Can I use my oven to dehydrate fruit?

Dried fruit can boost your fiber and nutrient intake and supply your body with large amounts of antioxidants. However, they are also high in sugar and calories, and can cause problems when eaten in excess. For this reason, dried fruit should only be eaten in small amounts, preferably along with other nutritious foods.

Directions

Preheat oven to 200 F.

Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.

Cut bananas into 1/4-inch slices.

Dip slices in lemon juice, then place on prepared baking sheet.

Bake, turning over once, until golden brown and crispy, about 3 hours.

Optional: Drizzle chips with honey once out of oven.

Dried Fruit Expiration Date(Unopened)PantryFridgeDates last for3-12 Months1-2 YearsDried Blueberries last for6-12 Months1-2 YearsDried Plums last for6-12 Months1-2 YearsBanana Chips last for1-2 Months–

Directions:

Rinse blueberries and let air dry (or pat dry with a paper towel.)

Spread blueberries on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.

Preheat oven to 225 degrees.

Bake blueberries in oven for 3 hours at 225 degrees.

Remove and cool berries before placing in an airtight container.

Fruits such as dried apricots, prunes and raisins will keep at top quality in the pantry for six months. After opening, you may wish to store them tightly sealed in the refrigerator to preserve the quality for up to six additional months or freeze them for one month.

Wash, peel (optional) and core apples.

Slice apples thinly and evenly (1/4 inch), use a mandolin if possible.

If desired, dip slices in anti-browning solution of 1/4 cup lemon juice in 1 quart of water.

Remove slices from water and pat dry.

Sprinkle slices with a light dusting of cinnamon.

Use Your Oven. It’s remarkably easy to dehydrate fruits and veggies in the oven. Just turn it to the lowest setting, cut your fruit and veg into ¼ inch slices, and put them in the oven on a lined sheet pan for as long as they need, usually 6 to 8 hours.

How to Dehydrate Cherries

Wash your cherries. First off, like with any fruit or vegetable you purchase, you’ll want to wash them.

Pick & Pit.

Decide if you want to go all in or just half.

Add your cherries to your dehydrator trays.

Dehydrate on 125-135F for approximately 12-24 hours.

Store in an airtight container.

Cut your cranberries in half, then toss with the maple syrup.

Spread the cranberries out on your dehydrator sheets, then dehydrate at 115 degrees for 8-10 hours.

If you don’t have a dehydrator, spread the cranberries on a parchment-lined baking sheet and dry at your oven’s lowest temperature until dry.

Method 2 Drying Apricots in a Dehydrator

Choose your ripe apricots.

Pit the apricots.

Separate the halves and turn them inside out.

Remove your dehydrator racks.

Replace the racks.

Wait approximately 12 hours or until the timer goes off.

Store dried apricots in sealed glass canning jars.

It is fairly easy to turn papaya seeds into a pepper replacement. Simply slice a fresh papaya in half, scoop out the seeds and place them onto a kitchen towel. Fold the towel together and rub the seeds inside the cloth until they are clean. If you have a dehydrator, set it on the lowest setting and dry them over night.

Directions

Peel pineapple and slice into bite sized chunks.

In a heavy saucepan bring sugar, water and corn syrup to a boil.

Add pineapple chunks.

Cook over low heat until fruit becomes transparent.

Drain pineapple on rack and allow to dry.

Store in airtight container.

Surprisingly, according to several sources, dehydrated fruit can last up to five years if properly prepared and stored. Dried vegetables will last even longer, up to ten years or more. Compared with canned food, which only lasts up to five years, dried foods are a good bet for long-term storage.

Soak fruit for 10 minutes, drain and blot dry with a lint-free towel. Preheat the oven to 130-160 degrees F. Use a lower temperature for thin sliced fruits such as apples or peaches. Strawberries and other whole berries love the higher heat. Place parchment paper onto sheet pans.

To Dehydrate Peaches:

Thinly slice your peeled peaches.

Dip peach slices in the lemon water to prevent browning (optional)

Drain the slices in a strainer.

Place peach slices on a dehydrator tray or a mesh insert.

Dry at around 135-140 °F until leathery or crisp (about 8-12 hours), depending on thickness of slices.

How To Dehydrate Raspberries Step-By-Step

Wash and dry your raspberries thoroughly.

Arrange them in a single layer on your trays, with the hold down to allow water to drain.

Spray with just a bit of lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

Dehydrate at about 135 degrees for 15-18 hours.

Wash both mangoes, and use a peeler to remove the skin. Cut into thin slices, and place them on the Silpat. Put the mango in the oven, and bake for two to three hours, flipping them over every 30 minutes or until they’re dry. Avoid cooking too long or you’ll end up with mango chips!

If you have many raspberries, use more than one cookie sheet to allow for adequate drying room. Place the cookie sheet with raspberries in a conventional oven. Set the oven at 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Raspberries take 10 hours to dehydrate.

Prevent oxidation, or darkening of the fruit, after slicing.

Dip the fruit in salt water.

Blanch apples or apricots by steaming the slices for 5 minutes, and then putting them in ice cold water.

Make a honey dip for peaches, pineapples or bananas by mixing 1 cup sugar, 3 cups water and 1 cup honey.

Directions

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpats (French nonstick baking mats) or parchment paper.

Peel pineapples. Using a small melon baller, remove and discard “eyes.” Slice pineapple very thinly; place slices on baking sheets. Cook until tops look dried, about 30 minutes.