Many people love black currants, but they have a short ripening period. In this regard, housewives are trying to prepare these berries for the winter. They are mainly engaged in canning, but drying of fruits can also be used.
Can black currants be dried
Canning is not the only method of harvesting berries. Drying has a much softer effect on currants than pouring hot syrup. Dry berries contain more vitamins than cooking.
Preparing berries for the procedure
Drying is a simple process, but during it you need to follow certain rules and, first of all, you need to properly prepare the product.
Berry picking is carried out in sunny weather. The fruits must be fully ripe. It is best to use currants collected with brushes for drying.
The currants must be washed and dried on a towel.
Proper drying of black currants
The berries contain a large percentage of water (85-90%). After drying, the indicator should decrease to 15%. In no case should you overdry the fruits, otherwise they will lose their beneficial and taste properties.
There are many methods for drying currants. Some will require special devices, others only need sun and air.
Outdoors
This method has been known for a long time, and many gardeners use it. The berries are dried using wooden trays or pallets. Metal products are not suitable for these purposes, since when interacting with metal, the berries develop an unpleasant aftertaste. The workpieces are laid out on parchment in a thin layer.
Then cover with a thin material (gauze) and transfer the pallets to the attic or balcony. The berries should be turned over so that they do not spoil and dry evenly.
After about two days, as soon as the moisture evaporates, you need to place the currants in the oven and dry them for 5-6 hours at a temperature not lower than +55 ° C. The dried product must be stored in glass or ceramic containers.
Drying in the sun
Steps for drying in the sun:
- Place parchment paper or tracing paper on a wooden tray.
- Pour the berry in an even thin layer.
- Place the dishes with currants in the shade, as soon as some of the moisture evaporates, it is necessary to transfer to a sunny place.
- Cover the trays with thin material to keep insects from damaging the berries.
- Stir the fruits periodically.
Harvesting under the sun takes two days. Then the dried currants must be dried in the oven for 5 hours.
Electric dryer
The appliance is specially designed for the preparation of dried fruits. Suitable temperature for drying currants is not more than + 50-55 ° C.
Sorted, washed and dried fruits are placed on pallets in one layer, and then placed in a dryer.
Berries need to be checked and stirred periodically. The process takes 50 hours.
Oven
In the oven, currants dries faster than in the sun.
Sequencing:
- Berries are scattered on a baking sheet covered with parchment.
- Set the temperature to +45 ° C and place the baking sheet for one hour.
- The fruits are pulled out and cooled. Then the temperature in the oven is raised to + 70 ° C.
- The cooled berry is again placed in the oven for drying for 2 hours.
Microwave
The berries are dried in a microwave-safe plate, pre-covered with cotton material. Cover with a napkin on top.
The currants are heated for 5 minutes at a power of 200 watts. Then, the readiness of the berries is checked, if necessary, they are dried again, checking after thirty seconds.
How to determine the readiness of the currant
As soon as the berries wrinkle and turn black, they need to be checked for readiness.
During inspection, the fruits are shaken. If the currant is already ready, then its color will turn black with a burgundy tint, and it will have a slight peculiar smell.
Drying currant foliage
Currant leaves are used to add to tea. For drying, collect the leaves growing on the middle part of the branches. They are sorted out and laid in one layer. Dry in a dry ventilated room.
After drying, they are stored in paper bags and sacks. The finished sheet should crumble well.
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#Dried currant#black currant#drying methods