Dried carrots: the subtleties of preparation, storage and use. How to properly dry carrots in the oven, preserving their vitamins

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The problem of storing carrots is acute in winter. Wanting to preserve all the nutrients in the vegetable, housewives resort to various methods: they immerse it in a cellar, freeze it, preserve it, and also use the drying method. There are several ways to dry your carrots at home.

Ways to dry carrots at home
Ways to dry carrots at home

Which carrots to choose for drying and how to prepare them

We will start, perhaps, our theory with the choice of standing root crops. You may not know, but not all varieties are ideal for drying. Late ripening carrots are considered the best choice, since they are more resistant to various diseases, and they can be stored longer without losing their natural rich taste.

As for the preparation of carrots, this process consists of several stages:

First you need to dig up the fruits correctly

If you do not buy them ready-made in the market or in the supermarket, but grow with sweat and blood in your garden, then remove the roots from the ground correctly. You need to grab the tops and pull the fruit carefully (if your soil is very hard, pry the earth with a shovel) so as not to harm its integrity.

Having taken it out of the ground, we put the dug crop on a cloth, paper or pallet, so that the roots are slightly weathered and freed from moisture.

After preliminary drying, we proceed to cutting off the carrot tops.

For cutting, you need scissors, with which we will cut it down to the very base from which it grows. If not cut off completely, then new stems with leaves may begin to grow from the remaining areas.

Do not rush to throw out the tops - it can also be successfully dried.

After all the manipulations, it remains only to clean the carrots of dirt and send them to dry either in the fresh air or in some modern household appliance. This will be discussed further.

Read more about methods for quickly cleaning carrots from dirty accumulations and skins in one of the articles on our portal.

Testimonials

Dried carrots are popular and there are many reviews about their benefits and usability.

Anna, Moscow: “An excellent snack for healthy lifestyle lovers and not only. The carrots are crispy, not firm, but sweet. For me, this is the perfect snack for walking. Naturally, I recommend trying it! "

Elena, Rostov-on-Don: “When I forget to buy carrots, there is always dried, it does not differ in taste in ready-made dishes. And most importantly, there is no need to clean or cut. In the mode of lack of time, that's it! ".

Alexandra, Saratov: “Very handy for soups. You don't need to peel and cut the carrots, just put them in a saucepan. Time is saved, and it does not take up space in the refrigerator. It tastes like a regular carrot. "

The classic way to dry carrots in the sun

If you live in a private house or you have a house in the country, then this is a huge plus for you, because you can not only sunbathe and relax there, but also grow healthy, nitrate-free vegetables with fruits, and then dry them in a natural way.

Drying in the open air is very easy to implement, but alas, it takes more time than drying in any kitchen gadget.It will take approximately 2 weeks to air dry your carrots.

How to dry root vegetables at home

  1. Fruits without rot, mold and other damage are washed (rather thoroughly) in ordinary cool water.
  2. Next, we clean the fruits (the link to the article on peeling carrots is above).
  3. Now it remains to cut them, put them on a sieve, baking sheet or tray and leave to dry in direct sunlight for 10-14 days. Stir the drying every few days so that all the carrot pieces dry out evenly.

At night, in fact, like early in the morning, your drying roots must be removed from the street - taken to the room. It can rain at night, and in the predawn hours there is a high risk of dew falling - this will spoil the result and lengthen the total drying time.

You can cut carrots for drying as you like: into rings, half rings, quarters, plates, cubes, or even grate it. The shape of the carrot does not matter, its thickness is much more important. Cut the roots thinly so they can dry out much faster.

Harm of carrot tea and contraindications

Obvious contraindications include:

  • allergy;
  • pregnancy;
  • breast-feeding.

Other cases:

  1. If you are allergic to herbs, the harm from the use of tops is more than real. A high concentration of essential oils in green mass will be harmful if they are intolerant.
  2. During the holiday season, overuse of tea can lead to yellowing of the skin. A high content of carotene contributes to sunburn, but too much will be harmful.
  3. Carrot tea can be harmful with increased blood clotting: it contains vitamin K.
  4. In the presence of oncology, the regenerative properties of carrots can be harmful. Cancer cells will regenerate along with healthy ones.
  5. For those on a diet, the drink can serve as a snack. You can drink no more than 2-3 cups a day. Exceeding this dosage can lead to nausea, vomiting, headache and other harmful effects on the body.

Important! Tea is recommended to be consumed between meals.

Harm can only be caused by excessive use and ignoring contraindications.

The benefits and harms of carrot tea should be considered when consumed. Harvesting and drying raw materials at home is not difficult for any housewife: it can be used for a year until the next harvest. Dried carrots and tops will serve as the basis for delicious natural tea.

How to dry carrots in the oven while preserving vitamins

Residents of an ordinary apartment cannot afford to dry a vegetable at home. The balcony is not the most suitable place for this: the sun's rays only fall on it for a few hours a day, and the ventilation there is poor (especially if it is glazed).

But there is a way out - drying in the oven (gas or electric). In the oven, fruits dry faster than in the sun, but you have to tinker a little. If that doesn't scare you, then let's get started.

Drying carrot fruits in the home oven step by step

  • Wash vegetables so that dirt is not visible anywhere on the surface of the fruit.
  • After washing, we clean the root crops.
  • Now it is worth blanching them so that neither taste nor useful properties are lost. We boil water, put our peeled carrots in it, boil them for 15-20 minutes (the accuracy of the cooking time depends on the size of your fruits). Immediately after boiling, pour over them with cold water.
  • Let the blanched carrots cool, then cut into any geometric shape, but not thicker than 3 mm.
  • We distribute everything evenly on a baking sheet and place it in an oven preheated to a temperature of 60-80 degrees, dry for about 4-6 hours. From time to time, drying must be interfered with.

Leave a small distance between the pieces so that they do not stick together, and do not put the slices in several layers, otherwise it will dry badly and for a long time.

How to determine readiness

Ideally, moisture in the finished product should decrease by about 15%, but since this is difficult to determine, look at the elasticity of the pieces. They should be in moderation fragile but not crumble

.

Dried carrots are very convenient, especially if there are no special places for storing fresh root vegetables in the house. Of course, vegetables can be frozen, but the volume of freezers is not very large for many. In dry form, carrots retain all their useful and taste qualities, and they do not take up much storage space. We will talk about how you can dry carrots for the winter at home in this article.

First of all, the roots must be thoroughly washed, preferably using a stiff brush. The tops need to be dried separately, so cut them off and wash them too.

The next step is cleaning. If you plan to dry an impressive amount of the crop, then it is best to use a special peeler for this. Business with her will go much faster. It is also necessary to cut off the top green part of the root crop.

Peeled carrots are advised to blanch in boiling water for 15 - 20 minutes before drying. The time, in this case, depends on the size of the carrots. You can check the readiness of the product with a thin wooden skewer or toothpick. It should enter the vegetable with little difficulty. The finished product is cooled under running cold water and dried with towels.

You can also dry unprocessed, raw carrots. Carrot tops are also not cooked.

  • on a coarse grater;
  • wheels;
  • semicircles or quarters;
  • cubes;
  • straws;
  • cubes.

Finely chop the carrot tops with a knife. Drying of tops in bunches is allowed.

How to dry carrots in an electric dryer

A vegetable dryer is ideal for drying any kind of fruit. It is easy to use and, like the oven, allows you to quickly dry carrots in bulk portions.

Drying of carrot fruits should be carried out as follows:

  1. My carrots, peel off the top layer, cut into small pieces.
  2. We spread the slices or grated mass on the trays of the electric dryer, set the temperature to 65 ° C and bring it to readiness for 5-6 hours. In the process, the trays must be rearranged in places so that the drying is uniform.

Recipe for drying raw carrots in an airfryer

You can dry your favorite fruits tasty and quickly in the airfryer. This process is not much different from a similar procedure in other types of household appliances, but it still has certain differences.

To dry carrots in the airfryer, you need:

  • Wash, peel, wipe vegetables, removing moisture residues.
  • Now you need to finely chop everything, but it is better to grate for carrots in Korean.
  • After chopping, the roots must be laid out in one layer on the grates, which should be placed in the electrical appliance in turn.

Be sure to insert a high temperature resistant device between the cone and the cap. Thanks to him, the outflow of moist burning air will occur.

  • The conditions under which the product must dry are as follows: t = 120 ° C, blowing speed is medium. Drying time is 15-30 minutes. The more you add carrot slices, the longer it will last, so it is better to dry in medium portions.

Application in the winter of dried carrot tops

Often they use not only the root vegetable, but also the ground part of the vegetable - the tops. Greens can be dried in the same way as the carrots themselves, after having washed them well. Then the tops are chopped with a knife, but it is allowed to dry it in bunches in a natural way. The drying time of the tops is much shorter than that of the root crop.

Carrot tops
Suitable for sprinkling ready-made meat dishes

It is used as a spicy seasoning for meat and fish, added to soups and main courses, and brewed in the form of herbal tea.This drink contains a large amount of useful substances, moreover, in combination with mint, it has an exquisite unique taste.

Drying delicious carrots in the microwave: a step-by-step recipe

The microwave oven is perfect not only for cooking and heating food, but also for drying many vegetables. Today we will try to dry fresh carrots in it for the winter, so that vitamins are not lost and the natural taste is preserved.

Drying raw carrots step by step in the microwave

  1. Cut the washed peeled vegetable into bars or strips (the thickness of each piece should be small).
  2. Put the sliced ​​fruits on a plate covered with a paper towel, and cover them on top with the same paper towel.
  3. We put a plate (flat) inside the device, next to it we place a glass filled with water.
  4. We give the microwave heat, turning it on at full power for literally 3 minutes.

If, after a few minutes of drying (at full power), the carrots are still soggy, the power will have to be reduced from maximum to medium, and then continue to cook for half an hour or even forty minutes. Watch all this time so that the water from the glass does not completely evaporate.

Secrets of drying carrots in the oven for tea

No matter how strange it may sound, dried carrots are even put in drinks, for example, in tea. But the carrots should be dried not only where, but either under the rays of the sun, or in the oven.

In the sun, the process occurs exactly the same as we described in the article above, but drying for tea takes place in the oven somewhat differently compared to traditional oven drying:

  1. We send the chopped carrots on a baking sheet to the oven, red-hot to the limit.
  2. First, we dry the product at this temperature for 20 minutes, then we remove it from the oven and let it cool at room rates.
  3. Next, put the baking sheet in the oven again, dry it at a maximum degree for 20 minutes and let it cool again. In total, dry and cool 3 times.

A little with troubles, but it will turn out tasty and healthy in the end.

Is it possible to dry carrots for the winter

In winter, a person needs more vitamins and minerals. Dried carrots do an excellent job of being a nutrient supplier... In winter, it will come in handy when preparing dishes, while such a blank will take very little storage space.

Procurement of carrots for the winter should be taken care of in the summer. Carrots ripened in the garden in the summer months are the most juicy, tasty, with the maximum amount of nutrients and vitamins... If you dry it in autumn or winter, the benefits and taste of it will be less, since it will have time to lose its properties.

Rules for storing dried carrots at home

At the end of drying, the product must be held for a couple of days in one large container so that the remaining moisture in the carrots can be evenly distributed.

The storage room should be dry and dimly lit, out of direct sunlight. The shelf life of such carrot drying is 1 year.

If up to this point you still doubted whether it is possible to dry carrots at home, now you know for sure that this is not only possible, but also necessary.

After all, dry carrots are used as an additive to many first and second courses, and even taken to brew aromatic tea.

Agree, the range of applications is very diverse and wide. So take note of our proven and step-by-step master classes - they will come in handy many times.

The ability of carrots to be stored for a long time without loss of taste, its resistance to various kinds of microorganisms, mold and spoilage is called keeping quality. Keeping quality is determined by the content of a sufficient amount of sugar and fiber, as well as dry matter, which will prevent spoilage of the product.

The diameter of the core should be minimal, without bitterness and greenery, and the color of the core should practically not differ from the bulk of the pulp.

Fruits with an even, uniform surface are best suited for storage.

, while it is better to pick up carrots of the same size. It should not have mechanical damage, cracks, frostbite areas.

Varieties suitable for this process

When choosing plant varieties suitable for long-term storage, they proceed from the basic principle - the shorter the ripening period of carrots, the worse they are stored. Late-ripening varieties are best preserved, the ripening period of which is 120-140 days from the moment of germination. They are the most resistant to disease and can easily retain flavor and texture until next summer.

The best late-ripening varieties include:

  • Russian "Queen of Autumn";
  • Dutch "Flaccoro";
  • Vita Longa;
  • "Karlena".

Mid-season varieties are stored slightly worse, but among them several varieties can be noted that are not inferior in keeping quality to late-ripening ones:

You can find out more about which varieties are suitable for storing carrots here.

Preparation

Drying is one of the most effective for a long time, especially in the absence of suitable conditions and premises for storage (,). Moreover, such processing will help preserve the maximum amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals in the root crop and prevent the destruction of the nutritional composition.

Attention!

Carrots for drying are selected in the same way as for long-term storage - late or mid-ripening, with a high content of dry components, homogeneous pulp, without greens and coarse core.

First, the fruits are freed from the tops by cutting it off and removing the green neck at the base.

(you can find out more nuances on how to cut a root crop). Next, each root crop must be carefully inspected for damage, cut off rotten places, cuts. It is a must under running water, you can even use a hard sponge or brush.

The next step is peeling. If a large number of root crops are to be processed, it is better to use a peeler - this will significantly speed up the process.

The carrots will need to be blanched before drying.

To do this, boil water in a large container and immerse the fruits in it. After 15-20 minutes, pierce the carrot with a toothpick - it should enter the pulp with little effort. After heat treatment, cool the product under running cold water and pat dry with a towel. The duration of blanching depends on the size of the fruit - small ones “reach” earlier - in 12 minutes, large ones - in 20 minutes.

You can grind the root vegetable for drying arbitrarily - in cubes, circles, quarters, straws or grate. Drying of raw carrots is also allowed, without blanching.

Using special electrical appliances

Drying carrots in an electric dryer is much easier than air drying. To do this, you need to prepare a root crop:

  • peel, wash;
  • cut into cubes or slices no thicker than 12 mm or grate on any convenient grater; the beams of the device penetrate 6-12 mm deep;
  • dry for several hours at 60 ° C-70 ° C.

Among the advantages of this device, a short process time (about 6-8 hours) at a low temperature is noted, which allows you to preserve the necessary supply of vitamins and microelements in the root crop. The device uses infrared rays to dry carrots.

Electrical appliances make drying easier
Electrical appliances make drying easier

The disadvantages of this method are as follows:

  • energy costs (if you need to dry a lot of vegetables);
  • the cost of an electric dryer.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with: How bees make wax: characteristics, benefits and harms

This appliance can dry parsley and carrot dust.

These ingredients are suitable for making homemade seasonings for soups and other dishes. It is easy to cook carrot chips, candied fruits or root vegetable shavings in an electric dryer.

At home

Drying carrots can be carried out in two ways - natural and using heat from electrical appliances, for example, in an oven or in an electric dryer. In the first case, the procedure will be longer, but energy-saving. The second method allows you to speed up drying at times, but with the cost of electricity.

On air

Held over two weeks.

The key to success is choosing the right drying site. Optimally - on a garden plot or in a vegetable garden with a slight slope to the south. A large amount of sunlight will help the vegetable dry faster.

Carrots are prepared in the traditional way - peeled and cut. Pour onto a baking sheet, tray or long sieve in one layer and place in the sun. Periodically, you will have to mix the workpiece (every few days). After drying, the pieces are sorted out, undried or contaminated ones are removed.

In the microwave

With the help of modern technology, it can be dried quickly and efficiently.

A microwave oven of any power will do.

Advice!

During drying in the microwave, you need to make sure that the water in the glass does not boil away.

In the oven

Oven-drying is the most popular way to harvest carrots.

as it can be done in the oven at home while preserving vitamins.

  1. Prepared and processed carrots are chopped randomly.
  2. Prepare a baking sheet - it must be dry and clean.
  3. The oven is turned on, heated to 70 degrees.
  4. Pour carrots on a baking sheet in one layer. If the root crop is grated, the maximum permissible layer height is 1 cm.
  5. A baking sheet with a vegetable is placed in the oven, the door is closed. If the oven is without convection, the door can be left slightly ajar.
  6. The carrots are left to dry for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally and turning to remove moisture evenly.
  7. The dried workpiece is cooled directly in a baking sheet and placed in storage.

During operation of the oven, ensure sufficient ventilation of the room - open a vent or window for ventilation.

In an electric dryer

An electric dryer can also make it easier to harvest carrots.

, acting as an alternative to the oven and microwave.

The process can take a long time - from 6 to 12 hours. It depends on the model of the electric dryer, its power, as well as the size of the carrot pieces. You should clearly follow the instructions for the device, setting the desired mode and duration.

Attention!

In the process, the carrots do not need to be mixed, but for uniform heating, the pallets should be periodically changed.

We are watching a video about drying carrots in an electric dryer:

Dried vegetable for tea

Few people know that delicious vitamin tea can be made from carrots. You can also brew raw carrots, but it is better to dry it according to a certain step-by-step technology in the oven:

  1. Rinse the root crop thoroughly under running water and peel it.
  2. Grind and pour on a baking sheet.
  3. Preheat the oven to the maximum temperature.
  4. Place the carrots in the oven for 20 minutes, remove and cool the product.
  5. Repeat the procedure twice more, while not forgetting to mix the contents. Keep the door ajar.

Drying the root vegetable

How to dry carrots for the winter? There are several options for drying the vegetable. One of them is drying in a natural way, when the root crop gradually dries in the air. In addition, you can dry much faster using an oven or even a microwave.

Natural drying

Naturally dried carrots retain the maximum amount of all nutrients, as well as traditional taste and aroma. This method is appropriate if it is possible to place the vegetable in a sunny space that is not exposed to harmful factors. This way the root crop dries best in a country house or summer cottage, away from highways and dustiness.

The place for drying should be organized so that the sun's rays heat the vegetable for as long as possible. It is best to place the root crop on a sieve, this will create the necessary ventilation and there will be no need to stir the product. If there is no sieve, then it is worth spreading the pieces on trays in one layer, having previously covered it with parchment paper. In this case, the carrots must be stirred periodically to ensure even drying.

In cloudy weather and at night, until the dew completely disappears, you need to remove the carrots indoors and place them in a dark place with good ventilation. Drying naturally takes a long time. It takes at least two weeks to fully dry. After drying, it is worth revising the product and removing not dried and dirty pieces.

Advice! After the carrots have dried, they need to be kept in a common container for some time so that the residual moisture is evenly distributed throughout the entire workpiece. Only then can it be packaged and sent for storage.

Drying in the oven

Drying carrots in the oven much faster than naturally. It is important to ensure that the kitchen is ventilated, since the oven will be switched on continuously for 6-8 hours, this is how much time it takes to dry one batch. If the volume of reserves is large, then the process will have to be repeated.

Prepared carrots are placed on a baking sheet in one layer. If the carrots are grated, then the layer should not be more than 5-10 millimeters. The oven is preheated to 70 degrees and the root vegetable is placed in it. If there is no convection function in the oven, then the cabinet door must be kept ajar to allow the evaporated moisture to escape.

The carrots themselves need to be periodically mixed and turned over. This will help dry evenly. A baking sheet with ready-made dried carrots must be taken out and, after waiting for it to cool, transfer it to a storage container.

We dry in the microwave and electric dryer

An electric dryer can greatly simplify the process. To dry the carrots in it, you need to place them on the grates and set the temperature to 70 degrees. Thanks to the internal ventilation, the product does not need to be stirred, but it is worth changing the order of the grates. This is due to the fact that the lower layer will dry out faster than the upper one. Dried carrots will be ready in 6-12 hours, depending on the capabilities of the appliance and the size of the pieces. Large quantities of carrots must be dried in batches in several passes.

Drying the root vegetable in the microwave is the fastest way, but due to its small capacity, the process can take a lot of time. The root crop must be placed on a flat microwave plate, having previously covered it with a paper towel, and covered with another towel on top. In addition to a plate with carrots, you must put a glass of water in the microwave and make sure that it does not boil away.

Switch the appliance to maximum power and put the carrots in it for three minutes. If this time is not enough, then you need to dry the root crop in short stages with an interval of 30-40 seconds.

Store dried carrots in the same way as spices in a dry, dark place. A large spice jar might work as a storage container.

How to cook dried carrots:

1. Wash the carrots well under running water and pat dry with a paper towel. 2. Peel the root crop with a special knife for peeling vegetables. Such a knife allows you to cut off the peel minimally, leaving more vegetable pulp. 3. Grate the carrots. Use a food processor or Korean carrot grater to keep the straws nice, thin and long. 4. Place the carrot shavings on a baking sheet in an even layer. Heat the oven to 80 degrees and send the root vegetable to dry. At the same time, keep the chamber door slightly ajar to allow air circulation.You can also dry a vegetable naturally, leave it in an apartment in a dry place and after 1-2 days it will dry out. Well, of course, you can take advantage of the sun's rays.
Can carrots be dried for the winter? Not possible, but need to

! Judge for yourself, when drying, the most important elements of carrots, in particular provitamin A and carotene, are retained by almost 95%.

In order to have an idea about everyone useful properties of dried carrots

, you need to get acquainted with its composition:

Beta carotene

, which is part of the dried product, has a beneficial effect on the functionality of the respiratory system.

Once in the body, beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A

, which plays one of the most important roles for women's health.

Due to its beneficial properties, the consumption of dried carrots helps to strengthen the retina of the eye.

So, for example, people with conjunctivitis, myopia, blepharitis, and nocturnal leptosis should consume regularly

this product.

It is also recommended to include this product in the diet for people, with increased fatigue

... Regular consumption of dried carrots helps to strengthen
immune system
, increase vitality and accelerate the regenerative processes of the human body.

Application

The use of dried carrots can be found in a wide variety. The product is successfully used both in food preparation and in folk medicine.

In cooking

In cooking, the product is used in all dishes that require a fresh root vegetable in the recipe. Although carrots are not a hard-to-find commodity, sometimes there is simply not enough time to peel and chop them.

Most often it is put in first courses and broths, and the product is also used to improve the taste of gravies, vegetable stews, and even added to tea.

By mixing carrots with other dried vegetables and herbs, you can create a great flavoring seasoning that completes your meals. In such mixtures, the root vegetable is most often combined with:

  • paprika;
  • dried parsley;
  • dill;
  • dried root or celery;
  • dried onions;
  • cilantro;
  • basil.

Dried carrots are added to salads and sweet pastries: by reconstituting the product in milk, you can get an excellent vitamin and fiber-rich pie filling.

In folk medicine

In folk medicine, dried billets are used mainly for the preparation of a vitamin broth, one might even say, carrot tea. It is believed that its use in the diet has a beneficial effect on the human body when

:

  • lung diseases;
  • skin diseases manifested by itching and flaking;
  • constipation and inflammatory processes of the colon and individual parts of the intestine;
  • a tendency to accumulate salt deposits in the joints and kidneys;
  • general slagging of the body.

A decoction of dried carrots increases the protective functions of the body, helps to cope with visual impairments, because, once in the body, the carotene contained in the carrot is immediately transformed into vitamin A.

It is very simple to prepare such a vitamin and medicinal drink.

It is brewed like regular black tea. Sometimes dried carrots are combined with nettles, black currants and rose hips.

To prepare the infusion, it is enough to pour two tablespoons of the product with boiling water, and then insist the drink for at least half an hour, wrapping the teapot with a terry towel. You can also brew such a fragrant drink in a regular thermos.

Tea with additives from berries and herbs takes longer to brew and must be infused for at least four hours.

After the broth is infused, it will turn brown, and a subtle aroma will be heard far outside the kitchen.

The finished tea is filtered through a fine strainer and drunk, sweetened, if necessary, with a spoonful of granulated sugar or natural honey. Doctors say that in order to cope with the above problems, it is enough to drink a glass of warm infusion once a day.The course of treatment should not exceed two weeks, and the infusion itself is best taken in the morning.

Basic drying rules

How to dry carrots for the winter? When starting to dry this root crop, you need to to prepare

.

For drying, you need to choose medium-sized carrots, it is better early varieties or mid-season

... It is desirable that the core of the fruit be medium-sized and uncoarse.

Sort the carrots by size, cut the tops and cut the green neck. After that, the carrots must be checked for the presence damage

(if any, eliminate). Rinse the sorted carrots thoroughly and immerse them whole in boiling water.

Blanch

carrots need from 12 (small) to 20 minutes (large). Readiness can be determined by piercing the carrot with a toothpick - it should enter the fruit with little difficulty. After heat treatment of carrots, it must be cooled under running water.

How to cut carrots for drying? Chilled carrots can be chopped cubes, small straws or circles

, the thickness of which should not be more than 3 mm.

On air

The best place for air-drying is an open, dry area away from environmental pollution factors

(roadways, landfills).

The best choice would be a place in the garden or vegetable garden.

It is better if the selected place has a slight slope to the south, so that the sun's rays warm this area as long as possible during the day

.

Prepared for drying and chopped carrots are scattered on a long sieve or tray in a thin layer and placed in the sun. If the process takes place on a tray, then the root crop is necessary stir every few days

, if drying is done on a sieve, the carrots can be left alone.

Air-solar drying - the process is long enough - for high-quality processing requires at least 2 weeks

... After the root crop has been dried, it must be carefully reviewed. Underdried and contaminated pieces are removed from the total mass.

Like the fruit itself, carrot tops need preparation before drying. This requires careful wash

the ground part of the root crop,
dry
, finely chop and place in a single layer on a cardboard or wooden tray.

The tops are dried in the air in the shade or in a semi-dark room with good ventilation

.

When the tops are completely dry, it must be ground into powder and poured in glass containers

, where it will be stored with the lid tightly closed.

About the benefits of carrot tops for the body and about the rules for drying it

an experienced housewife will tell you at home in this video:

How to dry carrots at home? In addition to the natural drying process, there is also artificial

... An artificial process can be attributed to drying in a microwave oven, oven and electric dryer.

In the microwave

In order to dry the carrots in the microwave, cut them into small pieces, dry them and place the mass between two paper towels

... Place the resulting bundle in the microwave along with
a container with water
(glass). After the first 3 minutes of the process, check the readiness of the root crop every 30 seconds. It is important to monitor the condition of the water in the tank - it
shouldn't boil over
.

In the oven

How to dry carrots in the oven? The most widespread

the way is to dry carrots (like other vegetables and fruits) in the oven.

To do this, the prepared root crop is sprinkled on a baking sheet and dried in a cabinet at a temperature 65-80 degrees Celsius

stirring occasionally.

The cooking time for dried carrots in the oven is from 6 to 8 hours

.

In an electric dryer

How to dry carrots in an electric dryer? In the case of an electric dryer, it is very difficult to say the exact time and temperature of processing, since each model of equipment is characterized by individual parameters

... Usually, the processed fruits are laid out on nets and the appropriate mode is set, detailed in the instructions for the apparatus.

How to properly dry carrots in an electric dryer? Instructions for drying carrots in an electric dryer in this video:

For tea

How to dry carrots at home for tea? Suitable for tea are carrots that have undergone solar drying or oven drying

.

However, if there are no subtleties with drying in the sun, then when using oven

the process needs to be slightly modified.

So, the crushed fruits, intended for their further use in tea, are placed in an oven preheated up to the maximum (!) temperature

... Drying takes place in 3 stages, each of which lasts no more than 20 minutes.

So, having placed a baking sheet with carrots in the oven, it is necessary extract from it after 20 minutes

... After the carrot pieces have cooled down at room temperature, they must be placed back in the preheated oven, etc.

Recipe healthy chips

in the oven from carrots, as well as from beets in this video:

Terms and conditions of storage

Store carrots in:

  • glass containers;
  • wooden;
  • plastic containers;
  • cotton bags;
  • craft packages.

Containers with dried vegetables are stored in a kitchen cabinet or pantry.... From a large container, it is convenient to pour small portions of dried carrots into a spice jar so that they are at hand. It is advisable to put such a jar in a closet after use.

As with any dried food, protect carrots from moisture and sudden changes in temperature that could wet the outside of the bag or cause condensation to form in the jar. If you are taking dried carrots with you on your trip, use zipper bags.

Carrots, dried for the winter, are stored in dry conditions. Rooms with high humidity are not suitable, otherwise it will absorb moisture, resulting in mold and an unpleasant odor... Subject to all conditions, dried carrots will not lose their qualities throughout the year.

Recipe

Dried Carrots - Recipe: Medium sized carrots are washed, placed in boiling water and boil for 5-7 minutes

... After the fruits are cooled by placing them in a container with cold water.

Chop the boiled carrots with a coarse grater and spread on a baking sheet covered with paper

.

Dry the carrots in the oven for 30 minutes at 60 ° C

, then increase the temperature to 80 ° C and continue the drying process
4 more hours
until complete readiness.

Dried carrot shavings that cooked correctly

, has a bright orange color, dense and elastic consistency.

Drying carrots at home has clear advantage

before other methods of harvesting it for the winter. The process does not require special devices, containers or skills. Drying occurs due to the evaporation of their fruit water, while maintaining all the beneficial qualities.

How to dry candied carrot

in the oven, you can find out from the video:

Carrots are a versatile vegetable that we are happy to add to any dish and even bake pies from it! Nor is not about them now. Dried carrots are the most essential seasoning that every self-respecting culinary specialist must have in the house! Believe me, in the very vegetable condiments that you buy in stores to give your dishes an incomparable flavor, carrots proudly rank at number one on the list of ingredients!

In carrots, not only the color of the product is important, but also its useful qualities. That is why, during the harvesting season of this orange vegetable, it is worth drying it for a year in advance, because it is never known how much the vegetable basket will rise in price this year.

Composition and useful properties

When dried, the vegetable retains up to 85% of vitamins, most of which is lost vitamin C. Carrots also contain a lot of fiber, which helps with constipation, promotes intestinal motility, and reduces the risk of colon cancer.A dried vegetable contains just as many minerals as a fresh one. Removing water from it helps to avoid the appearance of mold, bacteria that infect carrots in case of another storage method.

Dried carrots
All useful properties are preserved in dried carrots

Important ingredients found in carrots:

  • provitamin A (β-carotene);
  • B vitamins;
  • vitamin C;
  • vitamin D;
  • vitamin E;
  • vitamin K;
  • lecithin;
  • cellulose;
  • easily digestible glucose;
  • sodium;
  • calcium;
  • magnesium;
  • iodine;
  • potassium;
  • phosphorus;
  • iron;
  • copper;
  • zinc;
  • manganese;
  • selenium.

Selenium is an antioxidant trace mineral that is important for the immune system.

The most famous vegetable ingredient is β-carotene, which is responsible for the color of the root. It is an antioxidant that helps the body fight stress and environmental pollution. This vitamin keeps all mucous membranes in good condition, acts as a growth factor, regenerates the skin, maintains vision, and improves night blindness. According to some studies, β-carotene plays an irreplaceable role in the fight against cancer. Women will appreciate the anti-aging effects of dried carrots.

Most people are aware of the chakra system. Therefore, it is important to mention that root crops, incl. carrots, in this concept, are associated with the first, root chakra. It is an energy center located between the genitals and the rectum. According to yoga teachings, this place is associated with legs, bones, teeth, nails, immune system, colon, blood circulation. Therefore, carrots in various treatments support the health of the above organs and systems. Also, the first chakra is associated with Mother Earth, she is responsible for femininity, rooting in her own life.

Carrots as medicine

Low levels of β-carotene in the blood may cause an increased risk of cancer. Carrots contain a high proportion of this important substance, so its consumption contributes to the prevention of cancer by influencing the number of leukocytes, increasing their activity. In addition, due to its strong antioxidant effect, β-carotene protects against harmful free radicals. From it, the body produces vitamin A, which is necessary for good vision, health of the mucous membranes.

Carrots in the dryer
You can dry carrots in different ways.

Lower cholesterol levels

Many studies have shown a cholesterol-lowering effect when consuming carrots, both fresh and dried (consuming 2 vegetables a day can lower blood cholesterol levels by up to 11%). In this regard, not only the root is effective, but also the dried leaves. For high blood pressure, use them to make tea, which has antihypertensive effects.

Purgation

Due to their high fiber content, dried carrots play an important role in detoxifying the body. The vegetable improves digestion, cleanses the intestinal tract, and helps to remove excess fluid from the body. Unlike other vegetables, most of the nutrients in carrots are retained even when exposed to high temperatures. During preparation, carotene becomes more available for the body, is used by 50%.

Dried carrots have a beneficial effect on the stomach due to their alkalizing properties, helps in the treatment of stomach ulcers.

Skin protection

The vitamin C content in carrots helps in the production of collagen, making the skin more elastic. In addition, the β-carotene contained in it also has a number of beneficial effects on the skin, for example:

  • promotes a beautiful tan;
  • protects the skin from sunburn;
  • blocks free radicals;
  • slows down the aging process of the skin;
  • prevents the appearance of wrinkles, age spots.

How to dry carrots in the oven

1. The seasoning is prepared only from carrots, but if you really want to combine a few more products with it, then add any onion: onion, green, red and greens. Peel the carrots and rinse thoroughly in water.

2. Grate each vegetable on a fine grater - this will dry the chopped carrots faster.

3.Line a baking sheet with baking paper and place the grated carrots in an even layer. Make sure that the layer is minimal everywhere. Place the baking sheet in the oven for 40-50 minutes at 80-100C and be sure to leave the oven door slightly ajar.

4. The finished seasoning will be two to three times less than the fresh carrot mass. Use your hands to check the firmness of the dried carrots and carefully separate them from the paper by pouring them onto a sheet of clean paper or into a dry container.

Dry the tops

We figured out how to dry carrots. And how to dry its tops, because it contains more nutrients, and it deserves no less attention.

The washed and dried greens should be cut and dried. You can also dry it naturally. But unlike root crops, you need to dry the tops not in the sun, but in the shade, providing a good flow of fresh air. During the drying process, it is important to periodically stir the greens. It dries much faster, three days are enough for natural drying.

You can also dry the tops in the oven. The oven must be preheated to 40-50 degrees and a baking sheet with evenly spread tops should be placed in it. It should also be dried with the door ajar until completely dry. You can check this by kneading a piece in your hands, if it freely turns into dust, the process is complete.

Not only carrots, but also other vegetables can be harvested in this way, while they can be stored together by creating mixes. It is important to remember that when creating mixes of vegetables, each ingredient must be dried separately. Only storage can be shared.

Step 1: Prepare the carrots for drying.

Carrots are best dried when they are young. It is she who has a sweetish taste and is rich in useful microelements. First, it must be peeled and rinsed thoroughly in water. After that we dry the fruits naturally or soak them with paper towels. Next, rub the carrots on a coarse grater. We try to do it so that all the carrot pieces are uniform both in thickness and length
... This is a fundamentally important point: moisture must evaporate evenly.

Step 2: Dry the carrots.

On a dry baking sheet (it can be covered with parchment for baking), spread the grated carrots in a small, even layer. Also for these purposes, you can use a dryer and do it over a gas stove, or use an electric dryer, if there is one in your kitchen. The temperature for cooking carrots should be no more than 70 degrees.
Time for preparing
2 hours
... Periodically, the pieces must be turned over and watched so that they do not burn. Finished carrots will be significantly reduced in size and will also appear very dry in appearance.

Step 3: Serve the dried carrots.


We completely cool the dried carrots, after which we collect them in a gauze knapsack or a plastic bag, but do not rush to tie it and put it in the cabinet. It is necessary to leave the harvested carrots open in a dry place, even in the sun. Thus, we withstand it 2 days
, periodically shaking the bag so that the carrots turn over there. This is important to ensure that the product is dry and not moldy during storage. After following all these measures, carrots can be eaten or used in your culinary preparations. Bon appetit, everyone!

- - You can store dried carrots for a very long time, but important requirements must be observed. First, keep it dry. And for storage, both glass tanks and paper or plastic bags are suitable.

- - Dried carrots can be used both in their original form and for cooking. For example, adding a pinch of carrots to broth or soup, you get a completely complete dish. In addition, carrots, straightened out during heat treatment, will give the food a special taste and aroma.

- - By preparing dried carrots for yourself, you save a lot of time in the future at the time of cooking. After all, it will already be peeled, grated and, moreover, cooked.

Not that much, and the price goes up significantly.

The way out in such a situation is to dry up or. In this article, we will figure out how to dry at home.

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