How to dry apricots

Apricot, as an important economic crop in China, is widely planted in regions such as Xinjiang and Gansu. However, fresh apricots are not easy to store, and traditional drying methods are greatly affected by weather, making it difficult to guarantee their quality. With the development of modern agricultural technology, the drying methods of apricots are constantly upgrading, mainly divided into the following categories:

1.Traditional natural drying method

Method: Spread the apricots evenly on bamboo tablets or sun drying nets, expose them to sunlight for 5-7 days, and then move them to a cool place to air dry. The total time is about 15-20 days.

Disadvantage: Highly affected by weather, prone to mold growth in rainy weather. Poor hygiene conditions, prone to dust and insect infestations. The finished product has uneven color, poor appearance, and low price.

2.Solar drying technology

Method: By using solar greenhouses or specialized drying devices (such as the 5HT-2 solar drying equipment used in Xinjiang Luntai Xiaobai Apricot), the drying time can be shortened to 10 days, which is 1 day faster than traditional greenhouses.

Disadvantage: Dependent on weather, efficiency decreases on rainy days.

3.Hot air drying room (apricot hot air drying technology)

Method: Electric heating or heat pump drying equipment is used, with controllable temperature (50-80 ℃), and drying can be completed within 72 hours. The finished product has a golden color and stable quality.

Advantages:

① High efficiency: Compared to traditional air drying, the time is reduced by more than 80%.

② Excellent quality: Dried apricots have uniform color, meet hygiene standards, and can enter the high-end market, with a price doubled by 7.

③ Driving employment: For example, in Yingjisha County, Xinjiang, a drying room can drive employment for more than 20 people and help rural revitalization.

4.Electric heating drying room (Jinlu Machinery solution)

Among numerous drying technologies, the electric heating drying room of Henan Jinlu Machinery Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has become a “star equipment” in the apricot processing industry with its advantages of high efficiency, energy saving, and intelligent temperature control.

The four core advantages of Jinlu Mechanical Drying Room

① Energy saving and environmentally friendly, low operating costs, using electric heating, no combustion emissions, in line with national environmental policies, can save 75% of operating costs compared to coal-fired drying. Heat recovery technology can reuse waste heat, further reducing energy consumption.

② Accurate temperature control, stable quality, intelligent temperature control system can achieve precise adjustment of 20-80 ℃, avoiding high temperature damage to apricot flavor and ensuring consistent color and taste of the finished product.

③ Easy to operate, highly automated, fully automatic operation, supports 24-hour continuous operation, reduces manual intervention, suitable for large-scale production.

④ One machine with multiple uses and wide applicability. In addition to apricots, it can also be used to dry chili peppers, mushrooms, Chinese medicinal herbs, etc., improving equipment utilization.

With the increasing support from the government for the initial processing of agricultural products, modern drying technology will become the key to upgrading the apricot industry. The efficient drying equipment launched by enterprises such as Jinlu Machinery not only solves the pain points of traditional drying, but also promotes the development of agricultural industrialization and helps farmers increase their income and become prosperous.