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Show Nutrition Expert Gives Plan For Drying Fruits j . In line with the national effort to encourage the production of food at home, Miss Elna Miller, nutritionist nutri-tionist for the Utah agricultural extension ex-tension service this week outlined ; the producedure for drying apples ' and pears. "Drying has a decided advantage in that the processing procedure is simple and the weight and volume vol-ume of the finished product are considerably con-siderably reduced and less space is needed for storage. There is also less loss or spoilage in well dried products that are properly handled and stored after drying," the nutritionist nu-tritionist explained. Apples, Miss Miller says, are commonly dried in the form of quarter-inch slices, pie slices or cubes. Fruit at the proper stage of maturity is washed, pared, cored and sliced and all bruised or discolored dis-colored portions are removed before spreading on the drying trays. To prevent discoloration during preparation prepa-ration the fruit can be dipped for five minutes in a very weak salt solution three to five tablespoons per gallon of water or can be kept in cold water. Where sulfuring is used the trays should be placed immediately in the sulfur box and be treated 20 to 30 minutes before exposure to the full sun. If dried in an evaporator, evapo-rator, apples may be piled up to one and one-half inches in depth on trays and drying begun at 130 degrees Fahrenheit, gradually increased in-creased to 175 degrees, Miss Miller states. Apples that are sufficiently dried have an elastic springy feeling feel-ing when gripped in the hand. Pears are usually harvested for drying before completely rine and are then stored In a cool place to complete ripening. Since the skin is not removed, it is necessary to wash off thoroughly the SDrav residue before storing, the nutritionist nutri-tionist remarked. "The usual practice is to halve or quarter the well ripened fruit, cut out the core, stem, and calyx with a corins? snoon and place on the trays, cut side ur. A fix to 7? hour period of sulfurirg is recommended." recom-mended." Miss Miller said. 'Tears nronerlv dried are flat and flexible but not mushy." |