How to Store Eggplant?: You have most probably heard of eggplant either as a pizza topping or emoji. These fruits, though considered vegetables, exist in every household’s kitchen and backyard. The health benefits of eggplant followed by its texture and flavor profile truly make it a king of vegetables, given it actually comes with a green crown. Therefore, you may wonder how to store eggplants to savor them the whole year. Through this article, we will tell you the sure-shot ways to store eggplants and extend their shelf lives and expiration dates.
- How to Store Eggplant?
- How Long Do Eggplants Last?
- How To Tell if Eggplant Has Gone Bad?
- Extra Tips to Store The Eggplant
- Should I store the eggplant in the fridge?
- How long can you store the eggplant?
- How do you keep the eggplant from turning brown?
How to Store Eggplant?
The eggplant is majorly made of water. Therefore, simply storing it away in the freezer is not the best idea. There are many ways to store this unique fruit- cum- vegetable, depending on how long you wish to store it. Let’s see how you can stock your healthy eggplants like a professional.
At Room Temperature – If you wish to avoid the hassle of using a refrigerator, this procedure is best suited for you.
- Wash your eggplants carefully.
- Place them in a clean bowl or plastic bag.
- Don’t cover the bowl or seal the plastic bag as it may trap ethylene gas.
- Place the bowl in a cool place, most preferably at 54 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Your eggplants will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
In The Refrigerator – Keeping the eggplants in the crisper drawer of the fridge can substantially increase their shelf life.
- Wash the eggplants properly and pat them dry.
- Place them in clean containers only. Avoid sealing these containers as ethylene gas may get trapped. This gas exacerbates the aging in eggplants.
- Keep these glass containers in the freezer.
- Take them out and use them within a week.
In The Freezer- If your dream is to make a scrumptious eggplant pancake, then it is better to store them using this unique process. Though it may look tedious, it is definitely worth the try since it preserves the texture and nutritional profile of eggplants.
- Cut the eggplant into large, circular pieces after washing it properly.
- Place these pieces in a large bowl, filled with hot boiling water for at least 5 minutes.
- Take the pieces out, squeeze them, and place them again in a bowl filled with cold water.
- Pat them dry after draining the cold water.
- Spray some freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Store the pieces in airtight jars in the freezer.
- Now, these eggplants can be used for at least 2-3 weeks.
How Long Do Eggplants Last?
Given the cultural importance of eggplant, it is natural to be curious about its shelf life and varying expiry dates. As the horticulturists suggest, the exact expiry dates might vary depending on the farming techniques, the quality of seedlings used, and the storage facilities. However, we will be telling you the average shelf life of eggplants in different scenarios and varieties.
| Type of Eggplant | Shelf Life |
|---|---|
| Uncut Eggplant (Without Freezer) | 2-3 days |
| Uncut Eggplant (With Freezer) | 2-3 weeks |
| Chopped Eggplant ( Without Freezer) | 1-2 days |
| Chopped Eggplant (With Freezer) | 1-2 weeks |
If you wish to avoid frequent visits to supermarkets for eggplants, it’s better to optimize their shelf lives using the above-mentioned techniques. After all, similar to other perishable items, eggplants tend to go bad fast.
How To Tell if Eggplant Has Gone Bad?
Despite adopting many eggplant storage techniques, they can eventually go bad. Therefore, it is important to notice the red flags of a spoiled eggplant so the good ones can be protected. Also, if found bad, it is better to discard the eggplant than cut off the moldy part. Here are a few easy-to-discover signs of an eggplant that has gone bad.
- Bad Smell – If your eggplants are giving off a funky or weird odor, it may indicate that they have gone bad. So, throw them out instantly.
- Sour Taste – By any chance, if you end up consuming eggplant and find it unusually sour, bitter, or soft, then throw it away. The invading pathogens tend to decompose the eggplant and produce lactic acids that deteriorate the taste.
- Moldy Appearance – Eggplants are known to have firm exteriors and green crowns. However, if the surface feels pulpy, or the eggplant looks black/ blue/ green, then it is a clear red flag. The fungi can easily penetrate the core, hence removing the moldy portion may not help. They are better off discarded.
Read More:
Extra Tips to Store The Eggplant
Although the eggplant storage techniques are good enough, it is important to keep a few points in mind before enacting on the above-mentioned steps. These tips alleviate the longevity of your eggplants, thereby increasing their shelf lives. Some of these pragmatic tips are
- Keep the eggplants away from the fruits that produce ethylene gas. This gas tends to spoil the eggplants fast.
- Avoid using plastic or non-porous materials while storing the eggplants. It is better if they maintain some contact with the atmosphere.
- Store them at cool places but not freezing ones. Temperatures that are 5-7 degrees less than room temperature are preferred.
- Boil them for 5 minutes to get rid of the excessive moisture content in them.
- Spraying lemon juice and removing the peels slows down the aging process.
Go through our other article on Can Kimchi Go Bad to understand the storage, shelf life, spoilage signs, etc to clear your ambiguities.
FAQs on How To Store The Eggplants?
1. Should I store the eggplant in the fridge?
No, avoid storing the eggplants in the freezer. Since they are water-dense, they tend to stiffen a lot even in slightly low temperatures. Therefore, it is advisable to store them outside, wrapped in porous paper towels. Also, keep them away from fruits.
2. How long can you store the eggplant?
The exact shelf life can vary depending on how you store the eggplant. Also, the chopped eggplants tend to go bad earlier as compared to the uncut ones. But, approximately speaking, an uncut eggplant can last 1-2 weeks in the freezer whereas it will be okay for 5-7 days outside the freezer.
3. How do you keep the eggplant from turning brown?
It is always suggested to spray the eggplants with freshly squeezed lemon juice. This hint of acidity can prevent the aging of eggplants, thereby stalling them from turning brown. In case lemons aren’t available, you can also try diluted vinegar.
Summary
Hence, now you can store away your eggplants like a pro and satiate your eggplant smoothie cravings whenever you want. They are super healthy and produce good results for glowing skin, strong hair, and a healthy immune system. The tips to store eggplants aren’t rocket science, thereby making it easier to follow them and make some difference to our pantry.
Hopefully, this article solved all your doubts about the shelf lives, expiry dates, and health benefits of eggplants. Stay tuned for more updates on How Long Do Bell Peppers Last and many more about your favorite food items.