The tradition of drying carrots has come to us since ancient Russia and is relevant to this day. The root vegetable contains a large amount of vitamins and substances beneficial to the body, which are stored in the dried product. The blank is universal and can be used for cooking any dishes, takes up little space, saves time, while the taste of the dried vegetable does not change.
The specifics of drying carrots at home
It is not difficult to properly prepare carrots for the winter by drying. The process consists in dehydrating the product by exposing it to high temperatures or warm air, which distinguishes it from dried. When dried, on the contrary, the vegetable dries up under the influence of low temperatures.
Before you start drying your carrots, you need to prepare them. It is advisable to choose medium-sized root vegetables, with a core that has not yet hardened. Early varieties or not overripe vegetables are ideal for this.
It is categorically impossible to use damaged or decaying fruits, and if there are stains on them, be sure to cut them out. Then rinse the carrots thoroughly, cut off the tops and peel. If the volume is large, then you can do this with a vegetable cutter or an ordinary kitchen knife.
Sometimes before drying, carrots are blanched in boiling water for 5-15 minutes, depending on the size of the fruit, but you can also use a raw vegetable.
You can cut the root vegetable with wheels, strips, semicircles, cubes or grate on a coarse grater. The pieces should not be thick, otherwise it will take a long time to dry them. In the future, to decorate some dishes, you can mix the figures cut in various ways.
Methods for proper drying
Harvesting can be done in two different ways: using natural heat from the sun or using household gas and electrical appliances. When exposed to heat, moisture and liquid are removed from the vegetable by evaporation. This can be accelerated by resorting to devices, and natural drying delays the process for days and weeks.
In the oven
Drying in the oven is one of the most popular and affordable ways to prepare carrots for storage. The disadvantage of this method is that the process must be constantly monitored and cannot be left unattended. The whole procedure takes 5 to 8 hours, depending on the cutting method.
The baking sheet is covered with dry paper on which the slices are laid in a layer up to 1 cm in height. After warming up the oven to 70 ° C, the sheet is placed inside, and the door is not closed, since in the absence of air circulation, the vegetable can burn or roast. Every few hours, remove the baking sheet and stir the mass.
In the dryer
The principle of drying carrots in an electric dryer is similar to harvesting using an oven. Cutting is also laid out in a thin layer on pallets, in an electric dryer, for example, VOLTERA 1000 Lux, a temperature of 70 ° C is set. For uniform drying, the pallets must be periodically changed. The essence of the method is the penetration of infrared radiation into the depths of the root crop, which accelerates the evaporation of the liquid.
Drying in an electric dryer is the most convenient way and has several advantages:
- convenience and simplicity of the process;
- time is reduced compared to natural drying;
- insect protection;
- compactness;
- carotene and other useful elements are not broken down.
The device works from the mains, and the process takes 10-12 hours, respectively, the disadvantages of this method can be attributed only to the high consumption of electricity.
How to dry and dry carrots in the fresh air
When drying naturally in the sun, you need to choose a place that is blown by the wind, but at the same time accessible to the sun's rays. A garden, vegetable garden or suburban area is ideal for this. The selected area should be free of dust and dirt.
Drying in the fresh air is the longest way to harvest as weather conditions can vary. In the absence of the sun, the process can take weeks, but this method has its advantages:
- environmental friendliness;
- does not require costs;
- you do not need to constantly monitor the process.
In case of rain, you can place a beach umbrella and place pallets directly underneath.
In the microwave
For this drying method, you can use a microwave oven of any power. Place the carrot slices in a cup and turn on the appliance for 3 minutes at maximum power.
At the end of the time, the mixture is stirred and allowed to stand for another 3 minutes. Next, you need to look at the state, but you can reduce the power each time. Usually, complete drying can be achieved in 5-6 approaches.
You can wrap the sliced carrots in a paper towel and microwave them in cycles of 3 minutes each. With this method, it is necessary to put a glass of water inside the device in order to avoid overdrying. This cooking method is very quick, but not the most popular.
Application in the winter of dried carrot tops
Often they use not only the root vegetable, but also the ground part of the vegetable - the tops. Greens can be dried in the same way as the carrots themselves, after rinsing them well. Then the tops are chopped with a knife, but it is allowed to dry it in bunches in a natural way. The drying time of the tops is much less than that of the root crop.
It is used as a spicy seasoning for meat and fish, added to soups and main courses, and brewed in the form of herbal tea. This drink contains a large amount of useful substances, moreover, in combination with mint, it has an exquisite unique taste.
Conditions for storage and use of root crops
After the end of the drying process, the carrots must be cooled and put into sealed tin, glass, plastic containers and jars or paper bags. It is better to store the seasoning in a dry, dark place. The product can be used for several months, up to a year.
The product is added to the dish 15 minutes before its readiness, while dry carrots do not require any additional preparation. It is convenient to use vegetable mixes when dried onions, garlic, beets and other vegetables can be stored in one container mixed with carrots.
Dried carrots are a universal product, because they have found their application not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology and folk medicine.
In addition to carrots, we suggest making dried potatoes, as well as making chips from various vegetables and fruits.