Types of fruit drying methods; Advantages and Disadvantages

 

Since ancient times, drying fruits has been one of the methods of preserving and using fresh fruits, which is done by reducing the moisture and water inside them. Drying of fruits can have several reasons, such as:

Increasing the shelf life of fruits
Drying fruits allows them to be stored for a longer period of time and prevents spoilage, spoilage or contamination. Dried fruits can be stored at room temperature or in sealed containers.

  • Preserving the nutritional properties and taste of fruits
    Drying fruits preserves the nutritional value, taste, color and freshness of fruits and does not reduce the loss of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in them. Dried fruits are usually sweeter and crispier than fresh fruits and can be used as a snack, a snack, a treat or a gift.

  • Reducing the weight and volume of fruits
    Drying fruits reduces their weight and volume, making their transportation, storage, and consumption easier and cheaper. Dried fruits take up less space and are suitable for trips, camping, picnics or food crises.

Types of fruit drying methods

Different methods can be used to produce dried fruit, some of which are mentioned below:

Sun drying the fruit

This method is simple and cheap and does not require special equipment. First, fresh fruits are soaked in lemon juice after washing and cutting into cubes or slices to prevent discoloration. Then the fruits are placed on a net tray or wax paper and exposed to the sun to dry. This method may take several days and requires monitoring and moving the fruits. Fruits should also be prevented from coming in contact with environmental pollution such as dust, insects or animals.

Drying the fruit in the oven

This method is one of the methods of drying fruit with air flow, which is a combination of air flow and low heat. This is usually done in the oven and is the best method you can use. To do this, place the fruits on wax paper or silicone liners and put them in an oven heated to a temperature of 50 to 70 degrees Celsius. The duration of drying of fruits depends on the type and thickness of the fruits and it can last from several hours to several days. During the drying process, leave the oven door slightly open to allow steam to escape. You can also turn the fruit every few hours so that it dries evenly.

Drying the fruit with a heater

This method is similar to the method of drying fruit in the oven, except that they use a heater instead of an oven. First, after washing and cutting the fresh fruits into cubes or slices, they are placed on a mesh tray or wax paper and placed near a stove or stove to heat up and their water evaporates. Drying the fruit with a heater may take several days and requires monitoring and moving the fruits.

Drying fruit with a fruit dryer

This method is professional and efficient and requires a special device called a fruit dryer. After washing and cutting the fresh fruits into cubes or slices, they are placed on the trays of the machine and the machine is turned on. The device dries fruits by producing hot and dry air flow. Using a drying machine to produce dried fruit may take several hours and requires adjusting the temperature and time of the machine.

Freeze-drying method

It is a method of drying fruits by freezing and directly evaporating the water inside them. The freezing method has advantages such as preserving the shape, color, taste, smell, nutrients and freshness of fruits. To perform this method, special industrial devices are needed that have parts such as trays, chillers, vacuum pumps and condensers.

The steps of this method are:

Primary freezing: In this stage, fresh or dry fruits are cut into cubes or slices and placed on the trays of the machine. The fruits are then cooled at high speed to sub-zero temperatures to freeze, which can take several hours.

Primary drying: In this step, the pressure inside the device is reduced to create a vacuum. This causes the frozen water inside the fruit to evaporate. This process is called sublimation and it can take several days.

Secondary drying: In this stage, the temperature and pressure of the machine are changed to evaporate the remaining water in the fruits. This process is called evaporation and it can take several hours.

After finishing these steps, the dried fruits are removed from the machine and placed in suitable packages. In this method, the texture of the fruits is crispy and fluffy after the drying process.

Advantages and disadvantages of different methods of drying fruit:

Sun drying the fruit

The method is cheap and simple, but it requires a lot of time, and the fruits may be affected by environmental factors such as dust, insects, birds, and humidity.

Drying the fruit in the oven

This method uses air flow and low heat to dry the fruit. It is faster and more controllable than the sun method and does not require the addition of sugar or preservatives. But it may consume a lot of electricity and make the fruits a little darker.

Drying the fruit with a heater

This method uses the heat produced by a heater to dry the fruit. It is suitable for the cold season and can dry fruits in less time. But it may make the fruits too dry and hard and change their taste.

Drying the fruit with a dryer

This method is very efficient and high-quality and can dry the fruits uniformly while maintaining the color and taste. But it needs to buy a special device, which may be expensive and take up a lot of space.

Fruit drying by freezing method

It is one of the new and advanced methods of drying fruit, which has advantages and disadvantages. Among its advantages are:

  1. Maintaining the nutritional value, color, taste, aroma and texture of the fruit up to 95%

  2. No change in shape and size of the fruit

  3. No need for preservatives

  4. Increased durability and resistance to failure

Disadvantages

  1. The high price of the freeze dryer

  2. High power required to produce low temperature

  3. Limitation in choosing suitable fruits for this method

  4. The need for proper packaging to prevent moisture absorption

Which method should we choose?

It seems that the best way to dry fruit depends on the type of fruit, time, cost and available equipment. But if we want to choose one method as the best method, we can suggest the method of drying fruits with devices, because it can dry fruits with high quality and preserving their properties. Of course, this method requires an initial investment, but in the long run it can save time and electricity.

?Heating or freezing method

To answer this question, we must compare the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. In terms of quality, the freeze-freezing method can dry fruits while maintaining more properties, but in terms of cost, the method of drying fruits with a dryer is cheaper and more economical. In terms of time, the cooling freezing method is faster, but in terms of equipment, the method of drying fruit with a dryer is simpler and more accessible. Considering the types of fruits that can be dried, the freezing method has more limitations, but the method of drying fruits with a dryer is suitable for almost all fruits.

Therefore, it seems that both methods of drying fruit have their advantages and disadvantages, and the best method depends on your needs and budget. If you are looking for high quality and short time, and you can afford the high cost of a freeze dryer, the freezing method is more suitable for you. But if you are looking for low cost and simple equipment and can tolerate lower quality and more time, the method of drying fruit with a dryer is more suitable for you.