Blueberries are considered one of the healthiest foods in the world. They are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, are good for eyesight, lower cholesterol, and prevent urinary tract infections. Dried blueberries are added to pies and compotes, cereals and dry mixes. You can also get this tasty and healthy treat at home.
It is necessary
-
- blueberries;
- pectin / lemon juice / boiling water and ice water;
- electric dryer / oven / drying screens.
Instructions
Step 1
Place the blueberries in a strainer or colander and rinse under running water. Remove leaves and twigs.
Step 2
Sort through the blueberries, discarding moldy (white-coated), despicable, and wrinkled berries.
Step 3
There are several ways to prepare blueberries for drying. All of them are effective in keeping the berries from losing their color. Berries processed with pectin look the most glossy. To get them, dissolve the pectin in warm water, according to the recipe, pour over the berries and gently stir them with a spoon so that they are evenly coated. Place the berries in a strainer or colander to drain off excess liquid.
Step 4
Berries are also treated with lemon juice. To get as much liquid out of the lemon as possible, microwave it for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle the berries with lemon juice and stir well.
Step 5
Another way to keep the berries bright after drying is blanching. Prepare a large pot of boiling water and a bowl of ice cold water. Dip the berries in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and immediately place them in a bowl of ice. Transfer the berries to a strainer or colander to drain the water.
Step 6
If you have a special drying device - an electric dryer, arrange the blueberries in one layer in special trays. Dehydrate the berries following the instructions for 6 to 10 hours, depending on how dry you want them to be. Finished berries will shrink and shrink. Turn off the dryer and let the blueberries cool. It will take 2-3 hours.
Step 7
If you are going to dry the berries in the oven, then preheat it to 60-70 ° C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper and place the blueberries in one layer on top of it. Place the baking sheet in the oven and leave the door ajar a few centimeters to allow air to circulate. Depending on the size of the berries, dry the blueberries for 4 to 12 hours. Finished berries are dry but pliable.
Step 8
If you live in dry, hot climates, try air-drying your blueberries. In order to dry berries and fruits on the street, special screens are used, consisting of gauze stretched over wooden frames. The berries are placed between the frames and dried in the sun, stored in a warm, dry place overnight. This method takes several days.
