Drying fruits is a way to preserve the summer harvest and get nutrients at any time of the year. This method will provide long-term storage of fruit stocks, the main thing is to know how to properly dry the fruit.
Preparation of fruits for drying
Prepare ripe fruit, immature to dry harder. To begin with, the raw materials are sorted out, the damaged and ugly fruits are selected. To remove chemicals from the surface, wash in water with soda. Remove inedible parts and cut into small thin pieces. To keep the fruit light when drying, bleach in water with salt or citric acid. Depending on the method of drying, the pieces are treated with boiling water. Each variety is dried separately, depending on how it is called.
Ways to dry fruit at home
Using dryer
Voltera 1000 Lux Electric Dryer is designed specifically for drying any vegetables, fruit, and berries at low temperatures.
Dried fruit is easy. It is only necessary to properly prepare the products cut into slices of the right size and dry. Depending on the dehydrator, each individual fruit is dried for as many hours as indicated in the instructions. The device supports drying of various fruits, citrus fruits, grapes. Pineapple, melon, watermelon, banana, kiwi, pear and peach are not recommended to be dried, they should be dried, it’s best to keep the softness and taste.
The difference between the dehydrator and the oven is that the pieces retain vitamins and trace elementsIn the sun
The fruits are dried in summer in dry weather in bright sunlight. Apples, pears, apricots, plums will do. Dried apples are rarely spoiled and picky in storage. The rest of the fruit is dried to a small softness, so the fruits are stored longer and retain more flavor. In order not to get wet in case of rain, it is better to do it on the balcony or under a hinged roof.
Always monitor the process and do it right.In the oven
Choose minimum temperatures (up to 80 °). The main disadvantage of this method is the use of a baking sheet. The process is uneven, the pieces are dried only from above and can burn.
It is possible to use a grid with small cells instead of a pan. When processing fruits are reduced.
High fiber fruits such as pears and apples are suitable. Ripe healthy fruits are necessary for processing, otherwise they will not dry, but will fade. You can not use watery fruits like melons and watermelons, they must be dried at low temperatures, which the oven does not support.
On battery
The disadvantage is that it is possible to dry the fruit only during the heating season.
A baking sheet or other utensils is necessary so that the pieces can be peeled off and heated well. Every day you need to turn the products.
Use apples or other fruits with a low liquid content.
Sour apples fit better than sweet. In dry form, they are more delicious. Another suitable ripe solid pears of different varieties.
In convection oven
Drying time is 1-3 times faster than in the oven, as air circulates rapidlyFruits are processed at a temperature of 90-120 °. Convection oven does not get rid of moisture, so leave the lid ajar. The capacity of the products is less than in the oven. But the temperature is much higher. Because of this, the fruit will stick or dry only outside. The content of vitamins and nutrients is reduced.
Drying is suitable for apples, pears, apricots and plums, the fruit should not be overripe. Due to the high temperature, they are able to dry quickly and evenly. Not suitable for harvesting persimmon, kiwi, orange. They do not have time to dry inside. Also, you can not use bananas, because of the high starch content, they are dried only outside.
In the microwave
Dry fruits and berries need to gently. Fruits are processed in 1-5 minutes. Regularly check the readiness of the fruit. It is better to choose the average power to dry them. With an increased risk of burning fruit.
In the microwave warm apples, solid pears.
Such dried fruits are not suitable for storage at home.
Microwave Drying Method - FastestOutdoors
When processing the weather can fail. The crop is dried in the shade, under a hinged roof on trays, trays or racks. If the weather is wet or it rains, the products will rot.
Apples, hard pears, grapes, cherries and plums are better suited, because they decrease the risk of rotting. The advantage is that these products retain nutrients that are lost during heat treatment. Choosing one of the presented methods of drying fruits, you will provide yourself with benefits and vitamins all year round.
