How to Dry Apricots at Home

Dried apricot (or, as it is otherwise called, dried apricots) is the most nutritious among the brothers. Such a product is appreciated due to its beneficial qualities, which are preserved even after the drying process.

Earlier, obtaining dried apricots from apricots was a lengthy process. At the same time, the fruits were first sorted, cut and stoned. After that, the fruits dried in the heat. They were necessarily covered with a cloth to protect from insects.

Currently, such dried fruits are obtained by a special technology using chemicals. So that the dried fruit acquires a bright orange color, a composition such as sulfur dioxide is included in the solution for soaking.

To obtain safe, most useful dried apricots, you should make it at home. To do this, you can use the oven, special electric dryers and other devices. To create 150 g of dried apricots, you need 500 g of raw materials.

Dried apricots are used to decorate desserts. It is also added to breakfast as a snack. On the basis of such apricots compotes, fruit drinks are prepared. And in this case, it is not necessary to add sugar. But, in order to enjoy all the properties of dried apricots, it should be prepared in compliance with all requirements.

Composition and calorie content of dried apricots

Most dried apricots are made up of liquids. So, per 100 g of dried fruit accounts for about 70 g of water. In addition, it contains a lot of carbohydrates.

During drying, the apricot loses some of the useful elements. Basically, these are vitamins. But at the same time, the most persistent of them remain in the product and benefit the human body. Among such strong substances, one can distinguish vitamin A, group B, namely pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamine. Also, dried apricots contain ascorbic acid, niacin.

The value of dried apricots is determined by the presence of macro- and microelements. Dried fruits are saturated with calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, manganese and phosphorus. They found a large number of acids of organic origin. In dried apricots there are 12 amino acids, of which 7 are irreplaceable.

It should also be noted that about 80 percent of the total volume of dried apricots consists of fructose, sucrose and glucose. Despite this, the caloric content of dried apricots is considered low. 100 g of fruits contain about 240 kcal. To provide the body with the necessary substances, it is enough to consume 5 pieces per day.

How to choose apricots for drying

To obtain dried apricots, it is necessary to choose apricots cultivated. Wild species are not suitable for these purposes. You need to select sweet, ripe, but not watery specimens. Fruits will be processed with boiling water, so they will lose most of the liquid. It should also be borne in mind that the fruits must be of later varieties.

Now you need to sort out the fruits, get rid of wormy, rumpled and rotten fruits. Overripe apricots are also not recommended for use in such manipulations.

It is necessary to feel the fruits. However, they should not be very soft. A fruit with a bright orange color is best suited for this.

How to prepare fruits for drying

After selection, you can start washing the fruit mass.

1. Rinse the fruit with cool water to remove the film.
2. Selected apricots clear of seeds, divide them into two parts. It is important to get rid of worm fruits. Otherwise, during drying, the larvae may be reborn.Do not rinse the product in half.
3. In order for dried apricots to eventually get a light color, it is recommended to first place the raw materials in a colander and hold it for 15-20 minutes over the steam. This option is relevant for any drying method, whether it be an oven, an electric dryer or the sun.
4. You can use another way. To do this, prepare syrup from 200 g of sugar and a cup of water. Immerse the prepared fruit in the resulting solution for several minutes.
5. After this, spread the apricots on a flat surface and leave for a while to drain the liquid.

How to dry apricots on dried apricots

Dried apricots are a storehouse of vitamins, especially in winter. Depending on how the raw materials are prepared and dried, several varieties of this delicacy are distinguished.

If the apricot is cut into two parts, the seed is removed from it, after which the fruit is dried, resulting in dried apricots. If the fruit is washed, and then dried with a stone, then this is apricot. You can also clear the whole fruit from the bone using a special device and send it to dry in the sun. Such blanks are called “kaisa”.

On a note! Dried fruits are widely used in cooking, medicine, are included in various diets.

However, in order for the product to please its taste and appearance, as well as saturate the body with useful substances, you need to be able to properly dry apricots.

In the oven

1. The process of preparing a delicious and healthy treat should begin with careful preparation. First sort through the fruits, rinse them and cut into even pieces. It is important to consider that apricots need to be washed in advance. It is not recommended to do this before direct drying. Otherwise, the moisture in this case will not completely evaporate.
2. Carefully separate the seeds so as not to damage the flesh of the apricot. Otherwise, the finished dried apricots will have an unattractive appearance.
3. Put the raw materials in a colander and stand a quarter of an hour above the steam. Then put it on a cotton cloth and leave for about an hour. At this time, you can do the preparation of the form. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Now spread the halves of the fruit with the slices up. The oven must be preheated to 60 degrees. After that, send the baking sheet with the blanks to the oven for 8–9 hours.
5. Open the device door every 60–90 minutes to get rid of excess moisture. For convenience, you can install a small wooden block in the oven’s hole that will lock the door.
6. From time to time, remove the fruit plate to check the readiness of the treat.

Billets should not be overdried. A well-prepared dried apricots should have a rich color and density.

In an electric dryer

If you have a special dryer, it is important to follow the recommendations of the specific device manufacturer.

1. Put the prepared fruit on the grid of the dryer with the cuts up.
2. It is important at the same time not to allow the fruits to come into contact with each other, since during drying they can stick together. Place the grill inside the appliance. Next, set the temperature to 45 degrees for two hours.
3. After the specified time on the device, increase the temperature by 10 degrees, and then continue drying for another 6 hours. Next, set the dryer again at 45 degrees and continue for another hour and a half.
4. After all the procedures, open the device and lay out the dried fruits on a cotton towel. When the dried apricots have cooled, it can be transferred to a wooden box or cloth bag with good ventilation.

In the microwave

The process of making dried apricots from apricots using a microwave oven is quite simple, you just need to pay attention to the fruits, because too quickly half the fresh fruit can turn into burnt pieces. Microwaves of such a device very quickly provide drying of any fruit.

As for apricot, for this type of raw material it is recommended to set the power of the device not higher than 300 watts. In this case, this process will take no more than two minutes. After that, you can check the product for availability.If the fruit is not completely dried, you need to increase the drying time by another 30 seconds. If necessary, this time can be slightly increased.

In the sun

This method of obtaining dried apricots is considered the most natural, since apricots are dried in natural conditions under sunlight.

1. It is necessary to prepare the fruits by washing and slicing them. As in other cases, repeat the procedure associated with keeping apricots above steam.
2. Now line the wooden trays with parchment paper and freely distribute the blanks on them “buttocks” down.
3. First, the fruit will dry in the shade for 3-4 hours. Only after that they can be laid out under the scorching rays of the sun to the required degree of drying. After sunset, remove dried fruits into the room and cover with gauze. This is necessary so that the product is not damaged by insects.

It usually takes about ten days to dry apricots using this technology, so you need to be patient. After the next drying day is completed, it is recommended to put the legs of the tray or tray on which fruit slices are laid out in a container with water. This will protect the products from ants.

You can also use the combined method. In this case, first you need to keep the raw materials under the sun for four hours, then heat the oven to 65 degrees and send the apricots there for 60 minutes. After the specified period, get the workpieces and place them in the shade until the drying process is complete.

What should properly dried apricots look like?

The degree of preparedness of dried fruits can be determined by several criteria:

1. First of all, you need to feel the dried apricot. If drying was carried out in compliance with all requirements, dried apricots are wrinkled, but at the same time elastic. All fruits should be pleasant to the touch and slightly heavier than fully dried specimens, as a small amount of liquid should still remain in them.
2. It is also recommended to lower dried apricot in boiling water to check the readiness of dried apricots. If it swells, then the fruits are properly cooked. It is in them that the mass of vitamins and mineral elements is preserved.
3. No chemicals are usually used during drying at home. As a result, dried fruits acquire a light yellow, brown or pale orange color.
4. A pronounced shade of dried apricots suggests that chemical compositions were used in the drying process.

How to store dried apricots

First you need to figure out what is the best way to store dried apricots.

1. In this case, you can use bags made of cotton fabric. This is the most common method compared to others. In this case, you just need to place dried apricots in them and hang the bags on cloves in a room with an optimal level of humidity and protected from sunlight.
2. Also for these purposes, you can use plastic bags. This method is more practical. Dried fruits need only to be poured into a bag and placed in a cool place. From time to time it must be opened and aired.
3. You can store dried apricots in a cardboard container. In this case, the box must be lined with paper, after which lay on it in a row dried apricots.
4. To store such a workpiece, you can use the shelf of the refrigerator. In addition, it may be in the freezer. Using the right packaging, dried fruits can lie in the freezer for up to 1.5 years. If necessary, you can safely defrost a part of the product and use it for its intended purpose.

The optimal storage temperature of dried apricot is a value of not more than +15 degrees. Humidity in the room should be about 70 percent.

The shelf life of dried fruit depends on the conditions and packaging used. Subject to temperature requirements and material, dried apricots are stored for a month on a shelf, for six months in a dark and cool place. When products are in the refrigerator, the shelf life of the delicacy is 10 months.If the treat is placed in the freezer, it is suitable for use up to 18 months.

When dried apricots are outside the freezer, it is recommended to check the stocks of dried fruits every month for mold and insect damage. If at least one spoiled specimen was found, it would be necessary to discard everything, since mold spores already exist on other fruits, even if they are not visible at first. If bugs appeared in a container with dried apricot, part of the product can still be saved by getting rid of damaged fruit only. The remaining amount of dried apricots should be sent for a day in the freezer, and then pour boiling water. After an hour, all pieces of apricot must be thoroughly washed. It is better to use them in a short time and not send them for long re-storage.

Useful Tips

1. It is not recommended to store different types of dried fruits in one bowl. Each variety has a different humidity and smell. For example, if there is prune among them, all candied fruits will smell like them.
2. In some sources, you can find advice on the fact that you should not immediately purchase a large amount of dried apricots in the store, but replenish your stocks only as necessary. Such a recommendation is highly doubtful. Indeed, in the supermarket hardly anyone cares about compliance with all requirements regarding the storage of dried apricots. Moreover, it is not known in what conditions such products were located before entering the store. Therefore, if you managed to find excellent dried fruits, you should buy in large quantities. After all, at home there will only be confidence that stocks are stored in proper conditions.
3. If insects appeared, you can use the oven instead of boiling water. In this case, the products must be poured onto a baking sheet and sent for 40–45 minutes to a device heated to 75 degrees.
4. Despite all efforts, dried apricots can become softer. This suggests that the apricots were exposed to high humidity. To protect the fruits, they can be dried in the oven. Glass jars in which stocks are stored here must also be placed.

What are the benefits of dried apricots

1. Earlier it was said that dried apricots are enriched with a number of useful substances, including vitamins C, PP, A, as well as minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and others.
2. Experts recommend using dried apricots to prevent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Often, such dried fruits are prescribed for numbness of the limbs.
3. In addition, this delicacy is able to draw heavy metals from internal organs, which usually settle on the walls of the intestine and stomach. Due to the large number of pectins and acids of an organic nature, radionuclides can be removed from the human body.
4. Regular consumption of dried apricots protects against clogging of blood vessels. The beneficial effect of the product on the functioning of the whole organism and heart is noted.
5. To tighten the skin, improve blood circulation and smooth small wrinkles, about 90 g of dried apricot fruit should be eaten daily. At the same time, it can be consumed as a separate product, as well as in various dishes.
6. Sun-dried apricot has a diuretic property. In this regard, this delicacy is used to prepare a decoction, which is prescribed to persons with kidney pathologies. Such a solution is able to remove sand and small stones from the body, and also protect them from deposits in the future.
7. Moreover, this delicacy can be included in the diet of an obese person. Often, this ingredient is used in compliance with various diets, despite the presence of saccharides and calorie content. In this case, the daily rate is not more than 25 g. The use of dried apricots helps to eliminate toxins and "bad" cholesterol.
8. Partially dried apricot thins the blood. This suggests that this fruit is the prevention of blood clots. It is useful to enter it in the menu for those who have varicose veins. The composition of this delicacy contains pectin, which provides the excretion of decay products from the body, and dietary fiber restores metabolic processes.
9. To regulate digestion, you need to eat several fruits per day. It should be noted that dried foods contain almost ten times more fiber than fresh apricots. It is this component that also regulates the functioning of the endocrine system and CCC.
10. A lot of vitamins were found in dried apricots, which contribute to strengthening the body's defenses during vitamin deficiency. Sun-dried fruits are recommended for children and adults to protect themselves from parasites.
11. Dried apricots help lower body temperature, are effective in the period after suffering a serious illness or surgery. It is also noted that dried apricots eliminate headaches and cope with the manifestations of colds and flu.
12. Carotenoids in the fruit dessert have a beneficial effect on the human organs of vision, namely they reduce the likelihood of developing cataracts, strengthen the muscles of the eyeball. This property of apricot is especially appreciated by patients with vision problems.
13. Dried fruits increase physical endurance, which allows them to be used in the diet of athletes. In addition, they stimulate a quick set of muscle mass, improve mood and raise morale.
14. It is recommended to consume dried apricots with increased mental stress.
15. Dried apricot decoctions can be taken with edema. This property of the product is appreciated by pregnant women who often encounter such problems.
16. If you use no more than 10 g of dried apricots per day with hypertension, you can achieve a decrease in blood pressure values.

What can be made from dried apricots

Dried apricots can be used to prepare various desserts, healthy drinks, it is included in the menu for dietary nutrition.

Candies

Sweet tooth will surely like dried apricot sweets. To prepare such a delicacy you will need 100 g of chocolate, 70 g each of dried apricots, walnuts and peanuts, as well as 1 tablespoon. sesame seeds.

Hazelnuts with apricots should be crushed to crumbs, the size of this depends on personal taste preferences.

Next, melt the chocolate in the microwave. On average, at maximum power, it takes no more than 1 minute 30 seconds.

Now pour the crushed nuts with dried fruits into the chocolate mass and mix. When the mixture hardens a little, form balls from it, and then roll them in sesame. Then send the blanks in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. After this time, you can enjoy a delicious and healthy sweet.

Jam

You can make jam from dried apricots. To do this, you will need 200 g of dried apricots, 100 g of raisins, 150 g of walnuts, 150 ml of water and sugar to taste.

Soak dried apricots with raisins in water for half an hour. Next, put them together with nuts in a blender for chopping. At the same time, you should focus on individual preferences: someone likes when a homogeneous mass is obtained, someone prefers jam with small pieces of ingredients.

Transfer the prepared mixture to a pan with a thick bottom, add water here. If you intend to use sugar, also introduce it at this stage. After that, send the cookware with the workpiece to the stove and cook for no more than 10 minutes until all the water has evaporated and the candied fruit is softer.

Put the finished jam in a jar and close the lid. You can store dessert in the refrigerator for two weeks.

Bakery products

Dried apricots can be included in various pastries.So, to make a shortbread cake with dried apricots, you need to prepare 200 g of butter, 200 g of dried fruit, 1 cup of sour cream, 400 g of flour, 1.5 tsp. baking powder, 200 g of sugar, a pinch of salt and vanillin to taste.

First you should soak dried fruits. Next, grate cold oil, add flour and salt with baking powder. Rub all the ingredients into crumbs.

After that, add sour cream, and then knead the dough. Wrap it with cling film and send for half an hour in the refrigerator.

At this time, you can do the preparation of the filling. To do this, mix dried apricots and 100 g of sugar in a blender. After forming a homogeneous mass, add the remaining amount of sweetener. The filling should be sweet.

Next, divide the dough into two unequal parts. From that bigger piece, you need to roll a circle. Now cover the baking sheet with parchment paper, transfer the rolled dough into it, form the sides. After that put the filling. Then thinly roll out the second piece and transfer it to the filling. In this case, strips or cuts can be made.

Billet to send to the oven for 40 minutes at 180 degrees. If desired, you can sprinkle the finished dessert with powdered sugar.

Rice

Dried apricots are also suitable for cooking sweet rice. To do this, prepare 1 cup of rice, 2 cups of water, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tablespoon ghee, 3 tbsp. raisins, 6 tablespoons dried apricots and spices to taste.

Rice and candied fruit should be washed first. Put the groats in the pan and pour boiling water. Add all other ingredients, except dried fruits. Bring the mass to a boil and boil over low heat for a third of an hour. Then turn off the heat and leave the grits for 15 minutes.

Put the finished rice on plates. At the same time, sprinkle each portion with raisins and dried apricots, diced.

Cupcakes

There is also a recipe for making a curd cake with dried apricots. In this case, you will need the following ingredients: 200 g of cottage cheese, the same amount of flour and sugar, 150 g of butter, 3 eggs, 2 tbsp. sour cream, 1 tsp vanillin and 1 tsp baking powder. For the filling, 200 g of dried apricots should be prepared, and for impregnation, only 2 tablespoons will be required. sugar and 1 tablespoon water.

To prepare the dough, you need to melt the butter, mash the cottage cheese, and beat eggs with sugar and vanilla until a white mass forms. Add sifted flour to the egg mixture. This also includes melted butter and cottage cheese with sour cream. Also add baking powder. The dough is thick but not cool.

To get the filling, rinse the soaked pre-dried apricots, pour over boiling water, and then cut into small pieces and mix with the dough.

Put the dough in a greased dish. Send the baking sheet to the oven, heated to 180 degrees, for 40–45 minutes.

Grease the finished cake with a solution of warm boiled water and sugar.

How to dry apricot kernels

First you need to free the cores from the hard shell. Further they need only to dry for some time in the oven at a low temperature. You can also just fry them in a pan, periodically checking them for readiness.

It must be remembered that more than 40 nucleoli cannot be eaten at a time, since they contain toxic substances.