Why dry carrots are good, how to prepare them correctly and where to use

Carrots are good for everyone and at any time of the year. At the same time, dried in its properties is no worse than that just plucked from the garden. Sometimes a dried vegetable is even healthier - for example, in winter, when the roots are no longer seasonal and lack a bright and rich taste. Dried carrots retain their beneficial properties for a long time.

Drying it is easy - there are several quick and easy ways to do it.

Is it possible to dry carrots for the winter

In winter, a person needs more vitamins and minerals. Dried carrots do an excellent job of being a nutrient supplier... In winter, it will come in handy when preparing dishes, while such a blank will take very little storage space.

Procurement of carrots for the winter should be taken care of in the summer. Carrots ripened in the garden in the summer months are the most juicy, tasty, with the maximum amount of nutrients and vitamins... If you dry it in autumn or winter, there will be less benefit and taste from it, since it will have time to lose its properties.

What is good about dried carrots

Carrotrich in nutrients, and in dried form it retains up to 95% of its properties... No other storage method will give this result.

Composition and useful properties

Carrot composition:

• sugar - up to 15%;
• fatty oils - 0.1-0.7%;
• nitrogenous substances;
• flavonoids - natural plant dyes with beneficial properties;
• enzymes - enzymes, proteins that accelerate biochemical processes in the body;
• sodium - 275 mg;
• potassium - 2540 mg;
• phosphorus - 346 mg;
• magnesium - 118 mg;
• calcium - 212 mg;
• copper - 0.37 mcg;
• manganese - 1.12 mg;
• selenium - 8.6 mcg;
• zinc - 1.57 mg;
• iron - 3.93 mg;
• vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.53 mg;
• vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.42 mg;
• vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 1.04 mg;
• vitamin B9 (folic acid) - 55 mcg;
• vitamin C - 14.6 mg;
• vitamin E - 5.45 mg;
• vitamin K (phylloquinone) —108 mcg;
• vitamin PP (nicotinic acid) - 6.57 mg;
• choline - 72.1 mg;
• vitamin A - 3423 mcg;
• vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) - 1.47 mg.

Beta-carotene, which is found in dried carrots, has a beneficial effect on functions of the respiratory system. Once in the body, it is converted into vitamin A - a compound that is especially important for women's health.

Dried carrots are good for vision, they strengthen the retina, help with myopia and fatigue... The constant use of the root vegetable increases vitality, stimulates regeneration processes, and strengthens the immune system.

The nutritional value

The energy value (caloric content) of dried carrots is 221 kcal.

100 g of dried carrots contain:

• proteins - 7.8 g;
• carbohydrates - 49.2 g;
• fats - 0.6 g;
• ash - 6.84 g;
• dietary fiber - 23.6 g

Take a note:

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How to dry carrots

Harvesting carrots consists in the preparation of root crops and subsequent drying.

Preparing carrots

For drying, choose medium-sized, young, juicy, brightly colored roots. and a thin heart, early or mid-season:

1. Cut off the remaining leaves and small roots, if any.
2. Wash the carrots with a stiff brush to remove any clogged dirt and dirt.
3. Start cleaning.To dry a large volume, it is more convenient and faster to use a special vegetable peeler.
4. Remove the green part of the root vegetable.
5. Check the fruit for damage, if any, cut them off.
6. Rinse the prepared carrots well.
7. Blanch it in boiling water for 12-20 minutes depending on the size of the fruit. You can also dry unprocessed, raw carrots. However, pre-heat treatment promotes better preservation of carotene. Without blanching, dried carrots become pale over time and lose their flavor.
8. Check readiness with a toothpick. It will with little difficulty go into the finished vegetable. Cool the carrots under running cold water and pat dry with a towel.
9. Then grind the root vegetable on a coarse grater, cubes, wheels, semicircles or quarters, cubes, straws.

Drying methods

There are several ways:

• naturally (in the sun);
• in the oven;
• microwave;
• electric dryer.

Let's consider each method in more detail.

In the sun

The best place to dry naturally is an open, dry area away from roads, for example, in a garden or vegetable garden. Prepared and chopped carrots are scattered on a long sieve or tray in a thin layer and placed in the sun. In the latter case, it is stirred once every few days.

Air-solar drying - long process... High-quality processing will take at least 2 weeks. When the root vegetable is dry, it is revised to remove underdried and contaminated pieces.

In the oven

The most common way - drying carrots in the oven:

1. Prepare a baking sheet. It must be dry and clean.
2. Preheat oven to 70 ° C.
3. Place the preparation on a baking sheet in one layer. If the root crop is grated, the maximum layer height is 1 cm.
4. Place the baking sheet in the oven and let the carrots dry for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally and turning over to remove moisture evenly.
5. The dried workpiece is cooled directly in a baking sheet and placed in storage.

Carrot it turns out fragrant and retains a bright color.

Note. Ensure that the room is sufficiently ventilated while the oven is operating: open a vent or window for ventilation.

In the microwave

Another way to dry carrots:

1. Cover a special flat dish for the microwave with paper towels, lay out the pieces of prepared vegetables.
2. Cover the top with another napkin.
3. Place a glass of water in the microwave.
4. Dry the carrots on medium power. Set the timer for 3 minutes, then stir the pieces.

Microwave dry root vegetable fastest, but due to the small capacity, the process will take a lot of time.

In an electric dryer

Electric dryer will facilitate the procedure for harvesting carrots, but not every home has it:

1. Set the required temperature on the device - about 60-70 ° C.
2. Place the chopped vegetable on trays and leave to dry. The process will take a long time - from 6 to 12 hours. It depends on the model of the electric dryer, its power, as well as the size of the carrot pieces.

In the case of a dryer, do not study the recipes, but the instructions for your technique. Different models require different settings, temperature conditions and timing.

If you are not engaged in harvesting a large amount of vegetables, then buying an electric dryer is impractical.

How to check readiness

It is important not to overdry the product... In the finished dried carrots, the amount of moisture will decrease by about 15%, but this is difficult to determine by eye, so look at the elasticity of the pieces.

Try a bite before you finish drying. It should be moderately brittle, but not crumble or stick together. If the consistency of the product suits you, proceed to sorting.

Application of dried carrots

Dried carrots used by housewives not only in the kitchen, but also in folk medicine... The benefits of the root crop have been widely known for a long time.

In cooking

Having dried carrots in your kitchen is practical and convenient. The already peeled and cut root vegetable saves time when preparing various soups, main courses or warm salads, pies and other preparations, and even when brewing tea. The root crop dries out well and at the same time also perfectly restores its propertiesas soon as it gets into water or oil.

Dried carrots eaten at any time of the year, subject to storage conditions... The taste of carrots does not change, as well as the taste of familiar dishes prepared with a dried product.

Dry carrots do not require preliminary preparation to be added to the dish - they are poured in 15 minutes before the end of cooking. If the pieces are small (up to 3 mm), then the heat treatment time is reduced to 10 minutes.

Read also:

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In folk medicine

In folk medicine, dried billet used to make vitamin tea.

Carrot tea has the following properties:

• has a positive effect on the respiratory system;
• strengthens the immune system, therefore it is advised to drink it during the cold season;
• causes a surge of vivacity and energy;
• removes toxins from the body and cleanses the blood;
• improves vision;
• softens and cleanses the skin;
• strengthens hair;
• stimulates appetite;
• eliminates increased gas formation and relieves constipation;
• prevents prostatitis;
• lowers blood pressure.

Despite the large number of useful properties, there are contraindications to the use of such tea:

• the presence of individual intolerance;
• diseases of the stomach or duodenum in the acute stage;
• pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Vitamins A and E are used in the treatment of seborrhea, increase skin firmness and elasticity, reduce the increased work of the sebaceous glands, help to acquire an even tan of a beautiful shade.

Important. Drink no more than 1 tbsp. carrot tea a day. Exceeding the recommended amount will cause nausea, vomiting, and headache.

It is not difficult to make vitamin and medicinal tea. It is brewed like regular black. In addition to dried carrots, tea is added for greater benefit:

• ginger;
• cinnamon;
• honey;
• black currant;
• nettles;
• rosehip.

To make tea, pour 2 tbsp. l. dry carrots with boiling waterand then let the drink sit for at least half an hour by wrapping the teapot in a towel. It is allowed to brew tea in a regular thermos. Infusion with additives from berries or herbs is infused for at least 4 hours.

The finished tea is filtered through a fine strainer and drunk, sweetened with sugar or honey if necessary.

Terms and conditions of storage

Store carrots in:

• glass containers;
• wooden;
• plastic containers;
• cotton bags;
• craft packages.

Containers with dried vegetables are stored in a kitchen cabinet or pantry... From a large container, it is convenient to pour small portions of dried carrots into a spice jar so that they are at hand. It is advisable to put such a jar in a closet after use.

As with any dried food, protect carrots from moisture and sudden changes in temperature that could wet the outside of the bag or cause condensation to form in the jar. If you are taking dried carrots with you on your trip, use zipper bags.

Carrots, dried for the winter, are stored in dry conditions. Rooms with high humidity are not suitable, otherwise it will absorb moisture, resulting in mold and an unpleasant odor... Subject to all conditions, dried carrots will not lose their qualities throughout the year.

Reviews

Dried carrots are popular and there are many reviews about their benefits and usability.

Anna, Moscow: “An excellent snack for healthy lifestyle lovers and not only. The carrots are crispy, not firm, but sweet. For me, this is the perfect snack for walking. Naturally, I recommend trying it! ".

Elena, Rostov-on-Don: “When I forget to buy carrots, there is always dried, it does not differ in taste in ready-made dishes. And most importantly - no need to clean, cut. In the time pressure mode, that's it! ".

Alexandra, Saratov: “Very handy for soups. You don't need to peel and cut the carrots, just put them in a saucepan. Time is saved, and it does not take up space in the refrigerator. It tastes like a regular carrot ".

Conclusion

In the cold and cold season, you just need to stock up on dried carrots. It takes up little space, but brings a lot of benefits. Of course, this is not a panacea for all diseases, but dried carrots are an irreplaceable option to support immunity.

This preparation significantly saves time for cooking your favorite dishes. Drying carrots at home will not be difficult.