Since time immemorial, people have dried fruits. Water evaporates from the fruits under the sun, but the aroma, taste, nutrients are preserved and their shelf life is increased.
How to store prunes at home so that this product does not deteriorate, and there is no "livestock" in it? A healthy and tasty fruit is used as a cure for many diseases and a great treat. It contains a considerable amount of minerals and vitamins necessary for the body. Therefore, it is advisable to eat it throughout the year, and for this you should learn how to store it properly.
general information
Drying fruits such as apples, bananas, melons, apricots, plums and many others is easy to do on their own at home. There is not always time for this, and therefore, you have to buy a finished product. But it should be remembered that fruit preparations on an industrial scale are produced using special technologies that simplify and speed up processing. And all this affects the quality of dried fruits and their shelf life.
How to store prunes and dried apricots - dried fruits, which are the most popular and popular?
Features of drying by various methods
The following is a comparison of the effect on the final product of various drying methods for any fruit.
- Drying in the shade is a long, but the most correct way. Moisture from the fruit evaporates evenly and gradually.
- Drying in the sun is a faster way, but not all useful substances are stored in fruits (vitamins A and C do not like heat, so they are partially lost).
- Drying in industrial furnaces is mandatory. During this process, half of the vitamins and trace elements are destroyed.
The following is information on how to store prunes and dried apricots (methods are completely identical).
The right choice of berries for storage
Dried fruits need to be selected not only by their beautiful appearance. An ideal look can be obtained through chemical treatment. It is better to choose fruits that are not brittle and dry.
How to check the quality? The fruit should rub the back of the hand. Traces remaining on the hand indicate low quality. Also, when buying, you must pay attention to the date of manufacture of this product and the shelf life. Having chosen dried fruits for home storage, it is advisable to stick the sticker from the packaging (if any) onto a new container. If there is no production date on the fruits, they should be eaten within one year.
The following is information on how to store prunes in the house.
How to keep useful properties?
Keeping dried fruits at home, following some simple rules, is quite simple. To do this, use wooden boxes, linen bags, and paper or zip bags, tightly closed plastic, glass and metal containers, as well as airtight containers.
Fruits hermetically packed in the above mentioned dishes should be placed in places with room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Storage in a container with a lid at room temperature
How to store dried fruits (prunes, dried apricots, etc.) in jars (glass and ceramics) with a tight-fitting lid? Products in them are well stored in a dark, dry place for up to 6 months.
- Select completely dried fruits (dried fruits) without any defects. If they are not finished, dry yourself.
- Prepare containers - wash, rinse with boiling water and dry.
- Fill the container with dried fruits, close with a tight lid and put in a cool place.
- Regularly monitor the condition of the fruit.
Storage of dried fruits in this way is considered the best.
How to store prunes in paper bags and linen bags
This method is suitable only if there are no harmful insects in the room: cockroaches, moths, ants, etc.
Clean cloth bags are soaked in a solution with a large amount of salt, then dried, filled with dried fruits and tightly tied. In the same way, paper bags are filled and closed. Due to the fact that these materials allow dried fruits to breathe, they do not mold and retain almost all properties. This method is undesirable if there are strongly smelling products and household chemical goods in the room: spices, coffee, tobacco, washing powder, etc.
How to store in the refrigerator?
At elevated temperatures and humidity in the room, prunes are best placed in the refrigerator. What should be done for this?
- Carefully sort out the purchased dry fruits, separate the spoiled and damaged.
- Pack in small portions in glass jars with lids, in zip bags or plastic containers.
- Place containers on the door or shelf of the refrigerator.
- Check the moisture in the container every week. In case of its appearance, the fruits should be dried again and the container should be processed.
About the beneficial properties of prunes
Having learned about how to store prunes, you should also know about its properties. Prune is a dried fruit known to everyone, but few people know about its beneficial properties. For example, polyphenols, which are contained in dried fruits, ensure the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system, strengthening the walls of blood vessels. The antioxidants contained in the fruit promote rejuvenation, increase immunity and even help in the prevention of cancer.
The fruit is a source of potassium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, zinc, copper and other trace elements, many vitamins and various trace elements. Prunes are also useful for constipation. Such a healing and tasty fruit is healthy and pleasant to eat all year round.