Sun Dried Apricots

We got a big batch of apricots in our farm box this week, and I wasn’t sure what to do with them! Drying fruits extends their shelf life by a few weeks or months (depending how you store them), and can be thrown into granola, desserts, or just eaten by the handful. You can also blend them into a jam and refrigerate, but i have a granola in mind for a camping trip coming up…

When looking up how to do this, i found out apricots are good for the skin, help muscles function, regulate heartbeat and help maintain blood sugar (all while being super sweet and delicious!).

First step, make sure your fruits are perfectly ripe. This is the point that you really want to eat them: when bright, soft, & juicy.

• If too firm (young), place in a paper bag in the window. If overripe, place in the fridge up to a week.

Dehydrating foods preserves their nutrients while holding much of the flavor, but this is in fact the same point. If they taste good, that’s how you know vitamins and minerals are still potent. If it tastes or looks blah, they may not have much life left (same with any kind of fruit or herb or food).

Sun drying is the most popular option, plus simple to use. You can also buy a bulky dehydrator, or put in the oven with a hot pot of water, but why not use the sun’s natural powers instead if you can! (notes on others below too).

Sun-drying

• Prep your space. Grab a cookie sheet, chicken wire nailed to wood, or whatever you can find that allows for airflow under your little apricot slices. You may also want a cheese cloth over the top if worried about bugs or birds stealing your fruit.

• Chop and de-seed your apricots. Don’t make them too small, or they will fall through your mesh. You can always chop them more later.

• Dip the apricots in lemon so they don’t turn brown. Lay them out on your aerated surface.

• Pick a sunny spot, with good air flow (that won’t blow them away). Let them dry out for 3 days to a week. (I brought mine into the oven overnight, but you can leave them out there in the moonlight if you like)

  • Alternatively, place in an oven set at 122F, or just with a big bowl of hot water. You want to keep the temp UNDER 200F.

  • Or place into a dehydrator at 134F for 12 hours

• Once dry (with sun or oven method), let cool at air temp for 12 hours (or overnight)

• Place into air tight container. They should last about a month at room temp, or 6 months in the fridge.