How to properly store dried apples at home?

Apples are the most common and healthy fruit . Most people grow them in their dachas and enjoy the tasty and juicy fruits in the summer.

What to do in winter? You can buy apples in the store, but you can’t always be sure of their quality. Because fruits are delivered from other countries, and to maintain freshness, they are treated with various chemical compounds.

What should lovers of this delicacy do in this case? The answer is very simple - you can prepare dried apples in the summer . The result will be quite tasty and vitamin-filled dried fruits that will delight the whole family in winter.

The benefits and harms of dried apples for human health, calorie content

These dried fruits consist of a large number of macro- and microelements, various vitamins that the body needs for proper functioning:

• vitamins K, E and B regulate blood circulation;
• ascorbic and other acids contribute to proper brain function;
• Selenium, copper, magnesium, iodine, copper, zinc, manganese, iron and other elements saturate the body and increase immunity.

Dried apples contain vitamins, macro- and microelements that are beneficial for humans.
Dried apples contain the following substances:

1. Minerals – magnesium, iron, iodine (improves blood quality, cardiovascular system, metabolism and supports the functioning of the hormonal system).

1. Phytoncides (stop the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi).

1. Tanning (have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities).

1. Organic acids - chlorogenic, malic, tartaric, arabic acids (resist infections, regulate acid-base balance).

1. Sugar – sucrose, fructose, glucose (restore strength, promote rapid saturation of the body).

1. Polysaccharide pectin components (reduce cholesterol levels).

1. Flavanoids (resist cell damage by blocking the action of free radicals).

The calorie content of dried fruits is 231 kcal per 100 grams of product.

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Using dried apples, a person fills his body with a large number of useful elements, but there are also some contraindications .

If you have diabetes or obesity, eating dried apples can negatively affect human health. In case of such pathologies, it is better to refuse to take dried fruits.

Apple dried fruits promote good digestion due to the content of pectin, dietary fiber and fiber. The components of these fruits, proteins, acids, essential oils and phytoncides, improve metabolism and have a beneficial effect on the formation of microflora in the intestines.

Dried apples - beneficial properties and vitamins:

Main rules

How to properly store dried apples? In order for dried apples to be preserved for a long time and not to lose their beneficial properties and taste, you just need to thoroughly dry the apple pieces, place them in a hermetically sealed container, transferring them with paper sheets, and then place them in a dry, constantly ventilated room.

However, sometimes various unforeseen circumstances . For example, insects get inside boxes or bags. Do not immediately throw the entire contents of the container directly into the trash bag. If the pest was noticed almost immediately, then you can try to save .

To do this, you need to carefully sort them out, removing damaged pieces. Then the rest is laid out on a baking sheet in a thin layer and heated well in the oven for thirty minutes at a temperature of about 60 degrees Celsius.

An alternative to this method can be the “freezing” technology, which allows you to get rid of any insects.

An equally “dangerous” pest is mold . Things are much worse for her.

Pieces of dried apples affected by this fungus should not be eaten even after proper processing.

Dried fruits that are good for weight loss

Various dried fruits in small quantities during diets This is facilitated by the increased calorie content of dried apples.

The dried product loses moisture, but the nutritional value remains in it. Because of this, the dry type of product becomes several times more caloric than the fresh one.

Dried apples are several times more caloric than fresh ones

The dried apple diet should be used with caution. You should consume a complex of dried fruits and nuts for 5 days. You need to consume 200 g of dried fruit and the same amount of nuts per day.

The mixture is divided into 10 parts and taken every hour . In addition, you should drink plenty of fluids. It is recommended to use dried apples for weight loss purposes, but you need to replace them with an evening meal.

Dried fruits will be harmful and are contraindicated for people diagnosed with obesity and diabetes mellitus at the last stage.

What to cook from dried apples

Dried apples have a very good effect on the functioning of the body. In winter, it is a storehouse of vitamins that can support the immune system and protect against colds. Dry apples can be poured into a vase on the coffee table - they don’t sit out for a long time. But you can also prepare other complete dishes from them.

1. The most common use of dried apples is to make compote. Indeed, various dried fruits give the drink a fruity aroma, rich taste and special sweetness. Add some raisins to the apples and a handful of frozen cherries for color and you'll end up with a delicious summer drink.
2. A slice of dried apple can be thrown into the teapot when brewing tea. This will give the drink a special piquant taste and aroma.
3. If you chop dried apples and simmer them in butter with a little water and sugar, you get an amazing filling for pancakes.
4. Scroll the dried and soaked apple slices through a meat grinder and add a little lemon zest, cinnamon and sugar to the mixture. The prepared mixture can be eaten as jam or used as a pie filling.
5. Add a couple of dried apple slices to the cauldron where you are stewing beef or poultry. The meat acquires a delicate taste and appetizing aroma.
6. Prepare the following mixture, which is not only very tasty, but also incredibly healthy. Chop the apples, add walnuts, raisins and honey. The resulting mixture should be rolled into small balls and sprinkled with coconut flakes. Your child will certainly like these natural and attractive sweets. They not only strengthen the immune system, but also perfectly raise hemoglobin.

In winter, when fresh apples begin to become more expensive, dried apple slices are a real salvation for many housewives. They can be eaten like gummies or added to many dishes.

It has been scientifically proven that drying is the healthiest, optimal and natural way to preserve the vitamins in apples. Dry apples, stock up, store dried fruits correctly and your kitchen will always have something to please your household!

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How to dry properly: basic requirements

Many housewives dry apples in the oven in their apartment. The finished slices should be placed in 1 row on a baking sheet, but preferably on a grid. Set the heat to low (75°C) and leave the door slightly open.

For better results, before the end of drying the temperature is reduced to 50-55 °C. You need to stir the apples every hour and a half. The whole process is long, lasts about 7 hours, after which the fruits become pale.

Apples can be dried in the oven, in the sun, on a thread, in the microwave and in an electric dryer.

The very first and widely used method is to dry apples in the sun . It is used in hot areas with a predominant number of hot days.

In the autumn, it is unlikely that it will be possible to dry apples on the street; the air must warm up well so that the product does not spoil, but quickly withers. Therefore, this option is used for drying summer varieties.

The advantage of this method is that on an unlimited area you can dry all the cooked apples at once.

The finished fruits are laid out on a mesh or baking sheet and mixed daily.

You can also string sliced ​​fruits on a string and hang them up . To protect against various pests, you should cover the product with gauze folded 1-2 times (but this is not a 100% guarantee of protection). Be sure to protect from rain.

If all points are completed, the apples will turn into drying within 3-4 days.

The next option is drying in an electric dryer . Using this device you can dry apples in a very short time and in large quantities. This is the most basic method of drying.

The apples are cut no more than 5 mm thick, arranged in one row in an electric dryer and after 2-3 hours the product is ready.

An electric dryer can dry a large number of apples in a short time.

Microwave drying . The fruits are washed well and cut into slices 1 to 2 cm thick. The finished apples are dipped in a weak saline solution (4 teaspoons of salt per 1 liter of water) to preserve color.

The product is placed evenly on a baking sheet and placed in the microwave. Drying is carried out at a power of 300 Watts for 2 minutes. We turn it off and look, if it’s damp, then return it to the oven for another 30 seconds.

The process requires care . The dryer should be dry and elastic. The times indicated are approximate. This may take 3 minutes, or 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

Drying apples and an unusual storage method:

What to do if there are pests

Even proper storage may not protect dried fruits from parasitic insects. They feed on dry food, live in it, reproduce, and therefore spoil all its beneficial qualities.

It is imperative to inspect apples during storage. If any pests are found there, you need to immediately begin rescue operations. The drying should be sorted out, damaged slices should be discarded, and healthy ones should be baked in the oven at 70 degrees for about an hour.

Please note: you can put apples in the refrigerator for a day; the parasites die from low temperatures.

Moth is the main enemy in storing dried apples

Moth is the biggest fan of dried apples. It is she who starts up in dried fruits most often, subsequently moving into other rooms. To prevent this, you need to adhere to the following rules even at the preparation stage.

1. Rinse the chopped apples in salted water and soak them in a vinegar solution for 10 minutes. After this, dry the slices in the fresh air. Now you can put them in the oven or electric dryer.
2. Moths love dried fruits for their sweet taste and smell. It is very important to store apples in a dry place and block the spread of odor, that is, tightly close the drying container.
3. You can store dried apples in clean, dry glass jars under nylon lids. Canisters and large plastic bottles also work.
4. Moths and other pests really don’t like the smell of laundry soap. If you wash a linen bag with it, dry it and put dried apples inside, insects will not get in. Just don’t rinse the bag too thoroughly: you want the smell of laundry soap to remain on it for as long as possible.

By the way, the winter cold will help prevent the appearance of parasites. It is enough from time to time to pour dried apples onto a baking sheet and expose them to frost (or place them in the freezer of the refrigerator), and the insects will simply die along with the larvae.

Preparing fresh crops for drying and storage

Selected apples are washed well, rotten areas and a box with seeds are cut out. It is advisable to leave the peel on the fruit , since it contains a higher percentage of vitamins.

After this, the fruits are cut into thin slices or circles and placed in a saline solution for better results . Apples are dried in a way suitable for each housewife.

The main rule for high-quality preservation of apples for a long period is the correct drying process.

The slices should be dried and dried thoroughly so that there is no damp product left. Because of it, the remaining slices will begin to deteriorate.

Proper drying

To prepare apples for drying you need:

• Wash all fruits thoroughly.
• Cut off all damaged areas and seeds. There is no need to cut off the peel, as it contains a large amount of vitamins.
• Cut the fruit into slices and soak in a salt solution to preserve color.
• Next, drying occurs using any chosen method.

In the sun

Our ancestors always dried fruits in the sun. This is the best way to preserve all the vitamins and minerals in the fruits. Those who live in a private house or have a summer cottage can easily use this method.

Apples should be cut into slices, placed on newspaper or trays and placed in a sunny place. It’s good if the apples are ventilated. Be sure to stir them several times.

In the fall, when it is no longer so sunny, it is unlikely that you will be able to dry apples in the open air. And high humidity will not allow this.

How and where to store at home: apartment, basement or cellar

No matter what conditions the drying is stored in, you need to remember the basic requirements for this process :

• ventilated room;
• dryness;
• freshness;
• darkness.

Bags made of thick fabric are well suited for storing dried apples.
It must be remembered that storing dried fruits near heat sources will lead to product spoilage . If the dryer is packaged correctly, it will receive oxygen, which will prevent mold and further deterioration.

Never store dried fruits in plastic bags or plastic containers. They close tightly and prevent the access of oxygen, which can cause the apples to spoil.

The most suitable container for storing dried apples are small bags made of dense material. Moths and other insects will not fit into them to lay eggs.

also use cardboard boxes, hermetically sealed baskets, as well as wooden containers into which pests will not penetrate.
Place a sheet of thick or waxed paper on the bottom of the selected container.

Storage conditions and location

Storing dried apples involves creating certain conditions that will ensure good shelf life of the fruit.

First, you will need a dark, dry, well-ventilated area.

Please note that apples will quickly spoil if they are near heat sources. And one more important condition: you cannot place them next to products that have a rich aroma, because they tend to absorb odors.

The air temperature in the room should not exceed 10°. For product harvested in summer, the ideal place in the apartment would be a glassed-in balcony or window sill, where the risk of parasites is minimized. The main thing is to create protection from sunlight.

With the onset of cold weather, when the temperature drops and the humidity level rises, the dryer must be taken to a warm and dry place - placed in the pantry. There is no humidity or sun in this place. To be sure, you can place a bowl of salt next to it, which will absorb excess moisture.

Basic rules for preserving dried fruits during the long winter

To preserve dried apples, remember:

• Line the bottom and top with waxed or thick paper;
• pack dried fruits tightly;
• when choosing glass containers, be sure to monitor the tightness of the lid;
• drying should be located far from other products with a pronounced odor (apples absorb odors);
• check the product frequently to ensure that insects do not appear there;
• look through the slices and get rid of the spoiled ones.

Where to store dried apples

Apples should be stored in a well-ventilated, dark and cool place. If you have a glassed-in balcony, this is an ideal place to store dried fruits. You cannot store supplies on an open balcony - high humidity will spoil the product. Apples can also be stored in the refrigerator, but in this case they need to be sorted and ventilated more often. There should be no strong-smelling items or products near the storage area (for example, cleaning products or spices). Apples perfectly absorb foreign odors; it is often impossible to eat them after this. Apples can be stored on mezzanines, in closets, in pantries, or simply on the top shelves of kitchen drawers.

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Selection of containers

The most suitable is a hermetically sealed container - it will protect the product from high humidity and pests. It is not recommended to store dry fruits in plastic bags - they do not allow air to pass through. As a result, condensation forms and the product becomes affected by mold. Cardboard boxes, birch bark baskets, glass jars, and wooden boxes are suitable for storage. At the bottom of the container there are sheets of wax paper. The top of the fruit is covered with cotton cloth or paper.

How to understand that moths have appeared in dried fruits

It is not difficult to detect insects in dried apples: at the bottom of the container in which they are stored, you can see white worms, light lumps, and the remains of cocoons of moth larvae. Moths are capable of multiplying everywhere: not only in dried fruits, so it will not be difficult to detect traces of its presence inside cabinets, on the walls of furniture or premises.

Moth in dried apples

Shelf life of apples

How long dried fruit can be stored depends on the drying technology, storage mode, and apple variety. When stored at optimal temperature and humidity, the maximum shelf life of dried apples is 2 years. Incorrectly selected containers also affect shelf life. For example, dried fruits are stored in plastic bags for no more than 7–10 days.

During long-term storage, the beneficial composition of the fruit is lost. For this reason, it is recommended to update the stock of dried apples every year. The varieties of apples that have dense pulp are most suitable for drying and storage: Antonovka, Grushovka, Melba, Scarlet Slast, Aport.