The jackfruit is a summer fruit with a bizarre appearance, yet it is the staple food of many people living in tropical Asia. How to dry jackfruit at home? Well, now you can have your own supply of this fruit in dry form and get your recipes ready for these spongy dried fruits waiting to be transformed into something new and different.
Drying jackfruit at home is the best and easiest way to have this coveted ingredient on hand. This fruit grows in abundance in tropical regions such as South India and Southeast Asia. Even though it grows at an alarming rate, it does not get transported far and most often goes to waste.
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Slice the jackfruit in thin pieces
Slice the jackfruit in thin pieces. Add the sliced jackfruit to a bowl of water and salt in a ratio of 50:100 (50g salt for every 100ml of water) and mix well. Allow the mixture to rest for about 15 minutes.
Drain the water from the bowl, rinse it under running water, and pat dry using a clean towel or tissue paper.
Spread the sliced jackfruit on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Place the baking tray inside an oven preheated to 60 degree Celsius (140 degree Fahrenheit) and leave it there for 2 hours. At this point, turn off the oven, but do not remove the baking tray from inside it. Allow the jackfruit to keep drying in the residual heat of the oven overnight.
Remove the slices from the oven once they are completely dry and brittle to touch.
Scoop out the flesh and remove the seeds
Dried jackfruit is a rare delicacy in India. It can be consumed as a snack or added to various dishes. Unlike fresh jackfruit, dried jackfruit is not sweet and is eaten more for the health benefits it provides. Dried jackfruit has a chewy texture and contains a lot of fibre.
Dried jackfruit may not be readily available in the market. But you can make it at home with ease. Here’s how.
How To Dry Jackfruit At Home
The process of drying jackfruit takes time and patience, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, you’ll have this healthy ingredient ready to use whenever you want.
Things You’ll Need
- Fresh jackfruit
- Knife
- Spoon (to scoop out flesh)
- Bowls (to soak the flesh)
- Colander (to drain the water)
- Towel (to wipe off excess water)
- Dehydrator or oven for drying
Spread them on a tray evenly so that they don’t overlap each other
To dry jackfruit, slice them thinly and evenly. You can either cut these pieces into thin strips or leave them in roundels. Now, spread them on a tray evenly so that they don’t overlap each other. Make sure there is enough space between 2 pieces of the fruit so that they get dried up properly.
If you are using oven, take a tray and place it on the rack and keep it in the lowest position in your oven. Now, turn your oven to its lowest setting. This may vary depending on your oven but usually, it will be somewhere between 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit.
It may take anywhere between 6 to 8 hours to dry these pieces of the fruit in the oven. However, if you have a dehydrator at home then it should not take more than 3-4 hours to dry the fruit using this appliance.
Keep checking after every hour or so and turn them around to make sure that they are drying out nicely from all sides. Drying time may vary depending on how thick or thin you have sliced the jackfruit as well as how hot your oven is.
Once they get completely dried out, you can store them in an airtight container for future use as per your convenience.
If using an electric dryer for drying, heat it to an average temperature of 48-50 degrees Celsius
Dry Jackfruit, also known as Gatta or Fruits of the Earth, is a very popular ingredient used in Indian cuisine. It is a large fruit with a firm, sweet and dark green skin which contains small to medium sized yellow-brown beans and is commonly dried.
Dry Jackfruit is an excellent source of protein, dietary fiber and minerals, including iron, calcium and potassium. It consists of all kinds of necessary vitamins like B1, B2, B6, C & E. It’s also a good source of Vitamin C, Magnesium and Potassium. The best thing about this fruit is that it doesn’t take long for you to get the benefits from it if you consume it on regular basis.
For dry jackfruit you need to cut the jackfruit fruits into half lengthwise with a sharp knife. Now put them in a bowl and pour 1 cup of water into it. Wash the fruits thoroughly under running water until all the dirt is removed. Then wipe them dry with kitchen towel so that there are no dust particles on them while drying process..
Now you have to place these jackfruits in front of your electric oven at around 48-50 degrees Celsius for 24 hours. After that remove any remaining juice from inside the jackf
Dry the jackfruit slices for about 12 hours
Dry the jackfruit slices. Place the jackfruit on a wire rack with a cooling rack beneath to catch any drippings. Leave the jackfruit in a hot, dry room or outside in full sun for about 12 hours until it is completely dry. You can also use a food dehydrator.
Dried jackfruit can be used in a multitude of different ways. It can be made into hamburgers, or enjoyed on its own as a tasty snack that packs a good amount of fiber and nutrients. Plus, it’s vegan, which is perfect for herbivores and anyone who loves creating fresh, plant-based recipes in the kitchen.
