Fruit platter is one of the most important offerings on the ancestral altar during the Lunar New Year. Therefore, it is essential to choose fresh and delicious fruits to arrange.
For some reason, you have bought fruits a few days in advance, or the refrigerator is having some issues, so preserving fruits becomes a challenge. Here are some simple tips to help you keep them fresh longer:
Choose fruits
This step is particularly important if you want to preserve the fruits for a longer period. If you choose fruits of poor quality, no matter how accurate the preservation technique is, the fruits won’t stay fresh and fragrant for a long time.
For each type of fruit, you need to have specific knowledge and selection techniques, but based on general principles:
– The fruit must be fresh and not damaged. You can check by pressing the stem and smelling. If the stem has a pleasant fragrance and essential oils, it means the fruit is fresh and free from preservatives.
– The fruit should be ripe, yellow, and firm to the touch. Avoid choosing green and soft fruits, as they are unripe and harvested early for longer preservation. Ripe, yellow, and firm fruits are the ones closest to the tree, therefore they are tastier and sweeter…
Wash the fruits
– Rinse the fruits purchased with clean water. Gently rub them to clean all the surfaces.
– Use a small amount of diluted saltwater to soak the fruits for about 5 minutes (do not soak for too long as it will cause the fruits to deteriorate).
– Use a soft cloth to thoroughly clean the stem area of the fruits, as this is where dust accumulates the most.
– Let the fruits air dry or pat them dry with a cloth before arranging them. Then place the prepared fruit platter in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight or high temperatures.
– When arranging the fruits together, avoid stacking them on top of each other, as this can cause them to get crushed. Separate them into different groups. Place the ripe fruits separately. Avoid keeping them together, as the unripe fruits will ripen faster than usual when they are close to each other.
Preservation
Bananas
Wrap the stem of bananas with a plastic wrap or a food cover, and they will ripen slower, lasting longer.
Grapes
Wrap the grape bunches with stiff paper or newspaper. Keep the bunches separate, do not stack them, and store them in a cool place. This way, you can preserve them for more than 20 days without any problems.
Oranges and pomelos
Apply lime on the stems of the fruits to prevent bacteria and microorganisms from entering the flesh. Then bury them in clean sand and store them in a dry, well-ventilated place. This method can keep oranges fresh for 2 months.
Strawberries
After washing the strawberries, let them air dry. Then soak them in warm water at around 30°C for about 30 seconds, remove and let them dry. Wrap them in paper to keep them fresh.
Mangoes
Storing mangoes at room temperature helps to preserve their flavor and aroma without quick spoilage. Use well-ventilated storage boxes or breathable plastic packaging to prevent damage and pests while allowing the fruits to respire.
