Using the sun to dry fruit is one of the oldest methods of preserving food, and producing delicious and nutritious nuts in this way is very easy. The ideal climate for this process respects the following conditions: strong sunlight, a temperature of about 30 ° C and low humidity. This article will tell you how to dry fruit in the sun without electricity and without buying expensive tools.
Steps
Step 1. Prepare a drying tray with a plastic mesh or by spreading a piece of fabric neatly on a support frame
Cross some strings on the back of the frame and secure them with staples in the corners to prevent the fabric from sagging.
Step 2. Collect the fruit just before it gets too ripe
Choose fruit that is free from bruises.
Step 3. If the fruit is hot from sun exposure, allow it to cool
Step 4. Wash it, remove the stones, dry it, peel it (if necessary) and cut it into thin slices
Thinly sliced fruit will dry out faster. If the pieces are all roughly the same size, they will dry evenly.
Step 5. Prevents oxidation, or blackening of the fruit, after cutting it
- Dip the fruit in salted water. Use 6 tablespoons of salt in about 4 liters of water. Drain and dry the fruit.
- Sear apples or apricots by steaming them for 5 minutes and then immersing them in ice water. Drain and dry carefully.
- Make a honey sauce to dip peaches, pineapples or bananas into by mixing 1 cup of sugar, 3 of water and one cup of honey.
- Mix warm water, pineapple juice, and lemon juice for a fruit juice sauce.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of ascorbic acid with 1 liter of water for any type of fruit.
- Boil a package of pectin with 1 1/2 cups of peach, cherry, or berry sugar.
Step 6. Arrange the fruit slices on the drying tray, well apart from each other, so that they do not touch each other
Step 7. Cover the slices with a glass plate to intensify the action of the sun, while making sure to leave enough space on the slices for the air to circulate
Step 8. Leave the tray in the sun for about 2-4 days
The actual drying time depends on the type of fruit and external conditions.
Take it indoors if it rains and during the night to prevent moisture from collecting on the fruit
Step 9. Make the fruit uniform after drying to allow the moisture on some pieces to transfer to the drier ones
This can be done by mixing the pieces of fruit for a few days or by placing them in paper bags to hang on a clothesline; shake them every so often throughout the day for a couple of days.
Step 10. Store dried fruit in a container with a tight lid or an airtight bag
If the containers are kept in a cool, dark place, the fruit can last for at least 6 months. During the first few weeks of storage, check regularly for mold and remove any suspicious pieces of fruit
Advice
- Store dried fruit in small rations. That way, if one piece hasn't dried completely and starts to mold, it won't spoil everything else.
- If you want to keep dried fruit for a longer period of time, pasteurize it to destroy insect eggs. To pasteurize it, freeze the dried fruit for a few days in the freezer or heat it in the oven for 10-15 minutes at around 80 ° C.
- Before storing, sprinkle the fruit with sugar or spices to prevent the pieces from sticking together.
- If you need to dry foods with a particularly strong flavor, keep them separate from the rest.
- Tomatoes can be classified as fruits. If you want to dry small tomatoes, cut them in half, sprinkle them with a pinch of sea salt, cover them with a net (raised so it doesn't touch them) and let them dry in the sun for about 3 weeks.
Warnings
- Do not use lattices made of galvanized metals; they can oxidize and leave residues on the fruit.
- Do not dry fruit in places where the air is very polluted air, as the food may be contaminated by it.
