Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Storing unripe plums
• Method 2 of 3: Storing Ripe Plums
• Method 3 of 3: Treating Plums for Long Term Storage
• What do you need

Fragrant, juicy plums should be handled with care in order to preserve them for a long time after collection or purchase. Improper storage of plums can quickly deteriorate or lose their sweetness and become mealy. Read our article to learn how to store unripe and fully ripe plums.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Storing unripe plums

1. 1 Buy or collect good plums. Choose plums that are free from stains, discoloration, and dents. You can ripen plums at home, so the most important thing is to choose good plums, even if they are a little hard.
2. 2 Place the plums in a paper bag. If your plums are not yet fragrant and are only slightly soft to the touch, they should be kept out of the refrigerator for several days until they ripen. When plums and other fruits are ripe, they release ethylene. By placing the plums in a paper bag, you will surround them with this gas, which will help them ripen quickly.
   • Do not put unripe plums in the refrigerator. The ripening process cannot continue in cold climates, and plums will only suffer from the cold, becoming tasteless and mealy.
   • If you're in no rush, you can place the plums in a bowl on the table instead of a paper bag. They will need one more day to ripen in a bowl.
3. 3 Let the plums ripen at room temperature. They ripen best at a temperature of 20-25 ° C. Do not put plums in the refrigerator until they are fully ripe.
   • Make sure the plums don't get too hot. If you place them on a windowsill in direct sunlight, they can overheat and start to rot.
4. 4 Check the plums for ripeness. Smell the plums. Do you smell a rich, sweet, fresh scent? Feel the plums.Are they soft to the touch? If so, it means that your plums are ripe. They can be eaten or removed for longer storage.
   • When plums begin to ripen, their rind takes on a dusty appearance.
   • Do not let the plums become too soft or the juice start to stand out from under the skin; this means that they are overripe.

Method 2 of 3: Storing Ripe Plums

1. 1 Store plums in the refrigerator. This will keep them in their best shape and prevent rotting. Put them in an open plastic bag - don't use a zip bag. Plums can be stored in the refrigerator for two to four weeks.
   • Make sure your refrigerator is clean and free of heavy odors. Plums usually absorb the fridge odor over the course of a few days.
   • Keep plums in the so-called "freshness" zone of the refrigerator, which is used for storing fruits and vegetables.
2. 2 Prevent damage to drains by storing them in an old egg carton. Place one plum in each egg compartment. Do not put heavier vegetables and fruits on top of the plums.
3. 3 Eat your plums shortly after purchasing or picking them. Plums can be stored for several weeks, but they taste best when fresh. The sooner you eat ripe plums, the better. If you have a lot of plums, try making something tasty with them:
   • Plum pie is a great dessert during high plum season.
   • Plums aged in vodka will become a delicious addition to ice cream.
   • If you have young children, make a delicious and healthy summer treat - plum puree.
   • Overripe plums should not be thrown away either - cook compote from them.

Method 3 of 3: Treating Plums for Long Term Storage

1. 1 Freeze plums. Frozen plums can be stored for several months, up to a year. Pick plums at their peak of ripeness and flavor - unripe ones won't taste good when defrosted.
   • Wash the plums and let them dry.
   • Cut the plums into pieces and remove the pits.
   • Place the plums on a tray or small baking sheet.
   • Freeze the plum pieces.
   • Transfer frozen plums to a bag or container.
   • Mark the freeze date on the bag or container and put it back in the freezer.
2. 2 Make plum jam. This is a great way to preserve plums for many months. You will need to peel the plums and then mix them with sugar, pectin, and lemon juice. Store jam in sterilized jars and eat it with bread, pancakes, or pancakes during the cold winter months.

What do you need

• Paper bag
• Refrigerator