How to store dried fruits at home

The content of the article

1 What to store
2 Where to store
3 How to protect dried fruits from pests
4 Video: how to store dried foods

Experienced housewives harvest for the winter not only preservation, but also dried fruits. After all, it is not only vitamins and benefits, but also a delicious aroma of summer. Dried fruits can be added to baked goods, stewed fruit is prepared in the winter, and eaten just like that, as a dessert. However, to preserve this product for the long winter months, you need to know how to store dried fruits at home.

Before you learn how, where and in what to store dried fruits, you need to figure out what dried fruits can and should be harvested for the winter. If you bought dried fruits in a store, you will not have storage problems. Manufactured dried fruits are processed with special tools that repel pests, protect the product from mold and decay. In most cases, no matter how you store them, they will always have a shiny, attractive appearance.

Of course, such dried fruits are fleshy and tasty, but, unfortunately, there is absolutely no benefit in them. Such products treated with industrial reagents do not retain vitamins in their composition. Therefore, you yourself have the right to choose, buy dried fruits in a supermarket or cook them yourself.

If you cook dried fruits at home, you should know one rule. Dried fruits are suitable for long-term storage only if they contain no more than 25% moisture. How to check it? To do this, squeeze the dried fruit in your hand. If it has crumbled, it means that it can be stored, if it has shrunk into a piece - it should still be dried.

What to store

It is best to store dried fruits in sealed packaging. For storage, a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, a glass jar or a plastic bag can be used. However, before placing dried fruits in an airtight container, it is necessary to check whether all the slices are thoroughly dried? If at least one fruit is not fully dried, it can spoil all other dried fruits in an enclosed space. This can lead to decay and mold.

Dried apples and pears are best stored in cloth bags. Boil canvas bags in salt water in advance (this will protect dried fruits from insects), dry and fill them with dried fruits. Periodically review the contents so that the fruit does not rot. If you find rotting or moldy pieces of fruit in a bag, it is best to throw them away, and compote should be prepared immediately from neighboring fruits. From time to time, sort and mix dried fruits so that they are dried evenly and do not stick to each other. Before storing dried fruits for storage, check again that the bags are tightly tied.

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Where to store

Store dried fruits in a cool dark place. It is best to keep containers with dried fruits on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator - it’s cool enough there that does not allow pests to multiply. It is best to protect dried fruits from direct sunlight and keep them in a dark place.

If you do not have enough space in the refrigerator to store dried fruits, you can place them on the top shelves of the kitchen drawers, where you do not often look. Please note that the room should not have high humidity. It is best to put a container of salt or soda next to a packet of dried fruits. These absorbent substances perfectly absorb moisture, protecting dried fruits from it.

How to protect dried fruits from pests

The most serious hazard during storage of dried fruits is pests. In various dried fruits, midges, moths, aphids cocoons and other animals like to settle.If you find insects on fruits, thoroughly rinse the dried fruits and dry them in the oven at high temperature. Under such conditions, even insect larvae die. If you want to continue storage, you need to thoroughly dry the fruit after washing, wash and iron (especially in the folds) the bags. After the incident, you should more often and carefully examine and sort out dried fruits.

If you are afraid that insects will appear in dried fruits, place a sprig of mint or basil in the bag. Pests do not tolerate these odors. In addition, if you make a compote of dried fruits with the addition of dried mint sprigs, this will give the drink a unique flavor.

If on the table all year round there are fresh, healthy and tasty products - this is an indicator of a good housewife in the house. Dried fruits should be stored at low temperatures, in a dark place and in a sealed container. These three rules will help you protect and preserve your food supplies.

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