How to store dried fruits

If stored improperly, dried fruits can deteriorate very quickly: mold will appear on the treat, it will get an unpleasant odor, darken, and rot. To avoid this, it is necessary to provide optimal conditions for storing stocks, as well as to check their safety from time to time.

Instruction manual

1

Determine if dried fruit is well dried. Take a few dried slices or fruits in your hand and squeeze. If the pieces are crumpled into a lump, then they still need to be dried. If the slices crumble in the palm of your hand when you open your fist, they are already ready for long-term storage. It is advisable to quickly look through all the slices and remove those that are still poorly dried. Otherwise, there is a high risk that, due to one or two pieces or fruits, on which mold will inevitably appear, the entire stock will be damaged.

2

Choose the right packaging for your dried fruit count. If you need to store a large supply, give preference to sealed plastic bags. Another option is the use of metal or wooden boxes, the bottom and walls of which are covered with polyethylene. If there are very few dried fruits, glass and tin cans are more suitable. One way or another, no matter which option you choose, remember that there should be no gaps or openings in the containers through which insects can enter.

3

Remember that if you make a mixture of different dried fruits, you will need to first “level” their moisture. To do this, the fruits are kept in one container for 3-5 days, and then left in direct sunlight for several hours. Only then can the mixture be transferred to bags or jars.

4

Find a suitable place to store dried fruits. The best option is a room with a temperature of about + 10 ° and a low level of humidity. If there is no such place in your house, put containers with dried fruits in a dark cupboard and place an open jar of salt next to it. The salt will absorb moisture and help prevent mold or odor.

5

Spread dried fruit in chintz bags previously soaked in salt water and thoroughly dried. It is useful to add dry mint to the slices. Hang or fold the cotton bags in a cool, dry, dark place and store them. This method allows you to store dried fruits for a long time, without fear that they will deteriorate.

6

Inspect containers with dried fruits regularly. On the folds, folds of polyethylene, in the corners of the boxes insect larvae may appear. If you notice them, immediately remove the dried fruits from the container and transfer to another place, and carefully clean the surfaces of the larvae. If it so happened that insects have already wound up in dried fruits, you can try to save your reserves by baking dried fruits in direct sunlight or by holding them for several hours in the freezer.