Methods for preparing dried melon at home

Melon is a fragrant and tasty delicacy. However, ripe fruit is stored in the refrigerator for about 5 days, and cut into pieces - up to 3 days. To please yourself with your favorite taste longer, the sweet vegetable is frozen, dried, and jams, preserves and compotes are made from it.

To maximize the preservation of beneficial properties, melon is dried at home. Read our article about how to do this correctly.

The benefits and harms of dried melon

Dried fruit retains all the beneficial substances contained in fresh fruit. It is rich in vitamins (A, B1, B2, E, P, PP, C), folic acid, carotene, and minerals. The product contains iron, fiber, proteins and carbohydrates.

Melon has hematopoietic, choleretic and diuretic properties. Has a calming, restorative and anti-inflammatory effect. The dried product is useful for gout. It strengthens the immune system and improves mood.

When eating dried melon, remember that microelements and vitamins are stored in it in greater concentration and an excessive amount of delicacy eaten can lead to upset stomach.

100 g of dried product contains 341 kcal, of which 329 are quickly digestible sugar. Therefore, people suffering from diabetes and those on a diet are not recommended to consume melon. It is worth abstaining from it in case of liver diseases and gastrointestinal tract.

Dried melon should not be given to children under one year of age, as their digestive system is still developing.In order not to provoke an allergic reaction in a child, it is better to exclude vegetables from the diet. during breastfeeding.

Like fresh melon, dried slices are not washed down with alcohol or milk, or honey, so as not to provoke digestive system disorders.

Which melon is suitable

Not all varieties are suitable for preparing dried product. They should be sweet, aromatic, with firm and juicy flesh.

The most suitable varieties:

• Collective farmer;
• Gulyabi;
• Torpedo;
• Pineapple;
• Persian;
• Koibashi;
• Wintering.

For harvesting, select ripe, medium-sized fruits that are not damaged by animals, birds or insects, and without signs of rotting.

Preparing the melon

Selected fruits are pre-dried. To do this, they are laid out for 2-3 days in the open air so that the pulp loses its excessive fragility and fragility. After that, the damaged fruits are discarded, and the remaining ones are thoroughly washed under running water and allowed to dry. Then they are cut into two parts and the seeds are removed with a spoon.

The halves are cut into longitudinal strips 2-3 cm wide. The peel with the green pulp adjacent to it is peeled off. Depending on the choice of the method in which the melons will be dried, the pieces are laid out on pallets, baking sheets or sheets. To dry on special hangers, the slices are cut lengthwise, not cutting 3-4 cm to the end.

How to properly dry melon at home

There are several ways to wilt melon at home:

• in the oven;
• in an electric dryer;
• on air.

Let's look at the features, pros and cons of each option.

In the oven

Drying in the oven does not require much effort, but it does take a lot of time.

The temperature should not be more than +75 °C. The process is carried out in 2 stages.The cut slices are laid out on a baking sheet and placed in the oven. For 5 hours the temperature is set to +60 °C. Then the oven is turned off and the door is opened slightly.

So the melon is left for a day. At the second stage, the temperature is increased by 15 ° C and a break is taken every couple of hours.

In an electric dryer

It is more convenient to dry the fruit in an electric dryer. To make the process go faster, it is better to use no more than 3 grates. The pieces are laid out on pallets so that they do not touch each other. The temperature is set to +60 °C. Drying time - 10–12 hours. This way the slices dry evenly, without burning or outside interference.

On air

At home, dried melons are also prepared outdoors. The cut strips are laid out on pallets and covered with gauze on top to prevent wasps from damaging them. The containers are placed in the sun. At night it is better to store them in a dry and warm place. The strips are turned over every 2 days to remove moisture evenly.

If the slices are hung dried, they are placed in pairs on a wire or rope in a ventilated room. The workpieces are also covered with gauze to protect against insects.

The drying process lasts 8–12 days.

How to check readiness

The finished melon has a light brown or light yellow color. It is elastic, does not break when bent, and is slightly sticky. The weight of the dried product is approximately 10 times less than the original. This fruit has a pleasant taste.

Storage

When storing, make sure that the finished product does not get wet. The ingress of moisture causes the melon to rot and spoil.

Dried slices are woven into braids: this facilitates better storage. The resulting bundles are best wrapped in white cotton cloth and placed in boxes with the bottom lined with parchment.

Sweet strips are stored in glass jars. They are placed vertically and hermetically sealed with tin lids.

Cloth bags, zip bags with perforations, and paper bags are suitable for storage.

Application

Dried melon is consumed as an independent product or used to prepare various dishes. The pieces are sprinkled with powdered sugar, poppy seeds or sesame seeds, rolled into rolls with nut filling and served with tea.

Dried fruit makes tasty and healthy compotes. To add a spicy aroma to your tea, you can add a few pieces directly to the teapot.

Melon is used as a filling in casseroles and pies. To do this, the strips are cut into small cubes and filled with water, boiled to remove excess liquid and until completely softened.

After steaming, the dried product takes on a fresh appearance and can be used in fruit salads, smoothies and other desserts.

Conclusion

Dried melon retains the beneficial properties of the fresh product. It saturates the body with vitamins, supports the immune system, and improves mood. Do not forget that microelements and substances are retained in greater concentration. Therefore, it is better for people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, diabetes or obesity to refrain from consuming this fruit. Excessive amounts of the product eaten can lead to stomach upset even in a healthy person.

It is not difficult to prepare this melon. The fruit is dried in the oven, electric dryer or in the open air. The delicacy can be used universally: it is added to compotes, jam, pastries, salads and other desserts.