There are different methods of drying fruit, different methods can be used to dry peaches. The first and most basic method of drying peaches is to use the open space and get the help of sunlight. Next, we will introduce you to how to dry peaches.
Different methods of drying peaches are:
- Dry method with sunlight
- Drying peaches using an oven
- Drying peaches by frying them
- How to dry peaches using sugar
- Drying peaches with a dryer
In the following, we will explain each of the above cases.
1. Dry method with sunlight
The most important point is to observe the hygiene principles in drying fruits. The method of drying peaches in front of sunlight is one of the most common methods. In order to dry the fruits in the open air and with the sunlight, you must prepare the fruits neither too ripe nor unripe.
In the first step, wash them with water.
Then remove the middle core of the fruit.
Cut the fruits into small and thin pieces. Of course, it is better to cut peaches and apricots in half. Then arrange the fruits on a tray or on a net and place it on two bricks that are far from the ground.
Put a thin net on it and place it in the open space in front of the sunlight, so that by placing a tray on the end, the air flow will dry the fruits better and faster.
In order for the fruits to dry well, it is better to put an aluminum or tin sheet under the tray so that the cool air at night does not cause the fruit to become wet again.
Then put the fruit in a covered place.
Visit it several times a day and remove the dried fruits.
Dry fruit production in different cities of Iran is done on a large scale with the help of advanced and well-equipped machines.
The quality of dried fruit depends on the size of the pieces of fruit and the drying time, all of which are followed in the dried fruit factories.
2. Drying the fruit using an oven
One of the best ways to dry peaches is by using air flow and low heat, which is usually done in the oven. This method of drying peaches with the oven does not add any additives and only takes a few hours.
You can easily do this at home to dry the fruits as much as you want.
The steps of preparing dried fruits must be done correctly so that the fruits dry well. In order to dry fruits in the oven, it is better to heat the fruits at a very low temperature to prevent the growth of bacteria so that the water inside them evaporates to the required extent.
The fruits you want to dry in the oven, preferably use ripe fruits.
Cut the fruits in the same size and the same way so that they dry for a certain period of time.
Of course, dry fruits that are small such as grapes, strawberries, cherries and miniature tomatoes properly.
Cut medium-sized fruits in half or cut them into slices, and if you cut very large fruits into slices, such as mango, pineapple, and coconut, so that the water evaporates and dries easily and in a shorter time.
To dry peaches as much as possible, it is better to dry them with the skin. Otherwise, it is okay to peel it. Put the fruit pieces in boiling water for 30 seconds and then transfer them to a container of ice water so that the skins of the fruits are easily separated. In order to preserve the beauty of the fruit, it is better to put them in lemon juice and water for 10 minutes, then put them in a colander and dry them gently with a lint-free towel or napkin.
Before starting to dry the fruits, set the oven at a temperature of 54 to 71 degrees Celsius.
Use a lower temperature for thinly sliced fruits such as apples or peaches, and use a higher temperature for strawberries and other whole berries to dry them completely.
Cover the surface of the oven tray with wax paper and arrange the fruit pieces at a distance from each other.
To prevent the fruits from gathering, place a round net for pizza or a silicone liner on the fruits.
Check the fruits inside the oven every two hours so that all parts of the fruits dry to the same extent.
When the dried fruit has a leather-like texture and is flexible, it is ready to be taken out of the oven.
After taking the dried fruits out of the oven, it is better to put them in plastic or glass containers and leave the lid open for 4 to 5 days to remove the remaining moisture from the fruits.
Shake the desired container so that the fruits move around a bit. After 5 days, close the lid of the container.
You can use dry fruits for up to 10 months.
3. Drying peaches by frying them
To fry fruits that are rich in starch and have little moisture, such as bananas and peaches, can be the best method for drying.
4. How to dry peaches using sugar
One of the simple ways to dry fruits is to use sugar. You can soak the fruits in the amount of sugar juice and then boil. By doing this method, it dries very quickly.
The wholesale distribution of dried fruits has made it easy to access all kinds of dried fruits. Instead of drying fruits at home, you can buy your favorite dried fruit from reputable stores that sell dried fruit.
5. Drying peaches with a dryer
Drying fruits in an industrial way and with the advancement of technology is the use of a fruit drying machine. This device evaporates fruit juice very gently, slowly and with very low heat. Most of these fruit dryers have a mesh electric element in the bottom, on which they put a fan.
According to the model of the fruit dryer and the type of fruit, it takes 24 hours for the fruits to dry completely. If you want to dry a lot of fruits and vegetables, it is better to use fruit drying machines.
Set the machine to dry fruit.
If your dryer does not have such a setting, set it to a temperature of 57 degrees Celsius. Put the fruits in the dryer.
Of course, due to the thickness of the fruits, they need 24 to 48 hours to dry. After the first 24 hours of drying, it is better to check the fruits regularly so that they do not dry out too much. Separate dry and crunchy fruits, dried fruits should be firm because they no longer have moisture.