Choose
firm, ripe plums for dehydrating – they can be dried as quarters, slices or chunks. After
taking the time to dry, they become deliciously chewy with a rich plum flavour,
making them perfect for snacks. Yum!
Ingredients
for DEHYDRATED PLUMS
|
|
Yield: around 160g
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|
Plums
|
900g
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Lemon Juice
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1 cup
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Water
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4 cups
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METHOD:
1. Before you begin: disconnect the
dehydrator from the power point. Clean dehydrator racks, base and fruit roll
trays in warm, mild soapy water. Rinse and dry each part thoroughly. Wipe lid
and frames with a damp, soft sponge with a mild detergent. Do
not use steel wool, scouring pads or abrasive cleaners. Do not place any parts
in a dishwasher. Always follow the dehydrator manual instructions. Ensure the
dehydrator is unplugged before reassembling. Ensure hands, utensils and food
preparation areas are clean before preparing food.
2.
Wash plums.
3.
Peel (optional).
4.
Halve and remove pits.
5.
Slice plums 5mm thick (a mandolin is helpful to create even slices, or cut them
all thicker if desired).
6.
For light-fleshed plums: combine lemon juice and water in a bowl. Soak sliced
light-fleshed plums in lemon water for 3-4 minutes to reduce oxidation. Drain
and pat dry.
7.
Place sliced plums onto dehydrator trays, skin side down where applicable, leaving
a little space around each piece to allow air circulation.
8. Place dehydrator trays onto the base (or into the dehydrator
frame), alternating the directions with each tier for round models and ensuring
all racks/shelves are securely positioned.
9. Place the lid on the top drying rack (or close the door for
square-shaped units).
10. Plug the power cord into a power outlet and set the dehydrator
temperature to 55°C (130°F) and timer to 4-8 hours (depending on the fruit
thickness and dehydrator model, this time may vary).
11. Rotate racks on round dehydrators every 3-4 hours to ensure
all racks dry evenly.
12. Cool dehydrated plums before placing into storage containers
or bags.
13. Test plums have dried properly by cutting a piece open. There
should be no moisture visible inside. Plums may be pliable, crack or flake,
depending on the thickness and time dehydrated.
14. Store dehydrated plums in an airtight jar, container or vacuum
sealer bag in the pantry, refrigerator or freezer, at a temperature of 5-20°C (40-70°F).
Check for moisture forming on the container during the first week after drying
– if moisture appears, food has not been dried for a long enough period and
needs to be dehydrated further (or frozen). Dried food can also be covered in
plastic wrap (or vacuum sealed) and stored in a freezer safe container.
15. Enjoy dehydrated plums dry or rehydrate by soaking in water (or
adding to dishes during cooking).
SERVING IDEAS:
o Bacon and dried plum sausage rolls
o Baked apples with dried plums, cinnamon and
ginger
o Beef and dried plum empanadas
o Braised chicken or pork with dried plums
o Coffee soaked dried plums (rehydrated)
o
Dried plum
and almond scones
o
Dried plum
and chocolate torte
o
Dried plum
gingerbread
o
Lamb stew
with dried plums
o
Oat and
chia porridge with dried plums
o
Sautéed
cabbage with dried plums
o
Shredded
pork with dried plums (serve on mashed potatoes)
o Stuffed chicken or pork
Author: Megan Radaich
Image Credit: Megan Radaich
Publication: www.foodpreserving.org
