How to cook candied melon at home

Candied fruits are a sweetness that children and adults love. Scented slices, cooked in syrup or dried in various ways, are used in sweet baked goods, as well as as an independent dessert. In this article, we will talk about candied melon fruits. Find out how to make a treat in syrup and how to dry it properly.

Which melons are suitable for cooking candied fruits

The ripeness of the fruit plays an important role in the preparation of candied fruits. Choose dense melons, not fully ripe, with green skin.

Best fit varieties Collective farmer, Koy-bash, Pineapple, Persian. Their skin is thick, and the flesh is juicy and dense. The fruits contain a lot of sugar, the aroma is pronounced.

Candied melon at home

There are two ways to cook delicious candied fruits at home:

• traditional - cook in sugar syrup;
• modern - dry in the sun, in an electric dryer or oven.

Those who do not consume sugar will appreciate the second method, in which the product retains a maximum of useful vitamins and minerals.

Candied fruits in sugar syrup

Ingredients:

• melon - 1 kg;
• granulated sugar - 1-1.5 kg;
• water - 2 tbsp.;
• citric acid - 1 tsp.

Preparation:

1. Wash the fruit, cut it in half, remove the core. Divide into wedges and cut off the rind. Cut the pulp into 2-3 cm cubes or thin strips.
2. Place the slices in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour boiling water over them so that the water completely covers the melon. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Then fold in a colander and rinse.
3. For sugar syrup: add sugar to water, stirring occasionally, bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Make sure the grains are completely dissolved. Chill the syrup, put the melon in it and leave for 10-12 hours.
4. Boil the slices three times in syrup. Bring to a boil each time and cook for 5 minutes. During cooking, do not stir the contents of the pan, but shake the container from time to time so that the syrup evenly envelops the slices.
5. During the third cooking process, add citric acid to the syrup. Stir in vanilla or cinnamon for a richer flavor.
6. When the melon pieces become firm and transparent, remove the container from the heat and leave to infuse for eight hours.
7. Remove the candied fruits with a slotted spoon, spread them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper, at a short distance from each other. This will prevent them from sticking together.

You can dry candied fruits on the balcony or in a room with good ventilation. Flip the slices periodically and change the parchment paper at the same time. They will be ready in seven days.

Place the trays in the oven to speed up the process. Preheat it and then turn it off. Mix the dried candied fruits with powdered sugar, dry for 2-3 hours and put in glass jars with lids.

Important! There is another recipe. For syrup, instead of water, take dessert wine, martini, cognac, brandy. The cooking process is no different from the classic one. The peculiarity is that the pieces of melon during cooking remain dense and acquire a unique aroma.

Candied fruit drying

Drying or drying melons is a more dietary and natural way to prepare candied fruits. Hot summer days are ideal times for drying fruit. Plus, this is the easiest recipe. After 3-4 days, the candied fruit can be removed from the baking sheets and placed in storage containers.

A gas or electric oven is also suitable for drying melons:

1. Preheat it to 120 ° C, place the baking trays with the prepared melon, and open the door slightly.
2. After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to 90 ° C and dry for 5-6 hours.
3. Turn the pieces periodically.

An electric dryer is a miracle device that allows you to cook a variety of delicacies, while maintaining the maximum useful properties of the product:

1. Place the slices on trays, heat the appliance to 70 ° C and leave for 10-12 hours.
2. Change the trays during cooking as the temperature is higher below.
3. Switch off the dryer periodically for 10-15 minutes to avoid overheating.
4. The maximum operating time without stopping is 10 hours. Watch out for the slices - you may need to shorten the drying time.

Candied Melon Peels

Candied melon fruits are prepared not only from the pulp, but also from the peel. To do this, take:

• melons with a smooth thick skin - 2-3 pcs.;
• juice of one lemon;
• sugar - 1 kg.

Preparation:

1. Wash the fruits, cut the skin up to 2 mm thick. Crusts cut into strips and simmer in boiling water with two tablespoons of lemon juice for 3-4 minutes. Place on a sieve, rinse under running water and leave to dry.
2. Prepare a syrup from 500 ml of water and 750 g of granulated sugar, immerse the melon rind in it. Cook over low heat for 10-12 minutes and leave for 8-10 hours.
3. The procedure must be repeated two more times. At the last stage of cooking, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the syrup. Then fold the candied fruit on a sieve and leave for one hour.
4. Place the crusts on a baking sheet and leave to dry in the oven at 40 ° C for one hour. Sprinkle the finished candied fruits with icing sugar.

Advice! To speed up the evaporation of excess moisture, leave the boiled candied fruits at room temperature for 2-3 days.

How to check the readiness of candied fruits

Candied fruits cooked in syrup spring back when pressed, do not release moisture, have a light yellow translucent shade. Melon, dried or sun-dried in the sun, acquires a dark hue, becomes stringy and sticky.

If desired, the strips can be woven into a pigtail. Pieces dried in an electric dryer or oven have a light shade. The shriveled appearance does not affect the quality of taste.

Terms and conditions of storage

After cooking, the candied fruits are placed in dry glass or tin cans with lids. Also use linen bags, cardboard boxes, paper bags.

If the preparation technology is observed, the product can be stored for 8-10 months in a dark cabinet at room temperature. If you are preparing candied fruit for the first time and are not sure about the quality of the product, use the refrigerator for storage.

Read also:

Is it possible to eat a melon with gout and how is it useful?

Melon is a berry, fruit, or vegetable.

How to cook delicious candied pumpkin fruits.

Conclusion

Candied melons are a great substitute for sweets. Melon, dried or dried in the sun, retains a maximum of useful substances and has a unique taste. An oven or electric dryer will help speed up the drying process.