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How to Dehydrate Citrus:
Lemons, Limes, Oranges

How to Dehydrate Citrus:
Lemons, Limes, Oranges

Susan Gast, founder of Easy Food Dehydrating

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

Are you ready to learn how to dehydrate citrus? If not, put them at the top of your dehydrating 'to-do' list! It's so easy to do.

Sliced fresh oranges on a Nesco dehydrator

Dehydrated Citrus is Ideal for Recipe Flavoring

Grab your cutting board and a really sharp knife.

Begin by Using a Good Sharp Knife by Cutluxe!

Check out this great chef's knife with a full tang that means the handle and blade "are one" so they can't come apart when we're slicin' and a dicin'.

I know these Cutluxe Chef knives may be a little expensive, but they do last pretty much a lifetime when you maintain their cutting edges.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increaseRead disclosure here.

...or treat yourself to one of these like I did!

SUPMAKIN Slicer + Dicer Mandoline ~ OnceForAll Brand

French fry cutter, vegetable chopper, vegetable slicer cutter, potato slicer, chopper for kitchen meal prep.

A multi-function mandoline that I just couldn't resist getting!

Frequently Asked Questions:

How to dehydrate citrus in an oven?

Use citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes,(and grapefruit!) for oven-dehydrating.

Equipment:

  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire cooling racks (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Wash and dry citrus fruit thoroughly. Leave their rind/skins on. Slice very thinly, between 1/8 to 1/4 inch if possible. Remove any seeds.
  2. Arrange the slices in a single layer without overlapping on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Place wiring cooling racks on top (optional).
  3. Preheat oven to its lowest possible setting, ideally around 140°F-150°F. Prop the door open slightly with a wooden spoon handle if you can.
  4. Dehydrate your citrus slices for 6-10 hours, flipping them over halfway through. Check periodically and rotate the sheets front to back if hot-spots occur.
  5. Citrus slices are fully dried when no moisture remains. Their texture will be completely stiff and brittle, and all moisture pockets gone. The edges of the fruit slices will curl upward.

Allow to fully cool before putting dried citrus to airtight containers. Citrus slices can be eaten as-is or pulverized into zest for adding to recipes!

Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

How to dehydrate citrus in an air fryer?

Stuff Needed:

  • Citrus fruits (of course!)
  • Air fryer
  • Parchment paper

Instructions:

  1. Wash citrus fruits thoroughly and pat dry. Slice very thin, between 1/8 to 1/4 inch if possible.
  2. Cut a parchment paper liner to fit your air fryer basket. Arrange citrus slices in a single layer on the liner without overlapping.
  3. Set air fryer to lowest temperature, around 95°F to 115°F if there is a dehydrate setting. If not, set to warm setting (115°F to 135°F).
  4. Dehydrate citrus anywhere from 2 to 5 hours depending on your citrus choice, checking periodically. Carefully flip slices and rotate basket occasionally for even drying.
  5. Citrus is fully dehydrated when very stiff and brittle with no moisture pockets. Edges will curl upward when ready.
  6. Turn off and remove citrus once fully dried. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container up to 6 months.

Use dehydrated citrus slices as garnishes, crushed into zest, or added to tea. Rehydrate in water if desired before use.

Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

Dehydrated citrus uses?

Check out the FAQs above; they mention using ground up citrus as recipe flavorings! I love using dried orange in my carrot soup!


A person with dehydrator, fresh food

How to Dehydrate Citrus

  1. Wash the skins of your citrus fruits.
  2. Slice the citrus into 3/8" thick slices and arrange on your food dehydrator trays.
  3. Turn on your food dehydrator and set the temperature between 125°F and 135°F (or per your food dehydrator's instructions). 
  4. Drying time: between 2-12 hours.

Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

  • Citrus is brittle when dried fully.
  • Please remember to rotate your dehydrator trays for even drying.
Assorted Citrus

Dehydrating Citrus is So Easy!

Citrus is probably one of the easiest fruits to dehydrate.

Sadly, not one of the most edible slices of fruit to eat when dried, in my humble opinion!

BUT, read on to see how easy it is to dehydrate citrus for use in recipes and drinks!

Citrus Nutrition Info.

LEMONS + LIMES + ORANGES

Lemons

VITAMINS: High Vitamin C content along with vitamin A.

MINERALS: High in Potassium and Calcium and also contain decent amounts of Magnesium and Phosphorus.

Limes are very often used in drinks and for the famous Key Lime Pie dessert!

VITAMINS: Limes contain good amounts of Vitamins A and C and contain Folate and Choline too.

MINERALS: Limes have Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus.

Oranges

VITAMINS:Loaded with Vitamin C, plentiful Vitamin A, and Folate.

MINERALS: Oranges score well in Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Potassium.

All three citrus fruits contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Read how to dehydrate GRAPEFRUIT HERE.

Dehydrated oranges in a bowl

Lightweight and Brittle when Dehydrated

The dried oranges shown in the bowl above are so lightweight! They make a really neat musical tinkling sound when tossed.

Don't Forget: Dehydrate Citrus for Recipe Flavorings

Don't forget that these dehydrated citrus rinds can be great ground up to be used for recipe flavorings and for baking!

If you remove the dehydrated rind and its white pith, the dried fruit centers make a tasty snack. The pith is the bitter-tasting part of citrus.

Vacuum-Sealed Dehydrated Oranges

Vacuum-Seal and Protect Your Dehydrated Citrus

This is what dehydrated oranges look like in the image above after they've been vacuum-sealed and wrapped in plastic wrap – ready to be stored away for long-term storage.

Check out the deals on Amazon below for plastic wrap. Target stores also have their own brand which I've used with good results.

Plastic Wrap at Amazon

Plastic Wrap - 400-foot Roll

  • 400 square foot roll. Clings tight, easy-to-handle wrap
  • Microwave safe
  • Keeps food fresh

Plastic Wrap - 200-foot Roll

  • 200 square foot roll. Clings tight, easy-to-handle wrap
  • Microwave safe
  • Keeps food fresh

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increaseRead disclosure here.

Lemons - Before and After Dehydrating :-)

Sliced lemons before dehydrating
Lemons in a bowl, after dehydrating

Ahh ~ The Scent of Orange Blossom: Love It, or Hate It?

orange tree bearing fruit

Living in central Florida, I'm lucky enough to have a few orange trees in our front yard.

But across the street are vast orange groves, and boy oh boy, can you ever smell the orange blossom scent when they're in full bloom!

To me, the orange blossom scent is one you either love or hate! I'll leave you guessing which side of the citrus fence I'm on! :-)

If you want to know more about growing citrus in Florida, please visit Gardening Solutions/University of Florida.

Top Orange Producing Areas:

Oranges are grown in warm climates all over the world. The three biggest orange-producing countries are:

  • Brazil
  • United States
  • China

Oranges are typically harvested from October to March. This can vary depending on the climate and the specific variety of orange.

What is the Best Way to Plant Orange Trees?

Orange trees are best planted in areas that receive full sun and have well-draining soil. The trees should be spaced about 8-10 feet apart.

When planting orange trees, it’s important to plant them at the same depth they were growing in at the nursery. This will help the roots establish themselves quickly.

What is the Best Fertilizer for Orange Trees?

Orange trees need to be fertilized regularly to produce healthy fruit. A good fertilizer for orange trees is one that is high in nitrogen and potassium.

Apply fertilizer to the soil around the tree three times per year: once in the spring, once in the summer, and once in the fall.

Orange trees typically take 3-5 years to produce fruit. This can vary depending on the climate and the specific variety of orange trees. You need to have patience and proper planning.




a lemon tree and a lime tree

Where are Lemons and Limes Grown?

Lemons and limes are grown in warm climates all over the world. The three biggest lemon and lime-producing countries are Brazil, the United States, and Mexico.

Lemons and limes are typically harvested from October to March. This can vary depending on the climate and the specific variety of lemon or lime.

What is the Best Way to Plant Lemon and Lime Trees?

Lemon and lime trees are best planted in areas that receive full sun and have well-draining soil. The trees should be spaced about 8-10 feet apart.

When planting lemon and lime trees, it’s important to plant them at the same depth they were growing in at the nursery. This will help the roots establish themselves quickly.

What is the Best Fertilizer for Lemon and Lime Trees?

Lemon and lime trees need to be fertilized regularly to produce healthy fruit. A good fertilizer for lemon and lime trees is one that is high in nitrogen and potassium.

Apply fertilizer to the soil around the tree three times per year: once in the spring, once in the summer, and once in the fall.

Lemon and lime trees typically take 3-5 years to produce fruit. This can vary depending on the climate and the specific variety of lemon or lime trees.

So when you've got left-over fruit, you need to learn how to dehydrate citrus! And now you know just how easy that is to do with Easy Food Dehydrating helping you every step of the way!

Thanks for stopping by “How to dehydrate citrus.” I hope you've learned a lot!

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