FRUITS

Fruits are the fleshy edible part of the plants and they are good sources of vitamins, fibres, minerals, antioxidants, proteins etc. Major part of the fruit consists of water and fruit is 100% bad cholesterol free. Fibres in the fruits help to get relief from high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. Eating fruits regularly also helps to avoid many diseases as fruits contain anti-oxidants that fight with free radicals which damage the healthy cells in the body. Because of these anti-oxidants fruits help to prevent the aging signs on the skin and help to maintain the skin wrinkle less. Commonly available fruits include apple, grapes, pineapple, strawberries, orange, plum, apricot, mango, papaya, banana, avocado, berries, kiwi, pomegranate etc.

Fruits are widely used for processing as their shelf life is less due to increased water content in them. The major fruit products include jam, jelly, sauce, ketchup, puree, syrups, condiments, chutneys, fruit pulp, fruit concentrate, fruit juices, fruit juice concentrate, freeze dried fruits, canned fruits, candied fruits, wine concentrate, zest etc.

Fruit juice concentrate

Fruit juice concentrates are available in different concentrations and in either cloudy or clarified forms. Most of the fruit juice concentrate are of 65 degree brix and some of the juice concentrate are even available at natural strength. Commonly used fruits for making fruit juice concentrate include apple, banana, blueberry, grape, mango, lemon, guava, strawberry, papaya, plum, orange, melon etc. Fruit juice concentrates are available in aseptic packages of varying size.

Fruit purees

Fruit purees can be made either seedless or with seeds and is available in concentrated, single strength and blended forms. Fruit purees are prepared by cooking and straining or processed in a blender or rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender. Fruit purees can be made either blended with sugar or without sugar and are packed in aseptic packages. Fruit purees are even available in frozen form and also organic alternatives are provided. Major fruits that are used for making fruit purees include mango, guava, strawberry, papaya, pomegranate, passion fruit, apple etc

Fruit flakes

Fruits are dehydrated and roller dried to make fruit flakes. Fruit flakes are used in breakfast cereals, chocolates, baby food, sweet fillings, cereal bars etc.  Fruit flakes are made by applying a wet mass  of fruit pulp, starch and sugar mixture to a hot smooth substrate in thin layers  to form a cohesive film, which then peeled and formed into an irregular structure, which in turn is then dried in to brittle and divided into flakes. Orange, apricot, passion fruit, strawberry, raspberry, tropical fruits flake etc are popular fruits flakes.

Freeze dried fruits

Freeze dried fruits are made by reducing the moisture content of the fruits to less than 4% through a process called sublimation under vacuum. Freeze drying helps to lock the original flavour, colour, shape and texture without loss the original nutritive value.  Usually banana, papaya, mango, pineapple, strawberry, orange, kiwi etc are used for freeze drying.

Air dried fruits

Many fruits such as apple, lemon, apricot, orange, papaya, banana, cherry, strawberry, pineapple, guava, dates etc are dried in the air with different level of moisture in it. Dried fruits of different moisture concentration are used for making different recipes such as muffins, biscuits, muesli, breakfast cereals, cereal bars etc.  These fruit pieces can even be rolled in flour to make candy.

Jam

Fruits like papaya, apple, pineapple, orange, strawberry, mango, pomegranate, banana, guava etc are used for making jam. Jam is made by boiling the fruit pulp with sugar and reducing it in to a sheet like consistency.

Jelly

Jellies are semisolid fruit juice and sugar preserves and is the ideal way of preserving the fruit flavour. The pectin in the fruits are responsible for providing the jelly. Pectin is more in half ripe fruits than in fully ripen ones. Guava, apple, cherry, strawberry, orange, grapes, plums, gooseberries, crabapple, blackberries etc are used for making jelly.

A lot more fruit products such as fruit powder, zest, wine concentrate, fruit juice, sauce, ketchup, fruit syrup etc and all these products are readily available in most of the stores and shops and even online shopping is popular nowadays.


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