Drying eggplants in an electric dryer
Harvesting vegetables for the winter is a laborious process. An alternative to preservation would be product drying. It is most convenient to dry eggplants in an electric dryer. So the product does not lose its useful properties after cooking.
Drying eggplants in an electric dryer
Useful properties of a vegetable
Eggplant is a favorite delicacy for many. This vegetable has an exceptional taste. Unique sweet and sour notes perfectly complement both the first and second courses.
Harvesting vegetables for the winter, most often they can be preserved or frozen. But each of these storage methods has disadvantages, for example, the loss of summer freshness and flavor characteristics. Also, the amount of nutrients contained in the product decreases. It is better to dry the eggplants in order to maximize the nutritional and biological value of the product.
The dried vegetable contains more than 80% of all the substances contained in the fresh one. Dried vegetable composition:
- vitamins A, B, C, P;
- natural sugars, organic acids and pectins.
- calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, copper, etc.
The use of even a dried product has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys. Only young fruits should be used. The old ones contain solanine, the use of which threatens intoxication of the body.
Eggplant selection
The taste of a dried product is influenced not only by the method of preparation, but also by the quality and characteristics of the vegetable itself. It is better to buy still young fruits, as they have a more delicate taste, do not taste bitter and have small seeds.
For drying eggplants, it is better to take fruits with a thin but intact skin. There should be no signs of damage. The color must also be uniform.
Drying the product in an electric dryer
We dry only washed and peeled eggplants
When the vegetables for drying have already been selected, all that remains is to prepare them for cooking. They are thoroughly washed, wiped with a napkin or kitchen towel, and the stalk and wide base are removed. If desired, peel the vegetable.
You need to choose a way to cut dried eggplants. You can dry both rings and slices, cubes. The thickness of the cut product should not exceed 1 cm. Usually they are guided by the dimensions of the cells of the dryer.
To avoid the bitterness in the taste of dried eggplant, rinse the chopped vegetable in salted water. Advise it for 1-2 minutes. boil.
Drying vegetable
The chopped vegetable is loaded into the trays of the appliance. Before loading the product, it is worth studying the rules for operating the dryer. The weight of eggplants in the electric dryer must comply with the norm specified in the document.
After studying the instructions and placing the eggplant slices or cubes in the electric dryer, start cooking.
The eggplants are dried like this:
- The temperature is set (55-65 ° C).
- The device is connected to the network.
- The product dries up to 12 hours. The time depends on the power of the appliance, as well as on the size of the cubes or slices of the vegetable, thin pieces are easier to dry.
Drying eggplant in an electric dryer is easy.The main thing is to monitor the preparation of the product, turning the pieces over and changing the trays in places every few hours. It is always easy to increase or decrease the cooking time, focusing on the condition of the vegetable.
It is necessary to use slices, rings or cubes of dried vegetables in the first 5-8 months after cooking. They are used for soups or various sauces, for main courses and even for hot salads.
Storing dried eggplants
When the food is cooked in the electric dryer, the dried eggplants are cooled and portioned according to the amount calculated for one-time use for cooking. Storage of dried eggplants does not require specific conditions. They are often placed in glass containers with a hermetically sealed lid, or stored in cloth bags at room temperature, in a dry and dark place. Dried eggplants should be placed on a shelf in a kitchen cabinet, in a drawer, or in a pantry.
Conclusion
Drying eggplants on trays in an electric dryer is quick and easy. A person receives supplies of a useful vegetable for the winter, which is convenient to store and use throughout the year.