How to Sun-Dry Anything (Almost) That's Edible

(Page 2 of 2)

July/August 1975
By the Mother Earth News editors 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

VEGETABLE or FRUIT

RELATED CONTENT

Beans (pod): string, green, snap, wax
Beans (shelled) and peas
Cereal and bread grains: barley, corn,
oats, rye, buckwheat, wheat, rice Herbaceous plants
Onions, leeks, kohlrabi Peppers
Pumpkin, squash
Apples
Apricots Berries Cherries
Currants, figs, grapes
Peaches, pears
Plums

PREPARATION FOR DRYING and DRYING METHOD

1.) Wash and dry, cut or break off ends and pull strings, cut or break into one-inch pieces, spread on frames (or string on heavy thread), dry until tough to brittle.
Shell, grade if desired, spread on frames, stir daily until hard and brittle. 2.) Spread on frames, stir daily until completely dry. Allow corn to stand on stalks until fully mature, pick and husk, leave on cobs until grains are hard, strip from ears.

3.) If the plants have thick, juicy stems such as celery or rhubarb, slice thinly and spread on frames (or string) and dry into brittle chips. Hang leafy herbs in a shady, airy place, crumble when dry, remove large stems, and store leaves in airtight containers.

4.) Peel and slice into thin rings (no more than 1/8 inch thick), spread on frames (or string), dry until light-colored and brittle.

5.) Small peppers (tabasco, red) may be dried whole until dark and shrunken. Slice others into rings, spread on frames (or string), dry until crisp and brittle.

6.) Wash, remove stem, cut open, clean out seeds and pith, trim off peel. Cut in cubes or slices, spread on frame (or string), and dry until tough.

7.) Wash, peel, slice thin (no need to core), spread on frames (or string), dry until leathery. Wash, halve, remove pit, dry skin side down on frames until leathery. Do not turn. Wash, spread on frames until hard.

8.) Wash and pit, or halve if large and juicy. Dry on frames until leathery and sticky.
Pull from bunches (grapes), wash, dry on frames until leathery and slightly sticky.

9.) Wash, halve (or quarter if fruit is large), remove pits (peaches), dry skin side down on frames until tough and leathery. Do not turn.

10.) Prune plums are best for drying. Wash, and dry on frames until leathery and pliable.

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.