How to dry zucchini for the winter at home: in an electric dryer, on the street, in the sun

Dried zucchini in an electric dryer can be cooked in 7-10 hours. It depends on the degree of ripeness, as well as the size of the pieces. The method is very convenient, it allows you to save all the useful substances of zucchini. If there is no dryer, you can use other methods.

Is it possible to dry zucchini for the winter

Zucchini can be dried for the winter in an electric dryer, in the oven or outdoors. In this form, they retain all the vitamins and other components, due to which they will bring maximum benefits to the body.

Drying is carried out in a special dryer or oven. Weather permitting, this can be done outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. If you use the device, the cooking time will be about 7-10 hours. If you dry it naturally, you need to wait a few days.

Selecting and preparing vegetables

Before you start drying zucchini at home, you need to choose and prepare them correctly. Vegetables should be with the most dense pulp and with a minimum water content. Early varieties of zucchini should be excluded. It is better to take varieties that are late or mid-season, for example:

• Black handsome;
• Golden;
• Tsukesha;
• Cavilli;
• White;
• calabash;
• Spaghetti;
• Iskander;
• Medusa;
• Gribovsky and others.

The requirements for the appearance of zucchini are standard. The fruits must be whole, without scratches, dents or other damage. The color is uniform, rot and spots are absent. If possible, dried zucchini is best prepared from young fruits. They do not have such a thick skin, and the seeds have not yet taken shape, so it will be easier to work with them.

To make dried zucchini, you first need to prepare them. The fruits are thoroughly washed, all dirt is removed, if necessary, use a washcloth or rag. If they are young, you do not need to remove the skin. If old, it is better to cut off, and for this it is optimal to use a vegetable peeler (housekeeper).

Iskander – one of the varieties of zucchini suitable for drying

Cut into equal pieces. You can choose any convenient way:

• cubes;
• thin plates;
• slices;
• half rings;
• long stripes;
• a straw

Then the pieces are placed in a colander, allowing the water to drain completely. This procedure is optional.

How to dry zucchini for the winter

You can cook dried zucchini in many ways – in the oven, in a special dryer or in the open air. Each option has its own characteristics, they are described in detail below.

Dried zucchini for the winter in the oven

You can cook dried vegetables in a gas or electric oven. For this you need:

1. Prepare and cut zucchini for drying.
2. Turn on the oven, set the temperature to 48-50 degrees.
3. Place parchment paper or parchment paper on baking sheets.
4. Arrange the slices in rows so that they do not touch each other.
5. Leave the door slightly open to allow water vapor to escape freely from the oven.
6. Place the trays in the dry vegetable cabinet.
7. Periodically check and turn over every 1-1,5 hours. This will help the vegetables dry more evenly.
8. The total drying time will be 8-10 hours. As soon as all the pieces are well dried, the baking sheets are placed on the table and left at room temperature until completely cooled.

Drying zucchini for the winter in an electric dryer

The method of preparing dried zucchini in an electric dryer is fundamentally no different from that described above. However, it is more convenient to work with this device, since it is specially adapted for drying vegetables. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Rinse and cut vegetables into thin rings with skin. The laying side does not play a role.
2. When drying zucchini in an electric dryer, it is very important to set the temperature and time. The dryer is turned on in advance and set to 50-55 degrees. As for time, the process can take up to 10 hours depending on the size of the pieces, the degree of maturity of the zucchini.
3. The device is covered with a lid and dried vegetables are cooked. At the same time, it is recommended to open the window in the kitchen to ensure a constant flow of fresh air.
4. It is not necessary to turn over on different sides – just wait from 7 to 10 hours, then turn off the equipment.

Ready vegetables are stored in a dry and cool place.

Air drying zucchini

If you can cook dried zucchini in an electric dryer in a few hours, then in the fresh air this process takes much longer. It is better to plan work for those days when the daytime temperature is moderately warm (in the range of 22-25 degrees). The instruction is this:

1. Cut the zucchini into equal thin slices.
2. Line trays with paper or parchment.
3. Leave outdoors under a canopy, such as a balcony or veranda for a few days.
4. Cover with gauze on top, avoid direct sunlight.

An alternative option for preparing dried blanks for the winter is to take a large needle and string each piece on a fishing line or nylon thread. Such a “garland” can be hung from the ceiling in a barn or room and wait until it dries completely.

How to check readiness

Checking the readiness of dried zucchini is quite simple. There are several criteria for this:

• the pulp is shriveled;
• color changes to darker;
• no liquid is released;
• pieces of vegetables look like dried. They are quite elastic (it is not worth drying to the state of chips).

Storing dried zucchini

Dried zucchini is reduced in volume by half. Therefore, they can be prepared in large quantities and stored for a long time. Ready slices of zucchini are placed in an airtight container or in a glass jar with a lid.

The container is placed in a dark place with moderate humidity (preferably away from the stove, from which the fumes come). Avoid exposure to direct sunlight. The shelf life of dried zucchini is 10-12 months. If there is no suitable place or the pieces are not cooked to the end, they can be placed in bags, containers and put in the freezer. Under such conditions, the shelf life is extended to 18 months.

Benefit and harm

Dried zucchini, cooked in a dehydrator, in the oven, or through a natural outdoor process, is especially beneficial. They retain all vitamins, mineral compounds and other valuable components. Therefore, the use of such a product in food will give great benefits to the body:

• strengthening the immune system;
• improving the health and appearance of the skin;
• stimulation of digestion;
• help in losing weight;
• pressure normalization;
• promoting wound healing;
• aid in the absorption of iron compounds;
• protecting cells from destruction by free radicals.

There are not many disadvantages of dried zucchini. But if you use them in an immoderate amount, you may experience indigestion, bloating, and increased gas formation. It is also worth remembering that mold or rot can form during storage of zucchini. Such pieces should be discarded as soon as possible so that other vegetables do not deteriorate.

In terms of useful properties, dry vegetables are not inferior to fresh ones.

Using dried zucchini

Zucchini dried in the dryer according to the described recipes can be used in a variety of dishes, such as salads and vegetable side dishes. They are preliminarily restored in cool or warm water, keeping for several minutes.

Most often they are used in the following ways:

1. In soups – pre-soak in water or immediately put into the broth. In the latter case, they will remain more solid. Thanks to this, you can adjust the desired consistency.
2. Soak and put in vegetable stew or other stews.
3. Soaked zucchini can be used in salads. They go especially well with beans and boiled meat. To enhance the taste, you can pre-fry with spices.
4. Soak the pieces and turn into a puree. Then cook until thickened. This dish can be used for baby food.
5. You can also add reconstituted vegetables to vegetable casseroles. They must first be thoroughly wrung out to remove excess moisture.

For example, interesting candied fruits can be made from zucchini. To do this, they act like this:

1. Cut fresh zucchini into cubes.
2. Fall asleep at night with sugar.
3. Grind a few oranges in a blender, add the pulp to the syrup released from the zucchini.
4. Stir and cook over low heat after boiling for 7 minutes.
5. Take out the zucchini and put it in the dryer. Cook up to 7-8 hours to get candied fruit.

After cooking dried zucchini in an electric dryer, they can be used in dishes with spices. For the recipe you will need the following ingredients:

• dried vegetables – 200 g;
• sunflower oil – 3 tbsp. l .;
• Korean carrots – 100 g;
• garlic – 2-3 tooth;
• Salt – a pinch.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Soak dried vegetables in cool water for 15 minutes.
2. Boil in a small amount of salted water for 15 minutes. Set aside part of the broth.
3. Drain in a colander and remove excess moisture.
4. Heat sunflower oil in a frying pan.
5. Pour over zucchini, Korean-style carrots and garlic cloves (grind in advance).
6. Add salt, mix and let stand in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours. The snack is ready.

Salads can be made from dried vegetables

Conclusion

Dried zucchini in an electric dryer is quite simple to make. The main condition is to thoroughly rinse the vegetables and cut into approximately the same pieces. Then they will cook at the same time.