C. Wooden boxes and boxes are perfect for storage. If a stable temperature on the balcony is not achieved, it is better to choose another method.

Unfortunately, temperature changes lead to spoilage of vegetables and loss of taste.

You can save the bow on the balcony in this way:

the containers are washed and thoroughly dried, sand is introduced there in a small layer – about 5 cm;
fruits are laid out in one layer;
any thick paper is placed on top, for example, a parchment sheet;
something warm is placed on top, for example, a blanket, or a bedspread, a blanket, so that the humidity level is controlled and the vegetables do not freeze.

How to store leeks properly? At room temperature

Vegetables can be stored at room temperature if you plan to use them quickly. A dry, dark place, moderately cool and humid, will make it possible to use onions for one or two weeks. If you just put a leek on the table, then it will be good for only two or three days.

You can wrap the plants with cling film to increase this period to seven days.

The microclimate of the kitchen is not particularly suitable for storing vegetables, the humidity there is much lower, and the temperature is higher than the stated requirements.

How to store leeks properly? – until spring in the beds

Leek is a plant with a two-year vegetative cycle, in the first year a very powerful upper part, a stem and the head itself are formed, in the second year the onion shoots arrows and it will be possible to collect planting material. If there is nowhere to store onions at home, and the harvest is large, you can partially leave the vegetables in the garden. This is justified if the summer was cold and the crop was not fully ripe.

Onions left in the ground by spring come to an ideal state.

During the wintering period, the tops accumulate vitamins, and the number of ascorbic acid increases by almost one and a half times. Such a crop will be an excellent source of nutrients, which is especially valuable during spring beriberi. In the case of a warm winter, it is quite possible to dig up a garden bed and partially remove root crops for eating.

You can simply spill the bed with hot water in the part where you plan to dig. This method is only suitable for late and mid-season varieties that tolerate frost well.

If the winter is severe, but the snow cover is minimal, this method is not suitable. It is also better not to use this method in the lowlands, where vegetables can simply overheat during stagnant spring water. It will not be possible to preserve vegetables in this way if the climate allows frequent thaws in winter. There are varieties that can withstand frosts down to -15 C.

Early onions should not be left in the ground for the winter, their rosette is too loose, so the vegetable will quickly die.

Preparing for the winter

Only the most powerful specimens are always left in the garden, with strong top greens and a strong root system. Vegetables should be healthy, there should be no signs of pest damage. Fruits with a thin stem are not suitable for such purposes, as they will simply freeze.

In October, actions should be taken to improve the immunity of the plant. For this, mineral-type fertilizing is introduced with phosphorus and nitrogen, ash.

If the autumn is dry, you need to take care of watering and charging the bed with moisture for the winter. There are tricks that allow the leek to winter in the garden without loss:

in mid-autumn, it is necessary to carry out the hilling of the leek as high as possible so that the leg is completely, and the tops are partially closed;
after the temperature drops below -5 C, you need to mulch the bed with straw, leaves, and spruce branches to keep warm and retain snow;
if the climate is too harsh, it is recommended to install arcs and stretch the covering agro fiber;
arcs should not be too high, and all the space under them must be filled with mulching material;
with the onset of a full-fledged winter, the bed is covered with snow as much as possible, this gives additional safety of heat;
if the bed is located on a site that is not protected from drafts and wind, the mulch will scatter if you do not organize a spun bond, which is reinforced with bricks or metal pipes.

Different Varieties with their General Characteristics

If the arrow is released, seeds can be collected, but this only makes sense when growing varieties, not hybrids. Thus, part of the crop is not only possible but must be left in the garden. Until the ripening of the new crop, you can use tasty and juicy leek fruits. But far from all varieties are suitable for this, it is recommended to leave the following varieties in the garden.

Variety name	General characteristics
“Elephant”	strong plant, stretches up to one and a half meters,green-blue foliage high yield, excellent frost resistance maturation period from 130 to 140 days.
“Tango”	frost-resistant onion, vegetation period from 130 to 150 days, the weight of legs from 200 to 250 gr.
“Winner”	the leg length of about 20 cm, diameter from 4 to 4.5 cm, greens can be eaten-frost resistant and can be grown in a two-year cycle.
“Kazimir”	leg length from 20 to 30 cm, the bulb is tender and small, and frost resistance is excellent.
“Quarantine”	tall plant, the weight of the edible zone from 25 to 300 g, a ripening period from 200 to 210 days, frost resistance is excellent and can winter without shelter at -17 C.
“Segun”	the maturation period is average, high cold resistance leg length of 25 cm, and a diameter of about 5 cm.

All of the above varieties remarkably endure winter not only in the conditions of the middle zone but also in the regions of the Urals and Siberia. The main thing is to take care of a good shelter.

How to store leeks properly? – Until spring in the sand

This method is considered one of the most successful, it is possible to store vegetables in this way in the cellar, basement, or on the balcony. You will need any containers made of wood or plywood and clean, damp sand, which is pre-calcined. The sand layer at the bottom is formed in 5-7 cm. Leek is placed in it vertically but forming a small angle.

The distance between the vegetables is from 3 to 4 cm, sand is also introduced from above, creating a layer from 17 to 23 cm. After digging, the vegetables are stored in this form for a very long time, if the humidity is up to 80% and the temperature is about 0 C.

How to store leeks properly? – In buckets

After harvesting, leeks can also be stored in buckets of the earth. Soil is introduced there with a layer of 5 to 7 cm, the vegetables are placed vertically, the roots are not cut, and the foliage is left. There must be at least 2 cm between the root crops, after which the onions are sent for storage, given the correct conditions of temperature and humidity

Regardless of the method chosen, the bow should not be illuminated, take care of complete darkness.

Alternative Storage Methods

It is not always possible to keep the entire leek crop fresh, especially if the amount is impressive. The bow takes up too much space, not everyone has this opportunity. You can partially send the onion to be stored fresh and partially use alternative methods. That is, to process root crops and thus preserve them.

It is important to do this without a serious loss of nutrients, vitamins, taste, and aroma. There are several options that allow you to store leeks properly.

How to freeze leeks for the winter

Freezing is a popular way to harvest vegetables for the winter without losing their properties and taste. But you need to do it according to all the rules:

vegetables are washed well under the tap, moderately warm water is used, in no case hot;
then the onions are dried on paper towels;
after the vegetable, cut into rings and laid out in one layer on a flat surface – a dish, a board;
the vegetable in this form is removed from the freezer, and after three hours they are transferred to a plastic bag.

Packing a frozen vegetable involves laying out packages in small doses. It is important that each sachet is thawed once and consumed immediately. The bulk must not come into contact with air.

How to dry leeks in the oven

There are several ways to dry leeks.

In an electric dryer. A mode of 60 C is recommended so that the moisture is completely evaporated, it will take about 4 hours. Pallets should be regularly rearranged in the process.
In an aero grill. The fastest procedure that allows you to evaporate moisture. It only takes 30 minutes to prepare the leek.
In the oven. The onions are laid out on a baking sheet, having previously covered it with a parchment sheet. Set the mode to 50 C, it will take about 5 hours to dry the onion.
Outdoors. This method works, but it will take quite a long time. The onion is laid out on a flat surface, exposed to the sun, and dried for 14 days.

Regardless of the method chosen, onions for drying are prepared in the same way. The algorithm is the following:

the stems are washed, you need to remove the water, and dry them with paper towels;
onion is chopped into rings;
in crushed form, it is laid out on a surface that is intended for drying.

At the end of the procedure, the dried material is placed in a container. It can be a glass jar or a plastic container with an airtight lid.

You can place the bow in bags made of paper or fabric.

Pickled leek

In this form, the leek is quite tasty, acquires a pleasant sourness, and can be used to prepare salads and other dishes. You can prepare the onion in this way according to the following algorithm:

400 grams of onion coarsely chopped ;
a marinade is prepared from a liter of water, a large spoonful of salt, two tablespoons of sugar, 4 bay leaves, peppercorns to taste, and 80 g of vinegar at 9 percent;
all components are combined, put on fire, and brought to a boil ;
put the onion in the marinade and keep it there for one minute;
then put the leek in jars, pour the marinade to the top, and roll it up,
sent for storage in the cellar, basement, and on the insulated balcony.

Pickling leeks

A fairly simple method, which will require one kilogram of vegetables and 50 grams of salt. The recipe is the following:

leek is formed into rings, sent to an enameled container, crushed with hands;
salt is introduced, kneaded, and can be supplemented with seasonings to taste;
close the container with a lid, set oppression;
keep the bow in the dark for ten days ;
put them in jars and roll them up, put them in the refrigerator for storage.

Salted onions are stored for about 6 months, you can supplement the product with soy sauce, sesame, pepper, and vegetable oil.

Preservation of leeks

Canned onions are quite tasty and healthy. You can prepare leeks in this way:

vegetables are washed and chopped, jars are sterilized;
prepare a brine from a liter of water, 25 g of sugar, 4 bay leaves, 2 small spoons of citric acid, 20 g of salt, and 2 tbsp of any vegetable oil;
chopped onion is poured with brine and covered with a lid, let stand for 10 minutes;
again remove the brine into a container and boil;
pour into a jar of onions and roll up;
jars are placed upside down, covered, and cooled in this form.

After 24 hours, you can send the jars to a permanent storage location.

Helpful Tips

There are a number of tips that will help you preserve leek without losing taste and useful qualities:

do not cut leaves from vegetables before sending them to fresh storage; without green mass, onions will quickly wither, rot, and succumb to bacterial attacks;
when stored fresh, the leek cannot be washed, this procedure deprives the vegetable of the protective layer, and the leek will quickly deteriorate;
exclude temperature drops, as this leads to a decrease in vitamins and worsens the quality of the tasting type;
this plant does not coexist well with other vegetables, it cannot be stored with fruits, and you need to use separate containers;
periodically you need to check vegetables, spoiled stems should be excluded from the total mass as soon as possible.

How to store non-conformity?

At the stage of preparing vegetables for storage, it is necessary to select substandard material – with damage, and signs of disease. The latter are simply thrown away, and the injured can be tried to be saved. But fresh, they will lie for a very short time. It is best to use freezing damaged specimens or drying onions.

It is permissible to pickle or pickle not whole vegetables.

If such a leek is not enough, it can simply be eaten as soon as possible, and only the healthiest specimens can be sent to storage.

Leek varieties for long-term storage: which ones to choose

The safety of the leek largely depends on what features are inherent in the selected variety. Consider the period for which you want to ensure the keeping quality of the crop. Among the early and mid-season varieties, you should choose:

“Winner” ;
“Vesta” ;
“Elephant Trunk” ;
“Columbus”.

These varieties retain commercial qualities from 2 to 3 months, but they are not suitable for longer periods. Late-ripening varieties that are stored much longer:

“Autumn Giant”;
“Bandit”;
“Elephant”;
“Sizocryl”;
“Quarantine”;
“Mercury”.

Questions

Is it possible to store leeks using the braiding method?
The essence of the method is in braiding braids from green onions with the help of ropes and hanging fruits. This method is only suitable for storing onions. The leek is not stored in this way, as the tops will dry out, decay, or rot, and with it the onions.
Storage in a bank: in what form can it be carried out?
Pickled, salted, canned, and dried onions are stored in a jar.

How To Store Leeks Properly

Beneficial features