Updated 24.2.22
Dried fruit makes an excellent addition to your summer salads. They are also perfect in desserts and baked goods and breakfast favorites like pancakes and waffles. Have you tried making dried fruit at home? It's a fairly easy process that can be accomlished without any fancy equipment.
A food is properly dehydrated when 95% of its water content has been removed. This extends the shelf life of the fruit and also concentrates its flavor. Let's take a look at the different methods we can use to make dried fruits and vegetables at home.
Which Fruits and Vegetables to Choose?
Dehydrating Fruits
When it comes to fruits that can be dehydrated the list is long and varied. Apricots, strawberries, apples, pineapples, blackberries, raspberries, pineapples, figs, cherries, plums, pears, bananas, blackberries, oranges, persimmons, mangos, bananas, and more.
* add component -how to dry figs - /article/how-dry-figs
Dehydrating vegetables
Among the many vegetables that may be dried are tomatoes, zucchini, leeks, bell peppers, kale and mushrooms. Let's not forget the many aromatic herbs that are wonderful dried such as sage, oregano, bay leaves, basil, rosemary, parsley, thyme and chives.
How To Get Started
In general, almost all varieties of fruit and vegetables can be dried. It is important that the chosen ingredient not exceed the right degree of ripeness because it won't dry properly. Before getting started you should wash the fruit or vegetable in water with a touch of lemon juice and dry thoroughly. This will shorten the drying time.
How to Dry Fruit in the Oven
An excellent way to dehydrate fruit is to dry it in the oven. This is an easy method - albeit a long one - but the results are well worth the wait. All you need is an oven at a constant temperature between 40 ° to 60 °C (100 - 140 F ) in ventilated mode (if your oven is a bit 'vintage', leave the door ajar and you will have the same result).
