How to Preserve Fruit for Flower Arrangements
Dried fruit adds an earthy natural tone to dry or fresh flower arrangements and is the perfect finishing touch for seasonal wreaths. Dehydrating the fruit is the easiest way to remove the excess moisture and preserve the shape and color of the fruit for decorative purposes.
Instructions
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1
Wash the fruit thoroughly with cold tap water and pat dry with a clean, dry cotton cloth. Starting with fresh, clean fruit ensures your flower wreath or arrangement will have a clean polished look. Discard bruised or damaged fruit.
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2
Use a sharp serrated kitchen knife to slice the fruit into thin discs. The actual thickness is a matter of personal choice but will alter overall drying time. Don't slice the fruit too thinly, as holes could form during the drying process.
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3
Remove excess moisture by placing the slices on an absorbent paper towel for an hour. Don't pat the fruit with the towel, as it may leave shreds of towel residue on the fruit.
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4
Arrange the slices of fruit on the trays of the dehydrator. Spread the slices out evenly but push toward the middle rather than arrange along the outer edges. If you have enough fruit to fill all the trays, use all of them but remember to alternate tray positions during the drying process.
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Set the temperature of the dehydrator to 135 or 140 degrees F depending on the instructions for your brand of dehydrator. Always check the manual for your dehydrator and take the time to read the preserving fruits section.
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Leave the fruit to dry for at least 12 hours if not longer. The size and type of fruit can make a difference to the drying time, but consider 12 hours a minimum. Flip the fruit over and alternate tray positions periodically to encourage an even drying process.
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7
Remove the fruit from the dehydrator and allow to cool to room temperature. Discard any fruit that is torn, damaged or overly brittle. Keep only whole thick and completely dry pieces of fruit for flower arranging and wreath making.
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Use a disposable paint brush and a bottle of acrylic gloss to brush a layer of finish over the fruit slices. This will help preserve the fruit and add a shine for decorative arranging. Follow the instructions on the gloss bottle.
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