On the food forum, Ms. Bao Tram has instructed women on how to keep the Dien pomelo fresh for a long time, even for 2-3 months. Ms. Tram shared that she lives in Saigon, where green-skinned pomelos are often used for offerings. However, she chooses the Dien pomelo because it is fragrant and has a bright yellow color.
The longer the Dien pomelo is kept, the better it tastes. But the weather in the South is usually hot, so Ms. Tram experimented with a method to preserve the pomelo to prevent it from rotting. With this method, she was able to keep the Dien pomelo for 2-3 months in the hot and humid climate of the South.
Choose pomelos that still have stems
1. Choose pomelos
There are 2 types of Dien pomelo:
– The ones used for offerings are large and beautiful, with lush branches and leaves. However, they are dry and not sweet when eating.
– The small and ugly ones are very delicious.
Ms. Tram usually chooses the second type, with fruits weighing around 6 ounces to 1 kilogram. By holding the fruit, she can tell if it is heavy and juicy inside, without being dry. For the ones used for offerings, she chooses fruits weighing 1 kilogram with shiny skin.
If you want to keep the pomelos for 2-3 months, you should choose fruits that still have stems on the fruit stalk. This helps prevent bacteria and limits the fruit from rotting or becoming sour.
Clean the pomelo with alcohol, making it golden and can be kept for a long time
2. Preserve the pomelo
After bringing the pomelos home, rinse them thoroughly and dry them, especially the stem area. If it stays damp for a few days, it will rot.
After drying, take a cloth and moisten it with some alcohol, then wipe around the pomelo. After 3-4 days of wiping, the pomelo will have a darker and more beautiful yellow color than normal.
Using lime bought at the betel nut vendor
Take some lime and dab it on the fruit stalk. This step is to kill bacteria and prevent them from entering the pomelo. To buy lime, you can visit the betel nut vendor.
Apply lime on the fruit stalk
If you want the pomelo skin to stay fresh and not wither, you can take a damp cloth and wipe the pomelo skin, avoiding the fruit stalk, every 2-3 days. This method will provide water for the fruit, preventing wrinkling of the skin.
Ms. Tram’s pomelo cabinet during Tet
Lastly, it is crucial to check regularly. If any fruit is rotten or moldy, it must be removed immediately. If left, the rotten fruit will spread to other fruit.
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