How to Dehydrate Peaches for Snacking,
Baking, and Smoothies

Dehydrating peaches at home is one of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to capture summer flavor for year-round use. Whether you start with fresh, juicy fruit or convenient frozen slices, dried peaches make perfect snacks, boost baked goods, and blend beautifully into smoothies.

✅ Quick Answer: How do you dehydrate peaches at home?
To dehydrate peaches, slice them ¼-inch thick, mist with lemon juice, and place on dehydrator trays. Dry at 125–135°F for 6–16 hours until pliable. Store in airtight containers in a cool, dark place for long-lasting snacks, baking, or smoothies.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the simple steps to prepare, dry, and store peaches so you can enjoy their natural sweetness long after peach season ends.

Woman arranging fresh peach slices on trays of a round white food dehydrator beside a basket of ripe peaches in a modern kitchen.

Start dehydrating peaches in your favorite dehydrator. See our Nesco and Excalibur dehydrators as examples.

Recently I added a new dehydrator to my Nesco and Excalibur family. It has special trays that can be adjusted simply by positioning their tray tabs to stack on top of each other. More on that in future posts. FTR, it's an Elite Gourmet EFD319 Food Dehydrator.

Also, check out a great Allrecipes Peach Cobbler farther down the page.

Peach Nutrition Info.

VITAMINS: Vitamin A and Vitamin C, followed by Vitamin K, Choline, and Folate.

MINERALS: High in Potassium, followed by Phosphorus, Magnesium, Fluoride, and Calcium.

Peaches also contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids too!


Peaches. whole and cut - in a basket

Step-by-Step: How to Dehydrate Peaches (Fresh or Frozen)

NOTE: If you want to make dehydrating peaches a little easier on yourself, how about dehydrating frozen peaches? Just a thought ... Yes, I know they're already processed, i.e. 'storable', but you'll be freeing up space in your freezer!

If you want to know how to dehydrate peaches that are frozen, ignore steps 1 and 2.

  1. Prep Your Peaches (Wash, Pit, Slice): Wash fresh peaches, peel if desired, remove the pit, and either slice in half or cut into 1/4" slices
  2. Keep Them Fresh (Lemon Juice Pre-Treatment): Fresh peaches need to be pre-treated, so toss the peaches in a bowl and spray liberally with lemon juice. TIP: Use a pump top from a new unused spray bottle, pick one that fits your lemon juice bottle. Look for one that has a long enough plastic tube that'll reach the bottom of your lemon juice bottle.
  3. Place Cut-Side Up: If you simply cut your peaches in half, place them on your food dehydrator trays with the cut-side up to prevent drips on the lower trays!
  4. Dehydrate: Turn on your dehydrator and set the temperature between 125°F and 135°F (or per your food dehydrator's instructions).

💡 Tip: Outside the U.S.? Most dehydrating temps here are listed in Fahrenheit — use our quick converter to see the Celsius equivalent for your machine.

  • Drying time: between 6-16 hours and they will feel pliable when dried.
  • Remember to rotate your food dehydrator trays, for even drying.

If you’ve got plump peaches to dehydrate, the Excalibur makes it easy—you can simply remove a tray to create extra space for larger fruit halves or slices.

That flexibility is one of the main reasons I own both an Excalibur and a Nesco; with a Nesco, you have to make the pieces fit since there are no spacer trays (though it’s something they should invent!). Speaking of... the Elite Gourmet EFD319 DID create trays where you can adjust the spacing/height! Check that out here.

Want Sweeter Peaches? Here's How!

If you want sweeter peaches, consider doing a syrup-bath blanch.

To syrup-blanch, first prepare a mixture of 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of light corn syrup, and 2 cups of water.

Bring to a boil, then add no more than 2 pounds of prepared fruit to the pan and simmer using the chart below.

Remove from heat and allow to cool in the syrup for up to 30 minutes. This step is optional - it adds more sweetness but can soften fruit further, so skip if you prefer firmer fruit.

Fruit Syrup Blanch Time Notes
Peaches 3–5 minutes Skins loosen; flesh stays intact
Plums 1–2 minutes Skins crack quickly
Apricots 3–4 minutes Enough to soften skins, avoid mush

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

Smart Ways to Use Dehydrated Peaches in Everyday Recipes

Dehydrated peaches are used in a variety of ways. Eat as a snack, add to cereals or oatmeal, or use in baking.

To rehydrate dehydrated peaches, simply soak them in water for about 30 minutes.

Learn more about rehydrating dehydrated food here.

Homemade Peach Cobbler Anytime of the Year

Peach Cobbler in cast iron skilletPeach Cobbler Recipe from Allrecipes. Photo Courtesy of Allrecipes.

Treat yourself to this easy Peach Cobbler. The recipe is courtesy of Allrecipes.com

Look forward to making Peach Melba or Peach Cobbler ANY Time of the Year!

Refreshing Peach Smoothie in Minutes

Peach Smoothie in tall glass, loose peach

Enjoy fresh peaches in smoothies!

Do this:

  • Peel one banana
  • Wash and pit the peach
  • Add Silk-brand Light Vanilla Soy milk (1 cup)
  • Handful of ice cubes if you like a cold(er) smoothie

Blend and enjoy!

Where Peach Trees Thrive Best

peach-laden tree

The best area for growing peach trees is in a place with full sun and well-drained soil.

The trees should be spaced about 8-10 feet apart.

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

Fun Story: The “Hidden” Georgia Peaches

A few years ago, my husband and I and my mom went to visit Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. As we toured Georgia, we did NOT see one "Georgia Peaches for Sale" sign.

It was only on our way home when we drove through the Florida panhandle that we finally saw a "Georgia Peaches for Sale" sign!

Do you think the folk in Georgia know they're so good and they were hiding them from us? :-)

Thanks for taking the time to read how to dehydrate peaches! Feel free to share this info. with your friends and neighbors!

Peach Dehydrating FAQs: Your Top Questions Answered

Do peaches need to be peeled before dehydrating?

No, peeling is optional. The skin adds fiber and nutrients, but peeling creates a softer texture for snacking and baking.

How do I know when my dehydrated peaches are done?

They’re ready when they feel leathery and pliable, not sticky or wet. If they snap, they may be overdried — but still usable in baking.

What’s the best way to store dehydrated peaches long-term?

Store them in airtight jars or vacuum-sealed bags in a cool, dark place. For storage beyond 12 months, add oxygen absorbers for freshness.

Can I dehydrate frozen peaches without thawing?

Yes! Place frozen slices directly on trays and dehydrate. They may take slightly longer but save prep time.

Can you make peach fruit leather?

Yes! Check out our fruit leather (AKA roll-ups) guide for tips.

What's the best fertilizer for peach trees?

Use one high in nitrogen and potassium, applied 3x a year.

When do peach trees produce fruit?

Most trees bear fruit 3–5 years after planting.

How should I store fresh and dried peaches?

Fresh: cool and dark for 1–2 weeks. Dried: airtight containers in a cool place.

Learn about storing dehydrated food here.

Thanks for joining me to learn how to dehydrate peaches! Once you’ve tried them in snacks, cobblers, or smoothies, you’ll want more tasty ways to use your dried fruit.

That’s why I’ve put together my free 5 Dried Food Recipes You’ll Actually Love PDF — featuring family favorites like carrot soup, minestrone, split pea, spicy beef jerky, and even banana cinnamon rolls. Grab your copy below and keep your pantry stocked with flavor year-round!

Get 5 Dried Food Recipes You'll Actually Love

5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

Here's where you can get your copy of our all new
5 Dried Food Recipes (That Actually Taste Great)
They're my all-time favorite easy dried food meals!

Get it here right now.

For Free!

You Might Like These

You Might Like These


Before You Go...

If you like the content, please give me some love by clicking on the 🩷 in the lower right-hand corner (on just about all my pages). This signals to me that you find it enjoyable and useful.

5 Dried Food Recipes That Actually Taste Good free PDF download!

And don’t forget to grab your FREE 5 Dried Food Recipes via the opt-in form — they're waiting for you! Thank you so much! (Get it here).