How to Dehydrate Fruits

Dehydrated fruit can be a wonderful snack and a healthy alternative meal replacement. Dehydrating has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the easy nature of its preparation. Follow a few easy steps to dehydrate your fruit using the best method and heating for the correct length of time.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose the fruits that you want to dehydrate. Bear in mind the fruits that are easiest to dehydrate are bananas, apples, cherries, peaches, apricot, pineapples, pears and strawberries.

2. Properly clean the fruits and avoid using soap or other harsh products. Simple water should be sufficient. Slice the fruits of your choice into quarter inch pieces for easy dehydration.

3. Pick the most convenient method of drying available to you. Know that the most common methods are sun drying, oven drying and using a dehydrating machine.

4. Preheat the oven, if oven drying, to under 200 degrees if possible. If you are using a dehydrator, then the temperature should be at least 150 degrees.

5. Place the fruits on a window sill if your preferred method is sun drying. However, allow for two to four days for proper dehydration and watch for bugs and adverse weather conditions.

6. Allow your fruit to dehydrate anywhere from six to 16 hours, depending on the level of heat of your method of dehydration. Check your fruit for moisture to determine how long to continue to dehydrate. It should be leathery with no moisture or softness on any of its parts.

7. Store your dehydrated fruit in an air tight, moisture free container. Use plastic freezer bags or jars as they typically shut out air the best.

Tips & Warnings

• Dehydrating is best when using a dehydrator because it is more energy efficient.
• Arrange the fruit in single layer on trays to make for easier dehydration.
• For fruit leather, puree your fruit. Pour the fruit puree about a quarter inch deep on special fruit leather drying sheets or drying trays that have been lined with plastic wrap. Dry at 135 degrees until pliable. The center should be dry.

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Resources

• Read about fruit preparation.

[ldcpc]

on 9/24/2008 Question: does fruit get more leathery the longer you leave it in the dehydrator, or less leathery? I did apples for the first time and they taste great but they're a little more brittle and less pliable than I would like. I don't know if next time I should leave them in longer or take them out sooner. Any advice? Thanks!