Thursday, September 23, 2010

Drying Nectarines

Guess what I've been doing lately?  The nectarine tree looks beautiful this year.  We don't usually can the nectarines, I've actually never tried it, but my mom said they don't can well, and she knows practically everything.  So, we've been eating them, (yum yum!) and drying them as fast as we can rotate batches through the dehydrator.
Pick and wash nectarines
Cut in half and remove pit.  Slice each half into 4 or 5 wedges.  If a piece ends up bigger or smaller than the others, you have to eat it.  A shame, I know.  Place wedges close together on drying sheet.  Load into dehydrator.  (I recommend this one: Excalibur 9 Tray Dehydrator - ED 2900 Dehydrater - Jerky Maker Food Dehydrator Excaliber)
Dry for somewhere around 20 hours- check occasionally so you don't overdry them.
Store in a airtight container.  If you have room, and want to keep them fresh for a longer period, store the bags in the freezer.

The most difficult thing about drying nectarines is not eating them all before winter even starts.  I keep having to tell the kids that they can eat fresh nectarines if they want, but we need to save the dried ones for when the fresh ones are gone.  (of course, I still eat a few here and there, I deserve it, I did the work, right?).

7 comments:

Emily said...

mmmmm. Want.

Emily said...

The nectarines you brought us were FABULOUS! I now want a nectarine tree. We ate them all within a day. Sooo. Goooood. Thank you. I think I like them better than peaches, but I'll have to ask you if pruning and growing are easier/same as peaches.

Alice said...

Caring for nectarine trees is exactly like a peach tree.

I highly recommend one. :)

When the time comes, I'd be happy to give you pruning pointers.

(when you go to pick a tree, try to get one with nice balanced branches that branch off lower than higher- a ton of trees seem to be straight sticks with a puff of tangly branches up high)

Alice said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MarjEldard said...

Do you not treat your fruit with anything before drying?

Alice said...

I don't, unless I'm drying bananas, in which case I dip them in pineapple juice first.

Alice said...

(and funny time to get a comment on this old post- I just started drying this years harvest...) :)