2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Dried fruits are a great light snack and a great addition to many popular dishes. To get the most out of them, it is important to learn how to store them correctly - this will allow you to always have healthy and fresh delicacies at hand. All dried fruits are stored in different ways, and now is the time to familiarize yourself with several ways of storing them and learn how to keep your favorite dried fruits as long as possible
Temperature
For storage of dried fruits, the ideal temperature is about ten degrees. True, in apartment conditions it is far from always possible to find such a cool place, so it is quite acceptable to limit yourself to a dark kitchen cabinet located far from radiating heat from kitchen gadgets (electric kettle, stove, microwave, etc.). The fact is that excessive heat greatly contributes to the formation of mold and the reproduction of harmful parasites. The temperature is especially favorable for the development of harmful microorganisms from seventeen to thirty degrees.
As for the refrigerator, only moist dried fruits like prunes can be stored in it. Dryer fruits will quickly become damp there, since the percentage of moisture in the refrigerator is usually quite high.
Humidity
Another important criterion for the proper storage of dried fruits. In order to calculate the most suitable values for storing purchased dried fruits, it is extremely important not to forget to take into account their own moisture content. The optimal indicator of the moisture content of almost all dried fruits is considered to be 17 - 24%. Therefore, they will be very well stored in a room with an air humidity of 70%. For example, raisins with prunes or dried apricots will neither dry out nor soak in this case. And too dry fruits under these circumstances will be able to collect a small amount of moisture from the surrounding atmosphere (this applies mainly to non-hermetically packaged dried fruits).
With strict adherence to all recommendations, dried fruits can be easily preserved throughout the year - during this time they will not lose either their benefits or their excellent taste.
What to store?
To ensure the best preservation of healthy dried fruits, it is recommended to use exclusively sealed containers - with minimal air access, dried fruits retain all their properties much better. The most suitable for storage are small glass or ceramic jars with tightly screwed lids, as well as dense wooden barrels.
Dried fruits that have an uneven structure and varying degrees of moisture should ideally be stored separately. For example, rather moist prunes should not be placed in a common container with dried raisins or dried apricots - they will not only damp, but also absorb the specific aroma of prunes. Well, if you really want to make a mix of dried fruits, which will be stored in a common container, then in order to balance the moisture level, all prepared fruits must be additionally dried in the oven.
Useful Tips
Despite the relatively high humidity in the refrigerator, not only prunes with dates, but also raisins or even dried apricots can be stored in it. And so that they are better preserved, they are placed in an airtight or vacuum package - this will allow you to preserve your favorite dried fruits for three to four months.
As for candied pineapple, dried kiwi or bananas, as well as crispy apple slices, they are poured into clean cloth bags for better preservation, and a bowl of dried mint and common salt is placed next to it - saving mint will scare off various pests, and the salt will take into all excess moisture.
All stored fruits must be systematically inspected for mold or harmful bugs. If some living creatures are found, dried fruits are taken out into the air on a very frosty day, or they are calcined in an oven at a temperature of about seventy degrees. And if there are too many pests, and most of the dried fruits have already been tested by them, then it would still be better to say goodbye to the "injured" product.
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