Dehydrated Strawberries in Air Fryer:
A Sweet and Crispy Snack in Minutes

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...)

(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!

Benefits of Dehydrated Strawberries

• Quick and efficient - Air fryers typically dry strawberries faster than traditional dehydrators or ovens
• Energy-efficient - Uses less electricity than a full-sized oven
• Space-saving - Takes up less counter space than a bulky dehydrator
• Even drying - Circulating hot air provides consistent results
• Retains nutrients - The quick drying process helps preserve vitamins and antioxidants
• Enhances flavor - Concentrates the natural sweetness of strawberries
• Versatile snack - Creates a portable, shelf-stable fruit for snacking or baking

Versatility in Recipes

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.

When a Recipe Calls for "Fresh"... Do This:

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!

Choosing Between Organic or Regular 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.

Samantha's Air Fryer Strawberries

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.

So I Added Olive Oil to Mine, Too!

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!

Optimal Freshness and Season

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:

• Bright red color
• Fresh, green leaves
• Firm texture
• Sweet aroma

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!)

Preparing Strawberries for Dehydration

Gently 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:

1. Wash and dry berries
2. Remove stems and leaves
3. Slice evenly (1/4 inch thick)
4. Arrange in a single layer (whether in a dehydrator, oven, or air fryer)

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).

Dehydrating Strawberries in an Air Fryer

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?

Step-by-Step Instructions for an Air Fryer

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!

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.

Determining the Drying Time and Temperature

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...

Proper Storage Methods

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.

Extending Shelf Life

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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