Ways to dry prunes at home – how to cook and store correctly

Prunes can be dried at home, making them a year-round nutritious snack. Prunes have a natural sweetness and flavor that can be captured when prepared yourself, free of preservatives or additives. Also, it’s less expensive than purchasing dried fruit from the store.

Prunes can be dried at home using a variety of techniques, such as air drying them in the right conditions or using a basic oven or dehydrator. Depending on the tools you have and the time you have available, each method has advantages.

To ensure that prunes remain delicious and fresh for as long as possible, it’s crucial to understand not only how to dry them but also the best ways to store them. This tutorial will show you how to properly prepare, dry, and store prunes so you can always have a tasty and nourishing treat on hand.

How to dry prunes in different ways

Prepare the fruit first if you plan to dry the plum. Sorting fruits is a prerequisite at the initial stage. It is necessary to remove rotten fruit from the entire batch in order to make dried fruits delicious. It is only appropriate to use ripe, undamaged fruit.

The plum should then be rinsed and placed on a paper towel. Take out any bones you don’t want to dry. Prior to that, it is advised to blanch the fruits for 20 seconds by submerging them in a boiling solution (1 cup soda to 1 liter of water).

This is required in order to improve the evaporation of moisture through a cracked skin during the drying process. The next step after blaming plums is to rinse and dry again.

It’s interesting to note that short-term boiling preserves the product’s color, aroma, and vitamins for use in subsequent manufacturing processes.

In the sun

Natural air drying is the oldest and most established method of fruit drying currently in use. If you live in a private residence, all you need to do is place the fruits in your yard on cardboard covered in gauze to keep insects away. Up to five days are typically needed for sun drying, followed by three more days in the shade.

You must bring the plums inside the house during the night and during rainy weather. To prevent uneven drying, flip the fruits over as they dry. Prunes are simple to check for readiness. The product is ready for consumption if you squeeze the fruit and no juice comes out of it.

In the oven

The question of how to dry prunes in cloudy weather arises because summertime isn’t always filled with clear days. The oven will save the day.

Arrange the fruits, skin side down, in a single layer on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. The plums can be dried in three steps:

1. First, put the fruits in the oven preheated to 50 ° C. Drying time – up to 5 hours.
2. Then increase the temperature to 70 ° C, and keep the fruits in the oven for the same amount of time.
3. Step Three – Increase Heat to 80°C to Dry Until Ready.

To prevent juice release, it is advised to take out the pan containing the plums every three to four hours. After cooling, flip the fruits over, and return them to the oven. Don’t flip it over if convection is present. A high-quality dried fruit should be soft yet elastic, and should not cling to his hands.

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In an electric dryer

Pruning fruits can be aided by using an electric dryer if you are unexpectedly unable to use the oven. Using this device, cook dried fruits as you would with the previous method, that is to say:

1. Putting the plums in one layer with the skin down, leave the fruits for 4 hours at a temperature of 55 ° C.
2. After completing the first stage, remove the tray from the dryer to cool the fruit. And then send them back for 6 hours at a temperature of 60 ° C.
3. After the second drying, it is recommended to take the fruit out to cool again so that they taste good. Then put the tray back for the final 6 hours, increasing the previous temperature by another 15-20 ° C.

In the microwave

Using a microwave oven is a quick and easy way to dry plums at home without spending a lot of time. The benefit lies not only in the speed at which dried plums can be prepared, but also in the fact that the fruit retains its valuable ingredients throughout the process.

1. Put the plum ready for cooking in a mold, having previously covered it with a paper towel, and cover the fruit with it. At medium power, send the fruit to the oven for 3 minutes.
2. After the first stage, remove the paper from above, put the plum back for the same amount of time.
3. At the last step, turn on the microwave at full power and leave the almost finished product for another 1 minute.

Let the fruit cool. If some of the prunes are still unripe, cook for an additional minute while sampling the finished product.

Recommendation: only microwave hard plums; otherwise, they will mush.

In an air fryer

The primary benefit and distinction of these prunes is their smoky scent. Try making prunes this way if you have an air fryer at home to see the difference.

Dry the plums three times at 65°C for forty minutes on the first day. Allow the fruit to cool for one hour after each start. Follow the same procedure as the first day. The prunes will be perfectly ready for use after one more day of lying.

If you follow the proper procedures for preparation, drying, and storage, drying prunes at home is easy and reasonably priced. You can get the best results by selecting the proper plum variety, cutting them precisely, and applying techniques like air drying, oven baking, or dehydrating. Making sure your homemade dried prunes don’t spoil and maintain their fresh flavor over time requires proper storage.

Prunes can be dried easily at home, making them a tasty and nutritious snack for any time of year. Prunes with the ideal texture and flavor can be made by selecting the right plums and using the proper drying techniques, such as air drying, dehydrating, or baking.

Prunes must be stored carefully once they have dried in order to maintain their flavor and freshness. To guarantee that they remain delicious for months, use airtight containers and store them in a cold, dark place. Even better, you can freeze them to preserve their quality for a longer period of time.

Preserving fruit at home is a great way to take advantage of seasonal produce, cut down on waste, and ensure that your family always has wholesome snacks on hand. Try out a variety of drying techniques to determine which works best for your kitchen’s layout and taste.

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