by: Susan Gast / Author, Blogger at Beesville Books, Bored Boomers, and a Food Dehydrating Fanatic!
If you are looking for gift ideas that are one-of-a-kind that have your personal touch, make dehydrated food gifts like I do for health-conscious family members, and friends!
Heck - make them for yourself too!
When summer ends, it's time to welcome the cooler temperatures in the US and Europe. I love it when my supermarket and local roadside stands are loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables that summer gifted us. The timing couldn't
be better.
Is dried fruit healthy?
Great question! I have the answer for you in this page about the pros and cons of dried fruit.
Dry fruit gift packing ideas?
Check out the page you're on for using Mason jars filled with dehydrated citrus, and tied off with bows!
Lyrics so you can "sing along"...
Got some Mason jars lined up in a row
Filling them with love, watching my gift list grow
Dried peaches, mangoes, cranberries so sweet
Making something special, making something neat
Mason jar magic, that's what we're creating
Layer by layer, we're celebrating
Christmas time, birthdays, any special day
Showing that we care in a homemade way
Mixed up nuts and fruits, colors bright and bold
Stories in a jar just waiting to be told
A little bit of this, a little bit of that
Making memories in a Mason jar, that's where it's at
It's so easy when you know just what to do
Dehydrate with love, make something brand new
Stack them up pretty, tie them with a bow
Spread some happiness wherever you go
Mason jar magic, that's what we're creating
Layer by layer, we're celebrating
Every gift we give holds a piece of our heart
Making people smile with our Mason jar art
Got some Mason jars lined up in a row
Filling them with love, watching my gift list grow
Dried peaches, mangoes, cranberries so sweet
Making something special, making something neat
Mason jar magic, that's what we're creating
Layer by layer, we're celebrating
Christmas time, birthdays, any special day
Showing that we care in a homemade way
Mixed up nuts and fruits, colors bright and bold
Stories in a jar just waiting to be told
A little bit of this, a little bit of that
Making memories in a Mason jar, that's where it's at
It's so easy when you know just what to do
Dehydrate with love, make something brand new
Stack them up pretty, tie them with a bow
Spread some happiness wherever you go
Mason jar magic, that's what we're creating
Layer by layer, we're celebrating
Every gift we give holds a piece of our heart
Making people smile with our Mason jar art
These gorgeous handmade dehydrated food gifts - that you're about to create - won't sit and spoil on your recipients' countertops any time soon. Why not?
Dehydrated food - when dried and packaged properly - has a long shelf life. Tucking in an 'oxygen absorber' package right inside your gift keeps your dehydrated food feeling fresh!
Seriously, oxygen absorbers inhibit mold growth. Sorry to get all
serious on you there. But it has to be said.
Are you ready to craft your very
own DIY dehydrated food gifts tucked inside Mason jars and baskets? Yes? Let's get going...
The first step is choosing the right foods to dehydrate. For the record, most fruits and vegetables dehydrate well.
The key is to choose ripe produce. Again, it doesn't matter what "shape" the fruit is. We have to slice, dice and dehydrate it!
To me, dehydrated food gifts are not just unique, they are also a healthy and useful alternative to the usual (boring) gift options of socks, scarves, and underwear.
The joy of giving a homemade gift that you've put so much thought and effort into is the best feeling in the world. My friends and family love me (even more - tee hee) for that and so will your family and friends!
If you're at all worried about your lovely edible creations spoiling... well don't be. When foods are dried carefully, dehydrated food has a surprisingly long shelf life - so no fretting over your gifts going bad!
And that's why adding the oxygen absorber in the Mason jar before screwing on the lid works to make sure your food doesn't go moldy.
No one wants a moldy gift.
See our Podcast Page here on this site, or here on Buzzsprout.
The reason I use ripe fruits is this: Ripe fruits have higher natural sugar levels that results in sweeter and more flavorful dried fruit.
So make sure your fruit is ripe before dehydrating. As stated above, the ripeness of a fruit drastically affects its sugar content which will impact the taste of the final dehydrated item.
Keep in mind: The actual process of dehydration doesn't ripen fruit further. Starting with ripe fruit is ideal.
Avoid overripe or bruised fruits as
they will 'darken' too soon and are more prone to potential spoilage. Misshapen fruit is not to be associated with 'bruised' and when sliced and dried, no one (but you) will know what their original shape was!
Side note: If you're making smoothies from ripe fruit, then by all means use the bruised and misshapen fruits! (I don't want to hurt their feelings...)
Now, let's talk about the dehydrating process itself. Visit my fruit and vegetable pages to learn how to dehydrate individual fruits (and veggies).
Try not to get impatient waiting for the dehydrating process to finish. Remember, good things take time.
All you need is fresh produce, an oven - or a dehydrator. Check out these pages on Nesco and Excalibur dehydrators, and What Are Food Dehydrators too.
My choice - every time - is to use a dehydrator, I tried the 'oven-drying' method - once. (That ought to tell you all you need to know about oven drying). So, get a dehydrator! You can "set it and forget it" and not worry about burning the food...
The key to successful dehydration is to make sure the food is dried fully - and correctly. Dried foods MUST be allowed to cool and then I package them in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags.
For long-term storage, plastic food storage bags (specifically manufactured for use with a food vacuum sealer) can work well. But for short-term storage, you'd want to use glass Mason jars to keep your dehydrated food safe and fresh. Plus they look great!
How about creating themed gift baskets or jars filled with your dried goodies?
I love to make a 'Tropical Delight' basket filled with dehydrated pineapple, mango, and coconut.
Or how
about a 'Veggie Crunch' jar with zucchini and beet chips... (now you're talkin').
For tea lovers: Use dried apple slices, pear chips, and candied ginger!
For your health-conscious buddies: Use dried berries, banana chips, and assorted nuts and seeds.
For the kids! They love the different colors - and tastes - of naturally-sweet snacks.
Side note: Apples and pears make excellent fruit roll-ups. Check out how I make fruit roll-ups here.
Another side note: Did you know that "going up the apple and pears," is Cockney-rhyming slang for "going up the stairs?" Yup, Now your day is complete.
(What's Cockney-rhyming slang?) Thought you'd never ask. Check
that out here but COME BACK to continue learning how making dehydrated food gifts will make you the best gift-giver ever!
For that good old-fashioned feel, use brown paper bags for your dehydrated food gifts! Nana will love it.
Include a personalized handwritten note. It shows (even more!) how much you care.
Looking to weave magic with some wicker basket gifts? Jazz them up with tissue paper and clear cellophane!
Jars nestled in tissue paper look great, and you may wish to wrap the whole basket in crinkly cellophane.
Go for something high-quality, sturdy yet soft. Acid-free tissue paper is the star of the show
here because it won’t fade or damage our dried goodies in our
basket. Now, when it comes to colors, it's your, er, their party!
Pick something that complements the dehydrated goodies stuffed inside or matches the occasion. Think red and green for Christmas. Pastels for Easter. Orange and black for Halloween. Don’t be shy to stack more tissue paper if your present is playing hard to get or has sharp edges.
Our gift of dried fruit deserves a stunning wrapping such as colorful ribbons
and bows. Satin or organza ribbons add a touch of luxury.
Wired ribbons hold their shape well, and you can pick a color that matches or
contrasts your tissue paper. Just make sure your ribbon isn’t trying to
hog all the limelight from your basket...
Last but certainly not least, that crinkly-sounding clear plastic. It's often cellophane, the unsung hero of gift wrapping!
Not only does it give your gifts a lovely, see-through dress to wear(!), it also keeps everything clean and secure, like bubble wrap’s classy cousin.
Choose a clear or patterned
sheet depending on your gift's theme and vibe.
I also use these cellophane bags
Remember, everything we choose is a reflection of our great taste and the love we put into the gift.
Just like a favorite recipe, it's all the
ingredients combined that make the end result magnificent.
And if you don't want to go "the basket route," I use these lovely clear plastic bags that measure 5.9" x 6.3" - I use an assortment of smaller (half-pint size) Mason jars inside these bags!
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I love creating delicious, long-lasting, and unique gifts and it's well worth the effort. And who knows? You might discover that dehydrating food becomes a regular part of your kitchen routine. It's not just for holidays!
I hope you enjoyed my inspiring gift basket images above! Remember, all you need to do is learn how to dehydrate fruits and vegetables safely. Read our "How to dehydrate fruit" and "How to dehydrate vegetables" pages.
Once you've mastered the art of dehydrating food, you'll be well on your way to creating unique healthy, and thoughtful gifts.
Before I sign off, please check out these beautiful potato-beaded necklaces by Janetta here.
And learn how to dehydrate potatoes here so you can try your hand at necklace-making - just like Janetta!
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. Let me show you how to keep your food pantry full, whatever the reason or season!
While you're here, get my 6 Simple Steps eBook - for Free! 🔻🔻🔻
easy FOOD DEHYDRATING: Making food preservation simple since 2010.
I show you how to keep your food pantry full, whatever the reason or season!
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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ALL CONTENT COPYRIGHT © 2010-2024 • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED REGARDLESS OF LINKS OR ATTRIBUTIONS.
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: I am an Affiliate for Amazon, and other sellers of merchandise. Should you purchase through their links, I may receive compensation. The price you pay does not increase. THANKS for your support! Read full disclaimer here.
POWERED BY SBI! (SOLO BUILD IT!)
