How to Dry Pears With a Fruit Dehydrator

The practice of drying or dehydrating foods, which has been done for centuries, removes any moisture that might lead to the growth of mold and bacteria. Traditionally, this practice took several days and involved the use of an excessive amount of salt. Today, food dehydrators have taken the time and sodium out of drying your's favorite vegetables, meats and fruits.

Things You'll Need

• Electric food dehydrator
• Pears
• Water
• Paper towel
• Knife
• Bowl
• Lemon juice

Instructions

1. Wash the pears underneath cold tap water and pat them dry with paper towel. Any type of pear can be dehydrated, from Anjou to Asian and Comice to Red Bartlett.

2. Cut the pear into quarter-inch slices. Soak the slices in a bowl of lemon juice for five minutes. This soak will help keep the pears from turning brown before they are placed in the dehydrator.

3. Place the pear slices in single layers onto the dehydrator's trays. Turn the dehydrator on to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Allow the pears to remain in the dehydrator for 6 to 20 hours, or until they have become leathery.

References

• Farm Gal: How to Dry Fruits and Vegetables
• Healthy Kitchens: Tips For Using The Dehydrator
• Produce Oasis: Types of Pears