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“The benefits and harms of dried cranberries, as well as dried berries”, “who should eat them and when”, “are there those who need to refrain from eating them”? Let's try to answer all these questions. Fresh berries, including cranberries, cannot always be preserved for a long time; drying and drying are a great way to extend their shelf life.
The benefits and harms of dried cranberries
Nutritionists believe that dried cranberries retain all their beneficial properties, provided that the drying process is carried out correctly. The loss of water increases the quantitative content of vitamins and minerals: potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium. The vitamin composition of dried cranberries is quite rich in quality. It contains B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamins K and E, beta-carotene and vitamin A. Their quantity is not large and covers only a small fraction of the human body’s daily need for them.
But the main value of the berries is not in them. Cranberries contain powerful antioxidants that can fight free radicals that are formed in the body during the oxidation of various substances.People especially need them during infectious and other diseases. Proanthocyanidins, which are found in both fresh and dried cranberries, prevent bacteria from concentrating on the walls of the urinary system and on tooth enamel.
The positive effect of this berry on the body is difficult to overestimate:
- oncoprotective effect – by inactivating free radicals, antioxidants prevent the formation of tumors;
- flavonoids help remove harmful cholesterol from the body, cleansing and strengthening blood vessels;
- dried cranberries help in the treatment of inflammation of the urinary tract, they are especially effective for cystitis;
- dietary fiber helps improve the functioning of the digestive tract.Attention! There is evidence that dried cranberries are effective in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers.
- it improves joint function, prevents osteoporosis, strengthens nails and hair;
- an excellent preventative against caries;
- has an antibiotic and antiviral effect, so it is useful for colds and flu;
- saves from varicose veins and prevents blood clots from forming;
- normalizes blood clotting;
- strengthens the nervous system.
Like any other product, dried cranberries should be consumed in moderation. It is absolutely contraindicated only for those who are allergic to this berry. It should not be given to young children who are sick in the acute stage of peptic ulcer disease, with gastritis with high acidity of gastric juice.
In order for berries, dried or dried, to bring only benefits and not lose their properties, they must be properly prepared.
How to dry cranberries
There are several ways to dry this healing berry:
- in the fresh air;
- in the oven with or without preliminary blanching;
- in special dryers;
- in the microwave.
Whatever method is chosen for drying or drying, the berries are first sorted, washed and dried on a paper towel.
Let's look at each drying method in more detail.
- Natural drying. It will require a warm, dry and well-ventilated room: an attic or a balcony, provided the weather is good. Simply spread the prepared berries on paper in a thin layer and stir them from time to time. The process is quite long, but the benefits of such dried cranberries are maximum.
- In the oven. This method allows you to get dried cranberries faster, but it is more labor-intensive. Place the berries on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the oven at 45°C. As soon as the cranberries have dried, you can increase the temperature to 60-70 °C, but for the benefit of the product it is better not to do this.Advice! To make the cranberries dry faster, the parchment needs to be replaced with a new one every 2 hours. If you open the oven door slightly, the process will go faster due to air convection.
- Before drying, you can blanch the berries for a minute in boiling water, then cool and dry. Berries with cracked skin do not require such a long exposure in the oven, but some of the beneficial substances will remain in boiling water.Advice! To obtain a sweet taste, cranberries are soaked in sugar syrup for 4 hours before drying.
- In the dryer. An electric dryer is a great way to get dried cranberries. To do this, the device is set to a temperature of 55 °C.Important! It must be remembered that the lower tier dries faster, so the pallets will have to be swapped several times.
- The fastest way to obtain dried cranberries is to use the microwave. The prepared berries are laid out on a wire rack with a cotton cloth underneath them. Dry the cranberries in several cycles, turning on the device for 3 minutes with a minute break, remembering to stir. Everything usually takes from 15 to 20 minutes.Important! With any drying method, the finished berries should not stick to your hands.
Calorie content of dried cranberries
If dried cranberries were prepared without adding sugar, their calorie content is low - only 28 kcal/100 g of product. It is perfect for those who are on a diet with the goal of losing weight.
Use in cooking
The peculiar sour taste of the berries also dictates how they are used for cooking. First of all, these are drinks: fruit drinks, teas, jelly, compotes, kvass. It is very appropriate in confectionery products, especially baked goods. This sour berry is also good for meat in the form of a sauce or an additive for stewing. It will make the taste of vegetable or fruit salad, porridge or muesli original.
One of the recipes for using dried cranberries is presented in the video:
The benefits of dried cranberries
Cranberries can not only be dried, but also dried. The benefits of dried berries are the same as those of dried berries, but they contain much more sugar. Therefore, patients with diabetes should use dried cranberries with caution.
How to wilt cranberries
Preparing dried cranberries requires special preparation. To do this, choose dense, fleshy berries.
- Sugar syrup is prepared from equal amounts of sugar and water.
- After boiling, cook it for 2-3 minutes and add sorted and washed cranberries. Its ratio with sugar syrup is 1:1.
- You can cook the berries in it until they burst. But when cooked “with age,” they are soaked in sugar much better.To do this, boil the berries over low heat for only 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 3 hours. There should be 3 cooking-cooling cycles.
- Strained berries (do not pour out the syrup!) Place on a baking sheet with baking paper. Next, dried cranberries are prepared in the same way as dried ones. The oven temperature should be about 60 °C. The process of preparing dried cranberries takes from 8 to 10 hours.
Calorie content of dried cranberries
This dried berry has a considerable calorie content - 308 kcal/100 g. But this product is not consumed much, so dried cranberries are quite suitable for those who are on a diet; it will help diversify the taste of products.
Use in cooking
Dried cranberries are a delicious dessert on their own. You can prepare a variety of drinks based on it, add it to baked goods, and decorate any sweet dish. Dried cranberries are good with porridge or cottage cheese casserole; suitable as a filling for pies in combination with apples or other fruits. You can add dried cranberries to baked pumpkin; it will add a “zest” to gourmet salads.
Storage
Dried cranberries store well in paper bags, canvas bags or in glass jars with plastic lids. The main thing is that the storage room is not damp, then the product is guaranteed not to deteriorate within a year, and usually longer. Dried cranberries are less stable. But when stored in the dark and at a temperature not exceeding 25 ° C, it remains suitable for a year. And if you place a container with dried berries at the bottom of the refrigerator, this period increases to 2 years.
Candied cranberries
Dry jam or candied fruits can be made from any berries and fruits, cranberries are no exception. Cooking them is reminiscent of preparing dried berries, but with its own nuances.
You will need:
- 2 kg of berries with dense pulp;
- 1400 g sugar;
- 400 ml water;
- 1 lemon.
Preparation:
- Mix sugar with water and bring the syrup to a boil.Attention! It needs to be stirred constantly to prevent it from burning.
- After a couple of minutes, immerse the berries in it and, reducing the heat, cook for about 15 minutes.Important! Time is counted from the moment of boiling.
- Allow to cool completely and repeat the cooking process, but this time boil for only 10 minutes.
- Squeeze the juice from the lemon and add it at the end of cooking.
- Transfer to a sieve and allow the liquid to drain completely. It can be used as an impregnation for cakes, diluted with cognac or liqueur.
- Dry the berries by placing them in one layer on a baking sheet. Oven temperature – 40 °C. Drying time is approximately 3 hours.
Store in a glass container, sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Contraindications and harm
This product contains a lot of sugar, so people with diabetes should avoid it. People who are overweight should not consume it either - the calorie content of candied fruits is high. If the acidity of the gastric juice is increased, they can cause harm, only aggravating the situation. People with a diseased liver or problems with the gallbladder should use this delicacy with caution.
Conclusion
The benefits and harms of dried cranberries and dried berries is a topic of concern to many housewives. There are very few contraindications to consuming this dried or dried product; for others, it will provide great health benefits if consumed in moderation.
