Drying Fruit etc

You all seem to be such proficient chefs. Well here is a place to share some of that cooking knowledge. Or do you have a cooking problem? Ask away. Jams and chutneys go here too.
shiney
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Drying Fruit etc

Post: # 2640Post shiney »

I read on another thread that PurePortugal dries fruit etc which can be done in the sun. (lucky thing!)

But...how do you dry stuff when you don't live in a lovely dry place?

Anyone dried anything here in the sometimes sunny UK? I have done apple rings on strings in the past, but is there anything a bit more exciting I could dry and how?

Apple rings are lovely, but a a little variety would be good. :flower:

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Post: # 2644Post Wombat »

You can use your oven, shiney (with the door open and on very low), or buy one of those electric driers, or make your own based on a lightbulb, or put a fire frame up over your stove, heater, etc and use waste heat to dry your produce.

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Post: # 2646Post pureportugal »

hi shiney

if you can do apples in uk you should also be able to do pears - really tasty - the kids love them, which means they never last very long so kind of defeats the purpose of drying them!

you can buy, or better/cheaper still, make a solar dryer - if you do an internet search you should find plenty of info.

we dry wild mushrooms above the woodstove - not too close though, or they'll cook. ours take about 3-4 days to dry completely. might work in an airing cupboard.

best wishes from sunny portugal 8)

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Post: # 2649Post shiney »

Thanks Nev and Pure,

A solar dryer would be interesting. My brother is a mad proffessor. :shock: (actually he's not, but he looks like one) I know that he has made solar panels and what have you from recycled/cheap materials, in the past. I may call upon him for a design.

He's actually a highly intelligent electrics/gas/water consultant/designer for industries, including small independant breweries. He rather likes real ale, so he has quite an interest in those projects!

I am the creative in the family ~ there's always one. :lol:

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Post: # 2652Post Wombat »

I have made one also and submitted an article on it to Andy. He is pretty busy at the moment but I am sure that he will post it soon :mrgreen:

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Post: # 2655Post pureportugal »


shiney
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Post: # 2656Post shiney »

Ah great Nev. Another mad proffessor self suffient stylie! :geek:

I must go and explore more of the home page here, it's so interesting.

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Post: # 2657Post shiney »

Thanks Pure,

Great links ~ I want to see Nevs invention as well.

I am so pleased I found you all here, you are all so helpful. I am not getting on with my work and I have lots to do!

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Post: # 2658Post shiney »

Hey Nev, it's on the front page ~ doh how did I miss that? :roll:

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Post: # 2661Post Wombat »

Yup, that's one! the other is a bit more sophisticated! :mrgreen:

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Post: # 2688Post Andy Hamilton »

Wombat wrote:I have made one also and submitted an article on it to Andy. He is pretty busy at the moment but I am sure that he will post it soon :mrgreen:

Nev
:oops: yep will get on it. Should be up by the end of the weekend.
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Post: # 2722Post Wombat »

Sorry mate, that was not a dig :oops: I know you have been flat out like a lizard drinking.

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Post: # 2723Post Andy Hamilton »

did not take it as a dig mate, no worries. Hopefully I will get around to having a go at making one myself this summer.
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Post: # 4698Post IrishAbroad »

We have plenty of sun where I live for drying fruit etc. but mushroon season is colder and a little bit moist.

So I tried a few ways of drying them but the 2 most effective were layered in a tomato box between newspaper and put in the airing cupboard or simply threading them on a string and hanging them in the living room near the fire (or whatever heat source you all have). Put some sort of covering on them (you guessed it - newspaper worked well for me) to keep the dust off.

I've just finished sun drying my first tomatoes but lost one batch due to my very greedy dog :roll: Who ever said dogs are carnivores.

BTW I have a great book called "Food From Your Garden" It's about 20 years old (at least) but it has become my bible. Everything from growing to preserving to brewing. There's a great section on salting veg (caution to those on a low sodium diet) and even a section on bee keeping.

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Post: # 4704Post Muddypause »

IrishAbroad wrote:BTW I have a great book called "Food From Your Garden" It's about 20 years old (at least) but it has become my bible.
The Reader's Digest one? I was given that about 20 years ago, too. It's certainly a comprehensive book in typical RD style, and I refer to it often.

Don't kow if it's still in print, though you must never order anything from RD if you don't want a lifetime of subsequent mailshots. I had to move three times to avoid them.
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