How to dry apples at home for the winter
Miscellaneous / / August 03, 2023
You can make stocks of dried fruits in the fresh air or with the help of household appliances.
Dried apples can be stored up to 6 months.
How to prepare apples for drying
Rinse the fruit thoroughly under cold running water, then pat dry with a towel. Discard badly deteriorated specimens. If the fruit has minor damage or small rotten areas, remove these parts with a knife.
Divide the apples into slices no more than 0.5 cm thick. The easiest and fastest way is to cut whole fruit into circles with a knife or a grater-slicer. In the process, the bones will fall out of the cores by themselves, but partitions will remain in the center of the slices.
1 / 0
Frame: EatingWell / YouTube
2 / 0
Frame: EatingWell / YouTube
To get pieces without the remains of partitions, remove the core of a whole apple with a special knife.
Another option is to divide the fruit into four parts, remove the core of each with a knife. And then cut into slices.
If you want the dried apples to remain light, pre-soak the pieces in a salt solution (10 g per 1 liter of cold water). After 3-4 minutes, drain the fruit in a colander and let the excess liquid drain. And then lay them out on a towel in one layer and let dry a little.
How to dry apples outdoors
Arrange the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet or tray lined with cling film or paper.
Cover the fruit with gauze on top to protect them from insects. If the weather is hot and clear, you can leave the apples to dry in direct sunlight - this way they will be ready in 2-3 days. Of course, if it rains at this time, you need to bring the fruit under a canopy.
You can also dry the apples in a well-ventilated, shady place, such as a porch, attic, or pergola. True, in this case, the process will be longer - up to 8 days.
In addition, a sunny window sill or balcony is suitable for drying.
In order for the slices to dry evenly, try to turn them over at least a couple of times a day.
How to dry apples in the oven
Line a baking sheet with parchment. Arrange the apple slices in a single layer.
Put the baking sheet with fruit in the oven, setting the temperature to 55-60 degrees. If the appliance does not have a "convection" mode, leave the door ajar by about 10 cm to allow excess moisture to escape.
Turn the apples every hour to dry evenly. The whole process will take about 5-7 hours.
When the apples are dry and crispy, remove them from the oven and let them cool to room temperature.
How to dry apples in an electric dryer
Arrange fruit on special pallets in one layer.
Put them in the device and set the temperature to 60 degrees.
The drying time depends on the quality of the apples and the features of the device. On average, the process takes 5-7 hours. If after this time the slices are still damp, leave them for another 2-3 hours. When the fruit breaks easily in your hands, remove it from the dryer and let it cool to room temperature.
How to Dry Apples in the Microwave
This method, although the fastest, requires a lot of attention and action. If you need to dry a large crop applesyou have to spend a lot of time at the microwave.
Line a plate with paper towels and place the fruit in a single layer. Send them to the microwave for 3 minutes, setting the power to 1,000-1,200 watts.
Then carefully, so as not to burn yourself, turn the apples over with a knife or fork.
Put them back in the microwave. Dry the slices for 2-3 minutes on a medium power of 700-800 watts. Take out the fruits and let them cool.
How to store dried apples
To store dried fruits, tie bags made of dense natural fabric, tin or glass jars with a lid, as well as cardboard boxes are suitable. Place the slices in the package of your choice and store in a dark, dry place such as a kitchen cabinet, drawer or closet.
You should not store apples next to fragrant products like tea, coffee and spices, otherwise the fruits will absorb odors. Do not forget to periodically inspect the slices. If insects are wound up in them or mold has appeared, send the workpiece to the trash without regrets.
Read alsoπΏπβοΈ
- How to collect and dry Ivan tea
- How to dry apricots at home
- How to dry mushrooms at home
- How to dry lemon balm: 5 easy ways
- How to dry mint at home