The benefits of dried melon for the body - how to dry it at home. Dried melon: recipes for cooking in an electric dryer and oven

Fresh fruits contain the maximum amount of nutrients, but, unfortunately, have a limited ripening period. Therefore, methods of canning and drying have long been mastered. Thus, dried melon is a valuable product that should be included in the menu.

Why is it useful?

The benefits of dried melon are due to its composition:

• vitamins A, C, D, PP;
• folic acid;
• riboflavin;
• pyridoxine;
• beta-carotene;
• mineral salts;
• iron;
• cellulose;
• starch;
• sugar (mostly sucrose);
• proteins.

At the same time, the calorie content of the product is 341 kcal per 100 g of dried fruit.

The delicacy is sold in the form of individual pieces or braids. Recommended for dietary nutrition. But it is important to know how many calories are in dried melon in order to correctly calculate the portion. Usually it is an additive to baked goods, porridges, and people drink tea with it instead of sweets.

The beneficial properties of dried melon include saturating the body with potassium, which is responsible for the normal functioning of the heart and blood vessels.

1. Sodium helps to better transmit nerve impulses.
2. Calcium is responsible for bone health and is absorbed only in the presence of vitamin D.
3. Phosphorus is also indispensable for the body.
4. Magnesium has a positive effect on the psychological state.

Dried or dried melon pulp cleanses the liver, removes toxins, normalizes the functioning of the gallbladder, expelling excess bile. Thanks to its diuretic effect, dried melon in pigtails or in pieces relieves problems with the kidneys and bladder. Numerous vitamins and microelements will serve as an excellent source of protecting the body from overwork, insomnia and vitamin deficiency.

Melon can only be harmful to those who suffer from diabetes or have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Dried Thai melon contains almost the same calories, but it contains less sugar than regular melon.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

The sweet delicacy is good for pregnant and lactating women. This is an excellent vitamin supplement that will provide the body with the necessary elements needed during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It is only important not to overdo it, so as not to cause allergic reactions or increased blood sugar. In this case, you should add pieces of dried fruit to compote or porridge.

You should choose only a high-quality product - the braid or slices of dried melon should not be covered with seeds or unpeeled peel, or other impurities. The dried fruit tastes like the rich aroma, texture and sweetness of banana.

How to make dried melon - varieties

If you wish, you can make candied melon yourself. In this case, you will get a truly natural product, especially if the fruit was grown on your own plot and without pesticides.

Not all varieties are suitable for drying. The optimal ones are:

• Pineapple;
• Collective farmer;
• Gulyabi;
• Torpedo.

Dried or dried melon has the Uzbek name kauyndak and is widespread in Uzbek and Turkmen cuisines.

Dry the melon either in the oven or in an electric dryer.

There is a method of drying in the sun and wind. The fruit is cut in half, seeds and peel are removed. The half is cut into strips, but not completely. It is laid out on a wire rack and dried for a couple of days, constantly turning over. Then it is hung on ropes in the sun. Dries better in windy weather. Then it is braided into a pigtail.

Drying melon at home

The ideal option is an electric dryer. A medium-sized melon fruit needs to be washed and dried. Cut and remove the seeds, remove the peel and the unsweetened hard part near the peel. Cut the pulp into 0.5 cm strips.

Heat the electric dryer to 70°, place the slices on trays so that they do not touch each other. Drying melons takes up to 12 hours, but every 2 hours you need to turn off the electric dryer for 10 minutes to prevent it from overheating.

A more troublesome method is cooking in a gas oven. The fruit is also cut into strips and laid out on parchment, the baking sheet is placed in an oven heated to 70°. For better evaporation of moisture, you should turn on the ventilation mode or open the oven door slightly.

It is important to periodically change the parchment so that the slices are not in their own juice, otherwise they will bake and not wilt. Cooking time is 10 hours.

Cooking recipes

Candied fruits can be consumed throughout the year, as they retain their beneficial properties for a long time. You just need to store the product correctly - in a glass jar or a cotton or linen bag, since dried fruits must “breathe”. Before use, you need to check for the absence of mold and traces of insects.

The delicacy can be served cut into pieces or with the addition of other products:

• sprinkle the strips with finely chopped nuts and wrap them in rolls;
• Roll dried melon slices into balls and roll in poppy seeds;
• sprinkle strips or slices of melon with water, dry and sprinkle with sesame seeds;
• add raisins and dried apricots to the slices - you get a healthy salad. You can season it with yogurt or add cottage cheese.

When mixing candied fruits with other dishes, you should remember that the calorie content per 100 grams of dried fruit changes, especially if it is added to cereals and baked goods. You need to be especially careful with honey, which makes the melon even sweeter. For those who are on a diet, it is useful to have a tablet with the calorie content of different foods to calculate the number of calories in dishes with several ingredients.

The properties of dried melon make them useful for children over one year old, and it is better to introduce it into the diet from the age of three, when the child’s digestive system is able to cope with such a product. However, you shouldn’t get carried away with candied fruits either, otherwise the child may develop diathesis or allergies. You need to start with small portions so that the child’s digestive system gets used to the new dish.

Calorie content and chemical composition of dried melon. Beneficial and harmful properties of the product, contraindications for use. How to prepare, store and eat dried fruits. Recipes for healthy delicacies and interesting facts about them.

The content of the article:

Dried melon is a popular type of dried fruit prepared from the fruit of the plant of the same name (Cucumis melo) by drying. The annual melon crop belongs to the Pumpkin family. Asia is called its homeland. The most varieties are cultivated there. It is a light-loving and heat-loving plant, resistant to drought, does not like high air humidity. A healthy, properly cultivated shoot can produce from one to 10 fruits, weighing from 1.5 kg to 10 kg each. Most often they are oval, less often round, green, yellow, brown or white. They ripen from 2 to 6 months. Used in cooking and cosmetology. There are more than a hundred varieties; the most suitable for drying are Kolkhoznitsa, Torpeda, Ananasnaya, and Gulyabi.

Composition and calorie content of dried melon

Caloric content of dried melon is 341 kcal per 100 g of product, of which:

• Proteins - 0.7 g;
• Fats - 0.1 g;
• Carbohydrates - 82.2 g;
• Water - 9 g.

Vitamin composition per 100 g of product:

• Vitamin A - 67 mcg;
• Beta-carotene - 0.4 mg;
• Vitamin B2 - 0.04 mg;
• Vitamin B5 - 0.2 mg;
• Vitamin B6 - 0.06 mg;
• Vitamin B9 - 6 mcg;
• Vitamin C - 20 mg;
• Vitamin E - 0.1 mg;
• Vitamin PP - 0.5 mg.

The record holder for the content in the product is vitamin C. This is a vital vitamin necessary for the growth and regeneration of cells, gums, blood vessels, dental and bone tissue. Helps the absorption of iron, speeds up recovery. Plays a critical role in protecting against infections by triggering processes in the immune system. It also synthesizes hormones, participates in hematopoiesis, triggers metabolism, and helps normalize the exocrine function of the thyroid and pancreas. It is a very strong antioxidant.

Of the sugars, dried melon contains mono- and disaccharides - 7.3 g.

Minerals per 100 g of product:

• Cobalt - 2 mcg;
• Fluoride - 20 mcg;
• Manganese - 0.035 mg;
• Copper - 47 mcg;
• Iodine - 2 mcg;
• Zinc - 0.09 mg;
• Iron - 1 mg;
• Sulfur - 10 mg;
• Phosphorus - 12 mg;
• Potassium - 118 mg;
• Sodium - 32 mg;
• Magnesium - 13 mg;
• Calcium - 16 mg.

It is in micro- and macroelements that all the benefits of dried melon are concentrated. The increased potassium content helps normalize the body's water balance and improve heart function, heal nerves and strengthen muscles. Half of all salts in the body are potassium salts. They remove excess water, reduce swelling and restore strength after overwork and serious physical activity.

Thanks to sodium, the passage of nerve impulses occurs. The element is part of the intercellular fluid and blood. Helps in regulating water balance, preventing dehydration. Its deficiency leads to convulsions, neuralgia, vomiting, deterioration of the gastrointestinal tract, poor digestibility of monosaccharides and amino acids.

Surely everyone knows that calcium, which is present in melon, is the basis for the normal condition of bones and teeth. However, not everyone knows that it is practically not absorbed without vitamin D. Therefore, it makes sense to consume calcium products with medications containing cholicalciferol.

Magnesium is the basis for complete human mental health. Many anti-stress drugs are based on it. In addition, this component supports the full functioning of connective tissue. A deficiency of the element leads to varicose veins, myopia, hernias, curvature of the spine, poor joint flexibility, and constant dislocations.

Phosphorus is good not only for bones and teeth, but also for vision. Its deficiency leads to fatigue and weakness, loss of appetite, decreased concentration, frequent colds, and feelings of anxiety and fear.

Beneficial properties of dried melon

It’s good when a product not only satisfies our gastronomic needs, but also has a positive effect on the body. Despite the fact that the calorie content of dried melon is quite high, it managed to retain almost all the beneficial components contained in the fresh product.

Regular consumption of these dried fruits will help achieve the following positive effects:

1. Improved heart function. Fueling the heart muscle is especially important after 40 years. But even before this age, you should not forget about the main motor of the body. Unfortunately, many cardiovascular diagnoses have become significantly younger in recent years. The fast pace of modern life leads to wear and tear of the heart muscle, problems with blood pressure, and narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels due to poor nutrition. Therefore, you need to grab every opportunity to support your heart. Moreover, if it is such a pleasant way to eat a delicious product.
2. Cleansing the liver of toxins. Even those who watch their diet, trying to eat only healthy ingredients, are not immune from the use of low-quality water and poor ecology. Toxins settle in the liver and have a detrimental effect on the entire body. The substances contained in dried melon will help to gently remove toxins and thereby improve the health of the entire body.
3. Removing stones from the kidneys and bladder. All products that have a diuretic effect help achieve this positive effect. They remove sand and small stones from the kidneys and bladder without causing colic or other pain syndromes.
4. Normalization of the gallbladder. A slight choleretic effect will help solve the problem of bile stagnation, removing its excess from the bladder and its ducts. This will serve as an excellent prevention of gallstone disease. And for those who already have small stones, the product will try to remove them. In modern medicine, cholecystectomy - surgery to remove the gallbladder - is one of the most common procedures on the gastrointestinal tract, and dried fruits will help you not become part of this unpleasant statistic.
5. Fighting stress and insomnia. The micro- and macroelements contained in the product will help you not to react sharply to external stimuli, not to take everything to heart, and to deal with unpleasant situations more calmly. Normalizing the functioning of the nervous system will help solve problems with anxiety, overcome insomnia and anxiety, and get rid of tearfulness and depression.
6. Restoring strength after fatigue and illness. The high energy value will come in handy after illnesses (especially influenza and acute respiratory viral infections), heavy physical exertion, and nervous exhaustion.
7. Prevention of vitamin deficiency. The components of the product will help retain beneficial substances in the tissues, thereby preventing the body from feeling the harmful effects of vitamin deficiency. It's all about the diuretic effect: melon acts very gently, removing only excess liquid, but not allowing the salts to come out along with it.
8. Strengthening Bones. Joints become more mobile, dislocations, sprains, and fractures are prevented.
9. Relief from constipation. A slight laxative effect will help defecation, prevent stagnation of feces, thereby preventing poisoning of the body. This will also serve as a prevention of hemorrhoids and neoplasms. This will not disturb the intestinal microflora.
10. Reducing menopause symptoms. The changes that occur with age in the body of women affect both the well-being and appearance of the fair sex. Folic acid contained in dried melon and the normalization of hormonal levels that occurs when consuming it will always help you stay beautiful.
11. Increase male power. It turns out that this product is useful not only for women, but also for men. It will help you stay strong not only during the day, but also at night.
12. Pregnancy support. A huge number of super-healthy foods are prohibited for pregnant women due to the risk of allergies. Dried melon, on the contrary, is even recommended for those who are pregnant. Its healing effect has the most beneficial effect on the condition of the woman and the development of the fetus.
13. Rejuvenation of the body. Strengthening blood vessels and capillaries, bones and muscle tissue, systems and organs leads to overall rejuvenation of the body. Along with this, the immune system is strengthened, resistance to viral and bacterial infections is enhanced, vitality increases, mood improves, and a feeling of vigor appears.
14. Improving the condition of skin, hair, nails. The beneficial substances contained in the treat will help solve skin problems - make it cleaner, get rid of acne, smooth out fine wrinkles. Your hair will also become thicker and shinier and your nails will become stronger.
15. Preserving your tan. Yes, that's an interesting effect. Dried melon is one of the products that help you get a more intense tan, and then keep it longer. And this is regardless of whether you sunbathed in the open sun or in a solarium. This is accomplished by influencing the pigment responsible for skin color.

Contraindications and harm of dried melon

Contraindications for dried fruit relate to two important features - difficulty of digestion and high sugar content, so it can be argued that there is a fine line between the benefits and harm of dried melon.

Since it is a fairly heavy product, it is not recommended for people with gastrointestinal diseases. In a state of remission, you can try a small amount and see the reaction. If there are no unpleasant sensations, consume this type of dried fruit. If you feel discomfort after eating something, it’s better not to risk it.

But those who absolutely cannot eat dried melon are diabetics. High sugar content can lead to dangerous consequences. Even if non-sweet varieties were used for drying, it should not be consumed due to the hidden sugar content.

How to eat dried melon

Fresh melon is not recommended to be consumed with alcohol, honey and dairy products. In this combination it acts as a very strong laxative. Long and prolonged diarrhea leads to dehydration and dysbacteriosis. The melon passed on this feature to dried fruits. For this reason, they are extremely rarely added to dishes, so that there are no “surprises” after gastronomic delights.

The following serving options are available:

• Sprinkle the melon strip with finely crushed or grated nuts, roll into a roll, and cut into pieces. You will get very tasty and original curls.
• Finely chop the melon, roll into balls, roll in poppy seeds. Children will especially like this option.
• Sprinkle the pieces with water, dry on a towel and sprinkle with sesame seeds. The seeds enhance the flavor of the melon and make it spicy and buttery.

This product can be stored for quite a long time - up to a year. Most likely, you can do this longer, but this is not necessary - after a year a new harvest ripens and housewives stock up on fresh dried fruits.

If we talk about how to store dried melon, there are several options. The simplest is to put it in a glass, tin or plastic jar, cover with a lid and put it in a dry, dark place. A lid is definitely needed, because not only boys and girls, as well as their parents, but also many bugs and spiders love to eat melon. To avoid sharing dried fruits, and most importantly, to avoid becoming infected with their waste products, store the treat in a hermetically sealed container.

A tightly tied fabric bag will also work. It is better to choose natural fabric, as synthetics can release harmful components. This method is good if you cook the melon yourself. When drying yourself, you can skip slightly under-dried areas, because it is difficult to cut perfectly evenly - there are thinner and thicker plates. The access of air that the fabric will provide will help such a product not to ferment or become moldy, but to dry completely.

How to dry melon

Dried fruits do not belong to the category of incredibly expensive food products, but if you eat them regularly, and this is what doctors insist on, then such therapy can cost a pretty penny. Making your own dried fish will help you to reduce the cost of the product and guarantee a delicacy without preservatives.

How to cook dried melon in an electric dryer

This type of household appliance is a universal device for preparing any fruits and vegetables. No special options or programs are needed; any model, even the most primitive one, will do.

It is worth choosing ripe, medium-sized fruits. To make dried melon tasty, be sure to give preference to sweet varieties. Rinse the fruit and dry with a towel. Cut in half, remove seeds, peel. It is better to cut off the unsweetened part, as it will be completely tasteless.

Place the dryer on preheat for at least 5 minutes. To do this, remove the pallets and cover the unit with a lid. In the meantime, the equipment is heating up, creating a favorable environment for planting the melon, it is necessary to cut it as thin as possible - half a centimeter maximum. The length of the pieces should also not be long so that the product fits in the dryer tray.

When it has warmed up, place the melon so that the pieces do not touch each other. It is very important that not only is it blown with warm air from above and below, but there is also good aeration from the sides. The temperature regime is set at 70°C. Drying time is 10-12 hours, depending on the variety and juiciness of the product from which you decide to prepare dried fruits.

Periodically change the positions of the pallets, and also give the equipment a break, turn it off for 5-10 minutes every couple of hours.

How to cook dried melon in the oven

If you are a supporter of classical food processing methods, then use the method in which our grandmothers dried melon. Dried melon in the oven is in no way inferior to its sisters prepared in an electric dryer.

Preparation for the process is the same as for an electric dryer - select a ripe fruit, rinse, dry, peel and pit, cut into pieces. Then the melon needs to be placed on a baking sheet, previously covered with parchment, and placed in an oven preheated to 70°C.

The fruit will give off a lot of liquid, so there are two important points here. First, be sure to leave the oven door ajar (if there is a fan mode, turn it on without hesitation) so that the moisture evaporates. Second - for the first 3-5 hours, constantly change the parchment, since the melon should not be in water, then it will bake and not dry. The parchment can be dried immediately on a wire rack and reused.

This process will take you at least 10 hours. Everything will depend on the juiciness of the melon. Some fruits can “arrive” for about a day. Of course, no one asks you to watch the stove at night. You can turn it off and continue the process in the morning. But what you definitely shouldn’t do is leave the oven unattended. Do not risk the lives of your loved ones to speed up the process.

How to make dried melon in the wind and sun

However, both the first and second options are considered almost blasphemous by the greatest connoisseurs of this product, the Kazakhs. Even a child knows how dried melon is made in this hot country. Some people cut it into small pieces, lay it out on plywood and turn it over periodically until it dries, but most use the following method.

The melon cut into the butts is cut lengthwise into thin slices, but not reaching the end a couple of centimeters. They stretch it as much as possible, like a fan, while trying not to let the pieces come off, and dry it on a wire rack for a day or two indoors, constantly turning it over. Then it is hung on ropes stretched between the plates and left in the open sun. It’s good if the weather is windy, then the melon dries faster, but when it’s not, the whole process takes up to two weeks.

This recipe for dried melon is interesting because after drying the strips are braided. This is very beautiful, and it makes it easier to store the delicacy. By the way, this type of packaging costs more than melon pieces, and indicates the status of the company selling the product.

The first mentions of melon are found in sacred scripture - in the Bible.

Information about the cultivation of aromatic fruits in Russia dates back to the 16th century. Under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, melons and watermelons were so valued that they were grown in special greenhouses on the site of the current Moscow district of Izmailovo. Later, their cultivation in closed ground was practically not used. But they used melon in dried form.

Melon is so loved in Asia that in Turkmenistan there is even a special day in its honor, it is called Turkmen Melon Day. It falls on the second Sunday of August - the date when the sweet and aromatic fruit ripens. Then they begin to dry it in order to prepare only the most delicious and sweet dried fruits for the year. Folk festivals, exhibitions, fairs, and competitions are held throughout the country to determine whose fragrant beauty is larger and sweeter. Particular attention is paid to conferences of scientists involved in the development of new varieties that are resistant to diseases and pests. Churches even hold prayer services - clergy consecrate the new harvest.

How to dry melon - watch the 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 follow 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. Stored 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!

Sweet, juicy, nutritious, aromatic - that's all about melon! There are many varieties that differ in taste, color, size and weight (the weight of individual fruits can reach as much as 25 kg). But they all have one thing in common - beneficial properties that give beauty and health. The homeland of melon is considered to be Central and Asia Minor; it was grown in Ancient Egypt and China. But in Europe they learned about the product a little later - in the Middle Ages. People ate melons raw, prepared various sweets, and dried them.

Throughout the history of the culture, melon has been dried. Dried fruits are not found as often as other dried fruits, so not everyone knows how to dry melon. This is an unusual and exquisite delicacy that will be appreciated by both children and adults. Today, sweet and aromatic varieties with dense pulp are used for drying: Kolkhoznitsa, Zimovka, Bykovskaya, Incomparable.

From 3.3 kg of melon we got:

2.7 kg (82%) - purified product
0.6 kg (18%) - waste.

The melon was dried for 11 hours at +55 °C in an Ezidri Ultra dryer on 5 trays.
During this time, the electric dryer consumed 6.85 kW of electricity.
It turned out 223 grams of dried melons.
Drying 12 times.

One of the most delicious options for preparing sweets for future use can be dried melon - an excellent treat for a cup of tea or a healthy snack that any sweet tooth can take with them.

Dried melon in the oven - recipe

The most affordable way to dry vegetables is to prepare them in the oven. The cooking process will not require much effort from you, but it will take a lot of time to dry the juicy melon.

Before you make your own dried melon, prepare a baking sheet. Line a baking pan with parchment and oil well. Peel the melons from seeds and skin, and then divide them into cubes of equal size with a side of no more than 3 cm: the smaller the pieces, the more readily they will dry. Spread the melon on a baking sheet and leave to dry first at 120 degrees for about 15 minutes, and then dry the pieces by reducing the heat to 80 degrees for another one and a half to two hours.

If you don’t know how to store dried melon, then there are no differences from storing other dried fruits. It is enough to choose a dry place and place the melon in it in a paper bag or in a glass jar.

How to make dried melons in an electric dryer?

If you have an electric dryer, the cooking process is even easier. Due to the ability to set a low temperature for a long time, melons can dry evenly, without burning and with a minimum of outside intervention.

After peeling the melon, halve it, remove the seeds and cut the fruit into thin slices. Place each of the slices on a drying tray, making sure they are not touching each other. Leave the trays with melon to dry at 60 degrees for 10-12 hours.

Dried melons at home

If you are preparing fruit in the summer, you can take advantage of the seasonal heat and cook dried melons under the sun. Divide the peeled melons into slices and place on cheesecloth.

Melon preparations for the winter, delicious recipes - you'll lick your fingers

Cover the pieces with a gauze cut on top and leave them under the scorching sun until it sets. Keep the pieces warm and dry at night, and continue drying again when the sun comes out. In fairly dry and sunny weather, dried melon pieces should be ready in about three days.

Dried melons can be braided or the slices can be placed in paper or plastic ziplock bags just for the sake of it. Ready-made dried fruits can be eaten on their own or used to prepare compotes and sweets.

Home | cooking | canning | How to dry melon for the winter

Sun-dried fruits and berries are the best alternative to sweets, chips, dried goods... This is not a low-calorie product, but in some cases it is even more dietary than fresh fruit. You can dry almost any fruit. Dried melon in an electric dryer Except watermelon (pulp), because if you dry almost distilled water, nothing remains... Melon can be dried and dried. Depending on how much moisture remains in this melon berry, you will get either dried or dried melon. Another reason why you sometimes need a recipe for canning melon can be its size. As a rule, the larger the ripe melon, the tastier it is. But not every group, even a very large one, can eat a 12-kilogram berry. And so we dry the part that we couldn’t handle, roll up compotes, make preserves and marmalade...

How to dry or dry melon:

At home (if there is no special drying), an oven or convection oven is used for this purpose. In the photo, the “collective farmer” melon has gone to drying. This variety has denser and less watery pulp. It can be dried completely and left dried. There are melons that are more watery than watermelon. It is better to prepare melon marshmallow from these varieties.
	photo 1. Peel the melon. Remove only the topmost hard yellow layer. Cut into thin strips. The thinner it is, the faster the melon will dry out. Place in a single layer on air fryer or oven racks.
At what temperature and how long to dry: In a convection oven: in 2 steps for 20 minutes at 65 C and maximum fan strength (if there is an adjustment). In the oven: in 3-4 batches at 50-60 C for 20-30 minutes.
	photo 2. Roll the strips into rolls - this makes them easier to store and eat. Store dried or dried melon in closed containers, but ventilate periodically and check to see if there are fruit moths there (how do they get there!?). The calorie content of dried melon is quite high - depending on the variety, up to 500 kcal. But if there are no restrictions on the consumption of sugar, including fructose, a small portion of dried melon can be a wonderful snack.
August 8, 2014.

I love the pickle-jam season. All the fruits are ripe and sweet, the vegetables are only from the garden. Everything is fresh, tasty, just from the summer sun. I like to make preparations for the winter and “for now”. For example, candied melon. It’s perfect for tea – it’s not cloying, it’s healthy, and it lasts for quite a long time.

We don’t have much of a problem with melons in our region; they don’t grow well – the climate is not the same, but there are plenty of imported ones. But imported ones, despite the fact that it is almost mid-September, do not always turn out to be ripe and sweet.

Dried melon

We bought a large and beautiful one, according to the seller - “honey”, but it turned out to be tasteless and unripe... If you are so “lucky”, do not rush to get upset and throw it away. This is exactly the kind of melon that is needed for making candied fruits. They are very easy to prepare, although they take a long time – from 3 days to 2 weeks. It all depends on the size of the pieces.

I will use the fastest method of drying melon, and will drink tea with candied fruits already on the 3rd day.

1. First of all, you need to cut the skin off the melon and remove the seeds.

3. Remove the racks from the oven and wrap them in foil. I place melon pieces on them in even rows. They should not lie in a heap, and there is no need to press them tightly together either. At the same time, the oven is preheated to 200 degrees. Place the racks with the melon in the oven, reduce the heat slightly, and leave to simmer for 15 minutes.

4. After 15 minutes, turn off and open the oven slightly, do not remove the melon, but leave it there until it cools completely.

5. The cooled pieces are still quite soft; carefully transfer them to a board, which should now be placed in a well-ventilated place. You can cover them with gauze to prevent insects from sticking to them. Next, we dry the melon for three days, periodically turning the pieces over.

6. On the 3-4th day, we transfer our candied fruits into bowls or fabric bags - the finished product can be easily removed from the board without sticking to it. If the pieces have to be peeled off, it means they need to dry a little more. And my candied fruits are ready.

Enjoy your tea!

Cooking time:PT00H15M15 min.

Approximate cost of a serving: 20 rubles.

Is this a good recipe?