How to Make Dried Fruit

Dried fruit has the same nutritional values as any other fruit, but is simply dried. This not only makes it easier for children's hands to manipulate, but it also makes it seem like a better snack for kids. Some children will not eat anything that they think is healthful, but in this way a parent can give a healthful snack that looks and feels like candy for a child to still get nutrients and start a healthful diet.

Things You'll Need

• 2 apples 2 oranges 2 pears 2 peaches Knife Cutting board Parchment sheet Cookie sheet Oven Timer

Instructions

1. Wash the fruit thoroughly in the sink with your hands and allow it to dry on the counter.

2. Using the cutting board and knife, cut the apple into small chunks. Peel and slice the orange, and leave the slices as small crescents. Pears can be sliced in thin slices or as small chunks.

3. Lay parchment paper across the entire cookie sheet. Preheat your oven to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange the fruit pieces on the parchment paper so that no piece touches another.

4. Place the fruit into the oven and allow drying out for about six hours. The low heat allows the pieces to dry out and not cook so that all of the nutrients remain.

5. Remove from the oven when the fruit is completely dehydrated. When you pick up a piece, it should not be crispy or squash easily between your fingers, it should be stiff and plump.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many different dehydrating machines available on the market today that do the same thing as the process outlined above. Convection ovens do not dry the fruit; they simply heat it and cook it, so it is not recommended to use a convection oven for dehydration. To keep apples and pears from turning brown while they are drying, you can soak the pieces in pineapple juice or lemon juice for half an hour before putting them into the oven.