How to dry dates

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Got this from wisegeek.com

Preparing your own dried dates can be an economical way of obtaining a large supply of this nutrient-laden snack, and can be done with the use of ordinary household appliances and ingredients. The first step is to generally select only the healthiest dates for drying, wash them, pit them, and then slice them into equal sizes. Next, the dates are soaked in a mixture of vitamin C powder and water for a few minutes. The dates are then removed and either placed directly in sunlight for up to five days or are placed in the oven at a low temperature for up to 12 hours. A food dehydrator also could be used as the final stage to dry the dates.


Procedure
1
Select the dates you plan to use. Examine them to make sure they are ripe, but do not show signs of spoilage. Wash the dates in clean water. Remove the pits and slice the fruit into equal sizes. You may want to have long slices cut lengthwise, or bite-sized pieces.

2
Next, crush two vitamin C tablets into fine powder and mix with two cups of water. This can also be replaced by two tablespoons of ascorbic acid in two cups of water. Let the dates soak in the mixture for three minutes.


There are two ways to dry dates.
The first one involves drying under natural sunlight. Choose a spot outdoors that receives sunlight for most of the day and is unblocked by shadows. Leave the dates on a screen in this area for five consecutive days. Drape the dates with a netted cloth to protect them from insects and birds, and turn the dates over twice during the day to make sure all sides receive sunlight. Take the fruit indoors at night to avoid the buildup of dew, which would be detrimental to the drying process.

The second way to dry dates is faster and must be used if the temperature outdoors is above 100° F (about 37.8° C). This method involves using either an oven or a food dehydrator. If you choose to use an oven, prepare it by covering the racks inside with a cheese cloth. Pre-heat the oven to 150° F (about 65.6° C) but no higher. This is because you merely need to dry the dates and not cook them.

Turn the oven off and then place the dates on a parchment-covered cooking sheet with the sliced part facing downward. Make sure the fruit slices do not touch each other. Prop the door open and leave the fruit inside for five to 12 hours. Check on the dates periodically and remove them when all the moisture has evaporated from the fruit.

If you should choose to use a food dehydrator to dry dates, heat the dehydrator to 100° F (about 37.8° C). Place the dates with the cut side facing down on the dehydrator tray, and do not let the slices touch each other. Leave them on the tray for around 20 hours, checking them periodically.

You will know it is time to remove them when they gain a leathery texture. Perfectly dried dates should be chewy. If they are crunchy, that means the dates have been heated and dried too much, while a squishy texture means they require more drying time.

Once the dates have been completely dried, you can store them by placing them inside a paper bag. Place the paper bag in an air-tight plastic container or glass jar. Keep the container in a cool, dry area.

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