What are the benefits of dried apples, calorie content, recipe and storage

The benefits and harms of dried apples is a question that lovers of homemade preparations need to know the answer. Dried fruits look perfectly safe, but you need to understand their properties in order to understand if this is really so.

Chemical composition and calorie content of dried apples

The benefits and harms of dried apples for the body differ from the beneficial properties and potential harm of fresh fruits. The fact is that the composition of dried fruits is slightly different - there are more elements in them, and some less.

Dried apples contain:

• fiber;
• antioxidants;
• natural sugars;
• vitamins A, K, H and PP;
• B vitamins - there are more of them in dried fruits than in fresh ones;
• vitamin C - its share is significantly reduced, but still it is present in dry slices;
• potassium - there is a lot of it in dried fruits, thanks to which the product serves as an excellent diuretic;
• copper and iron - their content is also increased;
• magnesium, sodium and phosphorus;
• manganese.

Dried fruits are rich in carbohydrates, occupying about 58 g, proteins and fats are present in them - about 2 g and 0.2 g, respectively. The calorie content of the product is high - since dried fruits are almost devoid of water, their nutritional value increases dramatically. 100 g of dried apples contain about 250 kcal.

Useful properties of dried apples

The benefits of dried apples for the human body are expressed in their beneficial effect on almost all systems and organs. It is worth taking a closer look at the positive health effects of the product.

For the heart and blood vessels

Dried apples are high in potassium and magnesium. These elements are especially important for the good functioning of the vascular and cardiac system. Regular consumption of dried fruits prevents the development of atherosclerosis, ischemia, protects against heart attacks and strokes, and normalizes the heart rate. Dried apples are also recommended for consumption after a heart attack, their properties allow you to quickly restore the body's strength.

For the stomach and intestines

The benefits of homemade dried apples for the intestinal and gastric system are undeniable. The product contains a lot of fiber and pectin, so it helps to regulate bowel movements and improve peristalsis. Valuable mineral components, thanks to dietary fiber, are better absorbed into the bloodstream and absorbed by the body. The properties of the product improve the intestinal microflora and eliminate congestion.

For immunity

Since all vitamins are stored in dried apples, and the volumes of some of them become even larger, dried fruits are very useful as a prevention of viruses and infections. They will be especially useful in winter and autumn, when many people begin to experience vitamin deficiency. If you use ordinary apple dried fruits, then you can do without expensive vitamin complexes - dried slices will eliminate the potential harm from changing climatic conditions at no extra cost.

For skin and hair

Dried fruits are high in calcium and antioxidants. Therefore, the benefits of dried apples for the body of women are especially great - their use helps to strengthen hair, increase the volume of curls. Apples improve the condition of the skin and allow you to stay young and attractive longer.

Who is recommended to use apple dryers

The beneficial properties of dried apples will not harm almost anyone, and yet it is especially important for some people to include this delicacy in their regular diet. Dried fruits are irreplaceable:

• with a tendency to constipation, edema and rapid weight gain - the diuretic properties of dried fruits and their beneficial effect on peristalsis will help to quickly establish the metabolic system, and toxins will no longer accumulate in the body;
• with high bad cholesterol - trace elements in the composition of dried fruits will help cleanse blood vessels, strengthen their walls and remove unnecessary stress from the liver and heart;
• for joint diseases - dried fruits contain a lot of calcium, therefore they effectively strengthen bones, help relieve inflammation and pain in arthritis and osteochondrosis;
• with weakened immunity - the properties of dried fruits will allow you to quickly restore the balance of nutrients in the body.

Their beneficial properties improve memory and concentration, and have a rejuvenating effect on the body.

Is it possible to give dried apples to babies

Dried apple fruits are digested rather slowly. The stomach of a small child is not ready for such loads, therefore, it is not recommended to give dried apples to children. However, already from 6 months, you can offer babies compote cooked from dried fruits in a volume of no more than 100 ml per day. After a year of life, the dosage can be gradually increased.

Dried apples for pregnant and lactating women

For pregnant women, dried apple fruits are very useful. Their properties not only saturate the body with vitamins, but also help get rid of edema that often occurs during the period of bearing a child. However, you should not forget about the calorie content of the product - the use of dried apples should be moderate.

During lactation, dried fruits will also not harm, their properties will be useful for both the mother and the newborn. But you need to stick to small portions and monitor the child's reaction. If the baby has an allergy, the use of dried fruits will have to be stopped.

Are dried apples good for weight loss?

Despite the fact that the calorie content of dried fruits is increased, they will bring great benefits during the diet. The benefits and harms of dried apples for weight loss are that the delicacy significantly improves peristalsis and helps to remove accumulated toxins from the body in a few days. To make the effect of the diet more noticeable, you can not only introduce dried fruits into your regular diet, but also completely replace your evening dinner with them. In this case, in a month it will be possible to part with 3-4 extra pounds.

The properties of dried fruits are beneficial during a fasting day.During the day, it is necessary to eat exclusively dried apples and drink plenty of water, and the daily dose of apples should be no more than 200 g. If you carry out fasting days regularly, the weight will be stably kept within the normal range. But in order not to harm the body, unloading should not be abused - useful fasting is shown no more often than once a week.

Are dried apples allowed for pancreatitis

In case of acute inflammation of the pancreas, any apples from the diet must be temporarily removed - this applies to both fresh fruits and dried fruits. But with chronic pancreatitis in a state of remission, dried apples are allowed for consumption. The main thing is not to eat them in too large quantities, otherwise the high fiber content will lead to the fact that the body will receive harm, not benefit.

The benefits and harms of dried apples for diabetes

Fiber and trace elements in dried fruits are of great benefit for diabetes. The properties of the product allow maintaining the correct metabolism and preventing the development of complications. At the same time, the glycemic index of apple drying is only about 25 units, depending on the variety, therefore, dried fruits do not lead to sharp jumps in blood glucose.

Drinks based on dried fruits will also bring benefits - compotes and decoctions. Of course, they must be cooked without adding sugar, otherwise all the beneficial properties will turn into harm.

How many dried apples can you eat per day

The benefits and harms of apple drying depends on the amount of dried fruits consumed. It is recommended for a healthy person to eat only 4-6 pieces of delicacies per day; in such an amount, apples will improve health and will not cause harm.

Children and adolescents should be offered dried fruits in smaller quantities - only 3 pieces a day. And babies under 6 years old are allowed to use only 1 slice and no more than once every 2 days.

Healthy Dried Apple Recipes

Dried apple fruits are consumed not only in the form of soft slices. Healthy and rather tasty drinks are prepared from dried vitamin apples. They can be drunk for general health promotion, and sometimes home remedies can even help cope with the symptoms of certain ailments.

Dried apple compote

The simplest dried fruit drink is a regular compote. They do it like this:

• 100 g of dried apple slices are poured with a liter of water;
• after the water boils, the apples are boiled for another quarter of an hour on low heat;
• after the compote is ready, it is infused for 12 hours under a closed lid at room temperature.

Warm or cold compote can be drunk by the whole family, it is allowed even for the diet of young children. The benefits and harms of dried apple compote is that it strengthens the immune system and helps to improve digestion. Regular consumption of compote relieves the problem of constipation, the work of the heart and nervous system also improves, the level of blood pressure normalizes.

It must be remembered that the properties of compote can be harmful. It is better not to use it for gastritis, peptic ulcer and pancreatitis, at least in a state of exacerbation.

Dried apple decoction

Another useful remedy with healing properties is strong apple broth. Prepare it as follows:

• about 200 g of dried apple slices are poured into 1.5 liters of water;
• after boiling, the compote is boiled for 40 minutes;
• the finished drink is cooled, then filtered.

To increase the benefits, you can add a large spoonful of honey and lemon juice to the broth, they will make up for the lack of vitamin C in the drink. Drinking the broth is very useful for colds and in order to strengthen immunity. Also, the benefit of a decoction of dried apples is that the drink has strong tonic properties - you can even drink it instead of coffee, there will be more benefits, and the vessels and the heart will not receive an excessive load.

Dried apple infusion

A useful and quick preparation tool is an infusion based on dried apple fruits. In order to prepare it, you must:

• take a few dried apple slices;
• pour them with a glass of boiling water;
• add a lemon slice and half a teaspoon of honey to the drink;
• insist the product under the lid for a quarter of an hour.

Since during the preparation of the drink, dried fruits are not exposed to prolonged temperature exposure, the benefits of the infusion from dried apples remain even higher than the beneficial properties of compotes and decoctions. The infusion helps very well with colds; drinking it is useful for prevention in the cold season.

There will be no harm from the drink with a deficiency of vitamins and microelements in the body, the infusion will allow you to quickly replenish the supply of necessary substances. The remedy will help with constipation and sluggish digestion, improve the condition of blood vessels and strengthen the heart system.

It is better to prepare a new drink every day, it takes very little time.

What varieties of apples are best used for drying

The benefits and harms of sun-dried apples are about the same for any kind of fruit. Nevertheless, there are recommendations as to which fruits are best to choose for creating blanks:

• All the benefits of dried fruits are concentrated in their pulp, therefore, for drying it is better to choose varieties with small seed boxes and thin peel.
• Since the apple slices are greatly reduced in size during the drying process, it is necessary to choose medium or large fruits. Sun-dried slices of small apples will turn out to be too small; it will take too many fresh fruits to prepare a small portion of a treat.
• When dried, the fruits of sweet varieties become almost tasteless. Although their beneficial properties are preserved, it is no longer possible to call such dried fruits a delicacy. But sour apples, when dried, acquire a very pleasant and distinct taste, therefore, it is better to use them to create blanks.

Fresh apples of varieties Antonovka, Titovka, Pepin, Aport, Cinnamon and White Naliv are ideal for drying. They meet all the basic requirements, and their blanks are juicy, aromatic and very useful.

How to properly dry apples at home

You can buy sun-dried apples in markets or shops. However, it is much more convenient and practical to dry fruits at home on your own - this does not require much effort and does not take much time. There are several ways to dry fresh apple fruits.

Drying apples in the sun

If in winter you have to use household appliances to dry fruits, then in summer it is easiest to dry apples in the hot sun. To do this, they must be laid out on a grid or perforated pallet in a thin layer so that the slices do not overlap each other. From above, the apples are covered with gauze so that insects do not settle on the slices.

On average, the drying process in clear hot weather takes about 4 days if the apples are in the sun. In the shade, the fruit will take a little longer to dry. The slices must be turned over daily so that they wither evenly on all sides.

The useful substance is destroyed at high temperatures, and in the process of natural drying, quite a lot of it remains, although less than in fresh fruits.

Drying apples in the oven

If the weather outside the window no longer allows drying in the open air, or for some reason you want to cook dried fruits faster, you can use a gas or electric oven.

• Fresh apples are cut into small thin slices and laid out on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper in one layer.
• The baking sheet is placed in an oven preheated to 80 ° C and left for half an hour.
• After this time, the temperature must be reduced to only 70 ° C and the apples must be kept in the oven for another 5 hours.

After the bulk of the moisture from the slices has evaporated, they will need to be turned over to the other side on a baking sheet and the temperature inside the oven should be reduced by another 20 ° C. At a temperature of 50 ° C, the apples are left to dry in the oven for the next 4 hours, turning them over from time to time.

Drying apples in the microwave

Microwaving apple slices has its own advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages of this method include the fact that fruits will have to be dried in small portions - a large baking sheet with apples simply will not fit in the microwave. But on the other hand, the process of preparing a portion takes only about 5 minutes, which means that in the end you can cook quite a lot of dried fruits in a couple of hours.

Drying is done as follows:

• thinly sliced ​​fresh apples are laid out on a plate and placed in the microwave;
• the kitchen appliance is turned on for 30 seconds, and then the plate is taken out and the slices are turned over, assessing the degree of their readiness.

Several drying cycles are required for just one serving.

Drying apples in the microwave is especially convenient when there is no oven or when it is impossible to keep the oven on for about 10 hours in a row.

Apples in an electric dryer

It is most convenient to dry apples in a special electrical appliance - a dryer designed specifically for preparing dried fruits. By default, the dryer is equipped with convenient perforated trays for slices, the user has the ability to set the desired temperature, depending on how quickly the sun-dried apples need to be cooked.

According to the classic recipe, the apple slices on pallets must be spread out in a thin layer and set to a drying temperature of 60-75 ° C. In this mode, the fruit is dried for about 8 hours; in the process, completely dried slices can be removed and new ones can be placed in the vacant space.

If you put the appliance at a temperature of about 100 ° C, the apples will dry faster. However, much less vitamins will remain in them, since nutrients are destroyed at extremely high temperatures.

How many dryers are obtained from a kilogram of fresh apples

When creating blanks, it must be borne in mind that the total mass of dried fruits will differ greatly from the mass of the raw material. In the process of drying, all the moisture leaves the apples, and they lose up to 90% of their mass, respectively, only 100 g of drying can be obtained from a kilogram of raw materials.

The harm of dried apples and contraindications to use

The medicinal properties and contraindications of dried apples are not the same for all people. Sometimes healthy dried fruits can be harmful to the body. It is not recommended to use them when:

• pancreatitis in the acute stage - to replenish the supply of vitamins, it is better to drink compote from dried apples, since it acts on the pancreas much softer;
• exacerbation of an ulcer or gastritis with high acidity - dried fruits will irritate the mucous membranes and will mainly harm;
• allergies - if there is an individual intolerance to apples, then in dried form they will be no less dangerous than fresh.

It is also necessary to use dried apple fruits with caution in case of diabetes. Small amounts of apple slices can be left in the diet. But from abuse of the product, there will only be harm, since the content of sucrose in the apple dryer is increased.

How to store dried apples

Qualitatively dried apple slices can retain their beneficial properties for up to 2 years. It is necessary to store them in clean glass jars or in linen bags in a dry place with good ventilation.

For a long time, dried fruits retain their beneficial properties when stored in the kitchen, in conditions of slightly high humidity.But the shelf life is reduced - you can eat drying only throughout the year.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of dried apples are a matter of their competent use. If you do not eat dried fruits in the presence of contraindications and control portions, then there will only be health benefits from sun-dried apples. The product will strengthen the body's defenses and contribute to the good functioning of the metabolic system.