Methods for harvesting dried apricots and how to store at home
Dried apricots are an alternative to fresh fruit that cannot be obtained during the cold season. It has fewer nutrients than fresh, but more than jam and compote. Due to its structure, fruits deteriorate quickly, and drying is one of the best ways to preserve the product, while spending a minimum of effort, time and money.
Content
What is the name of dried apricot?
There are the following varieties with original names:
- Dried apricots. Dried whole apricot with pits.
- She whispered. It is the complete opposite of the apricot.
- Kaisa. A pitted fruit with a small opening with minimal disruption to the fruit's integrity.
- Dried apricots. Pitted dried apricot halves.
- Ashtak. Whole fruit with a nucleolus inside.
Before proceeding with drying, it is advisable to have an idea of what kind of product should be obtained in the end.
Origin story
The fruit came from China to Central Asia along with peaches. After that, it was brought to Armenia. The further path lay in Greece, where the apricot was called the Armenian apple. Because of this, Armenia has long been considered the birthplace of the fruit.
Then the Armenian apple was brought to Rome, information about this is found in the writings of the writers of that time. From Italy, the fruit spread throughout southern Europe. Then he got to 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 a dense and not too juicy pulp is chosen.
When cut into halves, the bone should be easily removed.
The fruit should be free from damage and ripe. Small ones are used for apricots, and with minor flaws - sear. Fruits are harvested on a warm day without precipitation.
Drying methods for apricot
You can get dried fruits in several ways. Each option is good in itself, as it allows you to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients and rich color.
Natural air drying
The best place for fruit is a darkened outdoor area. If the room is closed, it must be ventilated. The drying area should be away from dust and exhaust fumes.
Drying in the open air is divided into several stages. Initially, the fruit is kept in the shade in a draft or wind. Then they can be exposed in direct sunlight.The drying time depends on the size of the fruit and the weather.
In a gas oven
The 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. To ensure that the fruits are dried evenly, the apricots are periodically turned over.
The juice may stick to the surface. To avoid this, the apricots are laid out on parchment. Different amounts of fruit are dried in one go.
Finished apricots must have an elastic structure. No juice should come out when pressed. Typically, the process takes 10 to 12 hours.
How to dry with an airfryer
The device immediately replaces the oven and electric dryer. Works on the principle of a convection oven. Effective drying is carried out by a powerful fan and hot air heating. How the procedure goes:
- Prepared fruits are laid out on the surface of the grill.
- They should not be in contact with each other.
- The temperature is set on the device from 55 to 70 degrees.
- The finished portion is removed and the grid is filled with new fruit.
If the apricots do not have time to dry in one cycle, the drying process is repeated.
In an electric dryer
The device has several tiers on which fruits are laid out. When the raw material is in place, the device turns on. Initially, the high temperature is not set - 50 degrees will be enough. If the apricots are a little dry, the temperature rises to 70-80 degrees.
The drying time is usually 35-45 hours. If the appearance is satisfactory and re-drying is not required, the fruit is sent to preservation.
In the microwave
The device is not intended for drying apricots. It has little space, so a large batch will not fit. Microwave operation is not indicated for drying fruit due to the lack of a fan. Apricots are more likely to be cooked under the influence of microwave rays.
How to dry apricots?
Drying of fruits whole and cut into halves is possible. If desired, the bone is removed or not. These nuances depend on a person's capabilities and taste preferences.
With bone
To obtain apricots or sear, it is recommended to dry the apricot outdoors. If you use electrical appliances for this purpose, during the drying process, the pulp adheres tightly to the bone. When using or consuming dried fruit, it is difficult to get rid of it.
The best way to dry it outdoors is to leave the fruit on the tree. Then collect the ready-made ones, which have spent enough time in the sun. If apricots do not stick well to the branches and fall off, they are tied up on a thread and dried.
Seedless
They are dried in halves both in the open air and with the help of an oven, electric grill and other devices. If the fruits are whole with the removed bone, you can get a quality product when dried in an oven or electric dryer. The surfaces are gradually filled with fruit. There should be space between them so that they do not stick together.
How to store dried apricots at home?
A suitable container for dried fruit is a glass jar or bag made of breathable fabric. In the first case, it can be a dark room without direct sunlight. In the second, there is a freezer or refrigerator door.
