This simple tip to keep your citrus fruits longer

In winter, the quest for vitamins is a necessity, and citrus fruits are our best allies. Foods rich in vitamin C, these fruits stimulate our immune system and offer us a natural defense against winter ills. Citrus fruits have a limited shelf life at room temperature, generally around ten days. If you want to extend their freshness beyond this period, it is wise to follow a few simple rules.

No refrigerator for citrus fruits

With a thick peel, lemons, clementines, mandarins, oranges and grapefruits nevertheless remain extremely sensitive to cold. Storing your citrus fruits at too low a temperature can actually alter their quality and flavors, or even make them bitter. Oranges can be stored at slightly lower temperatures, usually around 5°C, than lemons which cannot be stored below 10°C. Whatever the citrus fruit, this sensitivity to cold increases with the degree of maturity of the fruit. The less ripe a citrus fruit is, the more cold damage it will suffer. Also avoid temperatures that are too high, ideally not above 18°C.

Avoid other fruits

It is strongly recommended not to store citrus fruits with other fruits due to the release of ethylene. Ethylene is a natural plant hormone produced by certain fruits, including apples, pears and bananas, which acts as a ripening gas. Citrus fruits are particularly sensitive to ethylene and when exposed to high concentrations of this gas, they can ripen more quickly, soften and lose freshness. If you cannot isolate your citrus fruits from the rest of the fruits, wrap them individually in newspaper. This will help prevent direct contact between fruits.

The cork tip

In cooking, the best tips are often the simplest and for preserving your citrus fruits, a simple cork becomes an unexpected ally. Cutting the cork in half and placing it among your citrus fruits will allow you to slow down the deterioration of your citrus fruits. Cork has the property of absorbing humidity and therefore slowing down the decomposition of fruits and vegetables by limiting the growth of mold.
Beyond these absorption capacities, cork gives off an odor that midges find unpleasant. So, by scattering pieces of cork in your fruit basket, you discourage flying pests from approaching your fresh citrus fruits.

Simple, natural and economical, this tip will extend the life of your citrus fruits by preventing their premature deterioration and keeping them away from small insects.

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