Nearly in all cultures all over the world, it is a tradition to dry fruits to preserve them and use them for a long time. Practically every fruit is dried from apricots to apples.
The traditional method to dry fruits and lemons was sun drying but now people no longer use it as this method takes a lot of time. Instead of sun drying, dehydrators, an oven, and a microwave can be used.
Out of these all, drying fruits in the microwave is the most time-saving method which dries any fruit in just a few minutes. In the microwave, water gets removed from the fruit and does not cook it.
First, let us learn the method to dry lemon slices in the microwave:
Things Required:
- Knife
- Lemons
- Microwave Plate
- Microwave
- Paper Towel
Method
- Cut the lemon into slices of 1/8 to 1 / 4 inch each.
- Take a microwave-safe plate and put 5 sheets of paper kitchen towel on it.
- Put all the lemon slices on the plate with the paper towel and ensure they do not overlap each other.
- Cover the lemon slices with 5 more sheets of paper towel.
- Set the microwave setting to defrost mode. If this setting is not available, set it at 50% power.
- Run the microwave for 7 minutes. Remove the top layer of the paper towel and save them.
- Use tongs to remove the plate from the microwave and place the slices on the wire rack.
- Lay fresh 5 more sheets of paper towel on the plate and lay the lemon slices again on the towels.
- Place the earlier used top paper towels on the top and put them back in the microwave.
- Run the appliance for 5 more minutes.
- Check the slices if they are done.
- At this point, the lemon slices should be jelly-like. Put them on the wire rack until they are firm. Now, you can use them as required.
- If the lemon slices are not jelly-like, put them back into the microwave and return on defrost for 2 more minutes.
Once the lemon slices are dried completely, it becomes essential to store them properly. It should be stored in an air-tight container and can be used for months.
The flavor and nutrition of the fruit get deteriorated due to oxidation and this can be prevented by vacuum sealing.
Uses of dried lemon slices
Dried lemon provides incredible flavor as it is added to a variety of soups and stews. It can even be added to tea or hot water.
Even cakes and ice-creams can be garnished with these dried lemon slices. Children often use dried orange and lemon slices for decoration during Christmas.
How to dry lemon slices in the oven?
Dried lemon slices are easier to make at home and are cheaper as compared to store-bought lemons especially in the lemon season.
To dry lemon slices in the oven, follow the procedure mentioned below:
- Preheat the oven to the lowest temperature that is 160 degrees Fahrenheit or 70 degrees Celsius. Cover the baking tray with parchment paper.
- Take whole lemons, wash, and dry them. Chop the ends of the lemons and cut each into 4-5 slices of ¼ inch thickness.
- Put the lemon slices on the baking tray with the slices properly spaced apart from each other.
- Let the slices be in the running oven for 6-8 hours. Flip them halfway through the drying time.
- Once done, remove the slices from the oven and let them cool before using. They become hard as they cool down.
- To give a more elegant look, you can even brush them with edible gold paint.
The slices of lemons must be of the same thickness so that all of them can dry at the same time. Always store the dried lemon slices in a glass jar or airtight container.
How to dry lemon slices in the sun?
To dry lemon slices in the sun, you should follow the below-mentioned procedure:
- Wash the lemons properly and dry them properly with a paper towel.
- Cut the lemons into slices of ¼ inch each. You can use a sharp knife and a chopping board to do so.
- Take a flat tray and place a baking sheet on it. Place the lemon slices on it such that the slices do not overlap with each other.
- Put the tray in an area in your home where there is direct access to the sunlight. Sun-drying is best in hot and dry climates and the temperature should be at least 29 degrees Celsius.
- This process will take 1-2 days, so check the weather forecast before you are planning to use the sun drying method to dry lemon slices.
Tips
- Do not use this method if the humidity level is more than 60% as in this weather, lemon slices or any fruit will not dehydrate.
- The drying process becomes more effective when metallic trays or drying racks are used as they absorb sunlight effectively.
- Always put cheesecloth on the tray to protect the lemon slices from bugs and insects.
- Once the lemon slices are dried, which may take even more than 2 days sometimes, put the racks indoors at a dry place for about 30 minutes to let them cool down.
How to microwave lemon for more juice?
Most of us microwave lemon for some time to get maximum juice from it. By this process, the fruit is easy to be squeezed and maximum juice can be extracted.
In this process, the lemon is put in the microwave and it is run at high for 10 to 20 seconds. Once taken out, it can be squeezed and you will get maximum juice from it.
Do not cut the lemon in halves before putting it in the microwave as the moisture of the lemon gets soaked up in the heat. To avoid this, always put a whole lemon in the microwave.
Conclusion
Since dried lemon slices are used by us in many ways like for garnishing on cocktails, making lemonade, the dried lemon powder is added in sauces, soups, vegetables, etc, they are made in home which is much cheaper as compared to stored bought lemon slices.
Even though there are many other methods to dry lemon slices, you can use a microwave to do it which saves a lot of time.
For this, you just need lemons, paper towels, and a microwave. The process of this is already mentioned above in detail.