Drying Plums, Apricots and Peaches
Method:
- Plums and apricots can be dried whiole but, if they are on the large size, they are better halved and stoned. Peaches need to be halved and stoned.
- Wash the fruit, pat dry with kitchen roll and place the fruit in a single layer on the drying tray.
- If they are halved, they should be placed with the cut side up top so that the juice does not run out.
- Start the drying procees at 50°C/120°F/Gas Mark 0. The skins will burst and some of the juice will be lost if they are dried at a higher temperature.
- Once the skins begin to shrivel, the temperature can be raised to 65°C/150°F/Gas Mark 0 to complete the drying process.
- When finished, remove the trays from the heat source and leave to cool at room temperature for 12 hours. Pack the fruit in wooden or cardboard boxes lined with greaseproof paper or, alternatively, airtight jars or containers and store in a very dry place.
Drying Foods Help
These articles will get you started and give you some basic guidelines on drying foods and methods such as oven drying, air drying etc. along with how to build a drying box and other equipment you might need.
Filed under All Recipes, Apricots, Drying, Fruit, Peaches, Plums, Val's Preserves, Vegetarian Recipes by 
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Comments on Drying Plums, Apricots and Peaches
H Gardner @ 1:42 pm
I am really keen to try drying my plums as I am overrun with them BUT I am retiscent to start because I don't quite understand step 5 where it says '… complete the drying process'. How do I know the drying process is complete? I realise it may be 'obvious' but I am concerned also that it may not be
Many thanks in advance.
Helen
Val @ 2:31 pm
You'll be able to tell by the texture.
Ruth @ 7:50 pm
I'd like to add to H Gardner's question, how do you know when the texture is correct? I've had my halved plums in the dryer for 48 hours and some feel dry on the edges but still pretty fleshy in the middle. Also, I'm concerned abut fermentation. Do the plums change consistency after cooling or sitting in a jar for a while? I don't expect store bought texture but I'm far from what I expected.