Dried melon: beneficial properties, contraindications, calorie content and recipe. How to dry melon at home: methods and subtleties

Many people are looking forward to the end of the summer season, when juicy and sweet melons will appear on the markets and supermarket shelves. Its aroma and taste can leave few people indifferent. But melon has one significant drawback - its fresh shelf life is too short. People have learned to dry it. As studies show, dried fruits and candied melons are not inferior in characteristics to fresh fruit.

Choosing a melon variety for drying

In order for dried melon to be stored for a long time, at the preparation stage you need to choose the right variety of this berry. The melon should have sugary, fairly hard pulp. There should be as little water as possible. The following varieties are suitable for this:

• Collective farmer.
• Gulyabi.
• Pineapple.
• Torpedo.
• Ditma.
• Persian.

Dried and candied fruits should be made exclusively from ripe fruits without damage. After all, only then will dried fruit be equal to fresh melon in terms of vitamins and microelements.

Drying melon at home

Not everyone has the opportunity to buy dried melon at the market or in a store. It is much more economical to dry the fruits in the summer and enjoy them in the fall and winter. To do this, there are several ways to prepare treats. But regardless of the chosen preservation method, it is important to properly prepare the fruits. To do this, they are washed, cut in half, the seeds are removed, the skin is removed and cut into thin slices. The thicker the fruit pieces are, the longer they will take to dry.

The melon can be dried naturally in the sun, but then the process will take about 2 weeks. Therefore, to save time and effort, you can use modern kitchen appliances:

Gas or electric oven. The process takes place in two stages. The baking tray is covered with baking paper, the slices are cut to a thickness of no more than 0.7 mm and laid out on the prepared sheet. Maintain the product at a temperature of no more than 75 degrees with the fan on. If there is none, open the oven slightly to remove excess moisture. Then the oven is turned off and the slices are allowed to stand for several hours so that the moisture level is equalized. After this, the melon is dried at 60 degrees for about fifteen hours.

• Electric dryer. To prepare drying in an electrical appliance, berry slices are placed in trays of the appliance and dried for eight hours at a temperature of 55 degrees. Warm air rises from below and is dispersed by a fan throughout all trays. Therefore, a maximum of three pallets should be used. Then the slices will dry evenly.

To get dried melon, the melon is cut into thicker slices and dried for a little less time.

Preparing candied fruits

You can prepare melons for the winter by making candied fruits from it. To do this, use a slightly unripe berry, wash it and peel it from seeds and peel, cut it into small cubes, prepare a syrup from sugar and water and boil the melon pieces until soft, then leave the future candied fruits in a cool place for 12 hours and repeat the cooking-cooling process for more 2−3 times.

When the pieces are cooked for the last time, add citric acid, then drain the candied fruits in a colander and dry in the open air under gauze or in the oven.

Store the sweet in a glass jar lined with paper, sprinkled with sugar or powdered sugar on top.

Storing dried fruits and their use in cooking

After the drying process, the melon ribbons are twisted into ropes and then into braids. It is best to store braids in a glass jar lined with parchment to prevent mold from appearing on the product. Linen bags or paper bags are also suitable.

Dried cantaloupe or Thai melon is a very popular delicacy among confectioners. It is combined with dried apricots, prunes, raisins, cashews and almonds in many desserts and baked goods. And if you sprinkle it with sesame seeds, poppy seeds or ground nuts, it will be an excellent substitute for chocolate and other store-bought sweets.

Useful properties of dried melon

Thanks to drying at low temperatures, the dried slices retain all the vitamins and minerals only collected from the melon field. The rich composition of vitamins and microelements in the product maintains the overall tone of the body, helps fight external negative factors, and has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

It is recommended to consume this delicacy for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary system, nervous and psychological diseases. Women during pregnancy and menopause are also recommended to consume dried melon. Folic acid is necessary to maintain hormonal levels during such difficult periods for the female body. Dietary fiber from melon helps normalize metabolism, eliminate constipation, and promote weight loss.

The harm of treats

Dried melons are not recommended for consumption with dairy products, honey and alcohol. This combination can cause serious stomach upset. People with diabetes should also avoid sweets due to the high glycemic index. It is also better for women during lactation to refrain from eating treats. The product is quite allergenic, which can cause not only rashes on the baby’s skin, but also Quincke’s edema. And sugar causes fermentation in the baby’s fragile digestive tract.

Only by consuming the product in moderation can you feel its beneficial effects on the body. Abuse of such a high-calorie product threatens negative changes in the body even for a healthy person.

Dried melon is a fabulous, oriental delicacy from childhood, which is easy to make at home and does not require special equipment, just an electric dryer or a regular gas oven.

To prepare dried melon, strong, almost ripe fruits are required. Cut them into slices, peel the skins and place the pieces on an electric dryer tray or on a baking tray lined with baking paper.

Preheat the oven thoroughly, set the temperature to 120 degrees and place a baking sheet with melon in it. Leave the oven door slightly open. After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to 90 degrees and dry for another 5-6 hours, turning the melon slices over from time to time.

In an electric dryer, the optimal temperature for drying melon is 60 degrees, and the drying time is about 8 hours.

The finished dried melon is light brown in color, soft and sticky to the touch. You can use it to make a classic braid, wrap it in cling film and store it in the refrigerator.

Since slightly unripe fruits are usually used for drying, this may upset some people with a sweet tooth. In this case, you can sprinkle the finished dried melon with powdered sugar, or make candied fruits from it.

Candied melon

Peel the melon, cut into small pieces and place them in a saucepan. Sprinkle the pieces with sugar and put them in the refrigerator overnight.

By morning, the melon will release juice, and it needs to be boiled in its own syrup. But do not cook for a long time, once it boils, let the melon boil for 3 minutes, and remove from the heat, let it cool.

Then bring to a boil again and cool. Add the juice of half a lemon or a little citric acid. This will make the candied fruits transparent and light.

If the sugar has dissolved, then you can drain the syrup and place the melon pieces on an electric dryer tray or on an oven tray.

The drying time for candied melon in an electric dryer is about 5 hours, at a temperature of 55 degrees.

Be sure to read the contraindications. After all, during dehydration, all microelements and vitamins are preserved, and when consuming a dried product, the original volume of the product is lost sight of. In the case of dried melon, if consumed in excess, it can cause stomach upset, and this will overshadow the joy of your favorite delicacy.

How to dry melon in an electric dryer, watch the video:

It is important for modern people to pay attention to what they eat. has excellent qualities: it is characterized by meatiness, aroma, and an extraordinary sweet taste. When consumed in moderation, it is beneficial. But not everyone knows the benefits of dried melon. And it brings no less benefits to the human body than fresh, and is just as sweet, aromatic and tasty.

The benefits and harms of treats

From the pumpkin family, it is a round-shaped false berry with a yellowish, whitish, brownish, greenish tint and longitudinal stripes. Ripening period is up to two months. It can grow almost anywhere.

A problem that is important for lovers of this fruit is its absence in winter. But there is a way out - . Their taste is significantly different from the taste of fresh berries. Dried melon is extremely useful. It is unusually rich in useful substances: vitamins A, C, D, PP, riboflavin, pyridoxine, folic acid, beta-carotene, iron, starch, sugar, mineral salts, proteins and fiber.

The pulp of the fruit helps strengthen capillaries, hair and bones, and improve the functioning of the circulatory system. is beneficial for those who have problems with the cardiovascular organs, suffer from jaundice, dropsy, urolithiasis, and experience disturbances in the functioning of the nervous and mental systems. Folic acid in the product can provide an invaluable service to women during pregnancy and menopause.

Dried fruit has a beneficial effect on restoring hormonal balance, improves the body's immunity, memory, and also helps avoid depression. Thanks to the presence of special enzymes in its composition, the berry helps to overcome insomnia, gain strength, balance the psychological state during irritability, while preventing nerve cells from being destroyed, maintaining their viability.

Important! Considering how many calories are in dried melon (341 Kcal per 100 g), in contrast to fresh berries, which have a little more than 30 Kcal per 100 g,if you want to lose weight with these dried fruitsyou need to be careful and not abuse it.

Beta-carotene, found in the fruit, nourishes the skin, gives shine to hair, makes nails stronger, and helps maintain a tan in the summer. The berry helps to some extent get rid of freckles, age spots, and acne.

As for possible harm, the berry itself cannot harm, but in combination with products of alcoholic and dairy origin, digestive disorders are possible. Diabetics are also advised to avoid eating dried melon due to the high level of sugar it contains.

Abuse of this fruit (like any other product) can discourage the desire to eat it again for a long time. It is not recommended to give melon to children under one year of age, as it is a rather heavy product.

What can you use dried melon for?

Dried melon is a unique delicacy with an exquisite taste. It is used as a dessert, appetizer, salad ingredient, tasty addition to ice cream, baked goods, salty sandwiches and many other “tailor-made” dishes are made with it.
Stocks of dried fruits from this fruit will be useful in every home, because dried melon can add a special taste to familiar dishes, and is also an ingredient for preparing new exotic dishes. It is used in making tea and is also used for cosmetic purposes.

Which melon is best to take for drying?

Only high-quality selected fruits need to be dried. Sugar ones with fairly elastic pulp are best suited for this purpose. These include “Collective Farmer”, as well as “Gulyabi”, “Ditma”, “Persian”. The fruit should be strong and slightly unripe.

Popular methods

There are several ways to dry melon fruits. They should be free of moisture, unlike dried fruits, in which a small amount of moisture is acceptable. Before starting the drying process, the berries must be thoroughly washed, cut into pieces, and seeds removed. Then you need to remove the top hard layer and cut the pulp into small strips - up to two centimeters. After this, the pieces are evenly distributed depending on the chosen method.

Did you know? The heaviest melon was grown by Austrian Styrian Christopher Schieder in 2009, its weight is 500 kg.

Drying berries in the fresh air and in open sunlight is necessary in the summer; attic spaces with good ventilation are also suitable for natural drying. You need to dry it on an easily absorbent and at the same time quickly drying clean material or tie it on a thread or wire.

Drying occurs until the moisture from the fruit has completely evaporated; approximately this process lasts from 8 to 12 days. Be sure to turn the melon pieces over every day to ensure they dry evenly.

However, this drying method has a drawback - those who are not indifferent to the sweet taste of the berries can harm the preparations, so they need to be covered with gauze.

In an electric dryer

Melon, dried in, is also used in a variety of recipes. With this method, the beneficial properties of the product are not lost at all. In an electric dryer, the optimal temperature for drying this berry is 60 ° C, and the workpieces will dry for approximately 8 hours. The blanks need to be laid out on trays in one layer at a short distance from each other.

The best option for drying melon is the oven. The process occurs in several stages. The oven is heated to 220 °C, the slices are placed on a tray so that they do not touch each other, inserted into the oven and left for a quarter of an hour.

Then the temperature is reduced to 85 ° C, the oven door should be opened slightly and left in this position for approximately 6 hours. The pieces are turned over every 30 minutes. After this, the dried pieces remain in the room until they are completely dry.

Summer has passed. Now you can enjoy the fruits if you take care of canning. The best way to preserve the beneficial properties of melon is to dry it. But it is not possible to completely turn a melon into a dry, brittle slice. Due to the high sugar content, the melon slice is always elastic and is woven into a braid and wrapped in a protective film for better packaging. The dried melon, the photo of which is on the page, has retained its valuable properties, even vitamins.

Preparing melon for storage

The peculiarity of melon is that it cannot be kept fresh even for a short period of time. But the benefits of dried melon have been known since biblical times. Not all varieties are suitable for making dried slices. For this purpose, some varieties are used that are distinguished by their firm pulp and aroma. An example of such varieties are melons:

• Collective farmer.
• Pineapple.
• Gulyabi.

For harvesting for future use, only undamaged medium-sized fruits are selected. Their preparation consists of drying them as a whole for two days. After this, damaged fruits are discarded, the rest are thoroughly washed and cut into slices. The crust and green subcortical layer are removed.

How to dry melon at home

If the preparation is done at home in the open air, naturally, then the melon slices are cut lengthwise, but at the end a jumper is left so that two slices can be hung on wires or ropes stretched in a ventilated room. The thickness of the strips is 2-4 cm. Drying in the open air lasts about two weeks, while the slices are turned over every day so that the moisture evaporates evenly. The weight reduction relative to the original occurs by approximately 10 times.

After this, the elastic strips can be woven into braids, wrapped in film so that the product does not attract moisture, and left for storage. Another way to store dried melon is in glass jars, in which the slices are placed vertically and sealed tightly. Since drying a melon at home in the air takes a long time, and bad weather can interfere, special devices, ovens, and drying cabinets are increasingly used for drying.

How to dry melon using devices

You can dry melon slices, like chopped apples, carrots and other fruits, in the oven or in an electric dryer. In any case, thin strips are cut to make drying faster. The slices should be no more than 0.7 cm thick. When exposed to warm air in the oven, the temperature should not be higher than 75 C, it is better if there is a fan in the cabinet. Drying is carried out in two stages. The first 7 hours are dried at elevated temperatures. After a break of several hours, dry at 60°C. The total drying time is about a day, including a break to equalize the humidity inside the strips.

However, it is much more convenient to dry the melon like other juicy products. In this case, no more than three racks are used to make drying faster. The dryer is set to a temperature of first 55, then 45 degrees and periodically turn the slices over. The process is carried out within 24 hours.

The electric dryer is a housing with perforated trays installed inside, through which an installed fan blows air out through the openings of the lid. The air is heated and supplied from below or distributed into trays on the side.

The device is low noise, takes up little space and energy costs depend on the performance of the device. For household use, you need to choose a medium-power dryer.

Consumer properties of dried melon

The dried product has all the same properties as fresh melon, only in greater concentration. The main energy component of the product is carbohydrates. Therefore, the dried slice is not recommended for those who are losing weight and diabetics. Like fresh melon, the dried slice should not be consumed with milk, alcohol or honey. The sweet delicacy can be eaten with warm tea, but in small quantities, since 100 grams of the product contains 341 Kcal, of which 329 are quickly digestible sugar. Carbohydrates are represented by mono- and disaccharides.

The dried product preserves the entire spectrum of vitamins B, PP, E, A. Vitamin C is contained in large quantities. Minerals are present in all their diversity, making this product useful for everyone who benefits from fresh melon.

If you bought an unsuccessful melon at the market, do not rush to throw it away. Cut into thin slices and lightly dry the product on a porous surface. Then hang the slices to air dry. She should be in the sun for two hours a day. When the plates become limp, twist them into a rope or braid them and air dry them for three days. Store in linen bags or cling film.

If you cut the strips into small pieces and roll them into balls, you get a convenient form for consumption. And if you sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds on the sticky surface, the delicacy will become even more attractive. You can roll the melon into a roll with nut filling and cut into small pieces.

In the age of abundance, it is impossible to surprise at the holiday table with factory-made sweets. But delicacies made from dried melon and served for dessert will add a special charm to the hospitality of the hosts.

Drying melon in slices - video

Greetings, dear readers!

At the end of August, melon appears on our markets and supermarket shelves - an amazingly tasty fruit of an annual melon crop native to Central Asia. We all love it because it gives us a good mood, excellent taste and a large amount of vitamins.

However, when the season passes, we can extend the pleasure thus delicacy like dried melon. After all, it preserves all the beneficial substances from fresh fruits. There are no dyes, gluten or preservatives.

And the dried fruit itself is very useful for a person to maintain health and preserve youth. It is loved by vegans, vegetarians and those who adhere to a fitness diet. However, due to the high glycemic index, this delicacy doesn't fit people with diabetes, liver or stomach pathologies, or those who want to lose weight.

But so that you have a complete understanding of dried melon, I will share my knowledge about its composition, nutritional value, positive characteristics, and cooking recipes.

Due to the fact that ripe melon is not subject to long-term storage, people have long learned to dry it. Traditionally, the best varieties are used for this:

• Collective farmers;
• Torpedoes;
• Pineapple;
• Gulyabi.

After all, these fruits are very aromatic, have fairly dense and not too juicy pulp, and this is exactly what is needed for a successful drying process.

The result is a true gourmet natural product, where 100 grams contains 341 kcal and maximum beneficial properties found in fresh fruits.

Here in concentrated form are present the following essential for humans:

1. Vitamins from group B, A, E, C, PP.
2. Alimentary fiber.
3. Nitrogenous substances;
4. Cellulose;
5. Amino acids;
6. Enzymes;
7. Beta carotene;
8. Mono and disaccharides;
9. Microelements:

• Potassium;
• Calcium;
• Fluorine;
• Yoda;
• Manganese;
• Sulfur;
• Zinc;
• Sodium;
• Magnesium;
• Copper.

Thanks to the amazing combination of all these nutrients, dried melon has the following benefits for us:

• Antioxidant;
• Tonic;
• Anti-inflammatory;
• Choleretic;
• Cleansing;
• Immunostimulating properties.

Therefore, by consuming this sunny dried fruit, a person without expensive medications can in his body:

1. Launch protection against viral infections;
2. Accelerate metabolic processes;
3. Normalize the secretory functions of the pancreas and thyroid gland;
4. Activate the growth and regeneration of muscle and bone tissue cells;
5. Reduce swelling;
6. Adjust water balance, avoiding dehydration;
7. Establish intestinal motility;
8. Maintain hormonal levels;
9. Remove waste, toxins, radionuclides;
10. Increase concentration;
11. Coping with depression or lack of energy;
12. Improve your blood formula.

How to make dried melon yourself?

Many of us, walking between the rows of markets or supermarkets, could not help but notice the neatly woven braids of “kauyndaka”, as the Kazakhs call dried melon. In appearance, it sometimes resembles Chechil or Suluguni cheese from Armenian or Georgian cuisine.

However, this is just a slight external resemblance, but the taste of this product is appreciated for its aroma, amazingly sweet aftertaste, pleasant texture of the dried pulp and incredibly healthy properties.

But due to the rather high price, not everyone can afford such a delicacy. Here's how to cook it on one's own- is quite real. Now I will tell you several recipes for its preparation so that you can choose the most convenient option for yourself.

Product preparation

This stage is always the same for all methods and recipes for drying melon. At the same time, I want to say that in terms of quantity, the output product is 10-12 times smaller than the original, and the drying process itself is quite long. However, if you have patience, everything will work out. To get started you need:

1. Take a fresh melon, wash it, wipe it.
2. Next, cut it into two halves and remove the seeds from the inside with a tablespoon.
3. Then cut it along the diameter into strips about a centimeter thick.

This preparatory phase diagram is required for all recipes. Of course, the most budget option would be to dry the melon in the natural conditions of hot summer, but it can last about two weeks. But this doesn't suit everyone. Therefore, I advise you to turn your attention to more advanced technologies.

In a gas oven

Drying melon in the oven is divided into two stages. Melon slices laid out on baking sheets on special polished paper thickness no more than 0.7 mm First, they are kept at a temperature no higher than 75 degrees with the fan turned on for about seven hours.

And if there is none, then you should simply open the oven door slightly to let the moisture out. Then you should turn off the gas and take a break for several hours to equalize the moisture. And then you need to dry the melon at a temperature of 60 degrees for about another fifteen hours until it’s ready.

In an electric dryer

Today this is the most convenient recipe for drying melon. After all, an electric dryer does not take up much space, and the energy costs, if you take a medium-power device, are quite affordable for every family.

Here the air is heated from below, then it is blown by a fan onto perforated trays, at the same time spreading evenly from the sides along the trays. To ensure optimal melon drying, use no more than three racks in an electric dryer.

To prepare dried melon in an electrical appliance, you need to set the temperature to 55 degrees for eight hours. The finished dried melon has a light brown color, a sticky and soft texture to the touch, a sweet aftertaste and a subtle honey aroma inherent in oriental sweets.

You can see more details in the following video.

What do they do with the finished product?

Usually, after completely cooling, dried melon slices are twisted into a rope, braided into braids, and then kept in the air for another three days. Store These dried fruits are in linen bags, paper bags or glass jars, under paper, to prevent mold from appearing and to allow the finished product to “breathe”. They are not recommended for young mothers to eat, so as not to harm the baby during breastfeeding.

Otherwise, highly allergenic substances and sugars can enter the baby’s body through mother’s milk, which will provoke not only active fermentation processes in the baby’s fragile gastrointestinal tract, the appearance of rashes on the body, but even more serious disorders in the body, even death.

Therefore, before enjoying dried melon, do not forget about the contraindications. Don't get carried away with it in large quantities. Buy these dried fruits only from legal shopping centers, where certain quality certificates and sanitary documents can be presented for this product.

Be healthy! See you!