How and where to properly store dried fruits at home, timing

Dried fruits are fruits and berries that are dried after ripening. People have mastered this technology for a long time. The increase in temperature contributes to the fact that water evaporates from the products, but all the beneficial substances and taste are preserved. However, the problem of the correct storage of dried fruits at home worries many housewives. After all, such products can quickly lose their appearance and taste if certain standards are not met.

Product Storage Features

Dried fruits and berries are placed where it is cool and there are no sudden changes in temperature and humidity. The best places are the cellar, the basement. The product is also stored in the apartment.

Preparation and verification

First, check for rotten areas in the dried fruit. If there are, then those copies are discarded. All quality dried fruits have the following characteristics:

• absence of extraneous odors;
• the inherent taste of a ripe product;
• softness - medium, increased looseness indicates poor drying;
• when squeezed, the dried fruits stick together.

All specimens should have a dense, elastic texture, approximately the same shape, slightly different in size. The best control is self-administered. A copy must be cut. If it is difficult to do this and the knife sticks to the fruit, this also indicates poor-quality drying.

When dried fruit is hard and hard to bite and chew, it means the fruit is overdried.

Before identifying dried fruits for a permanent place of storage, it is necessary to notice visually and taste certain signs inherent in good dried fruits.

Apricot

Apricots:

• gray or brown color of pulp and skin;
• good taste.

A pineapple

Pineapple:

• beige;
• sweet aftertaste.

Banana

Bananas:

• good taste;
• Oval shape;
• the colors range from light brown to dark brown.

The pieces should not shine or have sugar crystals on the surface.

The Peach

Peaches:

• color from beige to dark brown;
• the taste is sweet and sour.

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Kiwi

Kiwi:

• the colors are light green or olive;
• the taste is sweet and sour.

figure

Picture:

• color gray, matte;
• the taste is sweet sweet.

Sometimes there is a white bloom on the samples. It is the excess sugar that is released when it dries. This phenomenon is considered normal and does not indicate damage.

Apples

Apples:

• cream color, sometimes with a pink tint;
• sour taste.

The pieces should be with the whole skin, with the seeds.

Pears

Pears:

• yellow color;
• the taste is sweet.

The pieces should be with intact skin, without seeds.

Khaki

Dry persimmons, like fresh, have a special aftertaste, as well as a dark burgundy hue. A small white bloom is allowed - an indicator of a high sugar content.

Plums

Plums:

• the color is closer to black;
• the taste is sweet.

Grape seed

The berries of dried grapes have a sweet taste, the color of which varies from light yellow to brown. After inspection, it is recommended to dry the product. Berries and fruits are laid out in a dark, cool room on a horizontal surface covered with cardboard or paper. Newspapers and magazine sheets should not be used for this purpose. After all, ink is toxic.

You can dry the fruit in the oven. They are placed on a baking sheet in a single layer and left at 50 ° C for about an hour.

Optimal storage conditions and rules

Dried fruits are stored under the following conditions:

1. Lack of light and sun, otherwise the fruits will darken.
2. The most comfortable temperature is + 5 ... + 14 ° With sharp warming, insects begin to penetrate the product, pathogenic microorganisms begin to develop.
3. The best humidity is up to 60-70%.
4. Each species is stored in a separate container. Otherwise, the smells will mix and create an unpleasant cacophony.

It is necessary to determine where the coolest and driest place in the apartment is and place containers with fruits there. Some dried fruits are recommended to be refrigerated. To know the expiry dates of products, the dates are signed - either directly on the container or on pieces of paper.

Several types of containers are used:

To seal glass jars, silicone or polyethylene lids are used, tin and metal lids will contribute to the appearance of an unpleasant smell inside. If you choose the right container and create all the conditions, the shelf life of the products will increase.

How to properly store frozen nuts

Freezing leads to the loss of some useful qualities of dried fruits. But on the other hand, the shelf life increases significantly. He is several years old. In addition, no special training is required. Small portions of dried fruits and berries are placed in plastic bags or food containers and placed in the freezer.

It is necessary that the products be divided into small parts, since since the thawed fruits are used immediately in cooking, it is not recommended to refreeze them.

Some housewives keep dried fruits on the balcony in winter.But do not forget that at this time of year frosts are often replaced by thaws. This means that the product is sometimes saturated with water, then it turns into ice. From this, the consistency and taste of berries and fruits suffer. It is best to start defrosting on the top shelf of the refrigerator. Place in a warm room only after 4-6 hours.

Preventative measures

Dried fruits require periodic attention from the woman. After all, if you do not perform certain actions, the product will become moldy or insects will grow in it. Dried fruit should be discarded.

Insects

To avoid the appearance of insects and the spoilage of fruits, the hostess should know specific rules and act accordingly. Use plants or liquids that pests cannot smell.

1. A dry sprig of peppermint is placed at the bottom of the container.
2. Banks are rinsed with a solution of vinegar and water in a ratio of 1: 1. And then they are dried.
3. Any citrus peel is placed next to the containers.

And you also need to periodically check the condition of flour and pasta. Because living creatures there will definitely fly to dried fruits, spoiling their quality.

mold

Mold control should also be carried out regularly. All inventory is reviewed once a month. It is necessary to identify all specimens on which characteristic traces appeared. A saucer with rock salt or fine coals is left on the shelf next to the dried fruits. They absorb excess moisture. Absorbents are replaced every 2 weeks, otherwise they will not fulfill their function.

What to do in case of infection

But if insects appear, the fruits are spread on a baking sheet and heated to 70 ° C for half an hour.Moldy fruits and berries are removed. And those that were next to the rotten are washed and put as the main ingredient in stewed or boiled.

Storage characteristics of certain types

The most difficult thing is to create the storage conditions for these fruits which remain quite juicy even after drying.

Grape

For raisins, cloth bags are suitable. Containers made of glass or polymeric material are not sealed, but covered with parchment so that air does not stagnate inside.

Dates and figs

Figs and dates belong on the refrigerator door shelf. Only there they will remain fresh and tasty for a long time. To prevent the products from absorbing other people's odors, they are placed in a carefully sealed container.

Tips & Tricks

Experienced housewives give the following recommendations for maintaining the best quality of dried fruits:

1. Stores offer not only dried berries and fruits, but also dried fruits. The latter retains more moisture than the former. For dried fruits, vacuum packaging is used.
2. Containers with dates, prunes, dried apricots, raisins are placed on the shelves on the refrigerator doors.
3. Slices and candied fruits are placed in cloth bags on a shelf in the cupboard.

When storing the product in the cellar and basement, it should be remembered that rodents can get into it. In order to avoid spoilage, it is best to place dried fruits in containers that are too strong for small animals.

Dried fruits and berries can replace sweets, decorate homemade cakes or serve as the basis for compote. The main thing is to store them correctly so that the products retain their taste and useful properties for a long time.