How to properly 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 prepare for the winter not only conservation, but also dried fruit. After all, it is not only vitamins and benefits, but also a delicious summer scent. Dried fruits can be added to pastries, compotes are prepared in winter, and eaten just as a dessert. However, to preserve this product during the long winter months, you need to know how to store dried fruits at home.

Before finding out how, where and in what to store dried fruits, you need to figure out which dried fruits can and should be harvested for the winter. If you bought dried fruit in the store, you will have no problems with storage. Production dried fruits are treated with special agents that repel pests, protect the product from mildew and rotting. In most cases, no matter how you store them, they will always have a shiny attractive look.

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

If you are cooking 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 is cut into a piece, it should be dried.

What to store

It is best to store dried fruits in a sealed package. A plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, a glass jar, or a plastic bag can be used for storage. However, before placing the dried fruit in an airtight container, it should be checked that all the pieces are dried properly? If you get at least one fruit, not completely dried, in an enclosed space, it can spoil all the other dried fruits. This can lead to decay and mold.

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

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Where to store

Store dried fruits should be in a dark cool place. It is best to keep the container with dried fruits on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator - it is 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 in the refrigerator you do not have enough space for storing dried fruits, you can put them on the top shelves of kitchen drawers, where you do not often look.Please note that the room should not be high humidity. It is best to put a container with salt or soda next to a package of dried fruits. These adsorbing substances perfectly absorb moisture, protecting dried fruit from it.

How to protect dried fruits from pests

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

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

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

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