Our strawberries are ripening. When you talk about 3000 strawberry plants, that is a LOT of bounty! We dehydrate quite a bit of the things that we grow on the farm, including berries. It takes up much less room, and fruits become so sweet tasting, the kids love to snack on them.
I had three trays of dried strawberries to use as a photo for this blog, but in the time it took me to get the camera set up, the kids ate them all. That is a testament to how good they are.
How To Dry Fruits
Drying fruits is a great way to introduce healthy snacks to your family. You can buy food when it is in season, dry a large amount at the same time, and keep it for treats throughout the year.
When drying fruits, cut them into like-size pieces, and place them on the tray so they don't touch. Both of these things will allow even drying, and no strange pockets of moisture becoming trapped between two or more pieces.
Some fruits benefit from a quick dip in a solution of lemon juice or vitamin C in water. This prevents oxidation and discoloration, or darkening of the fruit. although this is not necessary, your finished product can turn an unappetizing color, that no one will want to eat.
Dry until pliable and leathery in most cases. You are not looking for a crispy piece of fruit. This is a sign that you have over dried. You can test the finished product by tearing a piece in half and checking for moisture.
Store in small bags, then place these bags into a larger container. That way, if there is moisture in something, it won't mold and ruin the entire batch.
Next: Choosing Your Method
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Comments
June 8, 2011
I ate a lot of dried fruit as a kid, but I have yet to try to make my own. This may be the push I need to try it out.