How to dry strawberries in an electric dryer?

One of the ways to harvest strawberries for the winter is to dry them. Previously, this process took more time and required constant monitoring. Thanks to the appearance of devices designed specifically for this purpose, the drying process becomes less troublesome. If you follow the rules, the berries will retain not only the taste and aroma, but also all the useful properties. Therefore, dried berries can be used as a snack, added to drinks and confectionery, used as decoration and flavoring.

There are only two devices for drying:

• electric dryer;
• dehydrator.

Many people think they are one and the same. The essence of the operation of these devices is to remove moisture from the berries. And the fundamental difference lies in the method of air supply, temperature regulation and internal structure. The average electric dryer is a multi-level structure made of food-grade plastic, in the lower part of which there is a heating element and a fan - with its help air circulates.

The internal structure of the dehydrator is more complex and can be used not only for drying, but also for cooking some dishes. Among its functions, the most practical are:

• choice of temperature regime;
• regulation of the strength and direction of air flows;
• timer and auto-off;
• thermostat.

So that after drying strawberries, its appearance and taste will please you, follow a few basic rules.

• Overripe berries are not suitable for drying, as they lose their shape, juice, and with it useful vitamins and, as a result, do not look very appetizing. Of course, you can dry them, but only as a last resort. Ideally, the berries should be firm and even slightly underripe.
• Strawberries must be sorted out before drying. Crumpled and damaged berries, as well as all kinds of twigs, leaves, stalks and other debris must be removed.
• For many housewives, the question of whether to wash strawberries remains controversial. On the one hand, such berries easily absorb water, after which, under the influence of warm air, they spread and stick to the pallets. On the other hand, if you bought berries and are not sure of their purity, they must be washed in cold running water and dried with paper towels.

In extreme cases, this can be done when they are in dried form. To do this, they must be placed in a deep bowl and pour warm water. Let stand 5-10 minutes and drain.

• The berries cleared of debris must be scattered on the pallets of the dryer. The smaller the layer, the faster and more thoroughly the fruits will dry. Large strawberries can be chopped.
• The initial temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. So the strawberries should dry for three to five hours. Then the temperature can be increased to 45 degrees. Setting the temperature too high threatens the formation of a too hard crust on the surface of the berry, which can prevent the juice from evaporating.
• The total drying time is on average about 12 hours. This period may be longer or shorter depending on the power of your device or the saturation of the berries with moisture. During this time, it is necessary to mix the berries at least twice, and also change the pallets.After turning off the device, the berries should cool down and only after that they can be packaged in the container intended for this.
• As in any other business, control is important here. Both throughout the entire drying time, and in relation to ready-made berries (they may be slightly soft, but without juice inside). Do not leave the appliance switched on overnight.

• If the strawberries were not transported correctly or you had to wash them and they spread, do not despair. From the resulting mass, you can prepare strawberry marshmallow. To do this, the berries you have must be cleaned and chopped with a blender.
• Trays should be lined with baking paper. On this paper we pour the resulting homogeneous mass. It can be poured both in small pancakes and in a wide layer no more than 5 mm thick.
• After 10 hours, the marshmallow should be allowed to cool completely to room temperature and you can eat it or put it in storage. For convenience, it can be rolled into a tube.
• Strawberries can also be dried. To do this, it is covered with sugar at the rate of 1 kg of berries per 0.5 kg of sand and left in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. Then you need to cook a thick syrup of water and sugar (proportions 1: 1). We add candied berries to it, cook for 10 minutes and drain through a sieve or colander. Dry in three stages. The first two - at a temperature of 85-75 degrees for half an hour. Then cool and stir. Then at 45 degrees for 5-6 hours.
• In addition to berries, strawberries can also be dried leaves. They can be added to tea, used for crafts or decor. They are dried for 2-3 hours until brittle.
• After drying, it is important to properly store strawberries so that they do not spoil for as long as possible.Paper or fabric bags are ideal for this, as well as glass jars designed to store food. Prepackaged foods are best stored in a dry, cool place away from sunlight.

For information on how to properly dry strawberries in an electric dryer, see the following video.