How to dry apples indoors. Preparing apples: how to wash and cut apples for drying? If you dry it with an electric dryer

September is the best time for storing apples for the winter. On the one hand, everyone has already eaten plenty of fresh apples. On the other hand, there are still many of them. On the market they reach their minimum price, but after a couple of months the prices for fresh apples will no longer be so encouraging. Therefore, we begin to dry apples right now.

Dried apples

I mainly dry apples in the oven. In winter I make compotes from them, use them as a filling for pies and simply as a treat. I highly recommend that parents of small children dry more apples: in winter, healthy dried fruits will replace not-so-healthy sweets and chocolates.

How to dry apples

Wash and dry the apples. Cut each apple into quarters and remove the core with a knife.
Cut the quarters into thin slices. The thinner they are, the faster the apples will dry. Some housewives cut apples not into slices, but into mugs. But in the second case, the apples will dry more slowly, so I don’t recommend it.
Good apples with a high iron content quickly darken when exposed to air, so I recommend that you first cut all the necessary apples into quarters, and only then quickly cut them into slices and place them on a baking sheet.

Apples before drying

For drying apples in the oven, the best temperature is 75-80 degrees. At this temperature, the apples will dry in 8-10 hours. My oven has a ventilation mode, so I can handle drying in 4 hours.

Properly dried apples should be light cream in color, soft and elastic to the touch, and not break when squeezed in your hand.

Dried apples should not be stored in sealed plastic bags or in the refrigerator. To prevent the apples from becoming damp and saturated with foreign odors, I store them on the shelf with flour and cereals in a regular three-liter jar, which I DO NOT cover with a lid.

Hello dear readers. We are all waiting for the arrival of autumn in order to fully enjoy its gifts, which are so useful at this time of year. Everyone knows that autumn is the time for fragrant apples, which beckon with the variety of their varieties. Having not had time to try all the types of these autumn fruits, we are trying to prepare them for the winter in every possible way. One of these methods is drying apples, thanks to which we can enjoy healthy vitamin drinks based on such dried fruits even in the cold season. This cloudy time of year does not allow us to carry out natural drying of fruits, but this does not matter. After all, there are several interesting ways to dry apple slices, which can be easily done at home.

Of course, you can buy a ready-made product in the supermarket, but no one can guarantee its naturalness. And the too ideal appearance of such drying is alarming.

Such a sign may indicate chemical processing of this product, which most likely removed the apples from their usual vitamin composition.

By preparing dried apples yourself, you will know for sure that this product is natural, although it is not so attractive in appearance.

So, let's figure out how to properly prepare such dried apples, and what secrets will help your drying look no worse than store-bought.

How to dry apples at home - subtleties and secrets

Remember how grandmother always prepared dried fruits from various fruits even in the warm season, and already in winter we could enjoy the aromatic compote that she prepared.

And we, as children, were always trying to steal a few dried apple slices from a huge bunch, which consisted entirely of dried fruits.

The drying turned out to be very sweet, because during the drying process, excess moisture evaporates from the fruit, due to which only vitamins and sucrose remain in them.

And now it is quite possible to use dried apples as snacks between main meals.

Such a light snack will especially please our lovely ladies who are trying to keep themselves in shape even in winter, when you won’t find vitamins as such during the day.

Apples, in comparison with other types of drying, have the least calories, and their structure is quite soft, which cannot be said about home-dried apricots.

The drying process has a number of advantages, thanks to which you will immediately run to the market for fresh apples for drying:

✔ This type of preparation will not take up much of your time, especially if you are a busy housewife.

You will only need to cut the apples, and the rest is not up to you. After all, if you prepare compote for the winter, it can take a lot of time. And so, you will simply prepare the basis for the future compote, which can be prepared at any time, without particularly straining.

✔ At home, you have complete control over the process, which will result in a natural product.

Ideally, of course, it would be nice to produce this type of preparation from apples that you pick in your own garden.

But fruits bought at the market are also suitable. The main thing is not to buy apples in supermarkets, since you definitely won’t find anything natural there.

✔ Such dried fruits do not require special “greenhouse” conditions for their storage, so they are definitely not in danger of quick spoilage.

And thanks to the reduced size of each slice, you can easily store this dryer in a fabric bag right in the kitchen. Just imagine the aroma that will spread throughout the kitchen.

Therefore, you should not think that the dried version of apples is somehow worse than fresh ones, because they cannot be subjected to any heat treatment. Rather, apple jam will be less healthy, since during its preparation most of the vitamins will simply evaporate.

Interestingly, the same amount of vitamins in dried apple fruits can be preserved for 10 years. Therefore, think about how such “dry vitamins” can save you during the cold season.

Weigh all the pros and the lack of cons, and hurry to the market for the required number of apples.

But keep in mind that during the drying process, fruits can shrink by as much as 7 times. Therefore, if you are planning to dry apples for the entire winter season, then one kilogram will clearly not be enough. After all, from such a quantity of fresh fruits you will get only 150 g of the finished product.

Before deciding to take such a crucial step, you need to familiarize yourself with some conditions for the correct implementation of the drying process in order to fully preserve its vitamin composition.

Apple processing and drying technology

1. The process of drying fruits can be carried out either using special devices that every kitchen is now equipped with, or in the tired autumn sun. Since autumn may turn out to be far from sunny, it is better to immediately consider the option of preparing drying in apartment conditions. You can use either a simple oven or a microwave.

1. To obtain a quality product, you need to make sure that the apples were removed from the tree correctly. Therefore, it is better to do this yourself, but the collection must be carried out in dry weather, because moisture can lead to future damage to the fruit. In addition, shaking off the apple tree is prohibited, because damage to the structure of the fruit can also spoil the quality of the finished drying.

1. Choose only ripe apples without any external damage. Slightly rotten fruits can ruin the entire drying batch.

1. Drying involves using only ripe apples, so it is recommended to choose only autumn varieties, because only they will contain such a large amount of useful substances. In order for the finished drying to still taste like an apple, it is advisable to choose sour or sweet and sour varieties. In addition, their acid will indicate a high content of ascorbic acid.

1. Everyone wants to get beautiful drying as a result, so many people cut apples into slices. Undoubtedly, such drying looks great, but be prepared, the drying process of such round pieces can take much longer. Therefore, it is better to cut the fruits in the usual way - into slices. This way, you will get drying much faster, and the likelihood that it will deteriorate is reduced significantly.

1. The slices should be cut into small thicknesses, because fruits cut too thick can take too long to dry, or even completely deteriorate during the drying process. And they shouldn’t be too big in size. Many people don’t like the peel, but don’t rush to remove it from a ruddy apple, because it contains the largest amount of vitamins.

1. Want to get the perfect dry white color? There is one secret that will help you achieve the desired result: after cutting the fruits, dip the finished slices in a saline solution for a few minutes, then rinse them in clean water. Place the apple slices on a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. And for the solution you will need 50 g of salt per 3 liters of water.

1. There is another way to process apple slices, which you will definitely like much more than the previous one. You will need to place the future drying in a citric acid solution, but if you want apples with a lemon flavor, then use fresh lemon juice. But if you care not about the appearance of the future workpiece, but about its taste, then you don’t have to waste time on processing.

1. We place the slices on special racks or simple baking sheets; large wooden boards are also suitable. If you are an experienced specialist in these matters, then you probably have a special frame with stretched cotton fabric. This option will be simply ideal for obtaining the desired result.

1. If you still couldn’t resist and cut the apples into perfectly even slices, then for quick drying it is best to string the finished slices onto wooden sticks. Well, or you can just string them on a thread and hang these apple garlands in the interior. So, you will prepare the drying and decorate the room, and besides, the aroma emanating from the fruits that are in the process of drying will simply enchant you.

Drying apples at home is an important process; many people dry apples for themselves, and some people dry them for sale. Therefore, everything must be perfect.

How to know when dried fruits are ready

In such an activity, it is important to control the process all the time, because you can dry out the fruit. We are talking about a method of drying fruits using an oven.

After all, an overdried product will not only lose its taste, but will also lose those beneficial vitamins for which we started all this.

But even under-dried apple slices are not suitable for us, because their long-term storage will be simply impossible.

Half-raw dried fruits will simply rot if stored in a bag, which we will probably hide in a dark closet.

Our drying will not have a chance to deteriorate, because there is a method that will help determine the degree of its readiness.

So, select one of the slices and try to bend it between your fingers. The finished dried apple is quite elastic, which allows it to bend easily.

But if it turns out to be fragile and breaks into two parts right in your hands, then this means that the product is not ready yet.

Sun drying - how to dry apples

This method has been familiar to us since childhood, but it is not always possible to dry late apples in the sleepy rays of the sun.

After all, we can find the most ripe apples only in the fall, but this is not a problem. There are special summer varieties designed specifically for drying.

Of course, such a process will take much longer than in the oven, but for lovers of a natural way to dry apple fruits, we offer this option.

The ideal time for this kind of activity is in September, when there is already a sufficient variety of apple harvest, and the sun is still shining like summer.

Residents of apartment buildings can place prepared apples directly on their balcony. This is the only well-ventilated place in the apartment that receives enough sunlight. But if there is no balcony, then this is not a problem.

You can even place the dryer on the windowsill, but with the condition that the room will be constantly ventilated.

1. We select undamaged fruits that must be thoroughly washed. Next, cut the apple in half, remove the core, and then cut it into small slices.

1. To preserve the snow-white color of the fruits, dip them in salt water for a couple of minutes, then rinse them under running water to get rid of salt. Remove excess moisture with a napkin and place the apple slices on a flat, flat surface.

1. We place our future dryer on the balcony and leave it under the gentle rays of the sun. But at night it is better to take the workpiece into the apartment, because due to the lack of heat, the fruits can absorb moisture, which can interfere with the cooking process. It is better to cover them with some kind of cloth, which will serve as protection from summer insects.

1. Throughout the day, it is better to “check” our apple slices from time to time so that the process of drying the fruit occurs evenly. If one side of the slices is already dry enough, then it’s time to turn them over to the other side.

On average, fruits can dry from 4 to 6 days, but these indicators will vary depending on factors influencing the situation: the intensity of sunlight, air temperature, and the thickness of the slices themselves.

How to dry apples at home using an oven

If you have found your ideal apple variety, but it is too late to carry out natural drying, because it is late autumn outside, do not worry.

The drying process can also be carried out in apartment conditions, and it is usually carried out using an oven.

Using a wire rack to dry the apples is ideal, but a baking tray is also a good option. Only in this case, you need to constantly turn the slices so that they dry evenly.

1. It is necessary to set the temperature to no more than 60 degrees, because high temperatures can damage the structure of the fruit, as a result of which the beneficial substances contained in them will be lost. It is also important to keep the oven door ajar from time to time for better air circulation.

1. When the slices have lost most of their moisture, causing them to wilt a little, lower the temperature slightly.

1. It is necessary to keep the product in the oven until you are sure that they are dry enough for long-term storage. After all, under-dried fruits will begin to quickly deteriorate, and your harvest of dried fruits will simply be ruined.

Drying apples at home using an oven is much easier and more profitable if you live in an apartment.

How to dry apples in an electric dryer for the winter

Electric drying is good because during the drying process the fruit is provided with constant air circulation. Thanks to this, they are dried with the help of heat and air, and are not dried out due to exposure to high temperatures.

To ensure even drying, place the slices in one layer on a special round-shaped mesh.

The temperature should also not be higher than 60 degrees. Under such conditions, drying will be ready after 8 hours, although this time may vary depending on the thickness of the slices.

How to dry apples in the microwave

If you are a busy housewife and you do not have time to control this complex process, then use the help of a microwave. So, you will get drying in a matter of hours, but keep in mind that some vitamins may be lost.

1. Having chosen undamaged apples, you need to wash them thoroughly and cut them as you like. We take a plate and line it with a thin natural cloth, after which we lay out our slices on the prepared surface. We also put the same fabric on top.

1. We set the mode to 200 W and leave the future drying for 3-4 minutes. As a result, we get a quick drying option that will be stored for quite a long time.

Storing apples - important rules

Properly dried fruits are only half the battle, albeit a very important one; this allows you to preserve dried apples for the winter. But in order for drying to retain its taste and beneficial properties, it is necessary to provide it with acceptable conditions.

Usually such dried fruits are stored in plastic bags, which is not very correct. The fact is that polyethylene does not allow air to pass through at all, and this can lead to rotting of dried fruits.

Therefore, the ideal option, of course, would be a bag made of natural cotton fabric. This fabric allows air to pass through well, which will help the slices to be stored for as long as possible.

If you put ready-made dried fruits into a bag, this does not mean that you can forget about them before the first desire to cook compote. From time to time it is necessary to check their condition, because such dry fruits can be a real delicacy for various insects.

In addition, it may happen that mold overtakes your workpiece. But this will only happen if the air humidity in the room increases or if the fruits were not completely dried.

Although the process of drying apple slices may seem impossible in apartment conditions, this is actually not the case. It’s just that not everyone knows how to dry apples correctly.

There are several alternative solutions to the usual drying of apples in the sun. In addition, it will not take you much time, because your task is only to prepare the fruits for the main processing. Drying fruit is much easier than making jam or sealing compotes.

On long winter evenings, it’s nice to treat yourself to delicious slices of dried apples. Preparing them is not at all difficult. It's much easier than making jam, and cheaper. No sugar is used to dry fruits. Time costs are also minimal. The result is amazingly delicious and a sea of ​​vitamins. There are several ways to dry ripe apples for the winter in an apartment or private house.

You need to choose fruits with white, dense pulp. Drying them will turn out to be elastic and pleasant to the taste. The best varieties are Antonovka, Pepin and Aport.

Important! Do not mix large and small fruit slices together. Some will take longer to dry, while others will dry faster.

The best raw material for drying is a homemade apple grown in your own garden. Purchased imported fruits are treated with wax and chemicals, which will not disappear during the drying process.

You cannot use broken carrion or spoiled fruits. The fermentation process is already underway in them, so the taste of the finished product will be unpleasant.

How to prepare fruit?

Selected apples should be washed well and cut into thin slices. The thickness of each is 3-7 mm. You can get rid of the core using a special knife. So the whole process will take just a few minutes.

Due to the high iron content, the fruit pulp quickly oxidizes in air. You need to soak the finished pieces in a solution of table salt (just for a few seconds) or drop a little lemon juice on each. Then place the pieces in a colander to drain excess moisture.

Now they should rest for a while on a dry towel.

Methods for drying apples at home

There are various ways to dry fruits indoors and outdoors. Some of them were used hundreds of years ago, others appeared quite recently. But no matter what method of preparation is used, the dried slices are sure to turn out tasty and aromatic.

In a convection oven

Ovens with this function are very convenient. They have a special fan on the back wall. Hot air is supplied in a uniform flow. The apples will dry out on all sides.

To dry, you will need to do the following:

• Preheat the oven to 50 degrees. At higher temperatures, a crust will form on the apples, they will become brittle and lose their elasticity.
• Line the sheets with parchment paper and place the slices on them in one even layer. Place the sheets in the oven. At the beginning of drying, the door does not need to be opened. If the temperature rises, it can be opened slightly. The fan will promote intensive evaporation of excess moisture from the fruit.
• After two hours, the slices need to be mixed. Then put them back in the oven and dry for 30 - 60 minutes.

• During the drying process, the volume of apples will decrease. This is the signal to increase the temperature to about 70 degrees for the next hour.
• Then the original temperature (50 degrees) returns. You can open the oven door slightly and leave the fruit to dry for another 3 hours.
• After this time, you need to take out a couple of pieces, let them cool and try them with your fingers. If they are elastic and no juice is released, the drying process is complete. The apples must cool completely. Such slices are perfect both for sweet compote and as a treat during the cold season.

In the microwave

In summer it is not always possible to use the oven, because it is very hot. A great alternative is the microwave. Time costs are reduced from several hours to several minutes (5 or 7 in total).

To dry fruit you will need:

1. Cut the apples into slices and distribute evenly on the plate.
2. Optimal power is 200-300 W.
3. After a couple of minutes, remove the plate and turn each slice over to the other side.
4. Leave the fruit to dry for another 2-3 minutes. This time is enough to dry very thin slices. If liquid is still oozing from them, the cooking time is extended by another 2-3 minutes.

In the sun

This is not the fastest way to get ready-made dried fruits. It is necessary to take into account that the air temperature outside should remain at least + 30 degrees for several days. There is no point in drying apples in cloudy weather.

Cooking process:

• First you need to choose a place where the sun shines almost all day. There is a table covered with kitchen oilcloth and sheets of clean paper. It is better not to use newspapers, as under hot sunlight they will smell like printing ink.
• Then place the prepared dry apple pieces in a thin layer on paper. The smell of fruit will attract wasps and fruit flies. The workpiece will have to be covered with gauze.

• Apples need to be stirred periodically throughout the day so that they dry on all sides.
• After sunset, it is recommended to bring fruit indoors. If morning dew constantly settles on them or it rains at night, your efforts will be in vain.
• This simple recipe will take about a week or a little more to prepare.

If drying apples in the yard is not very convenient, the slices can be strung on threads and hung indoors. A dry, clean attic or veranda is suitable for this. The main thing is to ensure constant circulation of fresh, dry air.

Advice! The slices need to be made thicker, otherwise they will constantly break when stringing. You need to leave a little space between the pieces. The product will be ready in 2 weeks.

In an electric dryer

This device is specially designed for preparing dried fruits. Cut the apples into slices the same thickness as the tray in the dryer. If this is not done, the fruits will not dry evenly. One half of the slice will be completely cooked, but the other will not.

To prepare dried fruits, you will need:

1. Carefully place the slices on the surface of the pallets. Then place them on different levels in the dryer and turn on the device.
2. You need to make sure that the temperature indicator is no higher than + 55 degrees.
3. The minimum drying time will be 7 hours.
4. After this, turn off the device. When the apples have cooled, you need to check their readiness.
5. If the juice from the pieces has not yet evaporated, the drying time is extended by 2-3 hours.

Using an air fryer

This device gives more scope for activity. To get a fragrant drying, just sprinkle fresh apple slices with ginger, vanilla or cinnamon. The taste will be amazing.

Cooking process:

1. For this device, apples need to be cut into thicker slices (from 5 to 8 mm).
2. Any food in the air fryer is laid out on the grates, and not on the bottom.
3. Now the timer is set to low airflow mode and the temperature is 100 degrees.
4. You can check the readiness of the apples in 50–60 minutes.
5. If you have doubts about the readiness of the product, you can extend the cooking time by half an hour.

How to properly store dried fruits?

Ideal conditions for dried apples: dry, cool, dark and constant access to oxygen. In a warm, musty room the product will quickly deteriorate.

Under no circumstances should you use plastic bags or plastic containers. In such packaging, mold may form on dried fruits.

Small bags made of thick, breathable fabric or old cotton pillowcases are better suited.

Cardboard boxes, wicker baskets or small wooden boxes are a good way out. The bottom is covered with sheets of paper. All that remains is to make sure that bugs and other insects do not get into these containers.

Large harvests of apples make them accessible to all segments of the population. People try to eat them not only fresh, but also to prepare them as much as possible for the winter: they make preserves, jams, and compotes. However, when cooked, apples lose most of their vitamins. If you want to preserve the beneficial properties as much as possible, it is better to prepare apples in the form of drying. Drying has many advantages:

There are many ways to dry apples. Modern housewives often use stoves. And yet, the method of drying fruits in open areas has been used for centuries due to its simplicity and accessibility.

Is it possible to dry apples in the sun? It is convenient to harvest dried fruits in the fresh air in those regions where summer is hot and dry. Autumn should also pamper you with sunny days and high enough air temperatures so that housewives can dry late varieties of apples.

The main advantage of this method of preparing dried fruits is that you can dry a large harvest of apples almost in one go. The main thing is that there is enough space to lay out the apples. In addition, this method saves energy.

Flaws drying apples in the fresh air:

• need to protect drying apples from flies;
• necessity hide at night drying: at this time the humidity is higher, dew falls in the morning, and the apples may disappear;
• if the weather changes unexpectedly and it will rain, then the process will have to be interrupted and the apples dried at home.

Basic Rules

It is advisable to process apples not all at once, but divide into portions(about half a bucket each).

In order to have time to complete all the necessary procedures before the slices are cut oxidize and darken. It is necessary to select ripe ones, preferably undamaged apples.

Let's consider Basic Rules drying apples on the street (for example, in the country):

1. For drying outside you need to choose the right varieties: Golden winter parmen, Montuaner, Renet Orleans, Rosemary, Renet Simerenko, Antonovka, Aport, Pepin. All these varieties of apples are autumn and have a sweet and sour taste. Unlike sweet summer apples, when autumn varieties are dried, more dry pulp remains and the taste of dried fruit is more pronounced.
2. Apples are necessary rinse thoroughly and wipe dry so that excess moisture does not delay the drying time.
3. If the apples are purchased and you know that they have been processed several times chemicals, then it is better to remove the peel from the fruit. It is better not to cut off the peel of domestic apples unless it is hard. It is believed to contain many vitamins.
4. Next, the apples are removed core. The easiest way to do this is to use a tube with sharp edges. If it is not there, then the apple is divided into four parts and the inedible part is removed with a knife.
5. Cut the apples into slices using a slicer or a knife. no thicker than 1 cm.
6. To save light shade Apple pulp and slices are kept in a saline solution for several minutes (100 g of salt is dissolved in a bucket of water).
7. Processed apple slices are laid out in one layer on baking sheets or grids.
8. Top with apple slices several layers of gauze in order to at least partially protect future dried fruits from flies and dust.
9. Every day you need all the slices turn over.

Large apple slices can be strung on a strong thread or wooden sticks. In this case there will be no need everyday turning over lobes

At this stage, the preparatory work for drying apples is completed. Now you need to decide where it is best to place the baking sheets so that you get the most delicious and healthy dried fruits.

Methods

How to dry apples on the street or in the country. Let's consider several ways.

In the sun

How to properly dry apples in the sun? If you place baking sheets with apples in direct sunlight, drying the apples in the sun will take four to six days.

After which the baking sheets need to be kept for a few more days. in a dry, ventilated area until final drying.

No matter how hot the weather is, baking sheets are essential overnight. clean the room. Since air humidity rises significantly at night, all drying can go down the drain.

On hot days, apple slices quickly become dry, however, intense sun rays destroy some vitamins and organic compounds.

In the shadow

Apples can also be dried in the shade, it will take much longer, however, the resulting drying will be healthier than the one that was dried in the sun. Trays can be placed in the shade only on very hot summer days, when air humidity is low and the temperature is high.

It is advisable that the baking trays well blown by the wind. And it is imperative to turn the slices at least once a day, and hide the dryer in the house at night.

In the bath

What to do with autumn apple varieties? The sun is shining, but it is no longer warm, and the air humidity is already high. If you have a sauna at your dacha, then you can not only take a steam bath in it, but also dry apples, while enjoying their aroma.

How is apples dried in a steam room? It is most convenient to arrange the apples cut into slices on a metal mesh or string on a strong thread. Attach the finished structure under the ceiling, closer to the stove. The bathhouse needs to be heated for 3-4 hours so that during this time the temperature does not drop below 90 degrees.

Then the stove can no longer be heated, the bathhouse will gradually cool down, and in the meantime the dryer will finish drying.

It is advisable to keep the finished drying for a few more days. in a dry, well-ventilated area.

The main thing is that the bathhouse is hot and dry.

If you constantly throw water on the stones, then humidity will rise to 80% and under such conditions it will no longer be possible to dry apples.

Are they dry or not?

Recommendations regarding the number of days required to dry apples are relative. It all depends on the temperature and humidity, as well as on the variety: summer apples dry out faster than autumn varieties. So how do you understand drying ready or not?

If the skin is on the apple slices darkened, and the pulp stopped sticking, then the drying is completely ready. You can also additionally check the readiness by pressing firmly on the pulp with your finger: if it is under your finger will not spread to the sides, which means the apples are already quite dry.

Dried apple slices should remain soft and bendable, otherwise they are overdried. IN overdried Apples retain fewer vitamins and nutrients.

The color of the dryer does not indicate its readiness. Summer varieties of apples are obtained lighter, winter – darker. The color of the pulp becomes lighter if the apples were treated in a saline solution at the preparatory stage.

How to store dried fruits?

Properly prepared drying is only half the battle. We still need it save until winter so that it does not become moldy or eaten by mice and insects. ? This simple matter has its own nuances:

Simple process requiring minimal quantities financial investments. If you do everything correctly, then dried apples will always delight you with their aroma and taste on cold winter days, they will help diversify the table with compotes and pies.

At regular consumption of dried apples you can improve your metabolism and increase your body's resistance to colds.