Goji berries are very good for health. They are most often eaten dried, this is their most healthy state. You can buy them dried from the store or dry your goji berries yourself. There are different ways to dry the fruit. You can use the oven, a dehydrator, or place them outside and leave them to dry slowly for several days.
First, there's a preparation for the fruit. Fresh fruit are chosen that are neither green nor overripe. All stems and leaves are removed. Damaged fruit are removed. The fruit are then washed with lukewarm water. The easiest way to wash the fruit is to put them in a colander and wash them like that for a few minutes.
Goji berries are poured into a container of boiling water for 30-60 seconds - blanch them. The next process is to shock them in ice water - transfer the fruits with a spoon from the boiling water into a container of water with ice cubes. A rapid change in temperature will cause the surface of the fruit to crack, leading to an acceleration of the drying process.
Goji berries can be dried in an oven at a very low temperature. The oven is heated to 60°C, by leaving the oven door open. The fruit are spread on a tray covered with baking paper. It is important that they do not touch each other, so that they dry faster and do not stick to each other.
The tray is placed in the middle of the oven, by leaving the door slightly open to ensure constant air flow. The tray may be rotated every 1-2 hours, so that the fruit can dry evenly. Drying usually takes about 12 hours.
Periodically they should be checked, in order to see if they are done. The signs of this are: they have visibly decreased in size, they have wrinkled, they are harder to the touch and they have darkened.
The fruit are placed on a fine metal grid (grill) and must not touch each other. Before you put the fruit in the sun to dry them, you should cover them with a cheesecloth. The cheesecloth will protect the fruit from any insects and other external elements. Place the fruit outside in direct sunlight.
You should turn them once or twice a day to make sure they dry evenly. To dry enough fruit using sunlight, it can take two to four days. Check the weather forecast before using this method to make sure it won't rain.
The fruit are placed on the same level in the dehydrator (fruit drying device). Place the tray in the appliance and leave the opening open. This will stimulate air flow and stimulate the drying process.
The instructions for using the appliance are followed, but generally it should be set to medium-low. Check the fruit periodically and remove them from the dehydrator when thet look dry.
Goji berries are stored in an airtight container in a cool and dark place. They are protected from moisture. They have a shelf life of one year if stored properly.
Also read what goji berry is good for, how to make goji berry tea and what goji berry contains.
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