The Easiest Way to Soften Any Dried Fruit This is very simple, and works on any kind of dried fruit. Put your dried fruit in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes, and then strain the fruit and discard the water. The fruit will be plumper, juicier, and softer.
How long does it take to soften dried apricots?
Be patient.
But depending on the size and amount of dried fruit, it can take between one and eight hours. However, heating it with liquid can speed up the process. Only add enough water or liquid to cover the fruit in the container, as too much liquid can dilute the flavor.
Do I need to soak dried apricots?
But the secret to success when cooking and baking with dried fruit, whether it be raisins, cranberries, cherries, apricots, currants, figs, or any other dried fruit, is to rehydrate the fruit before adding them to a recipe.
How long do you soak apricots for?
Put the dried apricots in a bowl and pour over boiling water to cover. Leave to soak for 5 minutes (or longer if the apricots are very dry), then drain off the water.
Can dried apricots be rehydrated?
Rehydrating dried fruit such as apricots results in a fruit that is still quite firm and ideal for desserts. Soak dried apricots for a few hours in cold water, then bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
What happens when you put a dried apricot in water?
Apricots are fleshy fruits of the genus plum. If dry apricots are kept in water they will swell due to the incoming water by the process of endosmosis. Whereas if placed in a concentrated sugar solution, they lose water due to exosmosis.
How can I speed up soaking fruit?
OPTION 1: FAST SOAK METHOD
- Place the measured dried fruit or raisins, golden raisins, and cranberries in a plastic resealable bag.
- Heat the fruit (with the liquid) in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.
- Then, drain the fruit, reserving the remaining liquid for the recipe, as flavoring.
How many dried apricots should I eat a day?
Obviously dried apricots count as one of your five a day. The recommended portion is 30gms (3 or 4 apricots). All dried fruit contains the same nutritional qualities as the original fresh fruit. In fact, weight for weight the dried form contains more of the antioxidants, minerals and fibre than the raw original.
What are the benefits of eating dried apricots?
One cup of dried apricots provides 94% of your body’s daily need for Vitamin A and 19% of its iron. Dried apricots also contain potassium and antioxidants and have been known to lower cholesterol and improve digestion. Dried apricots are fat-free, low in calories & high in flavor!
How long can you leave dried fruit to soak?
Soak my dried fruits for 3 months or more. the longer the better. If you are pushed for time then you can soak the fruits overnight or boil the fruits in the alcohol. You can put any dried fruit combination in your fruit cake depending on the flavor and texture you are after.
Are soft apricots good for you?
High in antioxidants
Apricots are a great source of many antioxidants, including beta carotene and vitamins A, C, and E. What’s more, they’re high in a group of polyphenol antioxidants called flavonoids, which have been shown to protect against illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease (5, 6 , 7 ).
What can I do with too many apricots?
Dehydrated Apricots
One of the best ways to use up excess apricots is to dehydrate them. Dehydrators are very easy to use, but an oven set to the lowest possible temperature will work as well. When you are dehydrating fruit in an oven, you must open the door slightly so that the moisture can escape.
How do you peel apricots?
The perk of using an apricot is that most recipes don’t require the smooth skin of the apricot to be peeled. However, should you need to peel them, simply blanch in boiling water for about 20 seconds and then plunge them into ice water. The skins should peel off easily.
Should you soak dried fruit before eating?
The reason for this is that it is believed that healthy omega-3 fatty acids are destroyed when soaked, which reduces their nutritional capacity. Besides, some nutrients are present in dry fruits, such as vitamin-E and carotenoids. Which are destroyed on soaking dry fruits. So eating raw dry fruits is more beneficial.
How do you eat dried apricot fruit?
You can eat them as they are as an evening snack. You may also add them to your fruit salad or smoothie. You can also sprinkle your ice cream with pieces of dried apricots. Dried apricots also taste well when you simply dip them in your favorite cheese and munch (gouda cheese pairs well with dried apricots).
What can I soak fruit in instead of alcohol?
You can soak in Rum, brandy or whisky for alcoholic options and orange juice, apple juice, grape juice or tea extract for non alcoholic option. You can add spices like clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom and prepare tea extract and use it for soaking the dry fruits.
What do you soak fruit in?
#1: Vinegar Soaking Method
Add 1 cup of white vinegar and submerge your fruits and vegetables in the water. Let soak for 15 minutes. Drain the water and give the produce a quick rinse. To dry, lay the produce out on a kitchen towel until completely dry or hand dry each piece individually.
How long should I soak fruit in alcohol?
When Soaking Fruit in Alcohol, How Long Should You Soak It? You can soak your fruit in alcohol for as little as an hour or as long as three hours for the best flavor, but I’ve found that three hours is the best balance in terms of taste for an alcoholic fruit salad.
Do apricots make you gain weight?
Dried fruits, such as dates, prunes, apricots, figs, sultanas, currants, and raisins, contain more calories than their fresh counterparts, making them great options for healthy weight gain.
What is the best time to eat apricot?
Apricots are a symbol of summer and come into season in May through August, and they are most delicious during this time. Apricots are a good source of vitamin C and beta-carotene. Due to their small size, they are often eaten in multiples.
Which dried fruit is the healthiest?
Dates are one serious candidate for the title of healthiest dried fruit, with high levels of iron, fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and more. Dates also have a low glycemic index, so they do not typically contribute to a spike in blood sugar.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.