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Dried barberry is a healthy fruit of the Barberry family. Today there are more than 300 varieties of plants that grow in almost any conditions. Dried berries from fruit bushes are popular not only for preparing healthy infusions, but are also regularly used in cooking.
The burgundy fruits of the bush have an elongated oval shape and are sweet and sour in taste. Dried barberry is used to make compotes, juices, jellies, and is used as a spice to prepare many dishes. The plant has medicinal properties - it helps prevent and cure many diseases.
Drying delicious berries is quite easy. But in order to preserve all the benefits of the fruit, you need to know the correct process technology.
Beneficial properties of dried barberry
Dried barberry is rich in vitamins and microelements. The fruits of the bush are widely used in folk medicine. They are particularly effective in the treatment of colds and viral diseases.
The berries contain a valuable and very rare alkaloid berberine, which actively fights pathogenic microflora.To achieve a therapeutic effect and not harm your health, it is important to know the correct dosage of berberine. Unripe fruits contain much more of it than fully ripe ones.
If the fruit is intended to be dried, after complete drying the concentration of barberine will be significantly lower. Therefore, unripe fruits can be used for drying, but with caution.
But barberry is rich not only in barberine. The fruits of the bush are used to treat many diseases of different organs and systems.
- Gastrointestinal tract. Dried barberry contains pectin, which speeds up metabolism. The use of fruits helps to digest food faster. Infusions of dried berries solve the problem of constipation and intestinal disorders.
- Diseases of the liver and gall bladder. The berries have a mild choleretic effect and improve the functioning of the gallbladder and liver. Systematic consumption of dried barberry helps reduce the risk of stones and helps avoid other liver diseases.
- Prevention of cancer. Dried barberry is rich in antioxidants that prevent the formation of cancer cells.
- They have a rejuvenating effect.
- Helps in the treatment of colds and viral infections. Dried barberry contains not only useful barberine, but also a vitamin and mineral complex, which increases the body's defenses and prevents the development of pathogenic microflora. During colds, dried barberry fruits eliminate symptoms.
- The fruits of the bush have an antipyretic effect and strengthen the cardiovascular system.
- Has a calming effect.Dried barberry has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and improves mood. It has a tonic effect on the entire body. Dried barberry is used to produce drugs for mental disorders.
- Has a diuretic effect. Regular use helps remove swelling and remove excess fluid from the body. It is an excellent prevention in the treatment of cystitis, urethritis and other genitourinary diseases.
- Removes toxins from the body. Pectin helps not only improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but also remove toxins and harmful compounds from the body. Scientists noted that dried berries are able to remove heavy metals, salt and other elements harmful to the body.
Dried barberry has quite useful properties that have a beneficial effect on the entire body.
Recently, another effectiveness of dried barberry has been proven - weight loss. Thanks to their cleansing properties from waste and toxins, eating berries helps you remove a few extra pounds. But the effectiveness of taking dried barberry will be much higher if you use it in combination with proper nutrition and regular physical activity.
To achieve the desired result in losing weight, you need to take the fruits correctly. If you use fresh ones, they will stimulate your appetite. But if you prepare tea or infusion based on dried barberry, you can significantly reduce the desire to snack.
How to dry barberry at home
Properly dried fruits can retain the maximum amount of beneficial properties. But before you begin the process, you should familiarize yourself with some nuances:
- Harvest only ripe fruits. Unripe berries contain a lot of barberine. Before harvesting, the time of full ripening should be determined. This period may differ in each region. Of course, there will be less barberin in dried berries, but it is still better to choose ripe fruits for drying.
- It is important to sort the harvest from the bushes and throw away rotten and spoiled berries.
- After careful selection, the fruits are soaked for 2 hours in clean water and washed well.
- Place clean berries on a paper towel to absorb any remaining moisture.
After completing all the manipulations, you can begin the drying process.
Properly dried barberry should look like in the photo.
How to air dry barberry correctly
Air drying of barberry involves drying the fruits of the bush naturally. There are several steps required to complete the process correctly.
- Collect ripened fruits and rinse well.
- Place the berries on a paper towel.
- Spread the fruits in 1 layer on a clean cloth, cover with gauze.
It is better to dry the berries in the fresh air and make sure that they are not exposed to sunlight. Don't forget to turn it over regularly to ensure even drying.
How to dry barberry in the oven
This process will take much less time to complete. The main thing is to maintain the correct temperature. The process includes several stages.
- Preheat the oven to 50 degrees.
- Place a baking tray with fruits.
- After releasing the juice from the fruit, increase the temperature to 60 degrees.
- Stir the berries as you go.
After 2.5 hours the berries will be completely ready. Sometimes it takes longer to dry. In most cases, the duration of the process depends on the oven.
How to dry barberry in a dryer
This drying method is very similar to the previous one. Before starting the process, it is also important to select good berries and rinse them under running water.
At the beginning of drying, the temperature should be set no higher than 50 degrees; after 3 hours, the heating can be increased to 60 degrees. The process ends only when the berries have a glossy gloss and the juice stops releasing when squeezed.
Where to add dried barberry
Dried barberry is widely used for preparing infusions, tea, and is regularly used as a spice in cooking.
One of the most common dishes is Uzbek pilaf. It is thanks to dried barberry that rice turns out to be piquant and tasty, for which it is highly popular not only in Uzbekistan. Many housewives try to cook this kind of pilaf. Delicious compotes are also prepared from dried barberry. Chocolate made from dried barberries and nuts is used as dessert.
Calorie content of dried barberries
Dried barberry is a low-calorie product. There is no fat, no protein, and a small amount of carbohydrates. Per 100 g of dried product only 152 kcal.
It is worth noting that the berry is very rich in the following components:
- vitamins A, B, C;
- beta-carotene;
- magnesium;
- zinc;
- copper;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- iron.
The composition contains fructose, columbamine, pectin, palmitin, jatroricin, berberine. It is worth noting the content of natural acids: citric, tartaric and malic.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that barberry has quite useful properties, such berries are not useful for everyone. Dried barberry contains many biologically active elements that are beneficial to the body only in the correct dosage.
If a person does not have health problems, the fruits can be consumed. And if there are problems in the body, consultation with a qualified specialist is necessary.
People who suffer from intestinal disorders should use it with extreme caution. As mentioned, dried barberry has a laxative effect, so people who have serious liver and gastrointestinal diseases should avoid eating the berries. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 12 years of age should be careful with dried barberry fruits.
Terms and conditions of storage
Dried fruits can be stored for quite a long time. But only properly dried berries can be stored for long periods of time.
Particular attention should be paid to the container in which the fruits will be stored. It should be completely dry. Otherwise, the workpiece may become moldy. Do not forget about the hermetically sealed lid - the preservation of the aroma depends on this.
Conclusion
Dried barberry is an excellent choice for those who want to improve their health. But before you start using it, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications. Drying berries at home is very easy. The main rule is to follow the process technology. Pay special attention to preparation and collection. Properly prepared fruits will retain all their beneficial properties and wonderful aroma.
