How long and how to dry raspberries in the oven and other electrical appliances correctly
Raspberries are not only a healthy berry, but also an affordable medicine. It is indispensable for preparing vitamin herbal teas and infusions. The berries are used to decorate dishes and added to pies, cheesecakes, and pancakes. To make tasty and healthy fruits available at any time of the year, gardeners dry them in the sun, in the oven or microwave. This is convenient - there is always a supply of vitamins in the house, no need to look for raspberries in stores. We’ll look at how to dry it at home in this article.
Preparing raspberries for drying
Berries for drying are removed from the bush in advance, about 2-3 days before full ripeness. They must be intact, without damage or stains. Traces of insects and birds, as well as signs of rotting, are also unacceptable. Raspberries are sorted, removing leaves, stalks and branches.
Next, the fruits are carefully washed under running cool water and laid out on a clean cotton napkin or towel to get rid of excess moisture. If you use ripe raspberries, do not wash them - the moisture will cause the berries to crumble.
How to properly dry raspberries in the oven
There is an oven in every home. With its help, it is easy to speed up the drying process without much expense. The berries are laid out on a clean baking sheet in one row. The oven is heated, setting the temperature to about +50°C. The baking sheet is placed in the cabinet for 6-8 hours.
To dry the berries evenly, it is recommended to remove the tray every hour and shake it off.The oven door is opened slightly for 5 minutes every hour so that the berries are baked and not dried.
Attention! During drying, the convection mode is turned on - with its help, heated air moves inside the chamber using a fan. Thanks to this, the raspberries will not stick together and will dry evenly.
When drying raspberries in a gas oven, set the temperature to +40°C. It is recommended to keep the door open, otherwise there is a high risk of drying out the berries. The ideal dried raspberry is one that does not release juice, does not fall apart when pressed, and does not stick to your hands.
How to dry raspberries in other ways
In addition to the oven, electric dryers, microwaves, or simply leaving the raspberries in the sun for several hours are used to dry fruits.
In an electric dryer
An electric dryer is a compact and functional household appliance for drying berries, fruits and vegetables. Raspberries are laid out in one layer on a special baking sheet - a perforated mesh. Drying temperature +65°C, cooking time 20-22 hours.
During this period, the electric dryer is turned off 2-3 times for 30 minutes - this is necessary for uniform drying, so that the berries cool down to room temperature and then warm up again. In addition to dryers for home use, there are larger ones. They are used for industrial procurement of dried raspberries.
In the microwave
The raspberries are laid out in one layer on a clean rag and covered with a second piece of cloth on top. Next, put it in a glass plate and put it in the microwave. Dry the fruits at 200 W for 5 minutes. Remove from the microwave and check for stickiness and moisture.
If the fruits are not ready yet, they are sent to the microwave oven again. No more than 30 berries are dried in this way at a time.
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In the sun
Choose a sunny day for drying berries. Place baking paper or a clean paper napkin on a tray or baking sheet, then lay out the prepared fruits in one layer.
Leave it on a sunny windowsill or veranda, if we are talking about a dacha. To ensure that the fruits dry thoroughly, they are turned over periodically. Drying time is from 5 to 7 days. If it rains or the sunny weather changes to cool, the pallet is brought into the house.
Attention! A popular method of drying berries is stringing them on threads. Raspberry beads are hung in the sun for 3-5 days. For this purpose, unripe healthy specimens are selected.
How to dry raspberry leaves
Raspberry leaves are famous for their aroma and beneficial properties. They are added to tea, tinctures and other drinks that are used to prevent diseases and strengthen the immune system.
Raspberry leaves are collected in dry and clear weather. The leaf blades should be a rich green color, without specks or other spots.
- Dry the leaves possible outdoors. They are laid out in partial shade (for example, under a canopy) in one row and left for several days. The advantage of this method is that with such natural drying, raspberry leaves retain a maximum of useful substances. You can also collect the leaves in bunches, rinse them under cool water and hang them in a warm, dry place.
- An oven preheated to +30°C is also used to dry the leaves.. The green mass is laid out on a baking sheet and sent inside for half an hour.When using an electric dryer, the procedure will take 10 hours until all the moisture is removed from the greens.
Terms and conditions of storage
To store berries and leaves, use paper bags, cardboard boxes or bags made of natural fabrics. The container is washed and wiped dry with a towel. The preparations are stored in a dry, dark and ventilated place. The optimal temperature for storage is about +20°C, air humidity 80-85%. Shelf life - no more than 2 years.
If they notice that the fruits have acquired an uncharacteristic smell or are covered with mold, they are thrown away. Eating such berries is dangerous to health.
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Areas of use
The main uses of dried raspberries are cooking and traditional medicine. The fruits are used as a filling for dumplings, pies, and pancakes. Dried berries are added to cottage cheese and yogurt, homemade granola, and used to decorate cheesecakes, ice cream and other desserts.
Raspberries and their leaves are indispensable for making medicinal herbal tea. This drink is especially useful during the period of colds, in winter or autumn.
To prepare, take equal parts of dried raspberry, currant and rose hip leaves and pour boiling water over them. The drink is infused for 2 hours and drunk 2-3 times a day.
Attention! Raspberries are a strong allergen. When consuming foods or drinks containing dried berries or their leaves, make sure you do not have a negative reaction to the product.
Conclusion
Electric dryers, microwaves, and ovens are used for drying.Select healthy and firm berries and wash them under cool water. Regardless of the drying method, the fruits are laid out in one row.
During the procedure, they are periodically turned over so that they dry evenly. “Proper” dried raspberries should not be sticky or viscous. It is placed in paper or cardboard bags and stored in a cool and dark place for up to 2 years.