How to Reconstitute Dried Fruit

Dried apples and other fruits make a healthy snack.

Dried fruit, whether bought at the store or dried at home, is preserved for a longer-lasting shelf life without the need for refrigeration, cooking or freezing. Dried fruit can be eaten plain, mixed in with yogurt or cereal and makes a healthy snack. Reconstituting dried fruit adds moisture back into the fruit, bringing the fruit closer to its original state. Reconstituted dried fruit can be used for baking, cooking or eating plain.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup dried apples
• 1 cup dried pears
• 1 cup dried peaches
• 6 bowls
• Strainer
• Kitchen towels
• Plastic containers with lids
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup dried berries

Instructions

Reconstituting Dried Apples, Pears and Peaches

1. Place 1 cup each of dried apples, pears and peaches in three bowls, using a different bowl for each type of fruit.

2. 

   Use room temperature water for reconstituting dried fruits.

   Pour room temperature water over the dried fruit in each bowl. Use 1 1/2 cups water for the apples, 1 3/4 cups water for the pears and 2 cups water for the dried peaches.

3. 

   Dried fruit must soak in water so the moisture is absorbed back into the fruit.

   Allow the dried fruits to sit in the water and absorb the moisture. Dried apples should soak for 30 minutes and dried pears and peaches need to soak for one hour and 15 minutes.

4. Pour the reconstituted fruit through a strainer to remove excess liquid. Spread the fruit out on a clean kitchen towel and pat dry.

5. Store reconstituted dried fruit in plastic containers with lids in the refrigerator.

Reconstituting Dried Raisins, Cranberries and Other Berries

1. 

   Reconstituted raisins make a plumper, juicier addition to salads, breads and cakes.

   Pour 1 cup each of raisins, dried cranberries and any other type of dried berry in three separate bowls. Cover the dried fruits with hot water. Using hot water speeds up the reconstitution process.

2. Check the raisins and berries after 45 minutes to see if they are plump and have absorbed the desired amount of moisture. Reconstitution takes between one hour and eight hours, with the least amount of time needed for smaller fruits, such as berries or raisins.

3. 

   A strainer or colander removes excess moisture from reconstituted fruit.

   Drain the reconstituted berries and raisins in a strainer to remove excess moisture. Keeping the reconstituted fruit in moisture for too long causes the fruit to lose flavor.

4. Allow the raisins, cranberries and other berries to dry on a towel, then store them in plastic containers with lids.

Tips & Warnings

• Use reconstituted dried fruits for pie and cake recipes.

• Reconstituted berries are a tasty addition to salads.

• Keep reconstituted fruits in the refrigerator so they don't become moldy.

References

• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service: Preserving Foods: Drying Fruits and Vegetables: Rehydrating Dried Foods
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System: Drying Fruits at Home: Reconstituting