Dried apricots are an alternative to fresh fruit, which is not available during the cold season. It has fewer useful substances than fresh, but more than jam and compote. Due to their structure, fruits quickly deteriorate, and drying is one of the best ways to preserve the product, while spending a minimum of effort, time and money.
What is dried apricot called?
The following varieties with original names are distinguished:
- Dried apricots.Small dried apricot whole, including the pit.
- She whispered. It is the complete opposite of apricot.
- Kaisa. A seedless fruit that has received a small hole with minimal disruption to the integrity of the fruit.
- Dried apricots. Dried apricot halves, pitted.
- Ashtak. Whole fruit containing a nucleolus inside.
Before you start drying, it is advisable to have an idea of what kind of product you should get in the end.
Origin story
The fruit came from China to Central Asia along with peaches. After that it was brought to Armenia. The further journey lay to Greece, where the apricot was called the Armenian apple. Because of this, Armenia has long been considered the birthplace of the fruit.
Then the Armenian apple was brought to Rome; information about this is found in the works of writers of that time. From Italy the fruit spread throughout Southern Europe. Then he came to Ukraine, Russia, England, Poland and Germany.
Fruit selection
To obtain a quality product, much attention is paid to raw materials. For dried apricots, a variety of apricots with dense and not too juicy pulp is selected.
When cut in half, the bone should be easily removed.
The fruits must be undamaged and ripe. Small ones are used for apricots, and those with minor flaws are used for sears. Fruits are picked on a warm day without precipitation.
Methods for drying apricots
There are several ways to obtain dried fruits. Each option is good in itself, as it allows you to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients and rich color.
Natural drying in the fresh air
The best place for fruit is a shaded area outdoors. If the room is closed, it must be ventilated.The drying area should be away from dust and exhaust gases.
Drying in the open air is divided into several stages. At first, the fruits are kept in the shade in a draft or wind. After this, they can be exposed to direct sunlight. The drying time depends on the size of the fruit and the weather.
In a gas oven
The fruits are laid out in one layer on a wire rack or baking sheet. First, drying takes place at a temperature of 40-50 degrees. Then it is gradually brought to 60-75 degrees. To ensure that the fruits are dried evenly, the apricots are periodically turned over.
Due to the juice, sticking to the surface is possible. To avoid this, apricots are laid out on parchment. In one approach, different amounts of fruit are dried.
Ready apricots should have an elastic structure. No juice should come out when pressed. Typically, the process takes from 10 to 12 hours.
How to dry with an air fryer
The device immediately replaces an oven and an electric dryer. It works on the principle of a convection oven. Effective drying is carried out due to a powerful fan and heating with hot air. How the procedure goes:
- The prepared fruits are laid out on the surface of the air fryer grill.
- They should not touch each other.
- The device sets the temperature from 55 to 70 degrees.
- The finished portion is removed and the grate is filled with new fruit.
If the apricots do not have time to dry in one cycle, the drying process is repeated.
In an electric dryer
The device has several tiers on which fruits are laid out. When the raw materials are in place, the device turns on. Initially, the high temperature is not set - 50 degrees will be enough. If the apricots are a little dry, the temperature rises to 70-80 degrees.
Drying time is usually 35-45 hours. If the appearance is satisfactory and re-drying is not required, the fruit is sent for storage.
In the microwave
The device is not intended for drying apricots. It doesn't have much space, so it won't fit a large batch. Microwave operation is not recommended for drying fruits due to the lack of a fan. Apricots are more likely to cook under the influence of microwave rays.
How to dry apricots?
Drying is possible for fruits whole and cut into halves. At will, the bone is removed or not. These nuances depend on the person’s capabilities and taste preferences.
With a bone
To obtain apricots or sear, it is recommended to dry the apricots in the open air. If you use electrical appliances for this purpose, during the drying process the pulp adheres tightly to the stone. It is difficult to get rid of when using or consuming dried fruits.
The best option for drying in the open air is to leave the fruits on the tree. Then collect ready-made ones that have spent enough time under the sun’s rays. If the apricots do not hold well on the branches and fall off, they are tied with a thread and dried.
Seedless
The halves are dried both in the open air and using an oven, electric grill and other devices. If the fruits are whole with the pit removed, you can get a high-quality product by drying them in an oven or electric dryer. The surfaces are filled with fruit gradually. There should be space between them so that they do not stick together.
How to store dried apricots at home?
A suitable container for dried fruits is a glass jar or a bag made of breathable fabric. In the first case, it may be a dark room without direct sunlight.The second contains the freezer compartment or refrigerator door.
