Hi gang! I"m going home to Michigan to visit my parents next weekend. It's blueberry season up there now, there are a couple of you-pick farms close by so I'll probably get a bunch. My freezer space is very limited, does anyone have experience with drying blueberries without a dehydrator? I do have a gas oven but it doesn't have a pilot light. What about drying them in the back window of the car? Any advice? Thanks!

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

Answers

Why not can them Sherri, the dried ones are very tough, and don't have much flavor, but between canning them and making jam, that would sure use up a bunch, and would taste far more wonderful than the dried ones. Follow the directions in the Ball Blue Book of Home Canning, available at farm shops or your library.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

I"ve got the Blue Book, I'll have to take a look at it. My only prior experience with jam is making strawberry freezer jam, and I did that way back when the earth was still cooling. :-)

Keith likes to buy this prepackaged dried fruit mix called "Berries and Cherries" at the store. It has blueberries in it and they're still soft, like little blue raisins. I was hoping that I could make something similar at home.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

This is a good question Sherri as we love dired cherries like that. I just don't know how to keep the fruit soft without ending up with rotted fruit. Someone help us dried fruit lovers!!

When I freeze berries I often forget about them and told myself that we needed to do something with them right away. Canning isn't always a welcome chore. I love drying the mushrooms we grow in the oven. We don't have a pilot light either. We just turn the gas to warm and then check it often, maybe turning it off after an hour and then back on, or propping the door open and leaving it on. We play with it, so I usually do it when I am home and awake (no overnight drying for us). Try a small batch in a single layer on a pan. Stir them often. Use a window screen if you have one, instead. Maybe I'll get a chance to try it with berries soon. If I do I'll let you know.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

Sherri, while you are here let's remember to look through the books on drying (book collector here). I have dryed them years back and they were wonderful for cooking.........just can't remember the whole process at this moment and since I am frantically trying to dig out before you get here ( LOL) I can't take the time to do any book searching.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

OK Diane, I'll add it to the list....maybe I should stay a week so we can get everything done! hehehe

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

Sherri, the dreid fruit mix your husband loves so much is more than half sugar/corn syrup, carefully read the label, that is what makes the store bought blueberries so soft and yummy, all that sugar! Not good for you! However, if you actually like the home dried kind without sugar added, an Amercan Home brand food dehydrator is very reasonable and available at Wally World, K-Mart, etc., usually for under 50 dollars, soft fruits are best dried in a regular dehydrator for purposes of fuel economy because it take so long and the fan really speeds it up in the store bought dehydrator.

I am afraid if you try the back of a car window they will rot and mold in short order due to to lack of air circulation and taking too long to start drying, but give it a try!

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

Wow, I bet those canned blueberries are good! We don't have enough yet for that! All of ours go directly into muffins!

Sherri I have a real handy dandy little book titled Making and Using Dried Foods by Phyllis Hobson, here is what she says-'

Wash firm but well ripened berries. Cut in half or drop in boiling water for 30 seconds to split skins.

In the sun-Spread berry halves or wholes in a thin layer over drying trays. Cover with cheesecloth propped up to keep it from touching the berries and place in full sun in a well ventilated area. Stir with hands ocasionally and rotate trays once or twice. Be sure to take trays in at night. They will dry this way in 2-4 days.}

In the oven-Spread prepared berrys in a single layer on trays. Dry at 115degrees untill berries are hard, but still chewy. Stir occasionally and rotate trays once or twice aday. They will dry in 18 to 36 hrs."

Sherri, I gave you the oven recipe because I have had sudden summer showers cause me to resort to the oven method to finish. I used to do alot of drying. Its really cool, dried stuff takes up such little space, and can be added to so many things.

She goes on to say"These berries are delicious eaten alone, or mixed with other dried fruit, They may be refreshed by soaking in an equal amount of water or fruit juice for 3-4hrs. Use as you would fressh berries. They may be used without soaking for adding to muffins, cakes and puddings. For a pureed sauce, soak or cook one cup in one cup watyer. Process in a blender. Pour over icecream.

Gheez these sure sound good!

have fun! TRen

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

Thanks for the info Tren, I'm printing it out right now. I'll let you all know how they turn out.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001