I harvest raspberries for the winter in different forms. In addition to freezing and making jam, I dry these delicious aromatic berries. This convenient technology attracts me with its simplicity. Dried berries do not require much storage space.
In winter, on the basis of dried raspberries, I prepare compotes, add berries to tea and dough. Crushed to a powder, the fruits can be used as a component of home scrubs and beauty masks.
Preparatory stage
For drying, I use dense ripe berries, collected in dry warm weather. I reject overripe, damaged, deformed, rotten fruits.
I sort out the raw materials, removing leaves, fragments of twigs, larvae of pests, berries with traces of contamination. I leave only pure and high-quality fruits, as it is not recommended to wash delicate raspberries.
If the berries are contaminated, I gently rinse them with cool water and place them in a sieve. Then I distribute it over the paper, carefully blotting it with a napkin.
Drying technologies
I practice several ways to get dried high-quality raspberries without any problems.
On open air
I choose a dry room (barn, attic, balcony). You can place fruits under a canopy. It is important that the selected area is well ventilated. The berries should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
I distribute the raspberries evenly with a thin layer on a thick canvas or white paper. Be sure to stir up the raw materials every day, ensuring high-quality drying.
I carefully string a small amount of berries on a thread. I hang them under a canopy or on a balcony. This method does not require turning the raw material. The drying process lasts 1-1.5 weeks.
In the oven
You can speed up the drying process by using an oven. I spread the raspberries in a loose layer on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. You can use a silicone mat.
Place in the oven at + 40... + 60 ° C. The drying process takes 6-8 hours. I take into account that at a lower temperature, a maximum of useful compounds is retained in raspberries. I turn the raw materials every 20-25 minutes. I cool the finished product after turning off the heating in the oven with the door open.
In the microwave
When using a household microwave, it is possible to dry raspberries most quickly. It will take 6-10 minutes.
The disadvantages of this technology include the possibility of severe deformation of the berries. Large amounts of raspberries will not dry out.
Covering a flat plate with parchment. I spread the raspberries with a small gap between the berries. I cover them with a gauze napkin. At 200 W, I set a timer for 3 minutes. I check the quality of drying. If necessary, I turn the raw materials. I turn on the device again for 3 minutes. You can repeat the procedure one more time.
In the airfryer
I spread a two-layer gauze napkin on the grill of the airfryer. I put a layer of berries on it, not forgetting to leave a small interval between them.
I close the device. I set the temperature regime in the range of + 40... + 60 ° C. I systematically control the quality of drying by turning off and opening the airfryer.
In a dehydrator
In the device, focused on removing excess moisture from products, the process is carried out due to the movement of air flows. This mechanism ensures gentle, even drying.
The entire process often takes about 24 hours. Dried berries do not lose their characteristic aroma.
In an electric dryer
I distribute the raspberries on the wire rack. I fill in all the levels. I prefer to run the process at + 40 ° C. Its duration is longer than at +60 ° C, but the berries retain almost all their positive qualities.
I control raw materials every 1-1.5 hours. It is not required to stir it up.
In the sun
If I collect a lot of raspberries, then I dry them in the sun. Of course, some useful connections will be destroyed, but the process is attractive for its speed.
I cover the pallets with a dense light canvas. I distribute raspberries in one loose layer. I put it on a flat roof slope. I turn the fruits twice a day. I bring them indoors at night or in the rain. On average, it takes 3-6 days to dry.
Correctly dried raspberries have a burgundy color. Sour-sweet taste and characteristic raspberry aroma are preserved. For storage up to 2 years, glass containers or canvas bags are suitable.
Read also: Three ways to cleanse the garden from infection and restore its fertility
Friends, do not forget to subscribe to the channel and LIKE if the article is useful!
#raspberries#drying raspberries#drying methods