Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: PrimitiveTim on September 12, 2013, 02:30:15 pm

Title: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: PrimitiveTim on September 12, 2013, 02:30:15 pm
So the neighbor's persimmon tree is dropping fruit like nobody's business so I went and raided it yesterday.  I wanted to preserve some for this winter so I tossed them in the dehydrator.  Do these look done to y'all?

What would be a totally primitive way to dry them?  Dry in a smokehouse, lay 'em on a stump on a sunny day?  Any info you can give me would be great!  thank

(https://sphotos-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1176362_226385430851346_1204128403_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: koan on September 12, 2013, 04:15:46 pm
Wow Tim! Im not sure the best way to dry them but I am curious... what part of the country you in? Im inda middle of Mo. and mine are still very green. Prolly be early october before they hit the ground. I usually boil mine down into a goo, eat some on toast  ;) then add a bunch of water to it to make it go farther and then saturate my mineral/salt licks with it... Brian
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: PrimitiveTim on September 12, 2013, 06:34:49 pm
Florida.... of course!  :P
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: Rick Wallace on September 12, 2013, 07:28:34 pm
Hey Tim  see if you can find you a pale green colored one.Mighty tasty!   ;)   :o
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: koan on September 12, 2013, 08:57:39 pm
Florida...... You have a winter? :laugh:... I love the green ones!  ;)
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: TRACY on September 12, 2013, 09:41:20 pm
Green and ripe taste about the same to me :P like the pulp in bread and muffins though. I do like it for bow wood though.

Tracy
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: PrimitiveTim on September 12, 2013, 10:55:09 pm
So... nobody knows how to dry persimmons is what I'm hearing
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: BowEd on September 12, 2013, 10:59:41 pm
Don't really know if you need to.The Indians used to mix it with tallow or ground up meat then let it dry.It was supposed to keep for quite a while.They called it pemican.
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: paoliguy on September 13, 2013, 05:11:12 pm
I have had them pressed through a colander then spread a thin layer of the pulp on a flat sheet and baked. I suppose there was something in there to hold it together too? Tasted pretty good actually. Guess you could do something similar by drying in the sun? I didn't know they grew that far south. Ours in Indiana are very green still but looks like a good crop this year. I just have to beat the deer to them!
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: Knapper on September 13, 2013, 05:57:53 pm
How about cutting them in half and putting them in a dehydrator.
Knapper
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: koan on September 13, 2013, 06:39:20 pm
If your wantin to use them to attract critters, I would just frreze them whole. If you dry them they wont have as strong a scent... Dont know what your rules are down there but here in Mo. if i put them out during huntin season i will pay a huge fine & maybe prison... Mo. dont do the baiting thing, lol
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: mullet on September 13, 2013, 07:43:03 pm
I'd skin them and slice. Then put them in the Dehydrator.
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: PrimitiveTim on September 13, 2013, 11:01:57 pm
I would never feed perfectly good food to animals! lol.  What I want to accomplish is to preserve them for my winter camping trips.  I'd like to be able to do it in a totally primitive fashion.
Title: Re: Persimmons... They're like Candy!
Post by: Japbow on September 14, 2013, 08:18:09 am

      Hey Tim!

      Here in Japan they're a popular wintertime snack.
      For drying though, the larger astringent ones are used.
      One thing I know is that you have to peel them
      before you dry them. After they are peeled they
      are strung up to dry outside.  The ones that are
      sweet when ripe may be too mushy inside to dry
      properly. How about making some fruit leather
      out of them?

      Japbow.