After harvesting in late summer, goji berries can only be enjoyed and processed fresh for a relatively short period of time. Since many lovers of this berry, which is praised as a "superfood", have become accustomed to buying dried imported berries and enjoying them as an ingredient in muesli, bread or cakes, it is relatively easy to dry and dry your own goji berries from the garden preserved in this way for year-round consumption.

Goji berries can be dried in the sun

Properly prepare the goji berries for drying

Since goji berries usually ripen gradually on individual bushes with a time lag, the fruits can be eaten fresh or processed over a longer period of time. If the fruits are to be dried for preservation purposes, the drying process should be initiated as soon as possible after harvesting from the bush. To do this, the berries are destemmed (if not already done) and thoroughly cleaned of dirt particles with clear water. You don't have to pit goji berries before drying, as the many small seeds inside the goji berries are easily eaten. After washing, the goji berries are gently dried with a clean kitchen towel before the fruits are then also spread out on a kitchen towel or on absorbent kitchen or baking paper in a single layer to dry.

Drying goji berries in the sun

Goji berries can be easily dried in the sun within a few days. However, the goji berries should be protected from rain under an eaves and placed indoors during the night. In this way, the berries are not hindered by the moisture in the air during the drying process. When drying goji berries in the sun, you should turn the fruit a few times and mix it well so that it can dry evenly. If you have a window seat inside the house for drying the goji berries, it is important to ensure adequate ventilation to prevent mold growth.

Dry goji berries gently in the oven or dehydrator

Goji berries can also be dried in the oven or in a dehydrator, which is usually much faster than drying in the sun and in normal air temperature. When drying the berries in the oven, the temperature should not be significantly above 40 degrees Celsius. In addition, the oven door must be kept ajar with a wooden spoon on wood, for example, so that the moisture escaping from the berries can escape with the air. Drying works even better in a special dehydrator, which is usually also equipped with a temperature or ventilation control and a timer.

Use dried goji berries in many ways

Dried goji berries (bought or self-produced) can be used in different ways:

  • as a flavoring ingredient in muesli
  • as a fruity vitamin kick in home-baked bread
  • as a tasty portion of fruit in a cake

tips

Dried goji berries preserved in this way can later be soaked in lukewarm water for further use. If the goji berries are then washed thoroughly several times, this should at least somewhat soften the taste component, which many fans of wolfberry berries perceive as bitter.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

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Vegetable garden