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How to Dehydrate Fruit

by: Susan Gast / Author, Blogger at Beesville Books, Bored Boomers, and a Food Dehydrating Fanatic!

Looking to learn how to dehydrate fruit in a dehydrator properly so you can harness that sweet concentrated goodness?

Each fruit page (shown below in red bars) breaks down the simple steps from start to finish—starting with selecting optimal fruit to the best method for drying it via a dehydrator (or your oven) that result in deliciously preserved dried fruit treats!

Pick from an array of classic fruit options such as apples or berries to the more tropical mango and pineapple. I also show you how to make chewy fruit leathers here.

Stick with me and master the dehydrating basics. Use your dried fruit in trail mixes, baked goods and more!

Click any of the images below and read all about that individual fruit and how to dehydrate the fruit properly.

Drying fruit is best done when your fave fruits are plentiful, i.e. at the peak of the fruit's season.

You'll save money too because they are plentiful - in the grocery stores and the roadside stands.

By drying fruit, we get to enjoy dried apples, oranges, and strawberries all year long.

Frequently Asked Questions:

I was most surprised that "Dry fruit apricot" is the most searched-for question! You'll be happy to know that you can learn how to dry apricots here!

Why Dehydrate Fruit at Home?

There are many reasons to dehydrate fruit at home:

• Dehydrated fruit makes a healthy snack that you can take with you anywhere.
• Dehydrating fruit preserves the nutritional value of the fruit better than canning or freezing...
• You control the amount of sugar added to your dried fruit when you make it yourself.

How Many Ways Can You Dehydrate Fruit?

You can dehydrate fruit using an

• Oven
• Dehydrator
• Sun

See the differences between those three methods below.

How to Dehydrate Fruit in the Oven

You can dry fruit in your oven, but it will take longer than using a dehydrator. The benefit of using your oven is that you highly likely already have one! :-)

To Dehydrate Fruit in Your Oven, Do This:

Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

• Preheat the oven to 140-160°F.
• Wash the fruit and slice it into uniform pieces. If you are drying grapes, leave them whole.
• Spread the fruit onto a silicone baking mat or use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Make sure that the pieces are not touching each other.
• Bake in the oven for 6-8 hours, or until the fruit is dried to your desired done-ness.
• Let the fruit cool to room temperature and then store it in an airtight container or use a food vacuum sealer.

Dehydrating Fruit in a Dehydrator

A dehydrator speeds up the process of drying fruit and gives you better even-drying results.

Call me biased, but electric dehydrators are the way to go.

To Dehydrate Fruit in a Dehydrator, Do This:

• Wash the fruit and slice it into uniform pieces. If you are drying grapes, you can choose to leave them whole. If you cut them in half using a sharp knife, place them 'cut-side up' in a single layer on your trays (prevents drips!) and they will dehydrate faster.
• Spread the fruit onto the dehydrator trays.
• Make sure that the pieces are not touching each other.

Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

Dehydrate at 135°F for 6-8 hours, or until the fruit is dried to your desired consistency. I use big grapes that take twice that length of drying time, for the record.

Let the fruit cool and then store it in an airtight container.

NOTE: Check out our individual 'fruit' pages for their specific dehydrating instructions by clicking on the fruit of your choice in the "red boxes" area near the top of the page!

Dehydrating Fruit in the Sun

You can also fry fruit using the sun, but it will take longer than using a dehydrator or oven. The benefit to using the sun is that it doesn't require any extra equipment and it's free!

To Dehydrate Fruit Using the Sun, Do This:

• Wash the fruit and slice it into uniform pieces. If you are drying grapes, leave them whole.
• Spread the fruit onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Make sure that the pieces are not touching each other.
• Place the baking sheet in a sunny spot and let the fruit dehydrate for 6-8 hours, or until it is dried to your desired consistency.
• If it is not sunny enough, you can place the baking sheet in an oven set to its lowest temperature (usually around 170°F) to speed up the process.
• Let it cool and then store it in an airtight container.

Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

And keep an eye on the weather... and pesky insects!

Dehydrated Fruit is Dry When...

... they don't stick together! Dehydrated fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes get very dry, almost brittle really. Place your dried fruit in airtight bags, (such as Ziploc bags), and let them hang around your kitchen for a day or overnight.

People often miss this important step when learning how to dehydrate fruit. This step is called conditioning and enables the air and any moisture in the bag to distribute evenly—so that the dehydrated fruit will be ready for vacuum sealing.

Remember, some fruits will remain naturally sticky, such as prunes, raisins, and dates.

Can You Dehydrate Frozen Fruit?

Yes, you can dehydrate frozen fruit! It doesn't matter if the fruit was fresh or frozen when you started the drying process.

See the individual 'how to dehydrate fruit' pages and check out the best fruits below.

Here's an easy way to loosen frozen fruit: Before opening your bag of frozen fruit, throw it down onto your countertop (not too hard!) a few times to loosen any big pieces that may have frozen together in a clump! If you still have a few small clumps on your tray, run it under cold water for a few seconds and that will take care of it!

Bananas, apples, and strawberries need a generous spraying of lemon juice. Lemon juice is a totally acceptable substitute for ascorbic acid, which is used by professional dehydrating plants, and lemon juice works wonderfully!

Two reasons for spraying with lemon juice are to prevent them from darkening and to prevent bacterial growth during drying.

Dehydrating Fruit for Backpacking

When you learn how to dehydrate fruit, you'll see that it's a great way to add snacks to your backpacking trip. Also, check out Chef Glenn's backpacking tips.

Follow the "how to dehydrate fruit" tips on their individual fruit pages.

Store your dried fruit in a lightweight airtight container for your backpacking expeditions, and/or use a FoodSaver to keep your dried goodies DRY!

How to Store Dehydrated Fruit

Dehydrated fruit stores well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months. For longer storage, keep it in the fridge for up to a year, or in the freezer for up to 2 years. Check our 'How to Store' page here.

Mason jars are great for storing. You can easily see what's in them!

Can You Feed Fruit to Your Pets?

One question that many pet owners have is whether or not you can feed fruit to your pets. The answer is yes!

While fruit is not a necessary part of a pet's diet, it can be a nutritious treat. Just like with humans, moderation is key when feeding fruit to pets, as too much sugar can lead to weight gain and other health problems.

The addition of dehydrated vegetables is ideal for pets - rehydrate the veggies before feeding Fido his doggie meals. They contain all of the same nutrients as fresh fruits and vegetables but without the additional weight of the water.

So go ahead and show your furry friend some love by giving them a tasty dehydrated treat! My Pumpkin page has some neat pumpkin treats for dogs!

Now you know how to dehydrate fruit - safely. Thanks for stopping by.

Don't forget to get your free "Six Simple Steps" eBook where I share how to dehydrate food safely!