Dried melon is a great option for a healthy snack or dessert. You can serve it for dinner, take it with you on the road, or just have a snack between meals at home. The fruit retains most of its sweetness when dried, making it a great alternative to chocolate and sweets. You need to chop and dry the melon and then store it properly so that the product stays fresh and safe.
How to chop?
You can use any variety of this fruit, but it is most convenient to take small round fruits. Before you dry the melon, it should be prepared. Place it under cool tap water, wiping with your hands. Use a brush or dishwashing brush to reliably clean all dirt. Then wipe the melon with a paper towel or dry cloth. You do not need to use soap to clean it: enough water and a brush or brush.
Use a serrated knife to cut the fruit in length. Be sure to keep your fingers away from the knife blade to prevent injury. Then take a spoon to get the seeds and liquid in the center of each half.
Cut each half into four pieces. Each time, cut them longitudinally through the middle. So you can effectively divide each half two times, into smaller parts, until you have eight pieces.
Clean each slice. Holding one end of the slice between the fingers, place the serrated knife on the opposite end, where the peel connects to the rest of the fruit. Carefully cut it off in a slow motion.
Cut each slice into 12 mm thick slices so that they are long and thin.
How to dry in the oven?
To cook the cured melon in the oven, follow these steps. Put cheesecloth on a baking sheet and place slices of fruit on top. Remember to scatter them well enough so that they do not touch each other. Set the oven to 63 ° C. Leave its door slightly ajar so steam can escape.
You will need to periodically check the fruit slices to determine when they are ready. Your definition of preparedness may vary: some people like the melon to be completely dry and crispy, while others prefer to leave it a little soft. It may take up to eight hours to make a cured melon.
However, if you have pets or small children, you should avoid using this method.
How to dry in a dehydrator?
Place the melon slices on the food drier tray. Set the settings to 57 ° C and let the fruit dry for about 16 hours. Depending on the texture you prefer, you can leave slices in a dehydrator for up to 18 hours. As a result, you will get a fragrant and sweet dried melon in an electric dryer.
Please note that the trays will vary in shape and size, depending on the model of dehydrator used, which may limit the number of slices that you can dry at a time. Cooking instructions may also vary, so check your user manual in advance.
How to dry a melon in the sun
This recipe for dried melon is somewhat moody, since cooking on it can not be done in every climate. If you live in an area where the temperature easily reaches or exceeds 38 ° C and the air is not too humid, you can dry pieces of melon in the sun. To do this, cover the baking sheet with gauze and place the slices on top of it. Then leave outside in direct sunlight.
Turn fruit slices once a day to dry evenly. Put the tray in the room at night to avoid dew on the fruit.
It takes two to four days for the melon pieces to dry completely. It is advisable to study the weather forecast in advance in order to guarantee a sunny period of four days for applying this method. And to protect dry slices of fruits from insects and birds, they need to be covered with gauze.
How to store the product?
Put the pieces of dried melon in an airtight container. It can be anything from a bag to a glass jar. You must make sure that the container of your choice closes tightly. This will prevent moisture from mixing with your pieces of fruit and keep them dry.
Wrap the jerky melon containers in a brown paper bag. This will protect the fruit slices due to direct sunlight, which can lead to discoloration. So they will remain edible longer.
Store the product in a cool and dry place. Excess heat or humidity will be absorbed by the sliced fruit. If you keep them dry, they will remain usable longer. If you store the fruit correctly, you can eat it for a year after you pack it.
Spicy Melon Chips
Many people imagine that dried melon is a sweet product. But you can cook this fruit according to the original recipe, making spicy chips. To prepare them you will need:
- 2 ripe small melons;
- 1 liter Art. sweet curry powder;
- 1 tsp sea salt;
- half tsp cayenne pepper (optional);
- half tsp cardamom;
- 1/4 cup olive oil;
- 1 tbsp. l sesame oil.
Using a peeler or a very sharp knife, cut the melon into thin slices. In a deep bowl, carefully mix the following six ingredients listed in the recipe.
Dip each slice of melon in oil on both sides. Then roll them one by one in spices so that they are completely covered. Place on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper in one layer and place in a preheated oven 150 degrees. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until they become crispy chips. Remove from the oven and cool on a baking sheet. If you do not plan to serve the snack immediately, store it in an airtight container in the freezer.
How to make candied fruit?
Candied and dried fruits are a great alternative to sweets. At the same time, they are prepared simply. To make sun-dried melon this way, follow these steps:
- Cut the melon into 5 mm slices.
- Calculate the amount of syrup based on the following proportion: for every half a glass of sugar, one and a half glasses of water is required. Combine these ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Add chopped melon to boiling sugar syrup.
- Cook at a low temperature, periodically turning the pieces of fruit, for 40-50 minutes, or until the slices become translucent, but still intact.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer chopped melon to the wire mesh. Refrigerate and leave overnight.
- Dry in a dehydrator at 50 degrees to the desired consistency.
Sprinkle the finished candied fruit with a layer of sugar so that they do not stick together. Store in an airtight container between sheets of wax paper.