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Dried apples, dried apricots, prunes and dried melons are ideal both for compotes and as an independent delicacy. Due to the huge yield of melons, its drying becomes relevant with each onset of fruit harvesting. This melon culture is ideal for drying, so the process of harvesting it is simple and familiar to most gardeners. Dried melon becomes elastic and is usually rolled into small pigtails.
What is dried melon called
Most dried fruits, including melons, are called candied fruit. But it is worth remembering that this manufacturing method involves the additional use of sugar in the drying and drying process. Products with sugar are sweeter and are always associated as a dessert or addition to tea. The benefits of such products are undeniable, but excessive consumption of sugar harms any person.
In hot Uzbekistan, where the melons themselves are incredibly juicy and sweet, adding sugar to get a delicious dried product is not necessary. The perfect balance of sweetness from local melons allows you to dry the product by simply cutting it into pieces. Uzbeks even have a separate name for dried and dried melon – Kauyndak. This dish is a national delicacy and an integral part of any tea party.
The benefits and harms of dried melon for the body
As you know, fruits and vegetables are created to fill the human body with useful vitamins and minerals. Their daily use allows you to increase the tone and strengthen the immune system, which will allow you to resist diseases for a long time. Some fruits improve skin health, others help to strengthen the condition of hair and nails, and others strengthen the cardiovascular system.
Melon is a storehouse of nutrients. Among the most significant, it is customary to single out vitamin C – a microelement for strengthening the immune system and the general condition of the body. Beta-carotene improves the natural tone of the skin. Folic acid is an excellent remedy for calming the nervous system and creating a great mood.
Disputes about the benefits and harms of a dried product are rare, since a melon in a pigtail retains a greater amount of useful trace elements. The systematic use of this culture will cleanse the body of harmful toxins thanks to pectin. Dried melon promotes the production of serotonin, which is the key to a good mood and cheerfulness. In addition, the dried product allows you to strengthen blood vessels and improve the functioning of the heart muscles.
It is worth remembering that excessive consumption of any product can cause negative consequences for the body. In small quantities, dried melon is practically harmless, but some people should approach its use with some caution:
- lactating women to avoid problems with stool in a child;
- people with diabetes should avoid too sweet foods;
- anyone who has been diagnosed with duodenal disease or stomach ulcers.
In addition, people with a predisposition to an allergic reaction should use this delicacy with caution. Melon is an allergen, and when it is used, skin rashes are possible.
Which melon is better to choose for drying and drying
An important feature of this culture is the absolute impossibility of keeping it fresh for a long time. A refrigerator or cellar will only slightly prolong its freshness, but at the same time it will affect the taste characteristics. Drying looks like an ideal solution, known since ancient times. At the same time, the process should be approached with all care. Not every variety is suitable for this procedure. The most suitable varieties are:
- Torpedo;
- Collective farmer;
- Pineapple.
The main criterion for a variety suitable for drying is dense pulp. Soft fruits contain excess water, which will spoil the taste of the finished dried product. For drying, it is worth choosing fruits of medium size without external damage. Their scent is essential. Fruit with a sweet fruity smell is the key to the perfect dish.
How to dry melon at home
Dried melon is a delicacy that will appeal to any person. Cooking it at home is not difficult. There are several ways to cook dried yummy with your own hands. The most popular include:
- air drying method;
- electric dryer;
- oven.
Disputes about which of the methods is the most correct, allowing you to save all the taste, do not subside. The most authentic is the air method, which has been used for several millennia. But modern technologies do not stand still and allow people to speed up the process and improve the quality of the finished dish.
Air drying melons
Outdoor drying is often referred to as the natural method. In this case, the product is dried on a stretched rope under the open sun. To do this, the fruit is cut into slices about 2-4 cm wide, leaving a small jumper between each two slices for easy hanging on a rope. The drying process takes about two weeks. During drying, the melon decreases in weight up to 10 times due to loss of water.
Finished strips become elastic and resilient. In this form, they are conveniently folded into pigtails. Prepared pigtails should be wrapped with cling film to avoid accidental moisture ingress. Often, glass jars are used to store dried melons, into which the finished product is tamped.
How to dry a melon in an electric dryer
An electric dryer is an ideal device for the most comfortable fruit harvesting. When dried, the fruits retain most of the nutrients. The electric dryer dried melon recipe does not require any special ingredients. To prepare a dried treat, you just need to pick the right fruits.
First you need to wash the fruit, cut it and clean it from seeds. Then it is necessary to cut off the peel and cut the pulp into pieces about 5 mm wide. The length of the slices is not important, but it is better to avoid pieces that are too long – it is much better to cut too large ones in half.
For proper drying, it is necessary to warm up the electric dryer. The ideal solution is to warm up for 5 minutes with no trays installed. An important rule when drying is the obligatory space between the slices for a continuous aeration process. The slices are placed on pallets, which are placed in the dryer.
The drying process takes an average of about 10 hours at a recommended temperature of 70 degrees. For more uniform drying of each pallet, they can be interchanged. After cooking, it is recommended to put the resulting delicacy in a glass jar and tightly close the lid.
How to dry melon in the oven
The process of cooking dried melon in the oven has a number of features compared to an electric dryer. So, the slices need to be made thicker, about 1 cm. If the pieces are too long, then they can be woven into the usual pigtail. If it is possible to install several baking sheets in the oven, it is worth using their maximum number.
The bottom of the baking sheet is covered with baking paper and sliced slices are laid out on it. The recommended oven temperature is 70-75 degrees. In this case, a prerequisite is a slightly ajar oven door to release excess moisture. The drying process usually takes 6-8 hours with a periodic change of paper – it gets wet from an excess of moisture.
How many calories are in dried melon
Most vegetables and fruits serve as a source of simple carbohydrates for humans. The simple sugars contained in them give energy and vigor. A rare fruit contains protein or a piece of fat in its composition. Juicy fruits are full of water, which during the drying process leaves the product, allowing all the nutrients to remain in it. At the same time, the calorie content of dried foods, whether it be apples, grapes or melons, is low. Dried products are ideal for dieters and healthy lifestyle people.
Dried melon – almost entirely consists of carbohydrates. 100 g of dried product contains 82 g of carbohydrates. Protein and fat account for 0.7 g and 0.1 g, respectively. The calorie content of dried melon rolled into a pigtail is 341 kcal.
Terms and conditions of storage
Properly dried pulp can be stored for several years, subject to simple rules. A prerequisite for long-term storage of dried yummy is isolation from moisture and direct sunlight. Another requirement is that the jar be tightly closed, which will avoid the entry of excess air that can enhance fermentation.
It is possible to store dried melon in a cloth bag. This method will preserve the taste and useful properties for several months. In stores, there is packaging in a plastic bag – here you should pay attention to the expiration dates indicated by the manufacturer.
Dried melon reviews
Conclusion
Dried melon is a source of a huge amount of useful vitamins and minerals for the human body. It helps to improve the overall condition of the skin and hair, cheer up, and also strengthen the immune system. The beneficial properties of dried melon are one of the main reasons for its mandatory harvesting for the winter. The preparation of dried treats is simple and accessible to most people.
