Recipe for making dried melon at home

Dried melon is a type of dried fruit that is healthy for the body and contains almost all vitamins and minerals. It’s easy to prepare melon in the oven, in the fresh air or in an electric dryer, resulting in a tasty and healthy delicacy.

Composition and calorie content

Calorie content per 100 g of product is 341 kcal.

The nutritional value:

• proteins - 0.7 g;
• fats - 0.1 g;
• carbohydrates - 82.2 g.

Dried melon is rich in ascorbic acid (20 mg per 100 g), vitamins A, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, E, PP and beta-carotene.

The composition contains 7.3 g of mono- and disaccharides, starch and fiber. The product contains micro- and macroelements: fluorine, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, iodine, cobalt, zinc, sulfur, sodium, zinc.

Beneficial features

When heat dried, melon loses a small amount of vitamin C, but retains all other beneficial substances. This product is useful in combating stress and will help maintain youth.

Potassium improves the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, helps cope with stress, normalizes water balance, and relieves swelling.

Calcium strengthens the skeleton and improves the condition of teeth. Magnesium normalizes mental state and strengthens the nervous system.

Phosphorus strengthens bones, teeth and nails, and is good for the eyes. With a deficiency of the element, rapid fatigue, weakness, inattention and loss of appetite occur.

With regular consumption of dried fruit:

• heart function will improve;
• liver cleanses itself of toxins;
• sleep improves and anxiety decreases;
• the functioning of the gallbladder is normalized;
• the condition of hair, nails and skin improves;
• vitamin deficiency is inflamed due to vitamin deficiency;
• the body recovers faster from illness.

For women The product is useful during menopause. Folic acid normalizes the functioning of the endocrine, immune, and cardiovascular systems, and reduces unpleasant symptoms. It is useful when planning and during pregnancy.

By constantly consuming dried fruit, a woman maintains youth and beauty. Dried melon strengthens blood vessels, muscles and bones, improves mood and gives strength. Thanks to the complex of vitamins, the skin becomes elastic, moisturized and toned. Hair acquires a beautiful shine, becomes thick and strong. Iron improves blood condition and increases hemoglobin levels.

For men dried melon is no less useful. With its regular use, sexual desire increases, activity and endurance increase, the heart muscle strengthens, and blood circulation normalizes. Zinc is involved in the production of testosterone, silicon strengthens blood vessels and slows down the aging process.

Important! Children under 4 years of age are not recommended to consume dried melon: the product is quite heavy for a developing digestive system.

From the age of 4, it is allowed to gradually introduce dried melon into the child’s diet. It will have a beneficial effect on the young body.

What to use dried melon for

Dried fruits are used as an independent product, used as a dessert and in the preparation of more complex dishes, as a component of baked goods or cocktails.

Attention! It is not recommended to eat melon with alcohol, dairy products and honey.Such combinations often act as a strong laxative.

Healthy candies are made from dried fruits, sprinkled with ground nuts, sesame seeds or poppy seeds. The fruit is used in making tea, cosmetology and for the prevention of various diseases.

Which melon to choose for drying

Not everyone is suitable for drying crop varieties. The pulp of the fruit should be dense and firm.

Suitable varieties:

• Torpedo;
• Pineapple;
• Gulyabi;
• Collective farmer.

The fruits must be whole and undamaged. Medium-sized and juicy melons work well. Flesh too juicy will significantly delay the drying time.

Overripe fruits with loose pulp are not suitable for drying.

How to dry melon

Melon is dried at home in different ways. The equipment and temperature of the workpiece differ.

In an electric dryer

Using an electric dryer will preserve all the beneficial substances contained in melon.

How to dry melon in an electric dryer:

1. Rinse the fruit well, remove seeds and peel, remove unsweetened pulp.
2. Cut into thin strips no more than 5 mm thick, of any length.
3. Leave the closed electric dryer to warm up for 5 minutes.
4. Place the prepared pieces in one layer on trays, leaving a little free space between them.
5. Place the filled trays in an electric dryer.
6. Set the temperature to +55…+70°С. Dry the melon pieces for 10-11 hours.

The temperature below will be slightly higher, so the pallets are periodically swapped. After 3-4 hours of continuous drying of the melon in the electric dryer, turn off the device for 7-12 minutes.

In the oven

Another way is to use an oven.

How to dry melon at home:

1. Prepare the fruit, rinse, peel and seeds, cut into pieces 6 to 7 mm thick.
2. Preheat the oven to +70…+75°C.
3. Cover a baking sheet with parchment and arrange the pieces, keeping a small distance between them (2-3 mm).
4. Place the workpiece in a preheated oven and dry for 7 hours at a temperature of +75°C. Remove the pieces and cool.
5. Place in the preheated oven again and continue drying at +60°C for 2-3 hours.

Turn the pieces over periodically to prevent them from burning.

Is it possible to dry melon rinds? Yes, they are rich in vitamins. For example, candied fruits are made from the peel in sugar syrup.

Outdoors

You can dry melon slices without using electrical appliances, in the open air, but vitamin C in this case will quickly oxidize, so the benefits of such dried fruits are reduced.

How to dry melon:

1. Wash and peel the fruit, cut into small slices 4 to 8 mm thick.
2. Cut each slice in half lengthwise, but not all the way through. Leave the partition so that later you can hang the pieces, for example, on a rope.
3. Hang the prepared slices on a fishing line or rope.
4. Dry the melon for 12–14 days, turning occasionally to ensure even drying.

If the slices are hung in the house, the room is constantly ventilated.

How to check readiness

It is easy to determine the readiness of the product:

• the color of the finished melon will be light brown or light yellow;
• it is elastic and does not break when bent, slightly sticky to the touch;
• the weight of dried melon is about 10 times lighter than fresh;
• The fruit has a pleasant taste.

How to store

As they dry, the slices are braided or rolled into rolls so that they take up less space.Such blanks will last for at least 6 months. Optimal storage is in tightly closed glass jars. At room temperature, the melon will last for about 10 months without losing its properties.

Reference! The shelf life of well-dried pieces reaches 15 months.

Keep the slices in different containers:

• glass jars;
• wooden boxes;
• paper bags;
• cardboard boxes;
• linen bags.

Dried melon is stored in dry and cool, well-ventilated areas. The pieces are mixed 1-2 times a month for better ventilation.

Possible harm and contraindications

Despite the benefits, it is also possible harm dried melon for the body. The product has two important features: it contains a lot of sugar and is not always quickly absorbed.

Dried fruits are contraindicated for diabetes mellitus and are not recommended for consumption by people with gastrointestinal disorders and children under 4 years of age.

Can it be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

A product rich in nutrients will bring only benefits to a pregnant woman. It is consumed in small quantities due to its difficult digestion and high sugar content. The daily norm during pregnancy is no more than 200 g.

Dried melon contains folic acid, which relieves insomnia, has a calming effect, and relieves fatigue. Magnesium will help get rid of cramps and normalize sleep.

When breastfeeding, the female body needs an additional complex of minerals, vitamins and protein. Dried fruits will only bring benefits to mother and baby. With mother's milk, the baby will receive all the necessary nutrients.

Attention! When breastfeeding, dried melon is eaten only if the child has no allergies; it is introduced into the diet in small portions.

Dried fruits improve lactation and prevent salt deposition in the kidneys. After childbirth, they will help a woman restore skin elasticity. Silicon and zinc have a positive effect on cell regeneration due to their antioxidant properties.

Conclusion

The beneficial properties of dried melon are varied: it normalizes the functioning of the nervous system, increases hemoglobin levels, improves the functioning of the heart and gastrointestinal tract, strengthens blood vessels, improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails.

It is better to use dried fruits as an independent dessert to avoid unpleasant consequences due to incompatibility with other products. Dried fruit is sold in any supermarket, but it is better to prepare it yourself in an oven, electric dryer or dehydrator.