How to Dry Goji Berries
Goji berries are one of the newest super fruits. These tiny berries contain large amounts of antioxidants. By drying them, you concentrate their potency, as you would with any dried food. Some people grow their own goji berries instead of buying them. It's possible to dry these home-grown goji berries as well. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Baking sheet with at least 1/2-inch high edge all the way around
- Baker's cooling rack to fit over the baking sheet
- Cheese cloth to completely cover the baker's cooling rack
- Oven
- Zip top storage bags
Instructions
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1
Rinse and dry the goji berries. Discard any that are not fully ripe or those that have become moldy.
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2
Place the baker's cooling rack across the top of the baking pan.
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3
Cover the cooling rack with a layer of cheese cloth.
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Spread the goji berries across the cheese cloth. The berries should not be touching.
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Place the baking pan with the cooling rack and the berries on top inside the oven.
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Leave the oven door open and turn it to the lowest possible setting. Some ovens can only be turned on at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Others have a 150 degree "Warm" setting. Use the lowest on your oven.
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Let the berries dry in the oven for 4 to 12 hours until they are pliable and leathery. The drying time will differ depending upon the temperature you used, the amount of berries you are drying, the humidity in your kitchen and the amount of water that was initially in the berries.
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After the berries are dried, let them cool completely before transferring them to a zip top storage bag. Store them in the pantry or the freezer.
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Tips & Warnings
These steps will also work with any type of berry you have fresh. Keep in mind that the timing will be longer for larger berries that contain more water. Do not store the dried berries in the refrigerator. The moist atmosphere can cause your berries to spoil.
