Prunes are a healthy and nutritious food that can be combined with any meal. Drying them at home can take some time. You can dehydrate them in the oven or in a dryer, and once they are ready you will need to store them properly. At the time of use, you will be spoiled for choice: the taste of prunes is in fact indicated for flavoring different dishes.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using the Oven
Step 1. Remove the stones from the plums after cutting them in half
Divide them into two equal parts using a small sharp knife. Separate the two halves with your hands, then remove the core and throw it away.
It is important to use a small and easily handled knife. A large knife is not appropriate for cutting plums
Step 2. Place them in direct contact with the oven grill
Do not place them on a baking sheet, as they will expel a large amount of sticky liquids in the process which will cause them to stick to the metal. The best choice is to place them directly on the grill. Make sure you arrange them evenly, leaving some space between them. If they touch each other, the dehydration process could be compromised.
Since liquids released during cooking could soil the bottom of the oven, add some form of protection. If your oven is electric, you can use a sheet of aluminum foil placed on the bottom; again, check it from time to time to make sure it doesn't melt. Alternatively, you can use foil to line a baking sheet to place under the prunes
Step 3. Bake the prunes at 100 ° C
You should set the oven to the lowest possible temperature: for many ovens the minimum limit is just 100 ° C. If yours has different settings, simply use the lowest level of heat available.
Remember to insert the grill into the oven very slowly so as not to risk changing the position of the prunes
Step 4. Check every two hours
You will need to turn the plums at regular intervals until they have dried evenly, checking from time to time that the process progresses correctly. The plums should remain slightly soft and juicy, but at the same time become wrinkled and dark in color.
The result also depends on your preferences. Some like plums that are well dried while others like them to stay juicy. Do not remove plums from the oven until they have reached the consistency you want
Step 5. Let them cook for about 8 hours
Generally, this is the time it takes to get delicious dried prunes, but it's important not to lose sight of them and check them several times during the cooking process. In some cases they may be ready sooner, while in others you may have to leave them in the oven a little longer.
Not all plums are likely to be ready at the same time. Remove them individually from the oven as they seem dry to you
Method 2 of 3: Use a Dryer
Step 1. Remove the stones from the plums after cutting them in half
First remove the stem, then divide them into two equal parts using a small sharp knife.
- Separate the two halves with your hands, remove the core and throw it away.
- The ideal is to use a paring knife, but alternatively you can also use a common small knife - as long as it is well sharpened. What you need to avoid is using a large knife; Plums are a small fruit, so you need to be sure you can maintain control of the blade as you slide it around the pit.
Step 2. Arrange the plums on the dryer tray
In this case, you can place them next to each other to avoid having to repeat the process several times. Place them close together, but not touching, to allow air to circulate and dry the plums properly.
Step 3. Load the tray
Using a classic type dryer, you will need to dehydrate the plums at a temperature of 45 ° C. If you have an Excalibur dryer instead, it is best to start at 65 ° C.
- Check that the dryer has reached the correct temperature before inserting the prunes.
- Remember to insert the tray very slowly so as not to risk changing the position of the plums.
Step 4. Check the plums every 4-6 hours
Halfway through cooking, you will need to flip them to complete the dehydration process. Check every 4-6 hours or so to see if it's time to turn them.
- The plums are ready to turn when the top is very dry. At this point, they should easily detach from the tray.
- If the top is still wet and the bottom doesn't come off the tray easily, let them dry again before turning them over.
Step 5. Since it's time to take the first plums out of the oven, check the others every 2 hours
Since they won't all be ready at once, you need to check them one by one to see if they have lost all moisture. At that point, you need to remove them from the dryer. Once the first plums are ready, check the doneness of the others every 2 hours.
Step 6. Let the prunes dry for 14 hours
To fully dehydrate, they will need about 14 hours. However, depending on the quality of the plums, they could take even less (or sometimes longer). For this reason it is important not to completely lose sight of them during the drying process. Once ready, they will have taken on a dark color and a wrinkled appearance, similar to that of raisins.
Method 3 of 3: Storing and Eating Prunes
Step 1. Store them properly
Prunes should be stored in an airtight container. You can also use a sturdy plastic bag.
- Keep them in a dry place, away from light.
- You can store prunes in the pantry, in the refrigerator or in the freezer.
Step 2. Discard them if they have deteriorated
The shelf life of prunes depends on the method of storage. Take note of the following guidelines to make sure you don't eat spoiled plums.
- If you keep them in your pantry or refrigerator, you need to eat them within 6-12 months.
- The freezer can extend its life. If you store them in the freezer, you must eat them within 12-18 months.
Step 3. Add them to a topping
Prunes are great for flavoring a chicken or turkey filling, for example as they do in the United States for Thanksgiving. Add them when you prepare the sauté in a pan, along with onion and celery. Cook them with the rest of the ingredients for a few minutes, then remove the pot from the heat.
Plums are able to give a slight sweet note to any filling, creating a pleasant contrast with the salty ingredients
Step 4. Serve them stuffed at the time of the aperitif
You can fill them with a savory, creamy cheese to create a savory-sweet appetizer. All you have to do is cut them in the center and stuff them to your liking.
Stuffed plums are also suitable for an elegant dinner or aperitif
Step 5. Use them to decorate the pot roast
Plums make a perfect match with beef. In general, you can add them to the pot halfway through cooking along with the other toppings. In any case, it is advisable to refer to your specific recipe to make sure it is a suitable combination.
Advice
- You can also use prunes as an ingredient in a stew or a brown stock. Thanks to their intense flavor, they perfectly match with beef.
- If you want to combine them with pork or chicken, you can opt for a preparation with sweet notes by adding a reduction of apple or orange juice.
