Dried fruits are an integral part of the diet of many people. Anyone who adheres to the rules of healthy eating, necessarily have at home stocks of dried apricots, raisins, prunes, dates. After all, these products retain in themselves many useful substances, so necessary to the body for its proper functioning and health. But how correctly to store dried fruits, so that they do not deteriorate and thereby do us no harm? You will learn about this from this article.
Eight rules how to store dried fruit at home
Everyone who likes to eat dried fruits should know that it is important not only to choose them correctly in the market or in the store, but also be able to store. With proper storage, the product will be protected from mold, insects and will retain the full benefit.
We offer you eight useful tips on how to store dried fruits properly to avoid spoilage.
Temperature mode
One of the main points is to observe the correct storage temperature. Unfortunately, the apartment is difficult to find a place with the right temperature, and this - no more than +15 degrees.
The closet or storage closest to anything, far from appliances that heat air. Also, the rays of the sun should not fall on him.
Important! In the refrigerator, the regime is usually set in the area plus 6 degrees Celsius and it is suitable for storing wet dried fruits - prunes, raisins. Other types of dried fruits can damp in the refrigerator, because there is a high level of humidity.
Moisture
To store dried fruits at home, choose dry places. The humidity of the air where the reserves are located should not exceed 70%.
Important! You can take advantage of a little folk wisdom and use salt as a means that absorbs moisture. A jar of salt put on a shelf, where the dried fruits lie and all the excess moisture it will absorb .
Separate storage of
Never add different kinds of dried fruits in one container. Each product has its own moisture index and mixing them will cause some fruits to damp, while others will lose the necessary moisture. And such a prolonged neighborhood will lead to the formation of damages on the surface of the products.
Separate storage is also useful in terms of maintaining individual taste qualities. For example, raisins will not absorb the smell of smoked prunes, if they lie in a separate, hermetically sealed container.
Utensils has the value
To properly store dried fruits at home, ceramic and glass containers are perfectly suitable, which are tightly closed with a lid. You can buy specially designed dishes. But ordinary glass jars, which usually in excess of the owners, too, will do.
It is only important to choose a tight cover, because the storage must be leakproof. But for storage of dried apples and pears, dense cotton bags with strings are good.
Drying
If you bought a lot of dried fruits, but are not sure of their quality and that they will be stored for a long time, you should dry them again. To do this:
- Rinse all the fruits with water.
- Blot with a towel and dry at room temperature.
- Then dry in the oven, selecting the minimum temperature setting.
Check inventory
If you are stocked for the future and the shelves are fully loaded with dried products, then it is unlikely that all this will quickly be used. And this means that constant quality control is needed. Periodically check all stocks and if you find mold, discard immediately. Mold is very dangerous to health, as well as mold spores can quickly spread to other products.
Important! When it comes to the defeat of dried fruits bugs or worms, you can still save such valuable blanks. Of course, if there is only a small presence of parasites. To do this, stocks must be frozen out, calcined in the sun or in the oven. Before taking such foods for food, you need to wash them more thoroughly under running hot water.
Shelf life
Each food has its own shelf life. For dried fruit - this is one year. But provided that the products will be under constant control. It is necessary to ventilate periodically and if necessary to dry it.
The number has the value
Do not make large stocks of dried fruits, it is better to buy them as needed. Otherwise, you risk storing in the cabinet a large number of unsuitable dry fruits and berries that you will have to discard.
Having familiarized with the basic rules of how to store dried fruits at home, you can confidently proceed to stockpiling. After all, it's so nice to be able to get easy access to vitamins in the cold weather and provide your family with culinary masterpieces with pastries all year round.