In the cold season, many suffer from a lack of vitamins. There are a huge number of solutions to this problem, including the use of artificial additives and multivitamins. But why buy something fake at a pharmacy, when you can cook deliciously and inexpensively for the winter at home a wonderful and rich in vitamins, microelements and antioxidants, everyone's favorite berry.
Preparing plums for drying
An easy option for those who do not like sweets, but want to stock up on prunes for the winter.
You will need plums that are fully ripe and firm and firm to the touch. Sort them out, excluding those containing rotten, soft or overripe areas. It is best to select fruits that are close in size to ensure even drying. Wash the plums and pat dry with a dry towel. Be sure to remove the stalks. The bones can be left as they contain a lot of nutrients.
Blanching is a process necessary for the accelerated evaporation of moisture from the fruit, during which small cracks form on the skin, due to which the plum dries faster. If you took large enough blanks and cut them in half, you can skip this step.
Dip the plums in boiling water with baking soda dissolved in it (about a teaspoon per liter) and simmer for about one minute. Next, the plums must be rinsed with cold water and dried with a towel or napkins.
Fruit Drying Methods
The most popular are three options for drying plums:
- in the oven;
- in the microwave;
- in the sun.
The oven drying process takes place in three stages. The oven heats up to 50 ° C. The plum is laid out on a baking sheet covered with baking paper. If you have cut the plums in half, place them with the cut facing up. Next, place a baking sheet with plums in the oven for 4-5 hours. After this period, take out the fruits and leave them to cool to room temperature for about 5 hours. 5 hours. Next, the workpiece must be allowed to cool. At the final stage, preheat the oven to 75 ° C and dry until tender.
In order to dry plums in the microwave, you will have to constantly observe the process. It is better to take fruits cut in half, which do not require blanching. Remove the seeds, put the plums in one layer, peel side down, on a flat plate, cover with a paper towel and dry for 2-3 minutes on medium power. After that, take out the fruits, remove the napkin and place the plate back in the oven, already setting the maximum power. Dry until tender.
The most natural option, which also does not require blanching, is sun drying. Plums must be cut, deboned, laid out on plywood sheets, baking trays or trays, cut upwards. Care must be taken to ensure that the fruit does not deteriorate or rot. Turn them over to dry them evenly. Be sure to bring it into the room at night. This process will take 4-5 days. The final stage is to dry the plum in the shade for 3-4 days.
