Why Should I Make Dried Kiwifruit at Home?Even though you can find dried fruit in most stores, many of these products will have been treated before drying with sulphur dioxide. This is to make the fruit look better after it has been dried, but it can trigger asthma symptoms in people.
While the store-bought kind may look better, it is easy and healthier to make your own at home. Besides the fact that there will be no sulphur dioxide present, you can also make your dried product look as great as it does in-store.
Is Dried Kiwifruit Less Healthy?
Dehydrated kiwifruit keeps most of its goodness. The dehydration process takes out all the water from the fruit, leaving it energy-dense.
When compared to fresh fruit by weight, dehydrated fruit contains 3.5 times more folate, fibre and minerals. Kiwifruit does, however, lose a little bit of its vitamin C during the drying process.
Since you are not making candied kiwifruit chips, there will be no added calories or sugars in the end product.
Do I Need to Use a Dehydrator?
This is the easiest way to make dried kiwi, but you do not need to go out and buy one if you do not have one. With a bit more preparation, you can make them in the oven on a baking sheet.
Oven-dried, sun-dried, and dried in a dehydrator are the three main ways to make dried fruit. Whichever process you choose to use, make sure that your kiwifruit is ripe.
Generally speaking, store-bought kiwifruit will be ready to eat. You should check the green-variety the same as you would an avocado or peach – hold the kiwi in your palm and gently press them. If they give a little, they are ripe and ready to use.
Two Simple Steps For Oven-Dried Kiwifruit
Instructions
Slice the kiwis into ΒΌ-inch discs.
Bake them , on a drying rack, which is placed over a cookie sheet at 150-170 degrees for about 3-4 hours.
You can certainly peel kiwifruit before slicing but keep the skin on, as it is edible, nutrient-dense, and very yummy. So, leave the skin on and enjoy the added benefits.
Store your dried kiwi in an airtight container to avoid moisture from seeping back into the fruit.
Drying Kiwifruit in a Dehydrator
This method takes a little bit longer than the oven, as they usually run at lower temperatures than ovens do. Just follow the instructions that come with your dehydrator – simple!
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