A tasty treat that lasts longer
By Beth Askham
Why not try your hand at some food science? It’s as easy as apple pie to make these fruit straps. Then, pop the fruits of your work in your lunchbox as a sweet and delicious snack.
*Need inspiration? Apples and strawberries are good together, as are apples and pears.
Safety: This activity requires the use of a sharp peeler and knife, a blender, and a hot oven. Ask an adult for help. Use clean hands and clean equipment.
Foods go off because microbes (MY-krobes) make them their home. Microbes are bugs including bacteria and fungi. Individual microbes are usually so small they can only be seen up close with a microscope. When they multiply, the groups of microbes look pretty gross! Sometimes they look like white strands, green fuzz, or brown slimy bits.
Fruit is sweet and watery, which makes it a great home for some bacteria and fungi. Foods that are dried last longer, as microbes need water to grow – just like you. When you dry out your fruit, you remove the water that these tiny living things need to grow.
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16 September, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Hi I’d love to try this. Just wondering how long I can store the fruit straps and approx how much fruit will make two cups blended?
18 September, 2023 at 10:20 am
Hi Makooky,
2 cups of blended fruit weighs about 500 grams. If you have to core or peel your fruits, you’ll lose some weight there, so add a bit more fruit to your shopping list!
I don’t know exactly how long it’ll last – similar recipes on the internet suggest it could last for a month, but I probably wouldn’t trust it. Maybe for a week or two in a sealed container?