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Dried blueberries have long won the love of adults and children for their pleasant, sweet and sour taste. This is one of the most useful berries, growing mainly in the north of Russia. In addition to their attractive shape, which makes them often a decoration for birthday cakes, blueberries are rich in beneficial properties and are used in medicine. Alcohol tinctures and essential oils are prepared on its basis. It has also gained attention in home medicine. Decoctions are prepared from it to prevent inflammation during sore throat.
The product contains 309 kcal per 100 g in dried form, as well as 0.9 g of protein, 0.8 g of fat and 72.3 g of carbohydrates. It includes vitamins P, A, B, C and the elements magnesium, iron and copper. Blueberries are rich in ascorbic acid, which is necessary to maintain immunity during the cold season and to strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Due to this, the iron contained in the berry is absorbed by the body 100%.
Drying blueberries at home is one of the rational ways to preserve berries for a long time. Due to the evaporation of water, its weight is reduced by 6 times, concentrating useful elements. The small mass of the finished product allows it to be stored compactly for a whole year.
Benefits of dried blueberries
Blueberries have long been used in medicine as a remedy for various diseases. It is used:
- to restore vision;
- strengthening the cardiovascular system;
- normalization of the gastrointestinal tract;
- gargling for anginal inflammation (in the form of a decoction);
- as a remedy for fungus;
- for the treatment of rheumatism and gout;
- to saturate the blood with oxygen.
The berry does not contain sugar, but only fructose. The body does not require insulin to process it, therefore, by eating sweet blueberry dried fruit, you can enjoy the sweetness, while at the same time maintaining health without overloading the pancreas.
Blueberries are used in cosmetology in the preparation of cream. Its healing properties restore the damaged epithelial layer, protecting the skin from drying out and peeling. The antioxidants contained in the berry promote cell renewal, which is why people with hereditary cancer diseases are advised to eat it.
It is enough to eat 5-6 dried berries a day to stay healthy and protected from viral diseases all winter. However, people suffering from kidney and pancreas diseases should not overuse blueberries.
Preparing berries for drying
The first blueberry harvest begins in mid-July and continues until mid-September. When buying blueberries, you should take this information into account so that you are not deceived and sold an over-ripe or under-ripe product. Fresh blueberries are dark blue in color and have a dense texture. Overripe berries are softer, waterier, they need to be dried longer than usual, they are only suitable as a filling for pies or dumplings.You can pick blueberries yourself by looking for them in a coniferous forest, on bushes, or growing them in the garden.
After collecting the fruits, they should be washed, laid out on a kitchen towel and allowed to dry naturally, without wiping them by hand, so as not to crush the berries. It should not be exposed to the sun; under ultraviolet light, blueberries lose their properties and become burnt. While the fruits are drying, you can begin to separate them from the twigs and leaves so that each berry is separate from the other, without debris.
How to dry blueberries at home
To dry enough blueberries, it should be taken into account that from 10 kg of fresh product you will end up with approximately 1.7 kg of dry berries. The idea is to evaporate excess moisture from the fruit while maintaining the basic structure. With any method, you should adhere to the following rules:
- do not overdo it with the temperature - the longer the drying process takes place, the better the quality of the berry will be;
- It is necessary to prepare the fruits by placing them on the dishes in one layer, without stirring them into a homogeneous mass;
- Do not leave blueberries in the sun or in a very humid environment to avoid mold and sunburn.
There are several ways to prepare dry berries for the winter:
- using special drying equipment;
- grandma's method - drying in the oven;
- The popular option is to spread the berries in the fresh air and let nature do its thing.
Blueberries can be mixed with other berries that are similar in structure, such as currants, and dried at the same time. With more watery fruits, such as raspberries or strawberries, blueberries should not be dried.
How to dry blueberries in an electric dryer
There is a special device for drying fruits and berries.To dry the collected product using such a device, you should prepare the raw materials and then follow the instructions:
- Take a certain amount of blueberries and weigh them to control.
- Place the berries on trays in one layer.
- Assemble the trays into the apparatus and set the temperature to +60 degrees.
- It is necessary to cook blueberries in the dryer for 40 hours.
- Remove the prepared berries from the machine, carefully pour them onto newspaper and pour them into a storage container.
The drying process is simple, anyone can handle it. The main thing is to remember the duration of drying, do not rush, speeding up the process. Let the blueberries dry slowly but evenly.
How to dry blueberries in the oven
Cooking dry blueberries using a conventional oven requires subtlety and attention to important details. After preparing the berries, you must first clean them of twigs and debris. Next you should follow the instructions:
- Spread the blueberries in a thin layer on the oven tray, maybe in 2 layers.
- Set the temperature to 40 degrees and leave for 3 hours.
- All this time, the blueberries must be mixed with a wooden spatula.
- After 3 hours, increase the temperature to 60 degrees and dry until dried.
- The finished berry will stick to your fingers, releasing fructose.
You should not over-dry blueberries to the point of raisins; they will be hard and tasteless, like dry rose hips, which can only be thrown into tea or made into a decoction.
How to air dry blueberries
To harvest berries naturally in the fresh air, there are many methods and tricks that people resort to. The classic method of air drying is as follows:
- Choose a place suitable for the process, protected from direct sunlight.The main thing is the presence of hot air, which will blow and evaporate moisture at the same time.
- Place gauze on a table or other horizontal surface.
- Place blueberries in one layer.
- Air dry for 3 days, putting it indoors at night.
Some crafty people come up with devices for air drying, using hanging nets to protect the berries from flies and dust. Hot air penetrates freely into them, while the fruits are protected. This method is convenient because the berries can be mixed by shaking the mesh; they do not sit stale and are dried separately from each other.
How to use
The use of dried blueberries in cooking is widespread, despite their appearance. The berry harmoniously complements confectionery products and serves as a decoration on cakes. It can be used in the following ways:
- add as a filling to pies, rolls, dumplings;
- mix with whipped cocktails;
- add to sweet cereals;
- prepare jelly;
- sprinkle on cookies or ice cream;
- brew delicious blueberry tea;
- prepare medicinal decoctions;
- prepare blueberry jelly;
- cook compotes with the addition of other fruits and berries.
Vegetarian berry soup made from dried fruits is a common dish. It is cooked for 35 minutes. Calorie content per 100 g – 335 kcal. Ingredients for 6 servings:
- cranberries – 60 g;
- raspberries – 100 g;
- lingonberries – 100 g;
- blueberries – 100 g;
- potato flour ½ cup;
- sugar – 200 g;
- water – 3 l.
Cooking method:
- Place the berries in a saucepan and add water.
- Cook over low heat for 20 minutes.
- Add potato flour and cook for another 15 minutes, stirring.
- Serve hot.
Blueberry jelly is another interesting dish. It will take 30 minutes to prepare, the calorie content of the product is 203 kcal per 100 g.The dish is designed for 4 servings.
Ingredients:
- sugar – 150 g;
- potato flour - 2 tablespoons;
- dried blueberries – 50 g;
- water – 500 ml.
Cooking method:
- Pour water over blueberries and cook for 20 minutes.
- Crush the softened fruits with a spoon or masher and strain, reserving the broth.
- Throw away the cake, boil the water again, add sugar.
- Add potato flour and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Serve hot or cold.
You can add dry blueberries to any sweet dish; sweets and dried fruits go together harmoniously.
Terms and conditions of storage
When properly stored, blueberries can retain their quality for up to two years. After this period, it begins to lose its medicinal properties and becomes unsuitable for consumption. The finished product must be transferred to boxes lined with paper, but not newspapers, so that the ink does not imprint on the fruit. It is better to use tracing paper or parchment. You can use fabric bags or wrap them in gauze. The main thing is that air passes through the container or packaging.
Drying products should not be stored in plastic containers, bottles or other containers sealed from air. There is a risk of mold and kitchen moths that love dried fruits. If there are moths, you can get rid of them if you put the product in the refrigerator, but not in the freezer. The temperature should be kept above zero. After some time, remove from the refrigerator and sort through the fruits. Moths and larvae die at this temperature.
Conclusion
Using dried blueberries at any time of the year is like eating a living vitamin. It is safe to give to children and the elderly due to the absence of sugar.The fructose contained in blueberries does not affect the formation of caries or blood sugar levels. Dried blueberries are a delicious treat for tea instead of sweets. Preparing dry berries for the winter is the best option for providing the whole family with vitamins year-round.
