How to dry apples at home

Dried apples are rightfully considered a universal harvest. On the basis of this product, stewed fruit and fruit drinks are cooked, and apples are also used as an independent dish. Among other things, the workpiece retains the beneficial properties of no worse than fresh fruits. Many experienced housewives prefer to dry apples on their own, without overpaying for store products. However, like any other business, the procedure requires certain knowledge. Consider the basic aspects in order, highlight the main drying methods.

Features of drying apples

1. If you are going to dry whole fruits, sort them by size. It is also important to ensure that the surface is intact.
2. The best option for drying are autumn apples. It is advisable to choose fruits with an equal degree of sweetness and sourness, you can use completely acidic varieties.
3. If we talk about drying apples with slices, cut the fruits so that the thickness of each slice is not more than 0.8 cm. It is important to adhere to a single indicator for all sliced ​​apples.
4. You can cut apples in circles or slices, it all depends on personal wishes. However, the first option is preferable, since in this case the drying is quick and even.
5. During the heat treatment, all sliced ​​fruits must be laid out in one row. Otherwise, the apples will dry unevenly, some of the slices will burn and stick together.

Apples are getting dark: what to do

1. Apples have the unpleasant feature of darkening due to the large amount of iron in their composition. For this reason, oxidized fruits do not look aesthetically pleasing and lose a number of beneficial properties.
2. Prepare a solution consisting of filtered cold water and shallow salt. Dilute the amount with a calculation of 1 liter. liquid accounts for 12 g. loose composition. Always mix the mixture until the granules dissolve. Soak apples in a solution, soak for about half an hour. After that, dry and proceed to heat treatment.
3. Another option that will save the fruits from blackening is the use of citric acid. Dilute 3 gr. 1 liter drinking water, mix until crystals are completely dissolved. Dip apple slices in a cold solution, wait 25 minutes. After that, remove and dry, so that the glass is excess moisture.
4. One of the popular methods for eliminating browning is the blanching procedure. The technique is that the oxidized fruits are dipped in steep boiling water for 3 seconds, then removed with a slotted spoon and dried. It is important to remember that apples become less sugary during blanching.
5. Another common way is contrast treatment. Place slices or slices in a colander, hold over hot steam for 5 minutes. After that, immerse in cold filtered water for 1 minute and remove. Dry on a pre-spread towel.

Drying apples in the oven

1. For drying apples in the oven, winter varieties are considered the best option, while the apples should be sweet, sour or sour-sweet. Give preference to Slavyanka, Aport, Titovka, Anis, Borovik, Antonovka.
2. Some housewives dry autumn or summer apples, as well as carrion with an oven. However, a lower quality product is obtained. In this case, the apples are dried directly with the peel.
3. After choosing a variety of apples, proceed to their preparation. Go through the fruits, exclude all dented, rotten and bitten by pests.Send apples in a colander, rinse under cold running water.
4. Remove the core in a convenient way (you can cut the fruit into 2 parts), remove the peel. Cut apples into slices or circles about 8 mm wide. Send slices to citric acid or salt solution to prevent oxidation.
5. Remove the slices, optionally blonch if necessary to get the final product faster. However, in this case, apples will lose useful qualities. When preparation is complete, proceed to drying.
6. Take a few baking sheets, line the cavity with baking paper. Put the sliced ​​apples in one row, observing a distance of about 1 cm from each other. Turn on the oven to heat up, wait until the temperature reaches 85 degrees.
7. Send the baking sheets into the oven, after 20 minutes, reduce the power to 70 degrees. The process has started, wait 5 hours, then remove the trays and turn the wedges over. Reduce the temperature by 20 degrees.
8. In order for the apples to dry well, and mold does not form on them, the exposure time should be another 4 hours at a rate of 50 degrees. During this period, turn the wedges every hour so that the drying proceeds evenly.
9. When the crushed apples turn light brown, remove them from the oven. Take one slice, it should not be wet or brittle. Cool the apples, transfer them to a cloth bag, or wrap them in parchment paper.

Microwave Drying

1. Processing apples with this method is notable for the speed of the procedure, which is considered an undeniable plus. The final product is no worse than in the oven. At the same time, apples retain useful properties, they can be used as a standalone snack or compote based on dried fruits.
2. The main condition is considered to be properly selected power, due to which the product will not dry out. Equally important is the duration of the heat treatment, it should not exceed the permissible limits. Drying is carried out in two stages, we will consider each of them in more detail.
3. To start, wash, sort apples. Remove the stalk, core, peel. Pick a flat dish, you can use a round plate of microwave. Cut the fruit into slices about 0.5 cm wide. Soak them in a solution of citric acid and dry.
4. Arrange the apples in a row in a dish, put the bowl in the microwave, set the power to about 270W and the processing time is 35 seconds. At the end of the period, remove the dish, apples will already reach half-ready. Turn over the slices on the other side, add power to 300W, turn on the timer for 3.5 minutes.
5. After the specified time expires, remove the finished product, evaluate the structure. If the apples seem damp to you, put them another half a minute. Next, cool the dried fruits, send them for long-term storage in a cloth bag.

Drying apples in an electric dryer

1. This method is considered to be the most convenient. The process does not require careful control from the side, drying takes place automatically.
2. To begin the procedure, sort apples, remove rotten and spoiled. Wash the fruits, cut out the core, the stalk and remove the peel (you can not remove).
3. Large apples should be dried only in crushed form. To do this, chop them in circles or slices, place in a cold solution of citric acid for 10 minutes.
4. The best option for drying apples in this way is the variety Titovka, Antonovka, Pepin or Aport. You should not send for processing fruits that ripen in the winter. You can use wild game or whole apple.
5. Assemble the electric dryer, remove the apple section from it, turn on the appliance. Place apples in a single layer on a pallet, insert it into the dryer, close the lid.Turn on the device, go to do household chores.
6. As a rule, the duration of the heat treatment is 5.5-6.5 hours. In the first 3 hours, apples should be dried at a temperature of 80 degrees, then the indicator is reduced to 50 degrees.
7. To determine the readiness of the product, take a slice and press on it. If the juice does not stand out, drying has come to an end. Cool the apples, transfer to a bag or wrap with parchment paper.

Naturally dried apples

1. The technique is good in that due to natural drying, energy costs are significantly saved. However, apples can be processed in this way only in sunny weather with low humidity, otherwise they will grow moldy.
2. For drying fruits in a similar way, it is better to choose summer or autumn apples, a wild game is suitable. If the processing naturally went wrong (it started raining or the sun hid), you can dry the apples in the oven or with an electric dryer.
3. Cut apples about 5 mm thick., No more. Otherwise, the slices will not dry completely. Soak the composition in a solution of salt or citric acid, remove and dry. Prepare a wire rack or plastic tray, place it one by one, cover with a gauze cloth.
4. Send trays to the sun; at nightfall, remove apples from the street. Keep them indoors until the morning, because at night the humidity is much higher than during the day. Drying apples in this way takes about 5 days. At the same time, in the daytime they need to be put outside, and in the dark - to be taken home.
5. After the specified time, you can dry the fruits in the oven or leave them in a place with good air circulation until final cooking. Optionally, you can string the circles on a rope, dividing apples among themselves in a convenient way.
6. After cooking, move the finished apples into a polished bag or gauze, folded in 6 layers. Store in a well-ventilated place, do not allow moisture. Open the bag periodically to check the preservation of the fruit.

Electric apples drying

1. The technique is considered not the most convenient to implement. It is suitable for people who do not have a dryer / oven or are not able to get the finished product in a natural way.
2. To begin, sort through the apples, peel them from the peel and core, chop into slices (width about 5 mm.). Put the food on the grill, place the section on a baking sheet.
3. Place a baking tray (or other metal dishes) on the burners, set the minimum power. Dry for about 15 hours, periodically turning off the appliance.
4. Turn apples once every 3 hours. If desired, you can combine natural drying using an electric stove. When the fruits are dry, pack them in bags.

The most convenient way to dry apples is considered to be heat treatment in the oven. If you have an electric dryer, the procedure will take place without external control. Many people prefer to leave the fruits in the sun until the final preparation, it all depends on personal preferences.

Video: drying apples in the oven