Drying berries is a great way to preserve summer's sweet little fruits, and offers a great alternative to freezing or canning. Dried berries will have no chemical preservative, making them a delicious, all-natural treat. Snack on a handful, stir some in your yogurt or sprinkle a few on your salad.
Instructions
1. Sort the berries and rinse them carefully in cool water. Select only the berries that are completely ripe, but not too soft. Discard any that have spots or signs of insect damage.
2. Prepare a batch of pectin, as directed on the box, and pre-treat the berries in the pectin mixture to preserve the color.
3. Dry berries in the sun if you live in a warm, dry climate. Spread the berries on a screen and put them in a sunny lotion. Lay netting or a screen over the berries to protect them from birds. Turn them over when they are halfway dry, and bring them in at night.
4. Dry berries in the oven by putting them on a cheesecloth or cotton sheet before placing them on oven racks. Dry the berries in a 145-degree F oven, with the doors propped open so steam can escape. Check a few berries occasionally to check their progress. They should be dry but still pliable when they have cooled. The berries will be dry in 4 to 12 hours.
5. Put the dried berries in zip-seal bags and store them in a cool, dry place. A refrigerator is moist, so dried berries should be kept there only during the summer, in a very airtight package.
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