How to Dry Fruit Slices
Dried fruit slices can be eaten as nutritious snacks or used as decorations on a table display or even on a Christmas tree. Making dried fruit is a project that can be done at the kitchen table and stove, and it is the kind of project that children can become involved in. All kinds of fruits take well to the drying process, including apples, apricots, berries, peaches, bananas, pineapples and more. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Fresh fruit
- Large pot
- Metal colander
- Large bowl
- Paper towels
- Ascorbic acid dip
- Pectin dip
- Sugar
- Cheesecloth
- Baking sheet
- Honey
- Measuring cup
- Lemon juice
- Pineapple juice
- Oven
- Wooden spoon
- Plastic bags
Instructions
-
-
1
Cut fresh, blemish-free fruit into uniform slices so they will all take the same time to dry.
-
2
Pretreat your fruit slices to preserve their color. Use only one of the following pretreatment processes based on your fruit choice. Any fruit can be dipped in 2 tbsp. of ascorbic acid dissolved in 1 qt. of water. This dip will work but may not produce the results you want. Select from these additional pretreatments for specific types of fruit.
-
-
3
Blanch apples and apricots for best results. Place a metal colander over water boiling in a big pot. Steam the fruit for 5 minutes. Remove the fruit immediately, and immerse in ice water to stop the cooking process. Dry on paper towels.
-
4
Dip peaches, berries and cherries in a pectin dip. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add one box of powdered pectin and dissolve for 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup of sugar and stir well. Add 1 cup of cold water and turn off the heat. Dip your slices into the pectin dip as soon as you slice them. Place dipped fruit on a cheesecloth-covered cookie rack placed on top of a baking sheet.
-
5
Dip bananas, peaches and pineapple in a honey dip. Heat 3 cups of water. Add 1 cup of sugar and stir until it dissolves. Add 1 cup of honey and stir well. Keep the dip lukewarm while dipping. Dip your fruit immediately after you slice it. Place the dipped fruit on a cheesecloth-covered cookie rack placed on top of a baking sheet.
-
6
Dip apples, peaches and bananas in a juice dip. Mix 1 qt. of lukewarm water with 1 qt. of pineapple juice and 1/4 cup of bottled lemon juice. Stir well. Dip your fruit immediately after you slice it. (Leave apples in the dip until you are ready to dry the fruit.) Place the dipped fruit on a cheesecloth-covered cookie rack placed on top of a baking sheet.
-
7
Preheat the oven to 145 degrees. Place the baking sheets in the oven. Prop the door of the oven open with a wooden spoon so that moisture can escape. Drying can take from 4 to 12 hours. Check your fruit every 2 hours. If the fruit is sticky, it isn't dry. Turn the fruit over if one side is drying faster than the other. The fruit is dry when it feels leathery.
-
8
Place dried fruit in a sealed plastic bag, and store in a dark, cool location. Dried fruit stored in the refrigerator will rot faster.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Fruit can also be stored in glass and plastic containers. Keep out of the sunlight and moist environments. Keep the fruit airtight for longest storage. For very long storage, pasteurize your fruit by heating it for 10 minutes in a 175-degree oven or by freezing the dried fruit in a 0-degree freezer for 2 to 5 days.
