by: Susan Gast / Author, Blogger at Beesville Books, Bored Boomers, and a Food Dehydrating Fanatic!
Dehydrating strawberries in an air fryer is yet another way to preserve strawberries - aside from freezing, or using a regular oven. Honestly? An electric dehydrator is my preferred way of drying things but using an air fryer caught my attention!
Disclaimer: I now own two air fryers (and Amazon thanks me...)
NOT A VIDEO: This is a screenshot of Samantha from RecipeThis.com and dried strawberries in her Ninja Foodi(Watch Samantha's video just a little further down the page).
As a lover of fruit, I'm
always looking for ways to extend the shelf life of seasonal fruits (and vegetables).
I eat a handful of strawberries pretty much every day, since my newest binge food is a Greek yogurt strawberry parfait... with blueberries!
Try adding dried strawberries to your morning granola. I'm eating fresh strawberries right now (well not exactly at this moment!) because I reside in Florida and strawberries are in their peak season November through March so they're plentiful right now.
Think about adding dried strawberries to your morning oatmeal for a burst of flavor. They're fantastic in baked goods
too. I even chop them up and mix them into muffin batter. The concentrated flavor really adds a burst of strawberry-ness!
Use dried (or fresh!) strawberries in savory dishes, too. They add a unique sweetness to salads and go well with goat cheese on a charcuterie board.
Don't want to eat dried strawberries and your recipe calls for fresh? Do this:
Rehydrating dried strawberries is simple. In a bowl, add clean cool water to them and in a few minutes they're ready to use in sauces or compôtes.
It's as good as eating fresh strawberries!
When it comes to choosing between organic and regular strawberries, bear in mind that organic strawberries are grown without synthetic pesticides, which, to me, is more appealing because I'm concerned about consuming chemical residues.
That being said, organic 'anything' does cost more and may have a shorter shelf life.
Regular strawberries are usually less expensive and more readily available. If you go the organic route, wash them thoroughly before slicing and dehydrating.
Just so you know: I put freshness and ripeness over organic when there's a choice at the store. I like keeping money in my pocketbook.
At five minutes into this video from RecipeThis, Samantha uses a stacking wire rack (from Amazon) for use inside her Ninja Foodi. Very interesting! (Nice to know that Sam and her husband, Dom, are from the next county over from where I was born! Sam and Dom: Yorkshire. Me: Lancashire... small world!)
NOTE: I was surprised to see Sam spray her strawberries with extra virgin olive oil, but hey, don't knock it 'til you've tried it. She adds extra sweetness with Stevia.
Here's me doing the same thing, but drying my strawberries with my Elite Gourmet dehydrator. I do have two air fryers but neither of them go low enough, temperature-wise, so I used my smallest dehydrator instead. I only had a handful of strawberries to demo with, sorry about that!
I always look for fresh, ripe strawberries when I'm planning to dehydrate them (or not!). I do prefer locally grown summer strawberries as they're often sweeter and more flavorful.
When picking out a punnet of strawberries, I check for:
I avoid berries with white or green
patches, as they're not fully ripe. And let's skip strawberries that are very dark red. It means they're overripe - and often mushy - so those strawberries aren't ideal
for dehydrating either (but they're totally suitable in smoothies!)
My OXO-brand strawberry hullerGently wash the berries and pat them dry
thoroughly as excess moisture will affect the drying process by taking longer. Not a surprise there, right?
Next, I remove the green tops and stems. I use a great strawberry huller (Amazon Affiliate link, thanks!) to do that as I don't want to cut off the tops like some people do. To me, that's wasting part of the strawberry. And the huller is fun (and easy) to use!
For uniform drying, I slice the strawberries into even pieces, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
Consistent thickness helps all pieces dry at the same rate, but don't obsess over it!
Four Steps Easy Preparation:
And to me, that's where an air fryer falls short. How so? Compare the surface area of an air fryer to a dehydrator tray, and to the massive size of an oven rack.
So how do you get around the air fryer's diminutive size? By using a stacking wire rack shown below.
Here's a link to the wire basket: Goldlion Dehydrator Rack for Ninja Foodi (Amazon Affiliate link, thanks).
Using an air
fryer to dehydrate strawberries is a pretty new way of drying, plus it's quick, thus making it an efficient
dying method... because it dries them faster (than a dehydrator or a regular oven). Who doesn't want to use less electricity?
Prep as mentioned before: Wash and thoroughly dry your strawberries. Remove the stems and slice them into uniformly sliced pieces - about 1/8 to a 1/4 inch thick. This helps ensure even drying.
Next, line your air fryer basket (if using your air fryer with just the single wire tray) with parchment paper and arrange the strawberry slices in a single layer. Make sure not to overlap them.
BUT, if you've got a stacking wire rack like Sam uses in her Ninja Foodie, set your air fryer to its lowest temperature setting, ideally 135°F (57°C). If it doesn't go that low, use 180°F (82°C). IMHO 180°F is TOO HIGH, but... give it a try!
Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!
If you dry certain foods at 180°F, you run the risk of 'case hardening' which happens when the skin/outer part of the food dries too fast and creates a tough exterior.
Why is this an undesirable thing? Because you run the risk of the inside of the food remaining moist. So what? Well, moisture breeds germs. We don't want germs in the center of our dried foods, right? That's why you dry fruits and veggies at much lower temperatures. Now you know why I'm hesitant to use an air fryer whose lowest setting isn't LOW ENOUGH.
Back to the air fryer: Let the strawberries dry for several hours, checking them periodically. You can gauge their progress by gently touching them to see how moist they are.
Strawberries are done when they feel leathery and don't have any sticky spots.
One advantage of using an air fryer over a traditional dehydrator is the faster drying time. However, you need to be more attentive to prevent over-drying.
Obviously, the drying time will vary depending on the moisture content of the strawberries and the air fryer's capabilities.
An electric dehydrator usually takes 6-8 hours at 135°F. But in Sam's YouTube video, she says her strawberries only took 2.5 hours in her Ninja Foodi (using the stacking wire rack, and the Ninja Foodi air fryer lid!) That's A. Lot. Faster.
Heck I can feel an Amazon Ninja Foodi + wire rack purchase coming on strong...
I always make sure to store my dehydrated strawberries in airtight containers. Glass jars with tight-fitting lids (known as Mason jars) or vacuum-sealed bags work well.
It's essential to
keep moisture out as it can lead to mold growth and spoilage. So add an oxygen absorber in the bag (or Mason jar) before drawing out the air.
I prefer to store my dried strawberries in a cool, dark place like a pantry or cupboard. Exposure to light degrades dried food's color and nutrients over time.
To maximize the shelf life of my dehydrated strawberries, I always make sure they are completely cool before storing. Residual heat creates condensation inside the container, and that leads to spoilage.
Properly stored dehydrated strawberries in food vacuum-sealer bags can last
up to 6-12 months at room temperature. I'm not talking Ziploc™ bags here, but proper food-vacuum-sealer bags.
In the refrigerator, they can stay fresh
for up to a year, and in the freezer, even longer. But my whole point of dehydrating (food) is to keep the moisture out so I have an issue with freezing dehydrated food (due to how moist freezers are!) I'm not talking freeze-drying here, though that IS interesting.
I regularly check my stored
strawberries for any signs of moisture or mold. If I notice any, I get rid of them; better to be safe than sorry, right? Right.
Dehydrated strawberries are fantastic crushed and mixed into homemade granola or energy bars. For a twist on classic desserts, I've found that powdered dried strawberries add natural flavoring to frostings.
I've even used them to create a
unique strawberry shortcake. I crush the dehydrated berries and fold them into
the biscuit dough before baking. The result is a burst of delicious
strawberry flavor in every bite. The bright red flecks look
beautiful in the finished biscuits, too.
Because dried strawberries are so lightweight, they're perfect for backpacking trips. You can carry a lot of fruity flavor with you without the extra weight of fresh water-laden berries. Plus, they don't get squished in a backpack like fresh fruit does.
Their sweet-tart flavor pairs great with nuts and seeds. I particularly enjoy mixing dried strawberries with almonds, coconut flakes, and dark chocolate chips for a delicious energy boost on the trail.
Dehydrating strawberries in an air fryer offers a quick and convenient way to create delicious dried fruit snacks. This method provides great results with some experimentation. Here are some common questions about the process.
What is the optimal time to dehydrate strawberries in an air fryer?
The ideal dehydration time for strawberries in an air fryer is typically 4-6 hours. But in Sam's case from RecipeThis.com, she states hers took only 2.5 hours.
Drying time can vary depending on
the thickness of your strawberry slices and your desired level of dryness.
Can you give tips for making chewy dried strawberries using an air fryer?
To make chewy dried strawberries, slice the berries a bit thicker, about 1/4 inch. Then, set your air fryer to a slightly lower temperature if you can, around 125°F (52°C).
You can also reduce the dehydration time by about
an hour compared to making crispy strawberries, meaning don't dry them out completely.
How can I make air fryer strawberry desserts?
Dehydrated strawberries are great crushed and sprinkled over ice cream or yogurt. You can also easily add them to homemade granola or trail mix for a sweet, fruity touch.
How's this for a simple treat: Dip half of each dried strawberry in melted chocolate and let it cool.
Is it possible to dehydrate strawberries in an oven as well as an air fryer?
Yes, you can dehydrate strawberries in an oven. Simply set your oven to its lowest temperature, usually around 170°F (77°C), and place the strawberry slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
It takes longer than an air fryer, typically 6-8 hours (like an electric dehydrator too), but the results are still delicious.
Can I add spices like cinnamon when dehydrating strawberries in an air fryer?
Absolutely! You can add spices to strawberries before dehydrating them in the air fryer (or dehydrator, or oven).
Cinnamon is a great choice; also try a light dusting of nutmeg or even a sprinkle of vanilla sugar. Just be sure to add the spices after slicing the strawberries while they're moist, i.e. before putting them in the air fryer.
Sugar substitutes like "People's brand Keto Sweetener" or Stevia work well. (Yes, that was an Amazon Affiliate link, thanks).
Is an air fryer capable of functioning as a fruit dehydrator, and if so, how?
An air fryer can indeed function as a fruit dehydrator. Use the lowest temperature setting, usually around 135°F (57°C), which is similar to a dedicated dehydrator. The fact that an air dryer uses air circulation helps remove moisture evenly.
Arrange the fruit in a single layer and
check it periodically to ensure even drying. In Sam's video, she bought a stacking wire tray rack that fits inside her Nina Foodi.
Don't forget to get your free "Six Simple Steps" eBook where I share how to dehydrate food safely!
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Hi, I'm Susan Gast and I've been making food preservation simple since 2010.
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Hi, I'm Susan Gast and I've been making food preservation simple since 2010. Let me show you how to keep your food pantry full, whatever the reason or season!
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THANKS for your support! Read full disclosure here.
easy FOOD DEHYDRATING: Making food preservation simple since 2010.
I show you how to keep your food pantry full, whatever the reason or season!
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: I am an Affiliate for Amazon, and other sellers of quality merchandise.
Should you purchase an item through their links, I may receive compensation. The price you pay does not increase.
THANKS for your support! Read full disclosure here.
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easy FOOD DEHYDRATING: Making food preservation simple since 2010. I show you how to keep your food pantry full, whatever the reason or season!
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