How to Make Dried Fruits

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By PawPawFrankie
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dried fruit

Dried fruit is tasty not to mention a healthy alternative to most snack foods. With a few easy steps you dry your own fresh fruit and make these tasty treats at home right in your oven without the use of a commercial dehydrator.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Fresh fruit
Knife
Cookie sheet
parchment paper
oven

Step 1

fruit

Any kind of fresh fruit can be dried and stored for later use. Pick fruit that is firm and not over ripe. Wash fruit and set aside to dry.
Step 2

stove

Preheat your oven to a low heat, 150 to 200 degrees is warm enough to dry your fruit. You don't want to cook your fruit just warm it up enough to release the moisture while retaining the sugar content and taste.
Step 3

parchment paper

Line the bottom of your cookie sheet with parchment paper. Slice your fruit into thin slices and lay them on the parchment paper. Make sure the pieces aren't touching.
Step 4

Place your fruit in the oven to begin drying. This process will take several hours and drying times depend on the type of fruit and how thick you slice it.
Step 5

dried strawberries

Your fruit is done when it reaches a chewy consistency. If it is brittle you have dried it to long, if it still releases juice when you squeeze it dry it for a while longer.

Tips & Warnings

When drying apples or pears, soaking the cut pieces in an acidic juice such as lemon or pineapple for a few minutes before drying will keep them from turning brown.
Drying fruit allows you to enjoy your favorite fruits when they are out of season.
Drying fruit concentrates the flavor and sugars in those fruits and since high sugar concentrations act to ward off bacterial growth you can store and use dried fruit for up to a year without refrigeration.

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