How do you make a drying rack for fruits and what fruit is best to use?

Question

How do you make a drying rack for fruits and what fruit is best to use?

Answer 1

Fruits dried in the sun are placed on trays made of screen or wooden dowels. Screens need to be safe for contact with food. The best screens are stainless steel, teflon coated fiberglass or plastic. Avoid screens made from "hardware cloth." This is galvanized metal cloth that is coated with cadmium or zinc. These materials can oxidize, leaving harmful residues on the food.  Also avoid copper and aluminum screening. Copper destroys vitamin C and increases oxidation.  Aluminum tends to discolor and corrode.

Most woods are fine for making trays. However, do not use green wood, pine, cedar, oak or redwood.  These woods warp, stain the food or cause off-flavors in the food.

Fruits are easier to dry than vegetables because moisture evaporates wore easily, and not as much moisture must be removed for the product to keep. Ripe apples, berries, cherries, peaches, apricots, and pears are practical to dry.