The main methods of harvesting sweet bell pepper, such as pickling, pickling, freezing, are known to every hostess. But there is a method of preserving this valuable vegetable crop for a long time - drying, which preserves the vitamins and nutrients contained in ripe fruits. The article tells how to dry bell pepper at home, describes the main stages and features of this process.

Did you know? Sweet bell pepper and dark chocolate equally affect the production of the hormone of happiness, endorphin, in human blood.

Advantages and disadvantages of drying

• The undoubted advantages of the preparation of sweet pepper by drying include:
• Simplicity. No additional components required during procurement.
• Almost all vitamins, micro and macro elements are preserved, since there is no influence of extremely high temperatures and aggressive environments (acetic or citric acid, aspirin).
• The finished product is very compact, so it does not take up much storage space.

• The disadvantages of this method are as follows:
• Low yield relative to fresh raw materials.
• When using heating devices in the drying process, it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of vegetables (drying, charring should not be allowed).
• The cost of electricity, natural gas.

How to prepare pepper

The main stages of preparing fruits for processing:

1. Selection. Pepper must be ripe, solid, without signs of spoilage (dents, rot).
2. The fruits are washed thoroughly, preferably under running water.
3. Vegetables are laid out on a towel so that the glass is excess water.
4. With a sharp knife, carefully remove the stalk and core with seeds.
5. Fruits are cut into rings, straws, squares or slices. The drying time will depend on the thickness and width of these slices.

How to dry bell peppers for the winter

The presence of conventional and specific kitchen appliances provides a choice between several drying methods. Each of them has its own characteristics and advantages.

Did you know? In medieval Europe, when spices were imported from afar and valued very highly, wealthy merchants were called "sacks of pepper."

In the electric dryer

Prepared fruits are cut into square plates with a width of about 2 cm, after which they are laid out on a drying grid with a thin layer. The optimum temperature for the process is + 50 ° C. Estimated drying time is about 12 hours. If the electric dryer is multi-level and all the grids are used, it takes a longer time to get the finished product.

For example, while laying 10 kg of raw materials (15 grids) at the same time, it takes about 23 hours to completely dry. The degree of readiness of the product is determined by its fragility: when squeezing the finished slices, they should clearly crunch.

Video: drying bell peppers in an electric dryer

In the oven

Slices of pepper spread on a baking sheet in one layer, set the temperature + 50 ° C. Drying is carried out within 14 hours, all this time the oven door should remain slightly ajar. It is necessary to periodically check the condition of vegetables: they must not be allowed to stick to the baking sheet, otherwise the product may burn. It is also recommended to divide the drying time into several stages, periodically turning off the oven for about 30 minutes.

Important! If, after the indicated time, the dried pieces have not lost their elasticity, the drying time should be increased. Otherwise, during storage, the product will begin to mold soon.

In the microwave

Chopped sweet peppers are laid out on a glass plate so that there is a small distance between the slices. The power is set to 300 W and dried for 2-3 minutes, after which the pieces are checked for "fragility". If necessary, they are dried. With this drying method, constant monitoring of the process is required.

How to determine readiness

The preparedness of the dried slices is determined by compression. If they are hard and brittle and crunch is clearly audible at pressure, they can be stored.

Important! All the above containers should be kept in cool, well-ventilated, darkened rooms. If possible - in the compartment of the refrigerator intended for storing vegetables.

How to store dried peppers

So that the workpiece does not lose its qualities, you need to take care of creating special conditions:

1. It is desirable to store the dried product in bags of natural natural fiber, preferably linen.
2. Also suitable are clean, certainly dry, glass containers. For air convection, holes should be made in the covers.
3. You can use dense plastic bags "with a zipper", specially designed for storing vegetables and fruits.

How can i use

Dried bell pepper is a vitamin supplement to soup dressings, indispensable in the preparation of sauces, vegetable dishes. It goes well with spices as an addition to meat dishes. In powder form it is used as paprika.

The season of fresh bell peppers is not as short as cherries, strawberries, melons - ripe juicy vegetables can be enjoyed throughout the fall. And with the onset of winter, a properly prepared dried product can become a worthy alternative to a fresh bright fruit.