To prepare a variety of dishes, many housewives use dried cranberries. However, not everyone knows how to make such a blank at home. Let's consider this question in more detail.
What is this product?
Dried cranberries are the fruits of a creeping plant, prepared according to a special technology. Such a treat is used not only as a light snack, but also as a component of sauces, pastries, and various drinks.
You can cook dried cranberries at home without much difficulty. The main thing is to observe the technology and choose the right fruits. It is worth considering that the finished product, despite the fact that it has a number of useful properties, can be contraindicated in certain pathologies.
Dried Cranberry Recipe: Key Rules
Consider the most common way to prepare a product - in the oven. To make dried cranberries at home, you must follow a number of rules:
- Only ripe fruits should be selected without damage and without rot. They should be bright and juicy.
- Before preparing the berries, it is recommended to rinse under running water, removing dirt and debris.
- The temperature in the oven during drying should not exceed 60 ° C.
How to cook
Now it is worth listing the stages of preparation:
- Sugar syrup should be prepared. To do this, pour 0.5 l of pure water into the container, heat it and add 2 cups of white sugar. The contents must be brought to a boil, constantly stirring. Otherwise, the sugar will stick to the bottom of the container and may burn.
- 1 kg of prepared cranberries must be poured with ready-made sugar syrup and put on the stove. You need to cook the fruits at the minimum heating temperature until they begin to burst.
- The container should be removed from the fire and left until its contents have cooled completely. In conclusion, cranberries should be laid out on a baking sheet previously covered with parchment.
- The baking sheet must be placed in a preheated oven. Stewing cranberries is recommended for 4-5 hours.
- After the specified time, it is necessary to replace parchment paper and continue languishing. After 4-5 hours, the dried stick will be ready.
By the way, the syrup that is formed as a result of boiling berries is not worth pouring. It can be used to soak cakes.
The use of special equipment
Probably many housewives have a dryer for vegetables, fruits and berries. It can also be used to make dried cranberries. In the dryer, this process is much faster and takes less time from the hostess.
For starters, it is recommended to sprinkle cranberries with sugar and slightly crush, but do not grind. In this form, the fruits should be left for the whole night or for 8 hours. After the specified time, the syrup from the berries is drained, and the cranberries are sent to the dryer. It takes no more than 2 hours to cook it.
As you can see, the dried cranberry recipe is not expensive. It remains to consider the benefits and harms of such a product.
What is the use
The properties of dried cranberries are determined by its unique composition. Such a product contains many vitamins, including B 1 , B 2 , B 5 , B 6 , PP, K, E, C, as well as choline. After heat treatment, all beneficial substances in the fruits can be preserved with benzoic acid. It is a strong enough antioxidant that can protect body cells from harmful radicals. In addition, it prevents aging.
The use of dried cranberries is known to many healers. Thanks to potassium, as well as vitamin C, regular use of this product avoids the development of infectious and colds. In addition, PP contributes to normal blood circulation, which prevents blood clots, varicose veins and plaques.
With regular use of cranberries, mental performance improves. The beneficial components that make up the berries normalize blood coagulation. It is worth noting that the product improves the condition of nails, hair and skin.
There is good news for the strong half of humanity. Regular consumption of cranberries can improve potency due to its included enzymes.
Can it hurt
Speaking about the benefits of dried cranberries, it is worth mentioning the possible harm of the product. First of all, it consists in the fact that the composition of the fruit includes potent components. If used too much, you can harm your body. Therefore, you need to remember the golden rule: everything is good in moderation.
Of course, do not forget about contraindications. Dried cranberries should be discarded with:
- individual intolerance to any component;
- gastritis with a high content of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice;
- duodenal ulcer or stomach;
- certain liver diseases;
- lactation.
It is worth noting that such a product is not recommended for children under 3 years of age. To avoid unpleasant consequences, before using dried cranberries, you should consult your doctor.
Combination with other products
You can serve dried fruits separately from other products, for tea, for example. However, the best taste of berries is revealed in combination with rice and granola. The product can also be added to pastries, fruit salads and desserts. Perfectly dried cranberries are combined with couscous and buckwheat. It can be added to cottage cheese and vegetable casseroles. Very unusual taste acquires meat, sprinkled with cranberry sauce.
How to store
Like any dried fruit, dried cranberries should be stored in a dry, dark place, where the air temperature does not exceed +25 Ë. Subject to all the rules, the product is able to maintain its beneficial properties for 24 months.