Pretreating
Enzymes in fruit and vegetables are responsible for color and flavor changes during ripening. These changes will continue during drying and storage unless the produce is pretreated to slow down enzyme activity.
Blanching can be used in the pretreatment of vegetables. It helps set color and hastens drying by relaxing tissues. It can also help keep flavor during storage and improve reconstitution during cooking.
Many
Fruits and Vegetables may be dipped in the following:
•Lemon or Pineapple Juice is a natural alternative (in place of other pretreatments) to reduce unwanted color or browning. Fruit may be sliced right into the juice; remove after a couple of minutes and arrange in trays.
For variety you may dip fruits in
•Sodium Bisulfite: Ask pharmacist for food safe (USP) grade only.
You need only 1 teaspoon of sodium bisulfite dissolved in a quart of water. To help prevent any loss of vitamins and to maintain a bright zesty color. Prepare small amounts of fruit and dip in the solution for
•Table Salt can be used as a solution for dipping.
•Citric Acid or Ascorbic Acid solutions give a “Vitamin C tart taste.”
These
•Water or Steam Blanching works - however, blanched fruits may turn soft and become difficult to handle. Fruits with tough skins (grapes, prunes and small dark plums, cherries, figs, and some berries) may be
•Syrup Blanching may help retain the color of apples, apricots, figs, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums. Makes a sweetened, candied food.
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