Dried apricot: harvesting methods, how to properly store at home

Dried apricots - an alternative to fresh fruit, which is not available in the cold season. It has fewer nutrients than fresh, but more than jam and compote. Because of their structure, fruit spoils quickly and drying is one of the best ways to preserve the product while spending the least amount of effort, time and money.

What is a dried apricot called?

The following varieties with original names are distinguished:

1. Uryuk. Small dried whole apricot with pit.
2. Whispering. Is the exact opposite of apricot.
3. Kais. A pitted fruit that received a small hole with minimal disruption to the integrity of the fruit.
4. Dried apricots. Dried apricot halves, pitted.
5. Ashtak. Whole fruit with nucleolus inside.

Before you start drying, it is advisable to have an idea what product should be in the end.

Origin story

Fruit came from China to Central Asia along with peaches. After that it was brought to Armenia. The further way lay in Greece, where the apricot was called the Armenian apple. Because of this, Armenia was considered the birthplace of fruit for a long time.

Then the Armenian apple was brought to Rome, information about this is found in the writings of writers of that time. From Italy, the fruit spread throughout southern Europe. Then he ended up in Ukraine, Russia, England, Poland and Germany.

Fruit Selection

To obtain a quality product, great attention is paid to raw materials. For dried apricots, a variety of apricots with dense and not too juicy pulp is selected.

When cut into halves, the bone should be easy to remove.

Fruits should not be damaged and must be ripe. Small ones are used for apricots, and with minor flaws - sears. Fruit picking on a warm day with no rain.

Apricot drying methods

There are several ways to get dried fruits. Each option is good in itself, as it allows you to save the maximum amount of nutrients and rich color.

Natural outdoor drying

The best place for fruit is a shaded area outdoors. If the room is closed, it must be ventilated. The drying place should be away from dust and exhaust gases.

Outdoor drying is divided into several stages. At first, the fruits are kept in the shade in a draft or wind. After that, they can be exposed to direct sunlight. The drying time depends on the size of the fruit and the weather.

In a gas oven

Fruits are laid out in one layer on a wire rack or baking sheet. First, drying takes place at a temperature of 40-50 degrees. Then it is gradually brought to 60-75 degrees. In order for the fruits to be dried evenly, the apricots are periodically turned over.

Due to the juice, sticking to the surface is possible. To avoid this, apricots are laid out on parchment. A different amount of fruit is dried in one approach.

Ready apricots should have an elastic structure. When pressed, no juice should be released. Typically, the process takes 10 to 12 hours.

How to blow dry

The device immediately replaces the oven and electric dryer. Works on the principle of a convection oven. Efficient drying is carried out by a powerful fan and hot air heating. How the procedure works:

1. Prepared fruits are laid out on the surface of the air grill.
2. They shouldn't touch each other.
3. The temperature is set on the device from 55 to 70 degrees.
4. The finished portion is removed and the grate is filled with new fruit.

If the apricots did not have time to dry in one cycle, the drying process is repeated.

In the electric dryer

The device has several tiers on which fruits are laid out. When the raw material is in place, the machine turns on. Initially, the high temperature is not set - 50 degrees will be enough. If the apricots are slightly dried out, the temperature rises to 70-80 degrees.

Drying time is usually 35-45 hours. If the appearance is satisfactory and re-drying is not required, the fruit is sent for preservation.

Microwave

The device is not intended for drying apricots. There is not enough space in it, so a large batch will not fit. Microwave operation is not indicated for drying fruits due to the lack of a fan. Apricots are more likely to cook under the influence of microwave rays.

How to dry apricots?

Drying is possible for fruits whole and cut into halves. Optionally, the bone is removed or not. These nuances depend on the capabilities of a person and his taste preferences.

With bone

To obtain apricot or sear, it is recommended to dry the apricot in the open air. If you use electrical appliances for this purpose, during the drying process, the pulp fits snugly against the stone. When using or eating dried fruit, it is hard to get rid of.

The best option for drying outdoors is to leave the fruit on the tree. Then collect ready-made ones, which spent enough time under the sun's rays. If apricots do not hold well on the branches and fall off, they are tied with a thread and dried.

Stoneless

Halves are dried both in the open air and with the help of an oven, electric grill and other devices. If the fruits are whole with the bone removed, you can get a quality product by drying in an oven or an electric dryer. Surfaces are filled with fruit gradually. There must be space between them so that they do not stick together.

How to store dried apricot at home?

A suitable container for dried fruit is a glass jar or a breathable bag. In the first case, it may be a dark room without direct sunlight. In the second - a freezer or refrigerator door.

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