Ingredients for making dried persimmons
– Persimmons: 2kg
– Ties: 6 pieces (nylon or wire)
How to choose fresh and delicious persimmons
– To choose persimmons, you should select ones with smooth, shiny skin, dark yellow-orange color, without any bruises, soft spots, or cracks.
– Remember to choose persimmons with stems. If the stem of the persimmon is green, it means the persimmon is fresh and delicious. Stems that have turned yellow indicate that the persimmons have been picked for a long time and they might be soft and tasteless.
– You can lightly press the persimmons. If the persimmons are firm and do not have any dents, they are fresh and delicious. But if the persimmons are soft, the stem is soft and there are many bruised spots, it is not recommended to buy them.
How to make dried persimmons
Preparing the persimmons
– First, rinse each persimmon thoroughly, especially around the stem to avoid any dirt that might cause mold.
– Peel the persimmons vertically from top to bottom or from bottom to top, so that the dried persimmons will have beautiful patterns on the surface.
Blanching the persimmons
– Boil 1 liter of water in a pot, then put the persimmons in it and blanch them for about 5-7 seconds. Take them out and let them dry. Doing this will help prevent mold. You can also soak the persimmons in alcohol for 3-5 minutes.
Tying and hanging the persimmons
– Use a string to tie around the stem of each persimmon or wrap the string around the bottom of the persimmons. Tie them tightly because the strings will become loose when the persimmons are dried, and they may easily fall off.
– After tying, hang the persimmons outside. At night, bring them inside and turn on a gentle fan or set the air conditioner to 16 degrees Celsius. To prevent dust or flies from sticking to the drying persimmons, cover them with a clean film.
– There is no need to hang the persimmons under direct sunlight, as it will dry the persimmons quickly and make them hard without sweet juice.
– You only need to dry the persimmons in gentle sunlight, with a breeze, in a well-ventilated area, avoiding dampness and rain. This is the right time to dry the persimmons as the sunlight is just enough, the weather is dry, and the persimmons are starting to ripen and turn yellow-red.
Massaging the persimmons
– After around 10 days of drying, put on plastic gloves and gently squeeze around the persimmons to help them release their juice. Be careful not to squeeze them too early or too hard, as it may cause them to darken.
– On the 14th day, you will see that the outer skin of the persimmons becomes firm again, which means they are ready to be harvested. If the persimmons are large, they can be dried for a longer time.
The finished product
The surface of the dried persimmons is light and soft. When you separate them, you will find that the inside is moist, with golden shiny jelly-like juice. They have a fragrant and sweeter taste than fresh persimmons.
Tips for successful dried persimmons
– Dried persimmons are easily attracted by flies, which can cause them to spoil quickly, so a cover is necessary. You need to sun-dry them evenly, and after around 14 days, they can be harvested.
– Do not try to dry the persimmons on humid days. They should only be dried in dry and cold weather, at temperatures below 16 degrees Celsius, to allow them to dry naturally without mold. Do not let them get wet in the rain.
– During the drying process, check the persimmons with your hands. If you find any spoiling persimmons, remove them immediately to prevent them from affecting the others.
– If the weather is bad, with heavy rain, place the dried persimmons in a zippered bag or a sterilized container, and store them in the freezer until the weather improves. Then, continue drying them.
Tips for storing dried persimmons
If you want to store dried persimmons for a longer time, you can keep them with the stems on and store them in a vacuum-sealed bag or an airtight container. Put them in a cool compartment of the refrigerator and consume them within 2-3 months.
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