Air drying apricots

Fruit in the Kitchen
#1

I made a couple of drying screens and want to seed and dry some apricots in open air. Will I have trouble with mold? I could rinse them in bisulfite solution if that would help, but I’d prefer not to.

Thanks for any pointers.

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#2

What is the expected temperature and humidity of your drying-area air?

#3

That’s part of the problem: too cool (below 80) and, until today, pretty humid. I could set up in the basement where I run a dehumidifier, but that’s in the 60s.

I may just eat most of them an experiment with the last quart.

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#4

Pitted and slice into half under good sun for consecutive 3~4 days should not have mold problem if the night humidity is low. The best is either salted or put in sugar first to get rid of some water/juice.

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#5

I did think of dipping them in sugar; don’t know that I would want them salted. Thanks for the tips.

#6

Sugar preserves and prevent the fruit from molding

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#7

Then as an experiment, I would slice very thinly, expose to direct sun and then put in the driest place possible during no sun. I have considered using our small metal tool shed for such a purpose, it gets very hot inside near the roof.

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#8

At below 80 F it will take forever. I would just use dehydrator.

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