LLB, got your monthly update this morning and am interested in how you dry your persimmons. We have persimmons, use them, freeze them and love them but I've never dried them. When they're ready, they're so "mooshy" that I can't imagine drying them. Sliced? mashed? Tell us!!

-- sugarspinner (deatline@globalsite.net), November 22, 2003

Answers

Well, I tried a couple things. One was mashing them through a colander and making fruit leather with them. This was all right, but the leather was rather grainy due to the incredible sugar content. However, my all time favorite method is to cut them in half, leaving the seeds in, and drying them. The seeds are VERY easy to remove once they are dried. I was so impressed that I was able to keep all of the pulp by using this method. Now they are in my freezer ready to use in cakes, puddings etc. This was very effective, and much easier than trying to handle those gooshy things any other way.

Little bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@brightok.net), November 22, 2003.

They also make great "goat candy" when dried. My girls absolutely love them.

-- Judy (tabletophomestead@earthlink.net), November 22, 2003.

Hi. My best friend and I dry persimmons a different way. We cut them off the stem so the branch off the fruit looks like a "T". Then we take them home, peel them and dip them in lemon juice. Then we hang them on a double strand of fishing line from hooks on the ceiling. They take about 4-6 weeks to dry and you have to keep them in a dry place with a fan so they don't get moldy.They get all shriveled up and sweet inside and like heaven!!!! If you buy them and they already have the stem cut off, you can skewer them and then hang them off of wire hooks and fishing line. They are very pretty as they dry and seem kind of ornimental for this season...have fun!

-- raku (raku11@excite.com), December 07, 2003.