How to store dried fruits?

Home storage methods

Figs can be preserved in different ways for a long time. This allows each person to choose the best option.

Dried

This is one of the more popular options. Dried figs retain most of the beneficial ingredients. It can be kept cool for 6 months.

In the sun

To dry figs in the sun, arm yourself with gauze and a grate. To do this, you should follow these steps:

1. Wash and dry the fruits. If the fig is cut into 2 halves, it should be placed with the cut up.
2. Place the grate in such a way that it is blown by the wind from all sides.
3. Wrap the wire rack in cheesecloth on both sides. This will help protect the figs from dust and insects.
4. Dry for 4-6 days.
5. Gather the fruit on a string and put it in the shade to dry well.

Electric dryer

This device helps you get noticeable results quickly. The dried slices will turn out juicy and acquire a golden hue. To achieve good results, it is worth doing the following:

1. Divide the fruit into 2 equal parts and dry in the sun.
2. Remove the pallet from the device and place the chopped berries on it in one row.
3. Small fruits are dried within 10 hours. For large fruits, it is recommended to increase the duration of the procedure.

In fridge

The best way to store fresh figs is to use a refrigerator. It is best to keep the fruits at a temperature of +1 degrees. This will help keep them fresh for 2-3 weeks.

Quick freeze

If you want to increase the shelf life, it is worth freezing the fruits. It is recommended to do this at temperatures less than -15 degrees.

Jerky

Such figs have excellent taste and contain many useful elements. Dried fruits contain more moisture than dried ones. Therefore, they need special conditions. If you want to keep the fruits for a short period of time, it is recommended to place them in jars without cuttings. Containers should be closed with a lid and stored in a dark and cool place. This can be a storage room or a glazed balcony.

It is best to keep the berries in canvas bags that are tied tightly. This will allow air to flow to the fruit. This will increase the storage period to six months. Also, dried dried fruits can be tightly wrapped with paper and in this form put on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. This will increase the storage time up to 8 months.

Marinated

To marinate a product, you should take 1 glass of figs and port wine each. You will also need a quarter cup of balsamic vinegar, 1 small spoonful of lemon and orange peel, 1 spoonful of sugar, half a glass of chopped nuts. It is worth adding salt and pepper to the composition.

After 24 hours, drain the liquid, add the remaining components and place the composition on the stove. Bring to a boil, add figs and cook over low heat for 30 minutes. Cool the finished dish, transfer to a jar. Keep in the refrigerator.

Compote

Fresh and dried figs are good for this dish. For a jar with a capacity of 3 liters, you need to take 300 grams of fruit and 150 grams of sugar. Pour 2.5 liters of water into a saucepan, add all the ingredients and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from the stove, pour into a jar and close the lid.

Jam

To make healthy jam, you need to take 700 grams of figs and 500 grams of sugar. The components should be mixed and left for 3 hours. When the juice is released, the container should be placed on the stove and cook for 5 minutes. Then leave for 10 hours. Drain the syrup. Repeat the procedure 2 times. Pour into jars and close. You can add a little vanilla or citric acid to taste.It is recommended to store ready-made jam in a cool place - for example, in a cellar. It can also be kept in the refrigerator.

This drink is very useful for heart pathologies. It can be drunk for anemia and thrombosis. It is recommended to prepare juice from ripe fruits. They should be washed, rinsed with boiling water and rubbed through a sieve. Mix with boiled water in a 2: 1 ratio. Squeeze the resulting composition through cheesecloth.

How to choose a quality product

When buying dried fruits, special attention is paid to their appearance. Many are misled by the bright color and glossy surface of dried fruits.

But their appetizing appearance is not at all an indicator of quality. And the content of nutrients in such a product may even raise doubts.

Many manufacturers process dried fruits with various substances to give them a presentation. With their help, you can get bright, amber-colored dried apricots and raisins, having a shiny, beautiful surface. Which, moreover, have a very pleasant, persistent, unnatural aroma.

So that instead of a useful product you do not buy processed with sulfur and glycerin, you should choose dried fruits with a matte surface. This is an indicator that they are natural. Indeed, in the process of drying, practically all moisture evaporates, which means that there can be no shine.

1. Dried dried apricots in natural conditions have a dark shade, sometimes with a grayish bloom. And sometimes not too appetizing brown. But if it is bright, orange is the result of exposure to chemical dyes.
2. The prunes, which have a brownish tint, must have been in the boiling water. This means that it is no longer so useful. A shiny surface is evidence of wax or glycerin treatment. At best, vegetable oil.
3. Real raisins should be brown if made from light grapes. From dark grapes, black raisins are obtained, sometimes with a bluish tinge.

The fruits that have been dried in natural conditions are not very presentable in appearance and have a natural dull aroma. These dried fruits are really healthy for their content of vitamins and essential microelements, in contrast to those that contain a set of preservatives, stabilizers, dyes and flavorings.

Processing before long-term storage

The simplest and most affordable method for preparing dried apricots is to hang peeled fruits on a rope. It is recommended to place them in a place with excellent air circulation. Before drying, apricots should be placed in water with lemon juice. To do this, take 1 small spoonful of juice for 1 liter of water. Thanks to this simple procedure, the apricots will not darken. Pre-selected and processed fruits should be pitted. If desired, it is permissible to cut them into pieces.

When choosing a natural drying method, lay the apricots on a flat surface. However, they should be kept in a cool place with good air circulation. The whole process takes several days. The fruits should be spread in a thin layer

It is important that they touch each other. Then they should be taken out in the sun for 7 days and dried.

It is recommended to eat ready-made apricots within six months.

If you plan to use an oven, you should do the following:

• lay natural fabric on the lattice and lay out apricots in a thin layer;
• heat the oven to +50 degrees, gradually increasing the temperature regime to +70 degrees;
• turn the fruits from time to time - this will help achieve uniform drying;
• after an hour, put the dried apricots on a baking sheet lined with parchment and continue drying.

To obtain a harvest, apricots should be dried for 10-12 hours. The process can be completed when the fruit becomes elastic. When pressed, no juice should be released from them.To preserve the freshness of dried fruits for a long time, they can be placed in gauze bags and hung in a cool, well-ventilated area. It should have a minimum level of humidity. The temperature regime should not exceed +10 degrees.

If such conditions are not possible, the apricots should be kept in paper bags or glass jars.

We systematically check stocks

Very often, pests start in homemade dried fruits, mold appears, so check your stocks from time to time. For convenience, keep these treats in a transparent container so that you can immediately notice any changes in the dried fruit.

If you suddenly find gluttonous insects or signs of their vital activity in dried fruits, get down to business immediately: spread the fruits in one layer on a baking sheet and fry in the oven at the maximum permissible drying temperature of 75 ° C. In winter, when frost is expected not lower than -15 ° C, you can take the infected dried fruit out into the fresh air, and in a warm time keep them at home in the refrigerator in the freezer. True, when you bring the frozen fruits into a warm room, you will have to wait until the condensate evaporates from them, and only then send them to a clean container.

In homemade dried fruits, especially if they are apples, if stored improperly, excess moisture is also collected - the cause of mold and premature deterioration of the product. In this case, immediately fry the damp apples and berries as described above.

Appetizing dry fruits

Dried fruits are considered a versatile snack. In addition to satisfying hunger, they are used as valuable additives in the preparation of delicious dishes.

In any grocery enterprise, they are sold to the population without restriction. Many people take dried fruits for future use, since housewives do not want to go to supermarkets for fruit delicacies every time.

And here on the agenda appears an everyday issue, for example, how to store dried apricots.

Required temperature for preservation

It has been empirically proven that the best temperature for storing dried fruits is + 10 ° C.

In an apartment, and even in a country house or cottage, it is difficult to find a place with such a temperature. For the hostess, dried fruits should be within walking distance. That is, in the kitchen.

To create comfortable conditions for dried fruits, a special cabinet is allocated, which is installed at a remote distance from kitchen appliances:

• microwave ovens;
• gas and electric stoves;
• ovens;
• electric kettles.

This arrangement of the cabinet will also be the answer to the question of how to store raisins.

Elevated temperature is the optimal condition for the development of pests

Storage of dried fruits at an air temperature of + 17 - 30 degrees is unacceptable, since pests will immediately appear that easily colonize fortified products.

Many housewives use refrigerators for storage. This is not recommended. And that's why.

Does humid air spoil dried fruits?

In part, yes. But under some conditions. It is necessary to take into account the own moisture content of dried fruits. It should be between 17 and 24 percent. And if you store dried fruits at room humidity of 70 percent, then the products will feel comfortable.

That is, raisins and prunes will not dry out or swell from excess moisture. The recommended conditions answer the rhetorical question: how to properly store dried fruits at home.

Even if overdried dried fruits are purchased, they will reach the condition, being in a comfortable air environment.

Tips for storing dried fruit

Few think about the need to hide dried fruits from the direct sun and potted plants. Those who know how to properly store dried fruits call these arguments:

• the sun's rays can discolor dried fruits;
• under the influence of the sun, some dried fruits overheat, which stimulates the appearance of worms;
• midges often grow in the ground of indoor plants, which can lay larvae in dried fruits.

Natural protection can be provided to scare away uninvited guests. For this it is worth:

• add a little mint to a container or storage bag. She will save you from mold;
• install a salt shaker at the location of dried fruits, which will absorb excess moisture;
• freeze the fruits in the refrigerator at a temperature of -15-18 ° C, and then dry in the oven. Frost will kill possible larvae;
• treat containers and cabinet surfaces with a weak vinegar solution;
• put a few cloves of fragrant cloves next to the location of the dried fruit.

It is recommended to place prunes or dried apricots in the refrigerator in a plastic bag, which ensures the preservation of their delicate structure. Do not combine them together, otherwise the prunes will kill the aroma of dried apricot.

Dried apricots are allowed to be stored together with raisins. Better to put them in a cotton or canvas bag and check it regularly. Air and moisture pass through the fabric more actively, which can stimulate the development of unwanted mold.

The shelf life in the refrigerator is 3-4 months. Otherwise, it is permissible to use dried fruits that have lain for up to a year.

After evaluating how to store dried fruit at home is simple, many begin to create large stocks. After all, natural products save money and strengthen the human body. In addition, you can always pamper loved ones with delicious and interesting dishes.

What to do if dried fruit is contaminated

Even with knowledge, it is not always possible to protect dried fruits from harmful insects. For example, buying a product at a discount in a store, housewives run the risk of eventually discovering an unpleasant surprise in the form of moth larvae.

What if the infection has already occurred? Is there a chance to save at least some of the tasty and healthy preparations?

With a weak defeat, you can try to correct the situation. Dried fruits are thoroughly washed and kept for at least half an hour in the oven at 75 ° C. This temperature is enough to kill the larvae of the pests.

The bags in which the dried fruit were stored are washed and ironed, paying particular attention to the folds where moth eggs may remain

As an alternative to heating, freezing damaged fruits at -15 ° C is suitable. Of course, their nutritional and gustatory value after such a procedure will decrease.

It is better to treat the cabinet where the affected dried fruits were stored with a solution of vinegar.

How to dry properly

The choice of drying method depends both on the region of residence and on personal preference. To prepare dried fruits, fruits can be left in the sun or using electrical appliances. The first option is considered to be more successful.

Preparation

Regardless of the chosen drying method, apples must be prepared. This will require:

• wash the fruits;
• remove spoiled parts and seeds;
• cut into wedges and soak in brine.

After preparation, you can start drying.

In the sun

This option is the least labor-intensive, but suitable only for regions where warm weather lasts for a long time after harvesting. To dry the fruit, place the sliced ​​slices on a baking sheet or wire rack and cover with cheesecloth. You can also thread the prepared fruit. Fruit should be laid out in the sun or in partial shade.

Products must be turned over every day, thereby achieving uniform drying. It will take 3-4 sunny days to get the harvested product. During this period, it is recommended to regularly check the slices under gauze to remove insects.

In the oven

To prepare apples for the winter in the oven, you will need to cut the fruits into thin slices. Next, the prepared products are laid out in an even layer on a baking sheet covered with parchment. The latter is then placed in an oven preheated to 80 degrees for 30 minutes.Then the temperature should be reduced by 10 degrees and the apples should be left for 5 hours. During this time, the fruits lose more than half of the water.

Electric dryer

This option is the simplest, since the main work is performed by an electrical appliance. To dry the fruit, you will need to lay out the slices in an even layer on pallets. Further, the apples are aged for eight hours.

In the microwave

Microwave drying is much faster. This process takes no more than five minutes. However, you can cook a small amount of dried fruit at a time. To dry apples, you need to cut the fruits into small wedges and put them on a plate. On the microwave, set the power to 200 watts and put apples in the inner chamber for 30 seconds.

Preparing dried fruits for storage

Before sending dried fruits for long-term storage, you need to check their quality. Underdried or spoiled foods can ruin everyone else. Normal fruits do not stick together, even if pressed against each other. Wet fruits are dried in the shade outdoors or in a dark place indoors. Then they need to be heated in the oven for about 1-1.5 hours. At a low temperature. After that, you can send the dried fruit for storage.

Some types of drying can be stored in the refrigerator, such as prunes, raisins, or dried apricots. But you should not count on long-term storage, because in modern refrigerators there is a high level of humidity, and this leads to damage to the fruit.

You can store drying in the freezer. The shelf life of dried fruits in this way is 1.5 years for any fruits, but provided that they will not be thawed.

Choosing a place for dried fruits at home

A useful product requires special conditions for keeping at home. Before sending dried fruits for storage, you need to check their moisture level. It should be below 25%, prunes may have a slightly higher level.

If the indicator is higher, then for a period of 5-7 days the product should be left on paper in the active sun. You can also use placing dried fruits on a battery or in an oven.

It is important not to dry them out. This is especially true of dried apricots or prunes, which lose moisture faster than others.

To know how to store dried fruits, you need to be guided by the following criteria:

• temperature (ideal parameters + 10–12 ° С);
• humidity (the level of 40-50%, typical for most living quarters, is acceptable);
• container or storage space;
• the level of accessibility for penetration of small pests;
• proximity to other products.

It is permissible to leave prunes and dried apricots in a room where the humidity is 60–65%. This indicator is important if dried fruits are not stored in a vacuum.

It is necessary to place a bag or container with dried fruits away from cereals. It is highly likely that pests that grow quickly in cereals will move.

It is advisable not to store fruits of different types together. The degree of drying should be slightly different for the best taste and preservation of vitamins. If dried apricots are kept together with apples, the latter will be saturated with moisture.

Storing dried fruits - several important rules

Since drying reacts to any changes in temperature and humidity, it is advisable to create the most suitable conditions for it. Which?

Rule # 1. Ventilation and dryness

Drying is a long-lasting product, but its most dangerous enemies are heat and humidity. That is why it is necessary to take care of the availability of a dry place and a cool place. the air temperature should not be higher than 10 degrees, because otherwise dried fruits will begin to grow moldy, change their taste and appearance.

Rule # 2. Storage

If you have dried different fruits, then it is better not to mix them in the same container. Each product has certain moisture and taste characteristics, so mixing all products can lead to spoilage of the entire drying.The best solution is separate storage in different containers or jars. Never store the dryer in plastic bags, as insufficient air and lack of ventilation can cause condensation.

Rule # 3. Drying dried fruits

If you dried the fruits at your summer cottage, it is recommended to dry them at home. To do this, you can use the oven at a low temperature. So you will not only prevent the occurrence of fungus, but also destroy dangerous viruses and bacteria.

Rule # 4. No pests and moths

Like any other product, dried fruits are also susceptible to pest attacks. To avoid this, it is recommended to put dried mint in the same container with fruit. Its pungent smell will drive away insects and keep mold from growing. Also, some put salt next to it, which absorbs excess moisture.

Peppermint is excellent at warding off pests

Rule # 5. Regular checks when storing dried fruit

To preserve dried fruit, it is necessary to periodically check it for spoiled fruit, mold and insects. If you find pests, you need to put the product in the freezer for a few minutes, then let it thaw and dry in the oven. So you will destroy not only the insect, but also its larvae.

How long can you store dried fruits at home? The correct shelf life does not exceed one year, so be sure to tag the beginning of the storage process. Of course, the more drying, the more difficult it is to keep track of it, so it is better not to stock up on too much product.

Storing dried fruit at home requires your input and attention. We hope that our tips will help you enjoy delicious, healthy dried fruits for a long time and use them to prepare various dishes.

How to choose a container

One of the important requirements of how to store dried fruits at home is the correct choice of packaging. Both the freshness and the integrity of the product depend on it. In any case, the container must be dry and clean. It is also worth taking care of its tightness.

Dried apples or a variety of apple chips are a popular and healthy product

Glass, ceramic jars, paper bags, natural fabric bags, wooden boxes and special plastic containers are best suited for dry fruits. Each container has its own advantages and disadvantages.

For example, an important condition for how store prunes in at home, is the presence of ventilation. Therefore, glass and ceramic jars will negatively affect the quality of the product. In such a container, nuts, some varieties of raisins are perfectly preserved. The great advantage of the jars is that they do not allow air to pass through, thereby protecting the product from the penetration of insects and other small pests.

Wooden barrels and boxes are very convenient for storing dried apricots. They close tightly, prevent moisture from entering. Moreover, wood, being a natural material, does not give off any smell to the product. By the way, wet prunes can also be left in such a container. The rules for its content are not very different from how to store dried apricots.

Dried apricots and prunes do not differ much in storage requirements

Fabric bags must be natural. Thick cotton or linen will do. You can store in them drying from apples or pears. In such a container, the fruits are well ventilated, the risk of mold development is reduced. The bag must be pre-washed without adding detergents and ironed on both sides.

The shelf life of dried fruits in the fabric may be reduced if moths are present in the room. It easily penetrates the bag and lays the larvae on the fruit.

Special plastic containers for dried fruits have a valve that creates an airtight environment. It is convenient to use them for raisins.

Before using such a container, it is important to make sure that there is no strong smell of plastic. It can spoil dried fruit

How to prepare for storage

If any dried fruits have traces of the presence of pests, wormholes or rotten areas, such dried fruits are thrown away without regret, as they will cause the destruction of all other fruits.

• Storage of dried fruits is possible only when they are completely dried. Residual moisture will lead to mold and decay of dried fruit. But you can't dry them out either - then they will have a bitter taste.
• According to all the rules, dried fruits and berries lose 75% - 85% moisture.
• If dried fruits have a higher percentage of moisture than necessary, they are dried first outside (1 day), and then in an oven at 60 ° C - 75 ° C for at least 1 hour.

The benefits of dried fruits

During the drying process, moisture evaporates from the fruit, but useful substances are retained. All fruits almost completely retain trace elements, fructose and plant fibers. They are very rich in fiber, which improves metabolism. You can use all fruits and berries, and dried fruits are much healthier than frozen ones.

Regular consumption of dried fruits stimulates the immune system, increases resistance to colds, improves the condition of the skin and hair. Daily consumption of dried fruits removes toxins from the body. Another plus of dried fruits is that they replace confectionery and sweets.

It is very important for people on a diet.

The main human diet contains fruits such as prunes, dried apricots, dates, raisins, cherries, apples and pears. They contain certain vitamins and minerals. They are united by the presence of potassium, a large amount of iron, vitamins. Eating any of the dried fruits normalizes blood pressure, improves blood formation, and has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, kidneys and thyroid gland.

But in order for dried fruits to bring only benefits, you need to choose the right finished products or dry them yourself.