Feijoa is an exotic fruit that came from South America. They can be eaten fresh and dried at home for sweet fruits in the off-season. Due to its taste and aroma, the fruits have become popular all over the world. Long-term experimentation by breeders has made the plant adaptable to colder climates. Now feijoa is grown in the Caucasus, Turkmenistan, Crimea and even in the southern part of the Krasnodar Territory, which made the fruit available to everyone.
The specifics of drying feijoa
Unfortunately, feijoa is a seasonal fruit, so people often look for ways to harvest it. Some freeze the fruit, others canning or making jam. But like most fruits, it can be dried! The dried version is a great appetizer that can also be used to make desserts, bake meat dishes, or simply add to salads.
Attention! Only fully ripe fruits are suitable for drying.
Many people say that it is simply impossible to dry this fruit. The same was once said about kiwi, but for several decades now this dried fruit has been a popular delicacy in Asian countries.
Before you start drying, it is important to properly prepare the fruits:
- First you need to wash them properly. This is done exclusively in cold water, otherwise the skin will turn yellow. It is recommended to soak the fruit in cold water for a few minutes to get rid of the nitrates that the fruit is treated with for better preservation.
- Next, the feijoa is cut along the body, the bones are removed together and the liquid pulp is removed.
- The pitted fruit is cut into slices or strips.
You do not need to peel the skin off the fruit before drying.
Ways to dry feijoa at home
The process of drying feijoa is very simple. Even a person who previously did not have experience in harvesting dried fruits will not have any difficulties.
Drying fruits in a peel in the oven
Ripe feijoa is very juicy and contains a large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Due to this composition, moisture from the pulp leaves very slowly, and the drying process takes a long time. Here's what to do:
- preheat the oven to 40 °;
- cover a baking sheet with paper and spread the already cut feijoa evenly in one thin layer on it;
- place the baking sheet in the oven for 4 to 5 hours;
- Leave the oven door ajar.
It is best to dry in an electric oven, since it has an additional blowing function, which accelerates the process of moisture evaporation. After the fruit has cooled, it is laid out on a paper towel and left at room temperature for a day. The fruit dried in this way is a little harsh, but it is ideal for making confectionery (as candied fruits).
Drying in dryer
Feijoa can be dried quickly and efficiently using an electric dryer, for example, VOLTERA 1000 Lux. First you need to warm it up. Next, the already prepared material is placed on the trays (in the compartments) of the device and the mode is set suitable for drying juicy fruits (temperature is about 55 °). Drying time in the dryer, on average, is about 10 - 12 hours, so the procedure is performed in 2 stages of 5 - 6 hours each. To check the feijoa for readiness, just break one slice and look inside. If juice is released from the dried pulp, then the fruit is not yet ready.
Drying in the sun
Using the sun to dry fruit is the oldest and most common method of harvesting dried fruit. If you have a summer cottage or live in a private house, then you can dry the fruits in the open sun. To do this, you will need a regular garden net, which is placed in the most sunny areas.
Prepared (peeled and chopped) fruits are poured onto the installed grid. If you are going to dry the feijoa in the open sun, then the slices can be cut a little larger. Next, glass is installed over the fruits, which will prevent the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, while enhancing the effect of the sun. There should be enough space between the fruit and the glass for proper air circulation. In just 3 days you will receive a quality finished product.
This method is suitable for harvesting a large amount of dried fruits. In addition, due to full ventilation in the fresh air, there is no risk of mold formation.
Drying on the windowsill
To dry the feijoa on the windowsill, you need to do the following:
- Prepare a plastic tray and line it with gauze. Gauze is recommended to be sterilized (boiled) to prevent the spread of rot on the fruit.
- Dip the fruit in a solution of salted water (two tablespoons of salt per liter of water) for 3 minutes.
- Spread the feijoa wedges on cheesecloth in a thin layer so that they do not touch each other.
- The tray is left on the windowsill for 3 to 4 days.
During the drying process, it is necessary to constantly monitor the fruit and turn it over (once a day), otherwise rot will appear. The product dried in this way retains a large amount of vitamins.
Drying over stove
The fruits are cut into two or four equal parts along the body and cleaned of liquid pulp. The resulting slices are strung on a thread with a needle, creating small garlands, and hung over the stove. In just 5 to 7 days, you will have soft, dried fruit that can be stored for up to 4 months. This feijoa is added to salads and meat dishes, and is also consumed in its pure form.
Cooking dried feijoa
The drying process at home is slightly different from drying and looks like this:
- First, the fruits are thoroughly soaked in hot water (about 5 - 7 minutes), after which they are cut into two equal parts, removing the seeds and sepals.
- Next, you need to prepare the syrup. Add two cups of sugar and a pinch of salt to one liter of boiling water, cook until the ingredients are completely dissolved (10-15 minutes).
- The prepared fruit is immersed in syrup for 2 hours, after which the slices are taken out and left to drain.
- Then they are placed on a baking sheet and placed in an oven preheated to 70 ° for 4 hours. It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the fruit so that it does not dry out.
Only ripe and soft fruits can be dried. If the fruit is not ripe, it will be "rubbery".
The finished slices are allowed to cool. The dried product turns out to be very juicy and sweet, in contrast to the dried one. In this form, it can be served as a full-fledged dessert for tea or coffee, added to pastries, pastries, and chocolate. The combination of a dried product with ice cream is especially tasty.
Dried and cured feijoa are stored in an airtight, moisture-resistant container. Glass jars with tight-fitting lids and placed in a dark, cool and dry place are ideal. Well dried fruit can be stored for up to six months.
In order to have delicious and vitamin-rich dishes on your table all year round, we also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the secrets of cooking dried melon and candied pumpkin fruits.