When dried, only moisture evaporates from vegetables and fruits. The structure of cells in their tissues, as is the case with freezing, does not change. That is why dryers are becoming so popular with summer residents and housewives. In addition, the very answer to the question of how to dry vegetables using this technique is quite simple.
Even more nutrients are retained in dried foods than fresh stored foods. So, for example, in apples sold in a store, the loss of useful trace elements and vitamins by the end of winter can be up to 90%. Drying as a way of harvesting allows you to preserve in vegetables and fruits almost all nutrients and substances useful for the human body. In addition, when using a similar technique, you can process a bountiful harvest obtained in the garden or in the garden, as soon as possible and without much labor costs.
Advantages of drying in a dryer
There are several ways to remove moisture from tomatoes, apples, carrots, etc. Vegetables and fruits are dried directly in the sun, in the oven and even on batteries. But the most convenient way is, of course, drying in a special apparatus - a dryer. When using such equipment, there is no need to fear that the products will rot or be affected by insects during processing. In addition, the very answer to the question of how to dry vegetables, berries and fruits using such devices is not difficult. Such an operation, when applied, becomes much less laborious.
What can be pledged
Of course, housewives who bought such equipment are primarily interested in what can be dried in a vegetable dryer. It is allowed to lay in such a device:
- mushrooms;
- potatoes;
- carrots:
- beets;
- tomatoes;
- cabbage;
- onion and garlic.
Of course, you can dry any greens in such equipment. Fruits and berries prepared in this way are also very tasty. You can put apples, pears, plums, apricots, strawberries, cherries, raspberries into the dryer. In general, the grown crop of almost any garden or horticultural crop can be dried in a dryer.
Preparation for drying
Of course, only healthy, undamaged vegetables and fruits are suitable for this method of harvesting. The selected fruits must also be fresh. You can take slightly spoiled vegetables for drying. However, in this case, all affected areas should first be cut out.
Before placing vegetables in the machine, they should be thoroughly rinsed, if necessary, peeled and cut into slices. In most cases, the thickness of the latter should be about 0.5 cm. The only exceptions are the preparation of dried vegetables for making soups and borscht. In this case, carrots and beets are grated before drying. Cabbage and potatoes are cut into strips. Onions are chopped into small pieces, garlic - into large ones.
How to put in the device
So how do you dry vegetables in the dryer correctly? Before placing the slices in the dryer, it is advisable to cover each of its tiers with cotton cloth. Otherwise, the dried pieces may fall down. Cut as many vegetables as can fit in the machine. In this case, it is allowed to dry several of their different types at the same time. But in this case, the procedure will most likely have to be carried out in several stages. After all, the drying time for different vegetables is not the same.
Drying vegetables and fruits in the dryer: what you need to know
Many housewives note the fact that the lower the tier of the apparatus, the faster vegetables and fruits are dried on it. Therefore, when drying, make sure that the vegetables below are not burnt.
Of course, it is impossible to constantly monitor the drying process in such a device, which usually lasts about a day. If it is necessary, for example, to leave the house, it is allowed to turn off the dryer. This will not affect the quality of the dried vegetables. Some housewives even believe that if the device is turned off from time to time, the final product turns out to be more tasty.
How to dry very juicy vegetables or berries
Drying such products usually produces a lot of juice. The design of modern dryers is such that it cannot get onto the electronics when it flows out. The device will not break down in any case. However, it is still worth putting some sort of container for collecting juice under the bottom pan.
You can also just put fewer vegetables and fruits on pallets. In this case, the juice will not drain anywhere. And the dried slices themselves will turn out to be more tasty and aromatic. Raspberries, for example, are laid out on pallets so that they do not touch each other. However, you can put this or any other berry and layer. In this case, you get a delicious marshmallow.
Also, when drying very juicy vegetables, fruits and berries, moisture usually accumulates on the lid of the device. It will need to be wiped off from time to time.
How to store dried vegetables
Thus, we figured out how to dry vegetables using equipment such as a dryer. Harvested using this technique, the crop is most often stored in jars covered with lids. In this case, fruits, vegetables, herbs and berries will not become dusty and will not absorb foreign odors. The banks themselves can be stored, for example, just in the closet. It is not necessary to keep them in the refrigerator.
