Dried cherries for the winter at home: how to cook in the oven, in an electric dryer, in the sun

Dried cherries, prepared according to all necessary standards and rules, should look and resemble raisins in their structure. This delicacy can easily replace expensive dried fruits. The product can be prepared at home at no extra cost and eaten at any time of the year.

Dried cherries are an ideal substitute for dried fruits

What are the benefits of dried cherries?

Cherry is one of the healthiest berries. Even when dried and dried, it does not lose its essential vitamins and nutrients. Contains a huge variety of organic acids: salicylic, citric, succinic, malic.Moreover, it does not have a very high calorie content - only 49 kcal.

Useful properties of dried cherries:

1. Strengthens the immune system.
2. Fights infections as it has bactericidal properties.
3. Helps with cardiovascular diseases.
4. Reduces skin inflammatory processes.

How to make dried cherries at home

To successfully make dried cherries, you need to carefully prepare the ingredients and adhere to certain rules during cooking:

1. Carefully sort the fruits. Whole ripe and elastic berries are suitable for drying. It is better not to use overripe fruits.
2. This product cannot be completely classified as dried fruit. When cooking, the fruits are not simply dried, but must first be kept in syrup.
3. It is very important to prevent drying out or, conversely, obtaining soft, juicy dried fruits that have not had time to release all their juices.
4. Both special equipment (electric dryer) and a conventional oven are suitable for drying. Moreover, you can dry the berries naturally in the sun.

Is it possible to make dried cherries from frozen berries?

Frozen cherries are also suitable for drying, but the finished product will not have the characteristic sourness. The structure of the finished dish will also be slightly different, however, it will have the same health and taste as a delicacy made from fresh fruits.

Cherries dried at home in an electric dryer

At home, housewives often resort to drying berries in an electric dryer. It is the most common because it requires little hassle. Dried fruits do not lose their beneficial and taste properties.In an electric dryer, the final product is slightly sour, but sweet, like fresh berries. When pressed with your finger, the finished dried cherry should not release juice or stick.

Ingredients required for this drying method:

• 1 kg of not too overripe cherries;
• 200 g granulated sugar;
• half a liter of clean drinking water.

It is necessary to remove the seeds from the berries, otherwise the drying process will take a long time.

Step-by-step algorithm for preparing a product, which takes more than 7 hours:

1. First you need to start preparing the sugar syrup. It is prepared in the usual way: you need to heat water in a saucepan and add sugar there. Boil the solution over low heat until the mixture begins to thicken and all the grains of granulated sugar have melted.
2. Pre-prepared fruits (cleaned of debris and dirt, washed and dried) must be added to the prepared hot syrup and left there for 5 minutes to blanch the fruits.
3. Then remove all the berries from the syrup and place in a colander or sieve so that all the sugar mixture drains from the surface.
4. Place the cherries on the rack of an electric dryer.
5. Select a temperature of 60 degrees and leave the fruits to dry for 7-8 hours.

Dried cherries at home in the oven

An electric dryer costs a lot of money, so not all housewives have the opportunity to obtain dried fruits in it. Then a conventional oven comes to the rescue.

For this drying method you need to prepare the following products:

• 1.4 kg of large cherries;
• 500 g sugar;
• 500 ml of drinking water.

It is advisable to remove the berries from the oven every half hour to cool.

Cooking process:

1. Remove pits from washed and dried cherries.
2. Stir granulated sugar into drinking water and place over medium heat.
3. When the solution boils, add small handfuls of berries to the pan.
4. Keep them in the syrup for at least 3 minutes.
5. After this, remove the berries and place in a colander to drain all the solution.
6. Place special baking or parchment paper on top of a baking sheet and place the fruits on it.
7. Preheat the oven to 60 degrees and place a baking sheet in it.
8. Keep in the oven for about 3-4 hours until the berries wrinkle and lose their elasticity.

How to cook dried cherries with sugar

Almost all recipes for dried cherries are prepared with sugar, but the berries are still sour. Not everyone likes this delicacy, so for those with a sweet tooth you can offer a special recipe: dried cherries rolled in sugar.

To prepare you will need:

• 1.8 kg fresh, not overripe cherries;
• 800 g granulated sugar;
• 300 ml of clean drinking water.

The cherries sprinkled with sugar are left for 3 days to release the juice.

Step-by-step cooking process:

1. All seeds must be removed from washed and dried fruits.
2. Make the syrup: mix 450 g of sugar with water and bring to a boil. Boil the mixture over low heat until slightly thickened.
3. Add all the berries to the syrup and mix gently. Leave the mixture overnight.
4. The next day, put the container on the stove and cook at low temperature for no more than 10 minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the stove and let the mixture cool naturally.
6. Bring to a boil again and let cool, you can repeat the procedure a third time.
7. Transfer the berries to a sieve or colander and leave until all the syrup has drained out.
8. Mix 150 g of granulated sugar with berries.
9. Place them in one layer on a baking sheet or on an electric dryer rack and dry for 5 hours.
10. Roll the cooled dried fruits on all sides in the remaining sugar.

Homemade dried cherries with pits

Ingredients are the same as in the previous recipe:

• 1.8 kg of not too ripe cherries;
• 800 g granulated sugar;
• 300 ml filtered water.

Dried fruits completely retain their taste and vitamins

Step-by-step preparation:

1. Wash and dry the cherries, leaving the pits.
2. Boil syrup from 400 g of sand and water. Add berries and cook for about 3 minutes.
3. Keep them in the solution for about an hour so that the fruits absorb all the sweetness of the syrup.
4. Place in one layer on a baking sheet and dry for at least 5 hours in the oven, it is recommended to open the door slightly.

Dried cherries at home: pitted recipe

This cooking method is practically no different from the others.

For drying take:

• 1.5 cherries;
• 600 g granulated sugar;
• 500 g of clean water.

Dried berries can be stored for more than 1 year

Cooking is also similar to the classic cooking recipe:

1. Remove seeds from all berries.
2. Place a handful of fruits into the prepared sugar syrup. Cooking is required for at least 4 minutes.
3. After cooling, you need to let all the juices and syrup drain out through a sieve.
4. Drying cherries is allowed in any way.

Recipe for dried cherries without sugar

Dried fruits according to this recipe are not for everyone. Those with a sweet tooth are better off using other recipes. For extra piquancy, you can add cinnamon, nutmeg or other spices as desired. Only one ingredient is needed - cherries, the quantity is at everyone's discretion.

The fruits retain their sourness and their characteristic aroma

This product can be prepared using different types of drying: in an electric dryer or oven:

1. Place the seedless fruits on a sieve and press lightly with your hands to allow the juice to flow out. Leave for 5 hours.
2. Spread the berries all over the electric dryer rack or baking sheet.
3. Dry for at least 5 hours.

How to make dried cherries in syrup

This method is slightly different from others, which involve blanching the berries in sweet syrup. They stay in solution for a long time, which is why they give up unnecessary moisture. This method makes them sweeter, without additional sugar coating.

You need to prepare the following products in advance:

• 2 kg of ripe cherries;
• 1.2 granulated sugar;
• 250 g of ordinary filtered water.

Fruits can be added to baked goods and various desserts

The dishes are prepared as follows:

1. Thoroughly washed and dried fruits need to be covered with granulated sugar, 700 g is enough. Leave for 5 hours so that the cherries have time to release all their juices.
2. The resulting juice must be drained, and the cherries should be transferred to a sieve and, if necessary, allowed to drain out the remaining juice.
3. Prepare a syrup from the remaining sugar and water, add the fruits to the container. Boil for no more than 5 minutes.
4. After cooling, leave overnight.
5. In the morning, strain the entire mixture in a colander.
6. Place the cherries on a clean baking sheet and place in an oven preheated to 60 degrees.
7. Dry for about 3-4 hours.

Sun dried cherries recipe

To prepare the most inexpensive and natural method of drying, you only need one main ingredient - cherries. Its quantity depends on personal preference.

At night, to prevent the berries from getting damp, they are brought indoors

Drying process algorithm:

1. The prepared pitted cherries must be poured into a colander.
2. Lightly press the berries on top with your hand to allow the juice to flow out from the fleshy berries.
3. Carefully place the fruits in one layer on a clean baking sheet, and place a light, fine mesh on top.
4. Take it outside and place it in direct sunlight for 4 days.
5. Juice will periodically leak from the berries, so it is necessary to constantly drain it.

Original recipe for dried cherries with orange zest and cinnamon

This dish turns out quite piquant and spicy.

To prepare you need:

• 1 kg of large cherries;
• 500 g granulated sugar;
• 500 ml water;
• zest of half an orange;
• cinnamon.

You can use ground nutmeg instead of cinnamon.

Cooking process:

1. Boil the syrup and add cinnamon and zest to it. Cook for about 5 minutes.
2. Place all the berries in the pan for 5 minutes.
3. Transfer the fruits to a colander.
4. Dry at 60 degrees in the oven.

How to store dried cherries at home

The finished dried product is suitable for long-term storage, so it can be consumed at any time of the year.

To increase the shelf life of dried cherries, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Select berries carefully before cooking. The finished product should not contain rotten or spoiled fruits.
2. Storage is carried out strictly in glass or plastic containers, no metal containers. Another good option is in bags made of thick natural fabric.
3. The storage room should be dark, well-ventilated and cool: a closet, refrigerator, cellar, basement or glassed-in balcony.

Where can you add dried cherries?

Dried sweet cherries can be used in the preparation of various baked goods: decorate cakes, pastries, and muffins with them. The product can also serve as a filling for croissants, puff triangles, sweet pies and rolls.

Do I need to wash dried cherries before using them?

If the berries have been processed and washed before cooking, there is no need to wash them again. It is difficult to rinse sweet dried fruits, especially if they are rolled in sugar or treated with syrup. That is why it is recommended to carefully prepare the berries before drying and store the finished product in a clean container and room.

Conclusion

Dried cherries are an ideal sweet for boring winter days, and can replace unhealthy candies and chocolates. A healthy and long-lasting product can be consumed in its usual form, and can also be used to prepare desserts.

Recommended Posts

Homemade dried pears

How to dry blueberries

Homemade dried peaches

Homemade candied melon

Dried melon

Dried pumpkin in an electric dryer

Pumpkin chips in the oven, in the dryer, in the microwave

Dry chanterelle recipes: how to cook mushrooms, dishes

How to dry an umbrella mushroom: rules and shelf life