How to dry cherries at home for the winter

Dried berries and fruits are a real find for the hostess, because with proper drying, they retain useful substances. Another advantage is that you can cook a variety of dishes from dried fruits all year round. Drying cherries in an electric dryer, in a microwave, in an oven, in an air grill and in the sun is quite simple, the main thing is to follow the basic rules.

Useful properties of dried cherries

With proper drying, all useful substances remain in the berries in almost the same amount as in fresh fruits. Cherry contains ascorbic acid, dietary fiber, vitamin B9, B6, PP, riboflavin, pantothenic acid. This berry has the following beneficial properties:

• helps to strengthen bones, so experts recommend using it for teenagers and athletes;
• has a general strengthening effect on the body;
• It strengthens the immune system;
• acts as a prophylactic against viral and respiratory diseases;
• thanks to the antioxidants that make up the fruit, the body is cleansed;
• vitamin A, which is part of the composition, is necessary to maintain good vision and elastic skin;
• normalizes the level of blood pressure, so dried cherries are especially useful for hypertensive patients;
• the pectin contained in the product helps to eliminate toxins from the body and reduce the level of bad cholesterol;
• the use of dried fruits weakens dependence on nicotine;
• they have a high concentration of B vitamins, due to which the use of such fruits allows you to relieve stress and improve your emotional state;
• in the sour berry, the highest content of the hormone melatonin is noted, which in its own way is a relaxing agent that allows you to fall asleep faster.

What is the name of dried cherries

Dried cherries are a dried fruit that can be obtained by drying fresh fruits. It has no other name, for example, like raisins. According to GOST, it is called so – dried cherries.

How to dry cherries at home

Dried cherries contain vitamin C, A, PP, as well as iron, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and calcium

Before drying the berries, they must be sorted and then washed. Spoiled cherries are not recommended for use. If the fruits are not large, then the drying process will be much faster. Then they are laid out on a clean and dry gauze cloth. When the berries dry, it is necessary to remove the seeds and stalks. You can also dry the cherries with the internal parts, but in this case it will not be very convenient to eat them. Bones are easily removed with a special kitchen tool, but if there is none, you can arm yourself with a simple hairpin or tweezers. After going through all the above steps, the main ingredient is ready for the next step – for drying in any convenient way.

There is another option for preparing berries – blanching. This procedure helps soften the skin of the fruit, which speeds up the drying process. The first step is to rinse the cherry, then prepare the solution. To do this, add baking soda to boiling water at the rate of 1 tsp. for 1 liter of water. The resulting hot liquid is poured over the fruits, then immediately the broth is drained. Next, you need to pour them over with cold water, put them in a colander. After the excess moisture is gone, you can begin to dry the berries.

At what temperature to dry cherries

You can set the temperature only after you have decided on the drying method. For example, fruits should be dried in the oven from 60 to 80 degrees, and in an electric dryer 60-70. As for the air grill, the optimum temperature for drying berries is 45-60 degrees.

How much to dry cherries

Under-dried berries are not suitable for long-term storage

The drying time depends on the chosen method:

1. Drying in the sun takes 2 to 4 days.
2. In an electric dryer, this process occurs much faster than in the first version, it is about 8-12 hours.
3. Cooking dried cherries in the oven will take about 5 hours from the hostess, but direct intervention in this process is not required.
4. The fastest option is to dry in the microwave, it takes just a few minutes.
5. Cooking time for cherries in an air grill varies from half an hour to 2 hours.

It should be noted that the preparation of dried berries with seeds is much faster than without them.

How to dry cherries in an electric dryer with sugar

During cooking, it is important to ensure that the fruits dry evenly.

After the berries are washed and peeled from the stalks, they should be weighed, since sugar is added at the rate of 350 – 450 g per 1 kg of cherries. If the berries are very acidic, then you can additionally put another 100 – 150 g. The next step is to add sugar, it must be poured in a thin layer over the fruit and left in this form in a warm room for several hours. After this time, fold the berries into a colander. The resulting juice is not useful, but it can be canned or made into compote. Next, you need to make a syrup from the specified amount of sugar and water in a volume of 3 liters. After boiling, add cherries to the broth, immediately remove from heat.

They must be left in syrup until completely cooled, then drain the liquid, and put the fruits in a thin layer in an electric dryer. For the first two hours, the temperature of the device should be set at 55-60 degrees, and then reduced to 30-35, dried until fully cooked.

How to dry cherries in a fruit dryer without sugar

Dried berries can be stored in a glass container in the refrigerator.

The process of drying berries without sugar takes much less time, as it requires the least preparation. So, when the cherry is washed and peeled, it is transferred to a heat-resistant dish and put on fire. After a sufficient amount of juice has appeared, the berries are thrown into a colander for 2-3 hours. After the specified time, the cherries are laid out in a thin layer on the grate of the electric dryer. The drying process takes about 10-12 hours, provided that the temperature is set to about 60-70 degrees.

How to dry pitted cherries in an electric dryer

Berries with seeds dry much faster than without them.

The drying process begins with the processing of fruits: they must be washed, the stalks and seeds removed. Then the berries should be thrown into a colander, after which the cherries are poured in one layer on the grate of the electric dryer. During this procedure, it is necessary to change the temperature regime from high to low at least 3 times. It will take much longer to dry pitted cherries – about 13 – 15 hours.

How to dry cherries in an electric dryer with stones

At room temperature, the workpiece is stored for about 1 year

The process of drying pitted cherries is not much different from the above recipe, but there are differences:

• it is not necessary to remove the seeds from the fruits, it is enough just to remove the stalks;
• rinse the prepared berries, then put them in a colander to drain the unnecessary liquid;
• put the raw materials on the grid of the electric dryer, dry for the first 2 hours at maximum temperature, then reduce to 35 degrees;
• This procedure takes about 10-12 hours.

How to dry cherries in the oven

In folk medicine, dried cherries are used in the treatment of colds.

It is necessary to dry the cherries in the oven with the door ajar, this will speed up the process of moisture evaporation. In addition, pre-treatment of raw materials is also important. To speed up the drying process, you can use any of the methods presented: scald the fruits with boiling water or rinse with a weak soda solution, then rinse thoroughly in cold water. You can dry the berries as follows:

• wash fruits;
• spread parchment paper or foil on a baking sheet;
• lay out raw materials in a thin layer;
• set the temperature to 45 degrees for 2 hours;
• after the time has elapsed, set 60 degrees and leave until fully cooked.

If you plan to dry the cherries without pits, then you will need:

• remove internal elements from fruits;
• put raw materials on a baking sheet covered with foil or parchment paper;
• Initially, cherries should be dried at a temperature of 45 degrees, after a couple of hours set to 60;
• change the specified temperature regime every 3 hours until fully cooked.

Drying cherries for the winter in an air grill

From 1,2 kg of raw materials, approximately 0,5 kg of the finished product is obtained.

You can dry berries in an air grill as follows:

• remove the stalks from the fruits, and the bones – if desired;
• rinse under cool water, then drain in a colander;
• after the unnecessary liquid drains, spread the raw materials on the grid in one layer;
• cover the aerogrill with a lid, select the drying mode and the required temperature from 45 to 60 degrees.

How to dry cherries in the microwave

Dried cherries can be used as a filling in baking

For this procedure, you will need 2 cuts of linen or cotton fabric, on one of which a part of the prepared raw material is laid out, and the other is covered. Next, the workpiece is placed on a microwave plate, dried for up to 5 minutes at 200 W, if necessary, the time can be increased. Cooking time depends on the juiciness of the berries, as well as the presence of seeds.

How to dry cherries in the sun

Dried cherries are contraindicated in children under 2 years old, as well as people suffering from allergies, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes

This method is one of the most troublesome and long, but on the other hand – the most natural.

In order to dry the berries in the fresh air, you will need a baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper. Cherries must be selected, washed and slightly dried. Put the prepared raw materials on a board, then cover with a cloth on all sides so that pests do not penetrate. Dry in a well-ventilated place with maximum direct sunlight.

How to dry cherry pits

Plastic bags are not suitable for storing fruits, since the product deteriorates much faster in them.

You can dry the bones as follows:

• rinse, place in boiling water for 10 minutes, adding 1 tsp. vinegar essence;
• after the specified time, drain the liquid and rinse the raw materials thoroughly;
• dry in any convenient way: in the sun, in the oven, in the microwave, in an electric dryer. The finished product should become lighter.

How to store dried cherries at home

It is not recommended to place the container with the workpiece next to the batteries or pipes. Dried cherries should be stored in glass containers or cotton bags. The place where dried berries are stored should be dark and well ventilated. For these purposes, a shelf on a kitchen cabinet is suitable. Such a dried product is stored for no more than a year, moreover, during this time, the cherry must be ventilated and regularly checked for midges.

What can be cooked from dried cherries

In addition to the fact that dried cherries can be eaten as an independent delicacy, they go well with other products. For example, the workpiece can be added to salads, pastries, main dishes, and also prepare jelly or marmalade. In addition, dried cherries can be used as a basis for wine, tinctures, fruit drinks or compotes.

Conclusion

Drying cherries in an electric dryer, in a slow cooker, in an oven and in the sun is quite simple. It is only important to observe the temperature regime and cook until the juice ceases to stand out from the fruit.