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Sun-dried apples, dried apricots, prunes and dried melon are ideal both for compotes and as an independent delicacy. Due to the huge yield of the melon, its drying becomes relevant with each harvesting of fruits. This melon crop is ideal for drying, so the process of harvesting it is simple and familiar to most gardeners. The dried melon becomes elastic and is usually folded into small pigtails.
What is the name of dried melon
Most dried fruits, including cantaloupe, are called candied fruits. But it is worth remembering that this manufacturing method involves the additional use of sugar in the drying and drying process. Products with sugar are sweeter and are always associated as a dessert or tea addition. The benefits of such products are undeniable, but excessive consumption of sugar is harmful to anyone.
In hot Uzbekistan, where the melons themselves are incredibly juicy and sweet, adding sugar is not necessary to get a delicious jerky product. The perfect balance of the sweetness of the local melons allows the product to dry simply by cutting it into pieces. The Uzbeks even have a separate name for dried and dried melon - Kauyndak. This dish is a national delicacy and an integral part of any tea drinking.
The benefits and harms of dried melon for the body
As you know, fruits and vegetables are created to fill the human body with useful vitamins and microelements. Their daily use allows you to increase the tone and strengthen the immune system, which will allow you to resist diseases for a long time. Some fruits improve skin health, others help to strengthen the condition of hair and nails, and others strengthen the cardiovascular system.
Melon is a treasure trove of nutrients. Among the most significant, it is customary to allocate vitamin C - a trace element to strengthen immunity and the general condition of the body. Beta-carotene improves the natural skin tone. Folic acid is an excellent remedy for calming the nervous system and creating a great mood.
Disputes about the benefits and dangers of a dried product are rare, since the melon in a pigtail retains a greater amount of useful trace elements. The systematic use of this culture will cleanse the body of harmful toxins thanks to pectin. Dried melon promotes the production of serotonin, which is the key to good mood and cheerfulness. In addition, the dried product allows you to strengthen blood vessels and improve the work of the heart muscles.
It is worth remembering that excessive consumption of any product can cause negative consequences for the body. In small quantities, jerky melon is practically harmless, but some people should approach its use with some caution:
- lactating women to avoid problems with stool in the baby;
- people with diabetes should avoid too sweet foods;
- everyone who has been diagnosed with duodenal disease or stomach ulcers.
In addition, people with a predisposition to allergic reactions should use this delicacy with caution. Melon is an allergen and can cause skin rashes.
Which melon is best for drying and drying
An important feature of this culture is the absolute impossibility of keeping it fresh for a long time.A refrigerator or basement will only slightly prolong its freshness, but at the same time, it will affect the taste characteristics. Drying looks like an ideal solution, known for a long time. At the same time, the process should be approached with all care. Not every variety is suitable for this procedure. The most suitable varieties are:
- Torpedo;
- Collective farmer;
- Pineapple.
The main criterion for a variety suitable for drying is firm flesh. Soft fruits contain excess water, which will spoil the taste of the finished dried product. For drying, it is worth choosing fruits of medium size without external damage. A prerequisite is their aroma. The fruit with a sweet fruity aroma is the key to the perfect meal.
How to dry melon at home
Dried melon is a delicacy that will appeal to any person. It is not difficult to prepare it at home. There are several ways to make your own jerky yummy. The most popular are:
- air drying method;
- electric dryer;
- oven.
The debate about which of the methods is the most correct, allowing you to preserve all the taste, do not subside. The most authentic is the aerial method, which has been in use for several millennia. But modern technologies do not stand still and allow people to speed up the process and improve the quality of the finished dish.
Air drying melon
Drying in the open air is often referred to as the natural method. In this case, the product is dried on a stretched rope in the open sun. To do this, the fruit is cut into slices about 2-4 cm wide, leaving a small bridge between each two slices for easy hanging on a rope. The drying process takes about two weeks. During the drying time, the melon decreases in weight up to 10 times due to the loss of water.
The finished strips become elastic and resilient. In this form, they conveniently roll up into pigtails. The prepared pigtails should be wrapped with cling film to avoid accidental moisture ingress. Often glass jars are used to store dried melons, into which the finished product is tamped.
How to dry melon in an electric dryer
The electric dryer is the ideal device for the most comfortable fruit harvesting. When dried, most of the nutrients are retained in the fruits. The Electric Dried Melon recipe does not require any special ingredients. To prepare a jerky delicacy, you just need to choose the right fruits.
First you need to wash the fruit, cut it and peel it of seeds. Then you need to cut off the peel and cut the pulp into pieces about 5 mm wide. The length of the slices is not important, but it is best to avoid overly long slices - it is much better to cut too large in half.
For proper drying, it is necessary to warm up the electric dryer. The ideal solution would be to warm up for 5 minutes without pallets installed. An important rule of thumb when drying is the required space between slices for a continuous aeration process. The slices are placed on pallets, which are placed in the dryer.
The drying process takes about 10 hours on average at a recommended temperature of 70 degrees. For more even drying of each pallet, they can be interchanged. After cooking, it is recommended to put the resulting delicacy in a glass jar and close it tightly with a lid.
How to dry melon in the oven
The process of cooking dried melon in the oven has a number of features compared to an electric dryer.So, the slices must be made thicker, about 1 cm. If the slices are too long, then they can be woven into a familiar pigtail. If it is possible to install several trays in the oven, it is worth using their maximum number.
The bottom of the baking sheet is covered with baking paper and the cut slices are spread on it. The recommended oven temperature is 70-75 degrees. In this case, a slightly open oven door is a prerequisite for excess moisture to escape. The drying process usually takes 6-8 hours with a periodic change of paper - it gets wet from excess moisture.
How many calories are in dried melon
Most vegetables and fruits serve as a source of simple carbohydrates for humans. The uncomplicated sugars contained in them give energy and a boost of vivacity. Rare fruit contains protein or a particle of fat. Juicy fruits are full of water, which, during the drying process, comes out of the product, allowing all the nutrients to remain in it. At the same time, the calorie content of dried foods, be it apples, grapes or melons, is low. Dried foods are ideal for dieters or healthy people.
Dried cantaloupe - almost entirely composed of carbohydrates. 100 g of dried product contains 82 g of carbohydrates. Protein and fat account for 0.7 g and 0.1 g, respectively. The calorie content of dried melon rolled into a pigtail is 341 kcal.
Terms and conditions of storage
Properly dried pulp can be stored for several years if simple rules are followed. A prerequisite for long-term storage of dried yummy is isolation from moisture and direct sunlight. Another requirement is a tightly closed jar to avoid the ingress of excess air that could enhance fermentation.
It is possible to store dried melon in a cloth bag. This method will preserve the taste and beneficial properties for several months. In stores, there is packaging in a plastic bag - here you should pay attention to the expiration dates indicated by the manufacturer.
Dried Melon Reviews
Conclusion
Dried melon is a source of a huge amount of beneficial vitamins and minerals for the human body. It helps to improve the general condition of the skin and hair, to lift the mood, and also to strengthen the immune system. The beneficial properties of dried melon are one of the main reasons for its mandatory harvesting for the winter. Cooking a jerky treat is simple and affordable for most people.
