Autumn pampers us with generous gifts. One of them is bell pepper, or paprika. In especially fruitful years, there are so many peppers that the question arises of how to preserve the entire crop, if enough canning and freezing have already been done. And here drying comes to the rescue!
What are the benefits of dried peppers
People have learned to dry peppers since time immemorial. Fruits of any color and degree of ripeness can be dried, but the best dried paprika is obtained from fleshy thick-walled varieties. Dried peppers do not lose their taste and nutrients.
Preparing peppers for drying
- The selected fruits must be thoroughly washed and dried with a napkin or paper towel.
- Remove the stem with the core and the damaged area.
- Remove seeds from the inner surface by tapping or using a dry object.
- Cut the fruit lengthwise into segments and then cut into elongated or square pieces.
Important! Try not to get water inside. If this happens, dry thoroughly.
Home drying options
Outdoors
The cheapest way. If you have enough free space to spread out the peppers to dry, this is the option for you.
- The main conditions for drying are absence of moisture and temperature above +15 ° С.
- Prepared and chopped peppers are laid out on trays and covered with gauze from insects and birds.
- Placed in an open place or under a canopy.
- At night, it is better to clean the trays in a dry room from the morning dew.
You can dry the whole pepper. Vegetables washed and peeled from seeds are strung on a string and dried under a canopy roof or in a dry room.
Outdoor drying takes 3 to 7 days depending on weather conditions.
Using an electric dryer
An electric dryer is the most convenient electrical device for drying vegetables and fruits, which it is advisable to buy for a summer resident, if opportunities allow.
I dry peppers as follows:
- Cut the prepared pepper into thin (no more than 1-2 mm thick) slices.
- In one layer, without overlapping each other, I lay it out on the grates.
- I set the temperature to no higher than 55 ° C.
- I periodically check the degree of readiness of the product.
- At the end of drying, I let it cool completely and only after that I take out the dried pepper.
Drying peppers in this way takes 12 to 24 hours, depending on the thickness of the cut.
Finished pieces can be left coarse, chopped to medium size, or powdered. I stock all three options to use in different dishes.
In the oven
In the absence of an electric dryer, drying peppers using the oven is also easy:
- Prepare the pepper in the usual way.
Attention! Wipe the fruit thoroughly outside and inside if water gets into it!
- Cut into small pieces and pour into baking trays no more than 1 cm thick, having previously spread parchment.
- We set the temperature to 60 ° C and warm it up for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Leave the oven door slightly ajar, placing a non-flammable object.
- We leave for a day with the door ajar.
- The next day, stir the pepper and repeat all the actions of the previous day.
- We repeat the procedure until completely dry.
Drying in this way takes 2-4 days.
In the microwave
In the absence of other options, paprika can be dried in a microwave oven, but it should be borne in mind that less nutrients are retained in the pepper.
- Cut the prepared pepper into medium-sized pieces and put on a plate loosely in one layer.
- Select a power of 250-300 W and heat the pepper for 2 minutes.
- Open the oven and stir the paprika.
- Repeat the procedure until the product is completely dry.
Attention! Be careful not to smell of burning during drying. In this case, the power should be slightly reduced.
We check the readiness of the product
If the slice bends, the product is not ready yet. Dried paprika becomes very brittle and crumbles easily.
Storage conditions
You can store dried paprika as follows:
- The best way is in glass, ceramic and metal jars with a lid.
- Can also be kept in plastic containers with a lid.
- Paprika is well stored in a dry cellar or pantry in canvas or coarse calico bags.
Important! Peppers that have been dried in the open air should be disinfected by placing them in an oven heated to 100 ° C and turned off.
Cooking applications
- Dried paprika goes well with any meat or vegetable dishes.
- It can be used in sauces and marinades.
- If paprika is previously placed in water for swelling, it can be added to the dish at the end of cooking.
Read also: We eat fresh pumpkin until spring. Revealing the secrets of proper storage
Friends, do not forget to subscribe to the channel and LIKE if the article is useful!
#drying pepper#drying methods#useful tips