How to dry apples in an electric dryer - at what temperature and how long to dry apples

How to choose apples for drying

Any variety of apples is suitable for drying, depending on your taste preferences. Some people prefer sweet varieties of apples, some like them sour. The main thing is that the fruits are free from rot, wormholes and damage.

How to cut apples for drying

Before slicing, apples must be washed and dried well. Clean the core with a special tool or knife, cut the fruit into slices or circles no thicker than 0.5 cm. If you cut them thicker, they will take much longer to cook. Whether or not to peel the fruit is up to you. The peel contains many vitamins, but when dried it becomes quite hard, which not everyone likes.

To keep apples longer and not lose color when dried, you can (but not necessarily) dip them in a saline solution before cooking. It is done like this: 1 tablespoon of salt is dissolved in 1 liter of water. Apples need to be soaked in it for 5 minutes, drained in a colander.

How to dry apples in an electric dryer

Place the sliced ​​apples in an even thin layer on the trays of the electric dryer. It is important not to pack them too tightly so that hot air can circulate freely between them.

You need to dry at a temperature of 65-70 degrees for about 8-10 hours. Periodically, you need to change the positions of the trays for uniform cooking, since the slices will cook faster on the lower tray.

The video from “VkusnoProsto iPoleno” shows how to prepare apples for the winter by drying them in a dryer.

If you have to turn off the dryer before the fruit is completely cooked, be sure to open the lid or empty the trays of fruit, otherwise they will pick up moisture again.

The drying time largely depends on the juiciness of the apples, the thickness of their cutting, and the model of the dryer, so their readiness must be checked periodically. Only through experience will you determine the optimal cooking time for dried fruits.

How to check the readiness of dried apples

The finished drying should be elastic, no moisture will be released when pressed, and the piece should not stick to your fingers.

If the piece is brittle and dry, it means the apples are too dry. You can use them, but there will be much less vitamins in such a product.

How to store dried apples

When drying is ready, you need to remove the trays from the dryer and leave the dried fruits until they cool completely. You can store them in cotton bags, paper bags, glass jars with tightly screwed lids.

Plastic bags or plastic containers are not suitable for these purposes, as drying can become moldy or insects may infest them.Bags of dried fruits are best stored in a dry, cool place protected from the sun. For example, in the pantry, but not in the refrigerator.

By drying fragrant apples for the winter, you can make delicious compote, porridge, and pies for your family. And just crunch some apple chips with hot tea.