Grape drying method

dried grapes

Dried grapes (raisins) are one of the delicious snacks that can be eaten at any time or used in food recipes. The process of drying grapes is easy and can be done at any time, but it should be noted that it is better not to mix grapes with any other fruit when drying them. Especially if the fruits of other fruits have a strong taste and aroma, and there are many methods that can be used in the process of drying grapes, for example food dehydrator or oven, and this is what we will talk about in detail in this article.

Grape drying method

How to dry grapes using a food dehydrator

The process of drying grapes at home is simple, as green or red seedless grapes can be used, and in the absence of seedless grapes, grapes containing seeds can be used, but the grapes must be cut in half and the seeds removed before starting the drying process Which is done by following the following steps:

• Grapes are washed well with water and can be soaked before washing using white vinegar or apple cider vinegar with water by mixing partly vinegar with 10 parts of water, leaving it for five minutes, then washing it with water well to make sure it is clean.
• The stems are removed from the grapes and placed in a strainer and left to air dry for an hour, not forgetting to remove the seeds if the grapes that contain them are used.
• Arrange the grapes on the racks of the food dehydrator and it's okay if they touch each other a little.
• Set the temperature to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Leave the grapes to dry for a period ranging between 24-48 hours, and check them every 6-8 hours to monitor the drying process and stir the grapes so that they do not stick. This is because the grapes release juice during the drying process.
• The food dehydrator is turned off after the time has expired and the dried grapes are left to cool for half an hour before tasting.
• Store dried grapes in a sealed package in a cool, dry place for several months.

Method of drying grapes using the oven

The process of drying grapes in the oven is one of the successful methods, although it seems strange, but through it we can have more control over the result, as the grapes dried using the oven acquire the flavor of fresh grapes, and the juice that comes out of the grapes dries to form a layer around the grains of grapes, which gives We can also, through the use of different types of grapes, obtain many flavors and colors for dried grapes, and the grapes are dried using the oven to obtain raisins, by following the following method:

• Ingredients:
  • Three bunches of seedless grapes, of different colors if possible.
  • amount of vegetable oil.
• Method:
  • Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • The grapes are washed with water, and the stems are removed using hands or scissors if necessary.
  • Grease a baking tray with oil, then line the grapes.
  • Place the tray in the oven and leave the grapes to dry.
  • The oven door is left slightly open, about 2-6 inches, to improve air circulation. A fan can also be placed near the oven door. If more than one tray is used in the drying process, the distance between the tray and the other inside the oven must be between 2-3 inches. To allow good air circulation.
  • The grapes are checked continuously, and left until they wither and dry while remaining a little plump, which takes about four hours. The drying time varies according to the size of the grapes, the type of oven used, and the required degree of dryness.
  • Grapes are left to cool and the sticky can be removed from the tray using a spoon.
  • Dried grapes are preserved in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three weeks. It is worth noting that the period that can be kept in dried grapes depends on the degree of dehydration. The drier the grapes, the longer the storage period.

Fruit drying method

Drying fruits in their season is more economical, as drying them helps to store them throughout the year and enjoy summer fruits during winter. In addition, the drying process is easy, but it takes time. Below is how to dry fruits using a food dehydrator in detail:

• Ingredients:
  • Food dehydrator.
  • Chopping knife.
  • cutting board.
  • Airtight containers or freezer bags.
  • An amount of fruit, according to taste.
• Method:
  • Wash the fruit and dry it well.
  • Peel the fruit, especially if the peel is inedible, but if it is intact, it can be left or removed, as desired.
  • Cut the fruit into slices with a thickness of a quarter to half an inch, and make sure that each type of fruit is cut into pieces of the same size. Small fruits such as strawberries, apricots, and cherries can be left whole or cut into halves only as desired. The smaller and thinner the fruit slices, the faster they dry. .
  • The fruit slices are distributed and a distance is left between them so that they do not stick to each other, so that all slices dry equally, and the fruit slices of one type are distributed in one tray, so the types of fruits should not be mixed in the same tray; Because each type of it needs a different period of time to dry, in addition to the need to pay attention to placing fruit racks that release juice during drying at the bottom so that it does not drip on other shelves.
  • Set the food dehydrator temperature to 125 degrees Fahrenheit to get evenly dried fruit or you can follow the food dehydrator instructions in the user manual.
  • Leave the fruit slices in the food dehydrator until they become crispy and brittle, and the drying time varies according to the degree of humidity and the type of dryer, as it may range from half an hour to six hours.
  • Leave the fruit slices to cool completely from thirty to sixty minutes before placing them in storage containers.
  • Fruit slices are stored in airtight containers or freezer bags and kept in a cool, dry and dark place until use.