What do you know about fruit leather – how to prepare it? Well, if you thought it’s a kind of fruity flavored leather for making handbag or a jacket, then I am really very sorry. It has nothing to do with fashion; it’s a kind of a fruit dish or rather a technique for preserving fruits for longer duration. Though it might be upsetting to ditch the idea of owning a fruit flavored handbag, it would be pleasant to amaze children with something as sweet and yummy as fruit leather. It has a natural taste and absolutely nutritious, so your children will get the health benefits of fruits and you will like it equally. So, here I have some tips for preparing fruit leather at home.

Instructions For Preparing Fruit Leather At Home

Any fruit can be used for preparing fruit leather, so you may select a favorite fruit or a fruit that your child loves to eat or for preserving seasonal fruits.

1. One may use a single fruit or a mix of various fruits for preparing fruit leather. Wash the fruits and dry them first.
2. Use a blender to puree the fruits, just puree and do not separate the juice.
3. Add some sugar or use honey as sweetener. Some spicy seasoning like cardamom, cinnamon or nutmeg can be added.
4. Adding a little lemon juice will act as a preservative for the fruit leather.
5. Now pour the puree over a plastic sheet and spread the pulp evenly to get fruit leather of uniform thickness. For drying, one can use a dehydrator or a fruit leather oven.
6. Making fruit leather in an oven would take about 18 hours at 140°C and about 7-8 hours in a dehydrator.
7. Once done, check if the fruit leather is completely dried and then peel it from the plastic sheet.
8. Fruit leather can be cut in different shapes. Cut the sheet of fruit leather in small strips, roll over and wrap with aluminum foil.
9. Fruit leather can be stored in refrigerator for long time.

Handy Tips For Preparing Fruit Leather

• Dehydrator trays are convenient to use for making fruit leather than using plastic sheets.
• A thicker puree takes longer to dry so spread about ¼ inch puree only.
• Use parchment paper, the fruit leather rolls will come out easily.
• Always air dry fruit leather before cutting, this will make cutting easier.
• Freeze fruits before making puree, the consistency will be better.

Fruit leather is a good way of preserving seasonal fruits especially mangoes, avocado, plum and strawberries. Fruit leather make good fruit desserts too; when fresh fruits are not available.

Image Courtesy:    self-sufficient.co.uk