Dried apples: calorie content, benefits and harm to health

Apples are one of the healthiest fruits that help improve human health and saturate the body with minerals and trace elements. They are available all year round, but, unfortunately, after only 2 months of storage, seasonal locally harvested apples lose most of their nutrients. To preserve apples with their original supply of nutrients, you can use the long-known drying method. Dried apples, the health benefits and harms of which are constantly being studied by nutritionists, can saturate the body with vitamins all year round, thereby successfully combating seasonal vitamin deficiency.

Chemical composition of dried apples

During the drying process, apples lose only water, and all useful substances remain in the pulp of the dried fruit. All minerals, vitamins and microelements remain in their original quantities throughout the year.

The pulp of dried apples contains the following substances:

1. Organic acids, the share of which is at least 2.5%. Dried fruits contain tartaric, malic, citric and chlorogenic acids. They help the body resist various viruses and maintain acid-base balance.
2. Sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose) – they contain at least 12%. The high sugar content promotes rapid saturation and restoration of strength. At the same time, fructose is contraindicated for overweight people.
3. Tannins with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
4. Pectins and polysaccharides speed up metabolism and help normalize the level of bad cholesterol.
5. Flavanoids are found only in apple peels. They help remove free radicals and promote cell regeneration.
6. Minerals. The pulp contains a high percentage of magnesium and iron, which are needed to improve the quality of blood composition, the functioning of the heart muscle and the circulatory system. The product is also rich in iodine, which normalizes human hormonal levels.
7. Phytoncides that suppress the proliferation of pathogenic environments.

How to dry

It is best to choose apples for drying with the onset of autumn, when they ripen. Focus on the period when it is still quite warm outside, since it is fruits dried in the fresh air that will have the greatest amount of useful substances. Although, of course, you can use an oven for these purposes. Ideal drying occurs outdoors or in a dry room with fresh air. Apples need to be cut (preferably into circles), the thinner the better.

Then lay them out on paper or parchment and place them in a dry place in the shade. Once you notice the tops starting to dry out, turn the apples over and let the process continue. This natural drying usually lasts more than a week. Despite the fact that this is the longest option, this is how the highest quality product is obtained.

If you are wondering how many dried apples you get from a kilogram of fresh ones, keep in mind that they lose almost 90% of their weight. Expect that from one kilogram of fresh apples you will get about 100 grams of dried ones. Since they retain most of the minerals and vitamins, a certain concentrate of useful substances is obtained [11]. If you do not have the opportunity to dry fruits naturally, and you are going to do it in the oven, you need to repeat the procedure: just lay them out on parchment and put them in a warm oven. Some chefs recommend pre-blanching apples to make them easier to cut and dry faster, but we strongly advise against doing this. The fact is that heat treatment removes a huge amount of useful substances from fruits, so be patient and dry them under natural conditions [12][13].

Before drying apples, be sure to remove the seeds from them. The fact is that they contain a substance that, when digested, can cause harm to the body. Try not to eat a lot of apple seeds, at least not more than 5 per day.

Oven drying

Drying apples in the oven is divided into three stages: the first - at a temperature of about 50 degrees, during which it is necessary to open the oven doors. Then the temperature needs to be raised to 65 degrees and wait until most of the moisture has evaporated. The last part is drying completely. The temperature should be raised to about 80 degrees and wait until the apples are completely dry. Each step takes approximately 30 minutes, but can be reduced if you cut the apples very thin using a slicer.

Using a dryer

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Of course, it’s ideal if you have a special fruit dryer. In this case, it is enough to carry out preliminary preparation, wash and cut the apples, and then simply follow the instructions and dry them in the dryer. By the way, it is in the dryer that they turn out to be of the highest quality, since it is designed specifically for this purpose and preserves the maximum concentration of useful substances in the product.

The benefits of dried apples

Now let’s figure out what the benefits and harms of dried apples are. Thanks to its rich chemical composition, dried apples have a wide range of beneficial properties for the body:

• have a diuretic effect;
• has a positive effect on the circulatory, nervous and digestive systems;
• saturates liver tissue with beneficial microelements;
• stimulates intestinal motility;
• speeds up metabolism;
• normalizes the functioning of the urinary system and liver;
• helps get rid of constipation, recommended for inflammation of the large intestine;
• helps restore soft and muscle tissues, epidermis;
• helps reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood;
• is an excellent prevention of osteoporosis and other possible pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, because the absorption of calcium by the body improves.

Harm of dried fruits from apples

Despite all the advantages, dried apples can also cause harm, and therefore have a number of contraindications.

1. Due to the high sugar content, drying is prohibited for people with diabetes or obesity. As a last resort, the amount of dried fruit consumed should be strictly limited to a couple of slices per week.
2. During an exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease, it is also not recommended to supplement the diet with dried apples.
3. If pancreatic function is impaired, dried fruits can be consumed only after consulting a doctor. And in case of acute pancreatitis, apples in any form should be completely excluded from the diet.
4. A high fiber content can not only be beneficial, but also cause negative effects: constipation, diarrhea, flatulence and stomach cramps.
5. The high calorie content of the product can contribute to excess weight gain. Therefore, it is recommended to regulate the caloric content of food consumed.
6. Very often, people who have tried commercial drying may feel slightly unwell, namely: nausea, dizziness, sore throat and cough.

These symptoms are caused by the preservative sulfur dioxide, which manufacturers quite often use to make dried fruits. This prolongs the safety and presentation of the product, but at the same time is harmful to health.

People who are more sensitive to this substance may experience attacks of suffocation. In more severe cases, pulmonary edema may occur. Therefore, dried fruits from the supermarket should be consumed with extreme caution. To replenish vitamin reserves, it will be enough to consume about 100 g of the product at one time.

How to store dried apples

Dried apple fruits require special storage conditions. Immediately after cooking, you cannot pour them into containers; they must lie in the open air for a day or more.

You can store the product in jars or fabric bags. The advantage of storing in bags is the constant access of air, and the cans will have to be opened periodically for ventilation.

It is strictly forbidden to use plastic bags; cooked dried fruit slices will become moldy.

When storing in any container, you need to periodically check the condition of the workpiece to prevent stains, mold, and a heavy musty odor. If damage is found, it is better to throw away the product. Since it is all-season, it can be harvested at any time.

Important! Dry fruits should be kept in a place protected from light, as it destroys vitamins. Cold is also not recommended, as it promotes mold growth.

Properly dried apples will bring maximum health benefits.

Dried apples are useful for weight loss, as they do not contain fast carbohydrates and remove swelling. They are indispensable for stress, vitamin deficiency and decreased immunity. In the off-season, they will help replenish vitamin reserves and also support the body with phytoncides.

The harm of dried fruits lies in their excessive consumption. The fruit is high in calories and can harm your figure. It is recommended to eat no more than half a glass per day.

If you have diabetes, you should use it with caution, under constant monitoring of blood sugar.

Ways to eat dried apples

The first thing that comes to mind is to cook a compote of dried apples. This popular and favorite drink by many can be brewed not only from dried apples, but also by adding other dried fruits or berries. During cooking, dried apples should be placed in the cooking pan earlier, because it takes the longest to cook.

Dried apples can also be added to many other tasty and healthy drinks. Pieces of dried fruit are added to a teapot or thermos with your favorite tea. The fruit can also be combined with medicinal herbs, citrus pulp or zest, rose hips and other ingredients.

Dried apples can be put into uzvar - a rich drink made from fruits, berries and honey. Based on drying, delicious aromatic jelly is cooked and apple kvass is made.

Dried apples are added to a variety of homemade baked goods: buns, rolls, pies, cookies, pies. In addition, they go well with many other ingredients: honey, berries, fruits, poppy seeds, pumpkin. Fruits are suitable either fresh, canned or frozen.

Apples are used not only to prepare fillings, but also added to the dough itself. Thus, you get very tasty and aromatic muffins, pancakes, gingerbread, etc. Before adding to the dough, the drying agent is crushed into fine crumbs or soaked in hot water and then pureed.

This dried fruit is very often used as a base for making homemade marshmallows. Various vitamin sweets are also prepared from it, supplementing the recipe with raisins, dried apricots, various nuts and honey.

Before using in many recipes, dried apple slices should be pre-soaked in hot water. After half an hour, the water is drained, and the softened apples themselves are ground in a blender or meat grinder. A few drops of cognac or rum will help give the filling a special aroma.

Dried apples go well with various cereals, so they can be added to porridge. Apples also go well with lactic acid products. That's why they are added to yogurt. Before doing this, it is advisable to soak dried fruits, but you can soak them directly in yogurt.

But the easiest way to consume dried apples is to eat them immediately without any additional processing. Dried slices can replace more energy-intensive snacks: chips, candies, crackers, chocolate bars. In this case, the benefits of dried apples will greatly outweigh the junk food. Drying will saturate and fill the body with vitamins.

How to dry and cure correctly

Drying and drying is an opportunity to prepare a useful product for the winter. As a result, the product becomes concentrated, can last for a long time and retains almost all useful substances.

The drying process has a different technology. The temperature should not be higher than 65 degrees. First, the juice is separated from the product and then dried in the oven.

The drying process requires preparation of raw materials:

• Select fruits without damage or wormholes. It is better to choose domestic varieties that are not covered with a protective wax coating.
• Wash the fruit with running water.
• The peel is removed at the request of the hostess. It must be remembered that it contains the bulk of useful substances.
• Cut into slices or circles.
• Prepare a solution of citric acid and dip fruit slices in it before laying out to dry.

Antonovka, aport and other varieties can be dried using different methods: in the air, in the oven, in the microwave. The easiest and best way is outdoors, but it is not accessible to everyone. If you have your own house or dacha, this method is the most optimal. The fruits are laid out on iron baking sheets or trays covered with paper in an even layer. There should be some free space between the fruit slices. Dry in the sun or in a warm place, protected from precipitation. To ensure even drying, the pieces should be turned over.

When drying in the oven, the sequence of actions is as follows:

• prepare fruits - wash and cut;
• Preheat the oven at low temperature with the door ajar;
• Place the cut pieces on wire racks or baking sheets and turn every 30 minutes.

The fruits are dried in this manner for about 7 hours.

There is a step-by-step harvesting process at different temperatures: dry at 70 degrees for 4 hours, then 2 hours at 50 degrees. This process is a little shorter and allows you to retain more pectins.

The result should be a pale-colored product that does not break, but bends in the hand. All the liquid evaporates, the slice becomes flexible. There should be no dents left when pressed. Darkening indicates over-drying.

Can be prepared in the microwave. The process is faster, but the effect of microwaves on fruit is poorly understood.

The sequence of operations is as follows:

• the fruits are washed, peeled, cut into slices;
• placed in portions on plates;
• the plate is placed in the oven for 30 seconds, then taken out and the slices are turned over;
• Set the timer for 3 minutes, place the plate in the oven. Power should be maximum.

Then the plate is removed, and the slices arrive naturally, since the action of the microwaves continues for some time.

The disadvantage of this method is the need to constantly change plates with chopped slices. As a result, the speed of the process decreases.

Dried apples for weight loss

All dried fruits are consumed to a minimum during the diet. This is due to the fact that dried fruits have five times more calories than fresh ones. To reduce calorie content, soak dried fruits in hot water before eating.

Dried apples for weight loss are used in the form of a specially designed diet designed for 5 days. During this period of time, 400 g of a mixture of dried fruits and nuts is consumed every day. Every hour you need to eat a tenth (20 grams) of the mixture. You need to drink a lot of liquid all the time, especially green tea.

For weight loss, it is also useful to replace dinner every day with a small portion of dried apples.

Fasting days on dried apples will help maintain normal weight. Once a week you need to replace all food with 200 g of dried apples.

Recommendations for choosing dried fruits and apple marshmallows

To get the most benefit from such products, you will need to choose safer options. When buying dried fruits, you should give preference to faded fruits with external flaws. Their plainness will indicate the natural way of drying the delicacy. The more unsightly the fruit looks, the greater the chances of purchasing natural dried fruit. Then it becomes clear whether it is beneficial to eat dried apples without artificial processing. Colorful and shiny products indicate chemical processing and the presence of dyes. Such species will not contain nutrients, and the chemicals in the composition will only cause harm to the body.

Marshmallows are also selected using the same principle. It is usually sold in packed boxes. Before purchasing, you should study the labels on the packaging in detail. Particular attention should be paid to the composition. It should not contain preservatives or dyes. Natural marshmallows contain only apple, egg white and sugar. It is also important to consider the manufacturer. It is better to choose proven manufacturers of such products: Belevskaya, Rzhevskaya and Kolomenskaya manufactories.

The benefits of such fruits in any form are obvious. Fresh fruits are rich in minerals, polysaccharides, phytoncides and organic acids. All this is preserved in the dried form of fruit. Therefore, the answer to the question is obvious: do dried apples contain vitamins? They contain nutritional elements that improve the functioning of every organ. Eating a couple of large apples or 200 grams of dried fruits every day replenishes a person’s daily need for a vitamin and mineral complex. Such food supplies energy, saturates tissues with useful substances, protects against harmful factors and improves health.

Dried apples during pregnancy

Due to their rich composition, dried apple fruits will help the expectant mother’s body accumulate a certain supply of microelements and vitamins. But do not forget about the high calorie content of drying. Excessive consumption of dried apples can cause weight gain, which can adversely affect pregnancy itself and the birth process.

During pregnancy, it is better for women to eat dry food prepared at home. It is better to avoid the purchased product, because... it may contain toxic sulfur dioxide.

Safety and harm

Dried apples are practically not capable of causing harm to health if eaten in limited quantities (with the exception of allergic reactions caused by individual hypersensitivity of the body).

If abused, the following side effects may occur:

1. Destruction of tooth enamel. Apples are rich in plant substances that can lead to increased tooth sensitivity and the appearance of microcracks, which subsequently lead to carious processes.
2. Dyspeptic disorders. The abundance of fiber in apples can provoke the development of disorganization of the gastrointestinal tract, which manifests itself in the form of diarrhea or constipation, bloating, pain in the left and right iliac regions, and nausea.

Dried apples can be consumed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. No negative effect of the product on the health of the fetus, infant and child in the first years of life was noted in any of the studies.

You should be careful when including apples in your diet due to the risk of side effects.

Drying apples for pancreatitis

For pancreatitis, either complete temporary fasting or a diet menu is recommended. In this case, the body really needs additional vitamin products. But is it possible to eat dried apples for pancreatitis?

In case of acute pancreatitis, products with fiber should be completely excluded from the menu, including dried apples. Because It has as much fiber as fresh fruit. Therefore, during an exacerbation of the disease, it is forbidden to eat any dried fruits.

In case of chronic development of the disease, some dried fruits are allowed, including dried apples. Only it is better to eat them not fresh, but to cook compotes or jelly, adding just a little sugar or other sweetener. Such drinks will bring many benefits to the body and will not overload the pancreas.