How to dry apples at home: in the oven, slow cooker and electric dryer

One of the he althiest and most popular fruits is juicy, crunchy apples. Many owners of even small summer cottages will certainly grow this crop in gardens, taking care of productive trees with pleasure. Often, apple trees are so generous that even after conservation, many fruits remain. No need to rush to sell them or just distribute them to neighbors and friends - knowing how to dry apples at home, you can easily stock up on useful drying. It is recommended to use a delicious delicacy for making drinks, desserts, and baking.

Benefits of dried apples

Apple fruits are famous for their beneficial qualities and abundance of vitamins. Preserving them during the canning process is quite difficult - heat treatment removes most of the useful elements. Drying is the only way to leave in the same amount all the substances necessary for a person.

During the drying process:

• vitamins that normalize blood circulation, make up for the lack of certain elements in the body, increase immune strength;
• acids that improve the functioning of important organs and systems;
• minerals that saturate with useful elements, increase resistance to diseases;
• phytoncides that prevent the development of pathogenic microorganisms, infections;
• rejuvenating sugar;
• polysaccharides that lower blood cholesterol.

It should not be forgotten that drying is prohibited for certain diseases. With diabetes, it is better to refuse a delicious treat - some components can cause complications.

Choice variety

The choice of fruits for dried fruits has several features. Apples must certainly be large, with a small seed box. Thin-skinned fruits are recommended.

Summer varieties are sweeter, so they dry with a slight sweet taste.

Sour varieties lose acid in the process, so you can safely use them. The most popular varieties of apples for making dried fruits - Antonovka, Pepin.

Preparing apples for drying

Preparation of fresh fruits is carried out in several stages. It is important to process as many apples as will fit on the drying trays.Long-term storage has a negative effect on peeled and sliced \u200b\u200bfruits, they become dark. Apples do not need to be washed, excess moisture will prolong the process.

Prepare in this order:

1. Dry the fruit with a clean towel.
2. Remove the core with a special tool.
3. Do not remove the skin, especially for self-grown apples.
4. Cut prepared fruits into thin pieces. The drying time depends on the thickness of the slices, so it is not recommended to make them more than 5 mm.
5. If the slicing process is delayed, sprinkle the finished apple particles with lemon juice or soak for 3 minutes in saline (80-90 g of s alt per bucket of water) to prevent browning.

Start drying immediately, storage of raw materials is not recommended - this will affect the taste.

Ways to dry apples for the winter

There are several ways to turn apple particles into fragrant drying. If the process is carried out in the hot summer season, it is not even necessary to use kitchen appliances, the warm sun will cope with the task no worse than a slow cooker or oven.

Outdoor

Drying in the sun is suitable for residents of hot regions - one cool or damp day is enough to ruin fruit slices. You can dry an unlimited number of fruit slices at a time.

It is recommended to use large baking sheets lined with parchment or wire racks for drying. Be sure to lay the slices in one layer. In the process, turn regularly.

Another way is to string prepared slices on threads, hang them in a sunny place. To prevent the destructive work of insects or flies, wrap the bundles with gauze.The duration of the process is 3-5 days. It remains to collect ready-made dried fruits and save for use in the winter.

Microwave

Using a microwave allows you to dry much faster than under the open sun. Usually the process is carried out in several stages:

1. Spread fruit particles on a plate in one layer.
2. Turn on low power, drying time is 30-40 seconds.
3. After evaporation of excess moisture, turn over the particles, send back to the microwave.
4. Set the power to 300W, dry 3-5 minutes.

Remove ready-made dried fruits, send them to storage after cooling. You can dry a lot of fruits in this way without much difficulty and time.

Drying with an electric dryer

The electric dryer is very popular with housewives who make considerable stocks of drying for the winter.

Step by step process:

1. Spread fruit slices on trays.
2. Arrange the filled trays in the dryer in several tiers.
3. At a temperature of 60-65 degrees, leave for 6-8 hours (depending on the size of the particles).

After turning off the dryer, check the readiness - press the slice with your finger, if moisture is not released, send it to storage containers.

In the oven

It is recommended to cook dried fruits in a gas stove oven or an electric oven. The process differs little from the use of an electric dryer. The main thing is to choose the right temperature regime and turn the fruit slices in a timely manner.

Arrange the prepared fruit slices on a baking sheet (pre-cover with parchment), send to the oven. Dry the apples for about 4 hours. Temperature - up to 65 degrees.

Airfryer drying

It's easy to dry apple particles in an air fryer - the process will only take about an hour. It is not difficult to cope with the work - arrange the prepared slices at the levels. Make sure that they do not lie too close - this will prolong the cooking time.

Turn on the device, the temperature is 100 degrees. After turning off the air grill, make sure that the goodies are ready, send them to storage containers.

In the slow cooker

The fruit particles are also dried in a slow cooker, which will cope with the task in a short time:

1. Place the prepared slices in the bowl.
2. Turn on the "Baking" mode for 40 minutes.
3. Turn over the particles, leave to dry for another quarter of an hour.

Spread out in a single layer on the countertop, leave to cool completely, send to clean, dry containers.

How to know that dried fruits are ready

It is easy to determine the readiness of the particles even visually - the skin darkens. It is better not to pay attention to the pulp, it can acquire a different shade. You can press the dried piece with your finger, if after strong pressing it does not spread, the dried fruits are ready.

It should be remembered that too dark particles usually indicate overdrying. It is recommended to use them first of all, during storage they can lose their taste.

Storage of apples, important rules

After drying, it is recommended to carefully review all the particles, select those that are not dried, send them additionally to the oven.

Pour dried fruits into a large linen bag, leave for a few days. This allows all particles to acquire the same readiness.

After 3-5 days, look at the apple slices again. If suspicious (soft) particles are found, set aside them separately, use first.

What and where to store

Regardless of where the storage will take place, in an apartment or in a country house, it is recommended to follow the basic rules. The most common way to store fruits is to use cloth bags that can be tied tightly.

It often happens that the room has high humidity, which is undesirable when storing dried fruits. To prevent dry apples from spoiling, it is recommended to send them in containers or clean jars that are tightly closed. Many housewives use this method so that food moths do not start, pests will not be able to get into sealed containers.

Paper bags or cardboard boxes are also good for storing dried fruits. To keep apple slices longer, be sure to send them to a dry place - if the packages become damp, this will have a detrimental effect on the product.

Expiration date of dried apples

Duration of storage of dry apples - about three years. During this period, be sure to check the drying regularly. If there are signs of spoilage, sort out, sort out unusable particles, re-dry the remaining ones.

If summer varieties were used for the preparation of dry fruits, some of them are notable for their short shelf life. It is recommended to store them separately and use them first when preparing food or drinks.

What to do if there are insects in apples

It often happens that if stored improperly, insects start up in dried fruits, which in a short time can destroy or spoil the entire stock. If pests are found in the dryer, you need to act immediately - this will save most of the fruits.

The first step in pest control is a close inspection of every piece of fruit. If insect eggs are found, discard the slices immediately. Spread the surviving dried fruits on baking sheets, send to the oven. Dry the slices for half an hour at a temperature of 65 degrees.

If it is not possible to use the oven, it is recommended to resort to another method. Frost insects also can not stand, so leave the drying for several hours at a low temperature.

It is strongly not recommended to use chemicals to get rid of insects, products after processing are unsuitable for consumption. If pests are introduced into the closet where dried fruits are stored, the fruits should be subjected to additional drying or freezing, and the room itself should be treated with poisonous agents at this time. After the destruction of insects, rinse all surfaces, only then return the dried fruit particles.

Drying apples is a process that allows you to stock up on a valuable ingredient for baking, compote, gourmet desserts. It is not difficult to cope with the workpiece, the main thing is to carefully study the important rules and strictly follow them. In winter, mouth-watering slices will certainly remind you of warm days filled with pleasant chores.

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