What is the difference between plums and prunes?

Prunes are dried plums with excellent taste. This delicacy will appeal to both adults and children. Most often, Vengerka or Renklod plums are used for its preparation.... In this article we will try to figure out what is the difference between plums and prunes, what useful properties these products have.

Many believe that the only difference is that the plum is a juicy fruit and the prune is a dried fruit. No, this is not so, although prunes will retain all the useful microelements in themselves, they differ from plums in their effect on the human body.

Plum benefits:

• Due to the high amount of calcium and magnesium in this fruit, it will very useful for the heart and blood vessels.
• Plum is a natural and natural laxative, which can solve problems in the intestines, even in children who are contraindicated in taking medications.
• Besides, plum fruits have a rejuvenating effect, therefore, various cosmetics are very often made from them.
• Eating these fruits regularly will help remove all toxins and toxins from the bodythus cleansing the skin and promoting weight loss.

Useful properties of prunes:

• When using prunes the laxative effect will be much strongerthan when taking fresh fruit;
• Also, such a dried fruit will useful for people with gastrointestinal tract disease;
• Prunes can have a positive effect on vision;
• Thanks to its good antibacterial action prunes are able to slightly cleanse the oral cavity, eliminating unpleasant odors.

There are three ways to prepare prunes at home:

• Drying;
• Smoking;
• Drying.

How to dry plums?

In order for the dried plum to turn out tasty and healthy, it is necessary to fully comply with the technology of its preparation:

1. First, you need to select the fruits... The best option would be Renkold, Vengerka or Cherry plum, but other plums with a dense and juicy pulp are also suitable.

2. Small fruits are dried whole, and large ones are cut into two parts.

3. Plums blanched in boiling water within 1-2 minutes.

4. Then their doused with cold water.

5. In order to give the future prunes a sweeter taste and a black sheen, fresh plums are soaked in honey syrup:

• 1 part honey;
• 2 parts boiling water.

6. The fruits are stacked on a baking sheet in one layer.

7. Then you need them place in an oven preheated to 60 degreesat.

8. Cooking time is on average 10 hours, while every hour the plums are turned over so that they dry evenly.

9. But the cooking process does not end there. A balance must be struck between dry and wet fruits. For this the resulting product is placed in a sealed glass or plastic jar for a week... Every day, the prunes are shaken; if condensation appears, the drying process will have to be repeated.

10. Store ready-made prunes recommended in cloth bags.

How to dry plums?

There are several ways to dry plums, but the process for preparing the fruit is the same for everyone. Small varieties are best, while large fruits are cut in half.... Also, in order to dry the plums faster, it is recommended to carefully remove the seeds.

How to dry in the sun?

For this method, only hot, sunny days are suitable. Plums are cut in half and laid out on wooden sheets. They should be exposed to the sun and flipped periodically throughout the day. To avoid damage to the product by insects, the future prunes are covered with gauze... Given that the humidity level rises at night, the fruit trays are transferred to a warm, dry room. If all conditions are met, then ready-made dried fruits can be obtained in a week.

Drying in the oven

First, you need to blanch the fruits in boiling water with the addition of 2 teaspoons of baking soda. In such a solution, the plum is released for 2-3 minutes. This is necessary so that the skin cracks a little and the moisture comes out faster. The process itself takes place in several stages:

• A baking sheet with fruits laid out in one layer is placed in an oven preheated to 60 degrees for 5 hours, they are gradually turned over so that drying is more even.
• Then the oven switches off and the fruits are cooling within 5 hours.
• Then the oven is heated to 70 degrees and keep the plums there for 6 hours, after which they must cool down again.
• At the last stage set the temperature to 80 degrees and bring the prunes to readiness, about which black shine and sweet and sour taste will speak.

Drying in an electric dryer

If your kitchen has an appliance such as an electric dryer, you can use it to make prunes.

Fruit preparation is the same as for other methods. Then they are laid out on a pallet with a cut up and start cooking:

• At a temperature of 50 degrees plums are dried for 4 hours, then they need to cool.
• Then the fruit is dried within 5 hours. at a temperature of 60 degrees.
• After cooling, the plum fruits should be in an electric dryer for 6 hours, set to a temperature of 80 degrees.

How to smoke a plum?

Smoked plums are delicious and sweet and can be added to compotes, jam or used as a dessert.

To prepare such a delicacy, you need to adhere to the following recipe:

• 1 kilogram of plums washed thoroughly, cut in half and remove the bone.
• Then prepare the syrup, 400 milliliters of water are mixed with 500 grams of sugar, the resulting mass must be brought to a boil and the heat reduced.
• Then put cooked plums in the syrup and bring to a boil.
• The next step is get rid of excess moisture, so the fruits are spread on a towel.
• Once the plum is dry, its spread on a baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar.
• Prepare prunes in 3 approaches, the oven heats up to 50 degrees, after which the plums will be smoked there for 12 hours. Then they are taken out for 12 hours, and this operation is repeated two more times. Many housewives smoke plums during the daytime, and the fruits cool down at night. Thus, the cooking time is 3 days.

Both fresh and dried plums remain a very healthy and tasty product. Making prunes at home is not that difficult., and any, even a novice hostess will be able to cope with this task.