Dried grapes are a nutritious and very healthy treat that can be eaten fresh or added to various dishes. Drying grapes for raisins at home allows you to preserve all the properties of berries and get a natural product. This procedure is carried out in several ways, depending on the specific conditions, for example, the berries are dried in the sun, in an electric dryer or in an oven. Each method has its own characteristics, which should be found out in advance.
When and how to harvest?
Regardless of which method of drying will be performed, grapes must be selected and prepared, observing the rules. The berries must be fully ripe. If possible, it is best to leave them on the bushes until they become lethargic. In this state, the bunches are manually sorted, getting rid of rotten and damaged fruits.
This procedure must be carried out directly on the day of removal, otherwise the raisins will be of poor quality. Only whole and ripe specimens of good varieties are left for drying. It is preferable to use sweet varieties without seeds for this purpose. The most suitable ones include:
- Kishmish (pink, black or white).
- Rusball.
- Astrakhan early ripening.
- Rizamat.
- Codryanka.
- Sultani.
- Muscat.
The ideal varieties are those with increased sugar content and small berry sizes, which allow faster drying. It should be borne in mind that from dark grape varieties, raisins are black, and from green ones - brown.
Which grapes are suitable for drying
Most often, grapes that do not have seeds inside the berries are used for drying.
The berries themselves can be either small or large, dark or light. Due to the fact that the dry product retains the taste characteristics of a particular type of grape, raisins can be herbaceous-tart, nutmeg or sweet-sour. The following grape varieties are most often used for harvesting raisins:
- Nimrang;
- Muscat;
- Sultani;
- Katta-Kurgan;
- black, pink, white.
Did you know?
The first harvesting of raisins for the purpose of its sale began to be carried out around 200-300 BC. e. Historians cannot say for sure whether the Armenians or the Phoenicians did it. But it is known that in Greece later they began to grow for this purpose special grapes with small berries that did not have seeds, but at the same time had a strong and pleasant aroma. The variety was named "Korinka" after the area where it was grown - Corinth.
In order to get high-quality and tasty homemade raisins that can retain their beneficial properties for a long time, you need to properly prepare fresh grapes for harvesting. First of all, you should review and remove all unusable material, remove berries that have damage, dents, cracks, etc. It is also advisable to separate small and larger berries. The latter can be cut in half for easy drying.
How to prepare berries?
After sorting is completed, the grapes are heat treated. The process consists of several steps:
- dissolve soda in water in a ratio of 1 tablespoon to 1 liter of liquid;
- the water is brought to a boil;
- berries are dipped in boiling water and left for 10-15 minutes.
If the grapes are in the water for less than the prescribed time, then the drying time will increase. Overexposing the fruits is not recommended, as they will cook. The purpose of this heat treatment is the destruction of the shell and the appearance of cracks in the skin, due to which the evaporation of moisture will occur much faster.
Before starting drying, the grapes are thoroughly washed from soda... This is done under cold running water. After that, the berries are laid out on a clean cloth and left for a while to allow them to dry out.
In direct sunlight
This most primitive method was successfully used by our distant ancestors. However, it can only be used if the weather is sunny and dry. Raisins prepared in this way will have a matte surface with a waxy coating.
Before drying the grapes, they are laid out in a thin layer on paper and exposed to sunlight. A month later, raisins will turn out from it. Since it can rain outside at any time, it is very important to provide for the possibility of hiding the berries under a canopy so that moisture does not get on them.
How to dry properly?
There are several methods for making high-quality raisins at home. Each of them has its own characteristics.
In an electric dryer
Nowadays, such a device is easy to acquire. There are two types of dryers:
- convective;
- infrared.
Convective models dry moisture only from the surface of vegetables and fruits, which negatively affects the whole process. The second option has a higher cost, however, the speed and quality of drying in such an electric dryer is much better due to the penetration of infrared rays into the products.
Raisins are obtained using an electric dryer as follows:
- after blanching in a solution of soda, the berries are cooled in cold water;
- the grapes are laid out on a towel in order to remove excess moisture;
- the raw materials are laid out in an even layer on the lattice of the device;
- dried for 3 hours at a temperature of 50 ° C;
- turn off and let the berries cool;
- repeat the process several times, at intervals, and changing the grates in places, until the raisins come to readiness.
In total, the process will take 34 hours. To prepare 500 g of raisins in this way, you will need 2 kg of grapes.
We offer you to watch a video on how to dry grapes using an electric dryer:
//youtu.be/3RPTCL7QzTo
In the oven
Drying grapes at home can also be carried out in the oven, but it must be borne in mind that this method is the most time consuming. On hot days, it will be impossible to be indoors for a long time. Cooking raisins in this way consists of several stages:
- The prepared raw materials are spread in an even layer on a baking sheet and placed in the oven. Drying is carried out at a temperature of 85 ° C with a slightly open door so that moisture can evaporate.
- After 10 hours, the temperature is reduced to 50-60 ° C. The whole procedure takes about 40 hours. In the process, it is necessary to take breaks so that the fruits can cool down.
- At the final stage, when the raisins are almost ready, the temperature in the oven should not exceed 35 ° C.
In the microwave at home
Microwave drying of grapes is not allowed, since heating the berries will cause them to ignite, which, in turn, will entail the appearance of plasma. This ionized gas has the ability to absorb microwaves and conduct electricity. As a result of this process, the person will be burned and the kitchen device will fail.
Outdoors
This budget method has been around since ancient times, but is only suitable for dry weather.
In the sun
The raisins prepared in this way will have a matte surface that looks like a waxy coating. For cooking you will need:
- well-ripened grapes;
- baking soda;
- water;
- even flat surface (mesh, pallet, etc.);
- mosquito net or gauze cloth.
The drying process is carried out in the following sequence:
- grapes are sorted, freeing bunches of rotten and damaged berries;
- high-quality raw materials are washed, laid out in a colander and blanched in a soda solution for no more than 3-4 seconds;
- after treatment with boiling water and soda, the berries are washed under running cold water;
- prepared grapes are first laid out on a dry and clean cloth in order to get rid of excess moisture, and then placed on a plane and taken out in the sun;
- so that birds and insects do not spoil the berries, they are covered with gauze.
It will take 20 to 30 days to dry, depending on solar activity.
It is recommended to carry the product indoors in the evening, otherwise it may get wet in the rain. Drying should be carried out evenly, so the fruits need to be mixed periodically.
In the shadow
In addition to using sunlight, grapes can be dried in the shade. This method is usually used in Central Asia, it allows the berries to retain all vitamins and their original color. For this purpose, special boxes with many ventilation openings are built from clay.
You can also use a well-ventilated building with an economic purpose (barn, temporary hut).
The process of cooking raisins in the shade is as follows:
- Raw materials are sorted and processed using soda.
- Prepared clusters are laid out on the surface, placed in a row and covered with dense material.
- A sulfur wick or a sulfur stick for fumigation is lit under them. The duration of the procedure is from 40 to 50 minutes, thanks to this, the raisins acquire an attractive color.
- The pallets with grapes are transferred to the place where the drying will be carried out and covered with a cloth. At least once every 3 days, the bunches must be turned over.
Drying bunches of grapes is optional on pallets... They can be hung in a well ventilated room. In this case, the raw materials are also pre-processed and subjected to sulfur fumigation. It will take 20 to 30 days to get full raisins. The shade drying technology is considered the most correct.
Oven raisins
Berries can be dried in the oven, but this is the most time consuming method, and expensive. And given the weather conditions, the heat, it is impossible to stay indoors for a long time.
But, nevertheless, there is such a way.
Preparation:
1.Place the prepared berries on a baking sheet in an even layer and put in an oven preheated to 85 degrees. Leave the door slightly ajar to allow the moisture to evaporate.
2. When the berries are half dry, reduce the temperature in the oven to 70 degrees. In total, drying takes about 30 hours.
How to store and what is the shelf life?
Dried grapes should be kept in a dark and cool place. It is important to know that the product does not tolerate high humidity and will deteriorate under such conditions. Basic storage rules:
- the optimum temperature is no more than + 10 ° С, otherwise insects will start in the berries;
- the required humidity level is 70%.
The following options are suitable for storage containers:
- Canvas bag... The item must first be held in a saline solution, and then dried well. Berries folded in it should be in a dark place, as far as possible from heat sources - stoves and radiators.
- Glass containers... In this case, it is recommended not to close the covers tightly or to make small holes in them for air circulation.Also, instead of lids, you can use pieces of gauze that are fixed on the cans with rubber bands.
- Plastic containers... This option is allowed, provided that the containers are covered with paper.
- Plastic bags for food... With this storage method, it is necessary to provide air access.
The shelf life of dried grapes is influenced by the conditions in which they are kept. As a rule, at an average room temperature of +22 to 25 ° C, the product can be used for no more than 2 months. The shelf life of raisins in a cool place will be 3 to 4 months, provided that they are in an airtight container.
Dried grapes can be frozen. To do this, it is laid out in food containers or bags with a fastener. In the freezer, raisins are stored for up to one and a half years, but at the same time they lose a significant part of nutrients and vitamins.
Accelerated technology
To shorten the cooking time of raisins, it is enough to know just one little secret. Before drying the grapes, they are dipped in a boiling soda solution. Thanks to this little trick, you will not only significantly reduce the time spent by the berries in the sun, but also achieve the disappearance of the wax plaque.
In addition, in the process of such processing, microscopic cracks form on the surface of the grapes, through which air passes and excess moisture evaporates. The berries that have been in a soda solution are washed in running cold water, laid out on paper and sent under the sun.
How to use and in what recipes to cook?
Raisins are one of the healthiest foods in the world:
- It contains almost the entire group of B vitamins, vitamin PP, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and many other components necessary for a full-fledged human life.
- Raisins have almost no contraindications, they can be used even with diabetes mellitus or diseases of the digestive system. Dried grapes stimulate the brain, have a positive effect on the state of the nervous system, kidneys, respiratory organs, stomach and heart. Eating one handful of it daily will improve your well-being and cheer up. Raisins are used in the preparation of various medicinal compositions for colds, to combat certain skin diseases, hypertension and pneumonia.
- The product is indispensable in cooking, in the manufacture of various drinks, ice cream and desserts based on cottage cheese. It goes well with meat dishes, cereals, vegetable and fruit salads, and muesli.
So that the raisins do not lose their useful properties, it is recommended to brew it in a thermos. Berries are poured into a container with a volume of 1 liter in the ratio of 1 tablespoon to 200 g of boiling water.
With all the positive qualities of dried grapes, in some cases it can harm health. The product must not be consumed in large quantities. The optimal dose is considered to be 50-60 g per day.
Cooking raisins at home is not a complicated process and does not require expensive professional equipment. Properly dried grapes will retain up to 80% of the beneficial components it contains.
Alternative option
In this case, selected ripe and whole berries are subjected to preliminary alkalization. To prepare the solution, you will need ten liters of water and forty grams of crystalline caustic soda. These components are mixed in one pan and sent to the stove.
Selected grapes are immersed in boiling liquid for a few seconds, then quickly removed and thoroughly washed in running cold water. After that, the berries are laid out on paper and left to dry. Every three or four days, the grapes are turned over.
Note to the hostess
1. On the basis of self-dried grapes, you can make a treat like marzipan.It is necessary to grind any nuts to the state of an oily paste, mix them with raisins ground in a blender and fasten the mixture with thick syrup or liquid honey. If there is no powerful household appliance in the hostess's arsenal, then a manual meat grinder will help out - it will turn both components into an elastic mass. Only its bell and screw must be wetted several times in the process. The nut-raisin mix is used as an interlayer of biscuit and puff rolls, homemade sweets and figurines for decorating cakes are sculpted from it.
2. Raisins promote the fermentation of liquids. So, for example, in a three-liter jar of birch sap it is enough to put only 80–120 g of these dried fruits, leave in a dark place (not in the cold), and a month later the container will contain healthy kvass, saturated with vitamins and similar to sweet and sour soda. Since the fermentation reaction took place without yeast, it has a minimum calorie content.
3. Fresh grapes, juice from them and even natural grape wines cause allergies in some people. However, it occurs much less frequently on raisins. And yet, before you eat it in handfuls, you need to monitor how the skin and the body as a whole react to the product.
The benefits of raisin broth for babies
The drink is useful for breastfed babies. Babies are often exposed to vitamin deficiency. A decoction of raisins for babies does not cause allergic reactions. The drink strengthens the immune system and prevents ARVI, increases the body's resistance to any colds. B vitamins help in the growth of bones, the strengthening of the nervous system and are involved in intellectual development.
Raisin broth normalizes digestion and has a good effect on metabolic processes. In infants, the quality of blood improves, teeth and bones are strengthened. Thanks to sodium, magnesium and calcium, muscles are actively developing, especially the heart. The selenium contained in the broth contributes to the normal functioning of the liver.
A drink from only one dried fruit can be given to infants up to 6 months, with a larger number of components (for example, a decoction of carrots and raisins) only from six months of age. To check for an allergic reaction, 1 tsp is initially given. drink.
Electric drying method
The bunches are washed out in freezing water. Ripe whole berries are selected without rot and other damage. The grapes are placed in a dense layer on trays that are placed in an electric dryer. Turn on the "Drying berries and fruits" mode. The timer is set for 4 hours.
After turning off the device, the berries remain in it, after 2 hours the procedure is repeated. In the electric grape drying 4 approaches are used. After completing the last manipulation, let the dried fruits stand in the device for 120 minutes. The cooking time is influenced by the variety, size and consistency of the grapes. The average duration of the process is measured in one day. The finished product does not contain moisture, is sticky to the touch, and the skin becomes wrinkled.
