Different ways to dry carrots at home for the winter

It is convenient to store dried carrots: they do not take up much space, do not lose their taste and beneficial properties for a long time. At home, root vegetables are prepared in the oven, microwave, electric dryer, convection oven and outdoors. Let's consider all the options for drying carrots.

Is it possible to dry carrots

Carrots will not lose their beneficial properties if you dry them in the summer, immediately after ripening.. In autumn, the vegetable already loses its taste and some of its vitamins. The preparation does not require much space.

By the way! Dried root vegetables have a low calorie content: 100 g contains 226 kcal.

How to use

Dried carrots are added to first courses, gravies, casseroles, vegetable stews, preserved fish and sausages. It is used as a seasoning for pates, sauces and decorative toppings.

The preparation is suitable for salads and confectionery. The product softened in milk produces a pie filling rich in vitamins and fiber.

Dried carrots are taken on hikes along with other vegetables.. Bread is baked with it, adding 2 tbsp to the dough. l.

Reference. The preparation is used to make tea, kvass and coffee, vitamin decoctions for the treatment of various diseases of organs and systems.

Selection and preparation of carrots

Select bright orange, strong and intact root vegetables medium size without defects, core and hard fibers.

Mid-season and late varieties are suitable for harvesting: They are disease resistant and last longer. After selection, the carrots are washed well with a stiff brush.The tops are cut, washed and dried separately.

Root vegetables are peeled with a knife or vegetable peeler. The top green part is removed.

After peeling, keep the vegetables in boiling water for 15–20 minutes.. As a result, they become soft, but not cooked. It is important that the carrots are not overcooked. To check for readiness, lightly pierce it with a toothpick: if the tip of the stick passes without effort, remove the vegetables, cool under running cold water and wipe with a towel.

Reference. Drying carrots and without processing, in raw form.

Before harvesting, the root crop is crushed in different ways:

• rub coarsely;
• cut into rings, semicircles or quarters;
• chop into cubes, strips or sticks.

The tops are cut and dried, collecting in bunches.

How to dry carrots

Vegetables are cooked outdoors for 2 weeks. There are faster ways: in the oven, microwave and other appliances.

It can be useful:

Features of storing carrots at home

How to properly freeze carrots for the winter in the freezer

In the sun

Prepared root vegetables are placed on a tray or net and exposed to the sun.. The tops are kept in a shaded place.

At night the workpiece is brought into the house, and in the morning, when the dew has disappeared, they put it out again. On pallets, vegetables are periodically mixed to ensure uniform drying.

Natural drying saves energy, but takes approximately 10–14 days.

Reference! For harvesting, choose the south side of the site without dust. It is better to have a canopy nearby that will protect the product from rain.

In the oven

This is the most easily accessible preparation option. Chopped vegetables are laid out on a baking sheet covered with wax paper in a layer no larger than 1 cm. Place in the oven at a temperature of +65...+70°C.To allow air to circulate better, keep the cabinet door slightly open.

For good ventilation of the room, open a window or window.

The vegetables are taken out several times, mixed and cooled to room temperature.. Dry for a total of 6–8 hours. The duration depends on the type of cutting.

In an electric dryer

Carrots cut into pieces are poured onto trays in one layer, and grated - in a layer of no more than 5 mm. The temperature on the device is set to +60…+70°C. To ensure uniform drying, the pallets are periodically swapped.

Cooking time depends on the number of vegetables and cutting method. On average, the process takes from 6 to 12 hours. Drying a large volume of carrots takes place in several stages.

In the microwave

Prepared vegetables or tops are laid out on a special flat plate. The microwave oven is set to maximum power and the workpiece is dried for 3 minutes.

Then the power mode is reduced by half, the carrots are kept for another 3–5 minutes. To check the readiness of the product, look into the oven every 30–60 seconds.

In a convection oven

Before drying, all root vegetables are thinly cut or grated. After grinding, they are laid out in one layer on racks, which are placed in the device one by one.

Important! To drain moist hot air, a high-temperature-resistant material is inserted between the body and the lid.

Carrots are kept at +120°C and medium air speed for 15–20 minutes. The cooking time depends on the amount of vegetables. To speed up processing, the product is laid out in small portions in several batches.

How to check readiness

In the finished product, moisture is reduced by approximately 15%. Before drying is completed, take one piece for testing. It should be quite fragile, but not crumbly or sticky.If the vegetables have reached the desired consistency, begin sorting them.

Read also:

Preparing a dressing for carrot soup for the winter

Recipes for “Orange Miracle” carrot salad for the winter

Recipes for pickled carrots

How to store

Dried vegetables are kept for 2 days in a common container. (for example, a wooden box). During this time, the remaining moisture will be evenly distributed.

Afterwards, the root vegetables are poured into an airtight glass container or tin, cotton or plastic bags.

For winter storage they are placed in a dark, cool place., protected from moisture. The shelf life of such carrots is 1 year.

Drying carrots for tea

Prepared from vegetables harvested in the sun or in the oven. delicious and healthy tea. When using the oven, the carrots are pre-washed, peeled, and chopped, pour onto a baking sheet and set to maximum temperature.

This drying takes place in 3 stages.:

1. The baking sheet is kept in the oven for 20 minutes.
2. The workpiece is allowed to cool at room temperature.
3. The vegetables are placed back in the oven for 20 minutes.

Wherein carrots are mixed to evenly distribute moisture. The oven door is left ajar.

Conclusion

Drying carrots for the winter at home does not require any special equipment or skills. To do this, select undamaged vegetables of suitable varieties, wash them thoroughly, peel and chop them. Such root vegetables not only do not lose their beneficial properties and rich composition, but are also stored for up to a year.

The preparation is added to various dishes, sauces, and fillings for confectionery products.