Dried melon: composition, useful properties and contraindications

Even in the Bible there was mention of the melon. This fragrant, nutritious sweet berry weighs no more than 10 kg. But there are fruits that weigh up to 25 kilograms. Melon is known all over the world, as it is not only a delicious fruit, but also useful.

There are many different varieties of this pleasant berry. Melons can vary in shape, weight, color and size, but their main advantage is the same - the fruit gives people health, beauty, strength and youth.

To dry the melon was learned in ancient times, along with other fruits. In terms of value it is the same as the fresh fruit, and for the hostess it is a salvation. At any time you can prepare a gourmet dish, which is not difficult to surprise guests, if you use the dried fruit. For most adults and children, dried melon is a favorite treat.

For drying choose only the best, healthy fruits, without damage. And we can't talk about the usefulness. In the process of drying, vitamins, trace elements, minerals are not lost. Such a berry is not only pleasant to taste, but also very nutritious. But do not think that dried melon is very caloric. This is not true at all. In the product contains only 341 kcal per 100 grams, so it is safe to eat it while dieting, without fear of getting fat. Moreover, the melon contains mainly water, so ladies need not fear for their weight.

Composition and calories

Let's now consider the composition of the favorite dried product and find out what its usefulness and value are.

• Carbohydrates - 82.2 g.
• Proteins - 0.7 g
• Fats - 0.1 g
• Dietary fiber - 0,9 gr
• Water - 9 gr
• ash - 0,6 g
• Organic acids - 0,2 g
• Starch - 0,1 g
• Monosaccharides + disaccharides - 7.3 g

The useful properties of dried melon can be explained by the high content of vitamins and minerals in the product.

It contains:

• B vitamins (B2, B3, B5, B6, B9).
• Vitamin A (retinol).
• Vitamin E (tocopherol).
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
• Vitamin PP (nicotinic acid).

If we talk about the minerals contained in the fruit, the largest amount in it will be potassium. In addition to it, dried melon contains:

• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• sodium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• chlorine;
• iodine;
• fluorine;
• zinc;
• copper;
• manganese;
• sulfur.

As we can see, the usefulness of dried product is obvious, and there is no need to argue here. Melon is not only tasty and nutritious, but also has medicinal properties thanks to its composition.

What is the usefulness of dried melon

General benefits

Dried melon refers to one of the varieties of dried fruits. It can be eaten as a separate snack or as an additive in salads, sandwiches, pastries and even ice cream. The fruit is dried in special chambers. At home to dry melon is possible, but you need to follow a number of rules, which we will describe a little later.

In home drying the product can lose some amount of vitamin C. But the rest of the important trace elements, vitamins and amino acids for the human body will be preserved. Dried melon is an excellent remedy in the fight against anxiety and stress. It is able to maintain beauty and youthfulness. When consuming it, a person provides internal sun protection, normalizes the acid-alkaline balance in the body.

1. Thanks to the potassium contained in the product, it improves heart function, strengthens muscles, normalizes the water balance, and calms the nerves. Potassium salts remove excess fluid from the body and relieve swelling.
2. Sodium helps to avoid dehydration, get rid of cramps, nausea.
3. Everyone probably knows about calcium that it is essential for bone tissue and teeth.
4. Magnesium is the basis of the normal mental state of a person.
5. The presence of phosphorus is good not only for the teeth and bones, but also for the eyes. Lack of this element leads to weakness, rapid fatigue, absent-mindedness, loss of attention and appetite. And the melon has enough of it to improve your condition and lift your mood.

Regular consumption of dried melon fruit as a food:

• Will improve heart function;
• cleanse the liver of toxins;
• remove stones from the kidneys;
• normalize the function of the gallbladder;
• Help fight anxiety and insomnia;
• Restore strength after an illness;
• prevent avitaminosis;
• strengthen bones;
• relieve constipation;
• reduce the symptoms of menopause;
• rejuvenate the body;
• improve the condition of the nails and hair;
• keep your tan.

For women

Dried fruit can help women cope during menopause. The folic acid in its composition normalizes the hormonal background, thus reducing unpleasant symptoms.

In addition, the product strengthens blood vessels, muscle tissue and bones, thus rejuvenating women. Melon strengthens the body and increases resistance to harmful bacteria and viruses. Its regular consumption improves appetite, mood and vitality.

Melon treats are able to help women and get rid of skin problems. Dried fruit will not only remove all pimples on the skin and make it clean, but also smooth out wrinkles. The fruit will also be useful for the hair. It makes them stronger, shinier and thicker.

It is known that melon, including dried, helps to get a better tan. And with its help, the tan on the body will stay longer. It does not matter where you had to sunbathe: in a tanning bed or in the sun, the result will be the same.

For men

In addition to the above-mentioned useful properties of dried product, it has a special effect on the male body. It is proved that regular consumption of such dried fruits increases male strength and sexual desire. Dried melon will make a man active not only during the day, but also at night.

Iron in the product and other useful active elements will improve blood, increase vitality and performance, help cope with stress, give a man confidence and increase his self-esteem.

When pregnant

As is known, pregnant women are forbidden to eat anything so as not to harm the future child. But doctors even recommend melon. It contains valuable amino acids, minerals and vitamins that are useful for both the woman in the situation, and her unborn baby. Folic acid, which is present in the product, helps to get rid of insomnia, to overcome stress, fatigue and loss of strength, which is so necessary for future moms. In addition, melon will strengthen immunity and memory, and normalize the hormonal background of the body. You should just do not abuse this delicacy, so as not to harm yourself, and even more so the baby.

Being in the composition of dried melon normalizes sleep expectant mother, gets rid of cramps, has a positive effect on cardiovascular activity.

Breastfeeding

A woman in the period of lactation experiences a severe shortage of important minerals, vitamins and protein for the body. Cooked meat and rice and buckwheat alone will not save. The body of a nursing mother needs adequate nutrition, because her milk feeds the baby. If the baby is not allergic, you can eat dried melon, and even it is necessary.

It is proved that the melon can increase the flow of milk in the mother's breast, since 90% of the fruit consists of water. In addition, dried fruit will prevent the deposition of salts in the kidneys, and remove toxins.

All the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals the baby will receive with the mother's milk.

The fiber in melon normalizes the gastrointestinal tract. It helps to increase the number of lactic acid bacteria, useful for the body. Thanks to her weight is normalized and excess fluid is excreted.

For the baby will also be useful to get through the milk necessary vitamins for their development. When consuming dried melon during lactation, the baby properly develops the immune, nervous and circulatory systems.

The increased level of serotonin contained in the fruit will improve the mood of both - the mother and her baby. Melon contains a lot of vitamin C and iron, which can raise the hemoglobin in the body and improve the function of blood vessels. In addition, the C-vitamin will reduce inflammation, if any, in the baby or mother.

For women, eating dried melon after childbirth will also be useful because it will quickly restore skin elasticity, since silicon and zinc have antioxidant properties. They will have a positive effect on skin regeneration and collagen and elastin production.

For children

If the child is not noticed an allergic reaction to melon, it can be given from 9 months. To begin with, you should set a small dose to try - a drop at a time, gradually increasing the dosage. Older children can be given the pulp. Only from the age of 4 years can you try dried melon. Maybe they will like it and it will have a positive effect on the development of the child's body.

Melon is good for almost all organs, including the visual organs. It promotes growth of the child, strengthens the immune and nervous system, intestines, heart, stomach. Being in the product carbohydrates, fats, fiber are easily absorbed by the body and have a beneficial effect on child development.

For weight loss

Dried melon when losing weight will simply be indispensable. When a person is on a diet, his body lacks sweets. Candy and chocolate will not help, but dried fruit from melon will be able to fill the need and will not affect the weight.

The melon itself, and even more so in its dried form, contains a negligible amount of fat. It has no calories, but it has natural sugar, fiber and almost 90% of water. Thanks to this, it is easy to satisfy hunger, and due to the fiber it is effective to clean the intestines. The useful substances contained in the product will not let the body weaken during the diet.

Harms and contraindications

Dried melon can be harmful if abused or mixed with incompatible products. It is not recommended to eat melon together with fermented foods, alcohol or honey. These incompatible foods can be detrimental to health, causing an eating disorder.

There are two important features to keep in mind:

1. The product contains sugar.
2. Such dried fruit is heavy for some people and may cause difficulty in digestion.

It is not recommended to consume dried melon:

• People suffering from gastrointestinal diseases;
• children under one year of age;
• diabetics.

How to store dried melon

To store dried melon use the usual cloth bags or cling film. Prepared, well-dried melon can be wrapped and put in a secluded place in the apartment. In winter it will be nice to regale yourself with your favorite berry.

You can store dried or dried melon in ordinary glass jars. Stack the prepared melon slices vertically and close the container tightly with a lid, so that no air enters.

How to Dry Melon

Prepare dried melon yourself will be much more useful and economical. In stores, such a product costs a lot of money.

First, it is necessary to prepare it. You should know that not all varieties can be suitable for drying and storage.

What kind of melon is better for drying?

The peculiarity of fresh melons is that they cannot be stored for a long time. In addition, not all varieties are suitable for drying and the curing process. It is necessary to choose a fruit with hard flesh. Such varieties include:

• Gulabi;
• Torpedo;
• Kolhoznitsa;
• Pineapple.

Choose only undamaged fruits for preserves. It is better to take an average size. There are many varieties of melon, which differ not only in shape but also in content. Some melons are too juicy and unlikely to be suitable for drying. It is better to choose a sort of medium juiciness, so that the drying time does not take too long. After all, it is known that the melon consists of 90% water. And when drying the product it is necessary to evaporate all the moisture from the slices. The normal process takes no more than 12 hours, and it is necessary to make sure that not a single gram of water remains in the melon slices.

How to dry it properly

To get dried melon slices at home, you need to cut the fruit lengthwise, leaving a bridge at the top. This is done in order to be able to place two slices from different sides on a rope or wire. The thickness of the slices should not be more than 4 cm. Place the prepared slices on the prepared stretched rope. Drying should be done in the open air, so if the process takes place in an apartment, it is advisable to provide enough air.

The drying time is about 2 weeks. The slices should be checked daily and turned over so that the moisture evaporates evenly.

You should know that the drying process reduces the weight of the slices by a factor of 10 relative to their fresh state.

After the product is ready, it can be removed, braided into one braid, wrapped well in clingfilm and left to store in a secluded place.

Drying in an electric dryer

Not everyone has an electric dryer, but this household appliance is versatile and can be useful for cooking up any vegetable crops and fruits. It is not necessary to choose some super-model. The simplest technique will do for the preserves.

Wash the melon fruit well, dry it with a towel and cut it into two halves. Remove the seeds, get rid of the skin and prepare for drying only the sweet part of the melon. The unsweetened part will be tasteless.

The next step is to prepare the dryer. Turn it on to heat for five minutes and cover it with a lid. Take out the trays and, while the machine is heating, slice the melon into thin slices. The thickness of the slices should not be more than 1 cm (better even 0.5 cm). The slices should also not be long, so that they can fit on the tray.

When the machine is hot, spread out the prepared slices. They should not touch each other, some distance should be left between them. It is important to get warm air not only at the bottom and top, it is necessary that the slices are blown from the sides. The temperature for drying is set to 70 degrees. Dry it for at least 10 hours. The time will depend on the variety of melon and its juiciness.

Trays should be periodically changed in places, so that the evaporation of moisture was even. The appliance will also need to rest, so it should be turned off for 10 minutes, so that it does not burn out.

Drying in the oven

There is an oven in every home, so drying in this way will not require additional costs. This is a classic method of preserving the product, which was used by our mothers and grandmothers. Cooked dried melon from the oven will not be any different from the product from the electric dryer. Even in terms of cooking time will be faster, since you do not have to let the oven rest.

Preparation of the fruit is the same as for drying in the machine: rinse well, dry, remove pips and peel the skin. Cut the slices into thin slices and place them on a baking tray. Preheat the oven to 70 degrees. Cover the baking tray with parchment paper.

Remember that melon has a lot of liquid, so the slices will begin to give up a lot of moisture during drying. For this reason, there are two solutions to the problem:

1. Leaving the oven door open so the moisture can evaporate without problem.
2. Constantly change the parchment (after 3 hours) so that the slices are not in water.

Used parchment paper can be immediately dried on an additional rack or tray and reused.

The process will take the same 10 hours. Do not leave the oven unattended during this time! Check and monitor the drying process regularly.

Fun Facts about Melon

Both adults and children love melon. It is a juicy, fragrant and tasty fruit with a yellow color. It is very fond of heat, so it practically does not take root in Russia. But it is well known in hot countries. In the Arabs, the melon was considered a gift of the gods from the Garden of Eden. In the ancient East it was praised and glorified. It was a symbol of feminine beauty. Today more than 200 varieties of melon are known. The first mentions of the product were from Egypt, that country is considered its homeland.

Let's consider a few known facts about the fragrant melon.

1. The melon has a sufficient amount of fiber and alkali, which cleanses the human body. Regular consumption of the product will remove toxins and conduct a thorough cleaning of the intestines.
2. The variety of melon Yubari King, grown in Japan, is considered the most unique. It has a unique taste and aroma. The melon of this variety has tender flesh, it is quite juicy, appetizing and sweet. It is sold only through auctions, where the price for a pair can go up to several thousand dollars. To be more precise, $20,000.
3. China grows almost 8,000,000 tons of this berry every year.
4. A cucumber-like variety of melon is known in Central Asia. The flesh of the fruit is quite juicy, but not particularly sweet. This variety is nicknamed the serpentine variety.
5. In Central Asia and the Caucasus, a variety called Cucumis microcarpus is grown. The taste of this melon resembles a strawberry. It is ideal for canning compotes and other delicacies.

Conclusion
As we can see, it is impossible to dispute the benefits of melon. Farmers who are engaged in melon cultivation, put in the work at 100% to get a decent harvest and please people with delicious, fragrant and useful melon berries. Enterprising housewives have also found a way to please their loved ones with this delicacy in winter. They have learned to dry and dried melon to be able to get not only a delicacy, but also vitamins all year round.

It is necessary to remember that everything must be in moderation. This also applies to the consumption of melons. Whether the fruit is dried or fresh, you should not abuse it. Melon is not the easiest product and can harm your health.

But still there are more positives than negatives. If the melon can improve the mood and strengthen the vitality of a person, then it is a useful berry. So why not harvest it for the whole year, enjoying a pleasant taste and getting the necessary vitamins for the body.

Photo of a dried melon