Every summer both adults and children like to enjoy fragrant and juicy melons. This gourd is not only tasty, but also very healthy. To be able to eat a sweet treat in the winter and thus replenish the body with vitamins and minerals, melon flesh can be wilted at home.
Chemical composition and calorie content
After the melon has been dried, almost all valuable substances are stored in it, especially vitamins A, B2, B6, B9, C, D, PP. The pulp is rich in beta-carotene, iron, starch, sugars, mineral salts, protein and fiber.
The calorie content of the melon, which was dried, increases significantly. If 100 g of fresh pulp contains 33.7 kcal, then the energy value of 100 g of dried product increases by 10 times and amounts to 341 kcal. The same amount contains 0.7 g of protein, 0.1 g of fat and 82.2 g of carbohydrates.
Did you know? The most expensive melon variety in the world is called Yubari King. It is grown in Japan. One such pumpkin was sold at auction for $ 27,000 in 2016.
Useful and harmful properties of dried melon for the body
- Melon can bring such benefits:
- replenish the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals;
- prevent the development of constipation;
- promote weight loss;
- normalize the work of the cardiovascular and circulatory systems;
- to establish the work of the nervous system;
- have a diuretic effect;
- rejuvenate the skin;
- improve potency;
- remove stones from the kidneys and bladder;
- relieve stress and nervous tension;
- strengthen bones.
It is recommended for children over one year old, pregnant women, the elderly to prevent the development of vitamin deficiency, anemia and other health problems. Also, it is recommended to eat dessert for women with menopause to normalize hormonal levels and improve mood. For some people, eating dried melon can be harmful. It is contraindicated for use by people suffering from diabetes mellitus, children under the age of 1 year, nursing mothers.How to choose the melon varieties for drying
In order to properly dry the pulp, you should choose a good variety of gourds. The varieties Kolkhoznitsa, Pineapple, Torpeda, and also the fruits of Central Asian selection, for example, Gulyabi, Uch-Kzyl, Koybashi, Uarvaki, Ak-Kaun, Persian, Ich-Kzyl, Chogare, Ditma, are best suited for drying. Pumpkins must be sugary and juicy. You should choose fruits without damage, rot, stains, fully ripened.
Did you know? The largest melon was grown in 2009 in Austria. Her weight was 447.5 kg.
Preparing melons for drying
Before you begin to dry, it is necessary for 1-2 days to place pumpkins on a rack in a room with good air circulation, on an open balcony or on a windowsill with an open window leaf. Then they need to be washed and dried well. Each pumpkin should be halved and disposed of. Seed removal is easy with a spoon. The remaining pulp must be cut into strips 3 cm thick and cut off the peel from them. As a result, small slices should remain.
How to dry a melon at home
There are several ways to cure melon flesh at home: in an oven, in an electric dryer, and in natural conditions when exposed to fresh air.
Important! Drying in the oven must be done with the door ajar.
In the oven
In the oven, drying the pulp is easy. First you need to cover the baking sheets with parchment, then put the slices on them. The oven should be heated to a temperature of + 70 ° C. Put baking sheets in a heated cabinet. In the first 3-5 hours of drying, it is necessary to change the parchment to dry. After 7 hours of drying, you need to lower the temperature to + 60 ° C. The duration of the procedure will depend on the juiciness of the fetus. It will be approximately 10-12 hours.
In the electric dryer
Drying technology in an electric dryer is as follows:
- Preheat the device to + 70 ° C.
- Spread melon slices on pallets in one layer so that they do not come into contact with each other.
- Leave on for 10-12 hours.
- Periodically, the pallets should be interchanged for uniform drying.
Video: drying melons in an electric dryer
In the open air
Under natural conditions, melon can be dried in two ways: cut into pieces - on a baking sheet under a canopy, or cut into thin plates - in a suspended state. In the first case, the pieces should be laid out in one layer and covered with gauze to prevent contact with insects. It is best that the bottom is mesh - then the pieces will be evenly blown with air and dry. The pulp must be stirred periodically.
You can check its readiness after 2-3 weeks. When using the second method, the flesh is cut lengthwise into thin plates and opened in the form of a fan. It is placed on a wire rack and left in a well-ventilated area for 1-2 days, periodically turning over, after which it is strung on a rope and suspended under a canopy. In this state, drying will take about 2 weeks.
How to check melon readiness
The finished product has the following characteristics: it is soft, sticky, bends well, but does not break.
Important! Dried pulp is reduced in size by about 10 times compared with the original volume.
Rules and regulations for use
Melon jerky dessert can be beneficial only if you use it in moderation. On the day, nutritionists advise eating no more than 100 g. The treat is not combined with alcoholic beverages, honey, dairy and sour-milk products - when used together, the laxative effect of melon is enhanced. Also, do not eat a dessert dish on an empty stomach, before and immediately after taking the main food.
Household storage rules
You can keep the dried product up to 12 months. Storage should be carried out in sealed containers made of glass, sheet metal, plastic, or in cloth bags. Optimal conditions - a cool place where the sun does not penetrate, and where there is no high humidity.
So, dried melon flesh is a tasty and healthy dessert that can be consumed throughout the year and thereby replenish the body with a vitamin and mineral complex, as well as prevent the development of some health problems. Dessert is easy to make at home. In the future, it can be added as one of the ingredients in various sweet recipes.
