Are you ready to dive into the best dehydrator fruit recipes and successfully transform fresh produce into healthy, lasting snacks? Then you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re an experienced expert or a curious newbie, you’ll have fun dehydrating fruit at home and savor the delicious flavors of nutritious, home dried fruit. Follow these helpful tips and tasty recipes, and you’ll discover how to successfully turn anything from overripe or damaged fruit … to rock hard fruits … into mouthwatering snacks. With a food dehydrator, a sharp knife, and just a little bit of time on your hands, you can craft ridiculously good snacks perfect for trail mix, lunchboxes, or pretty much any time or place.
Healthy snack for the entire family
Save money by using bruised or overripe fruit
Choose your own ingredients for a gluten free, all-natural treat
From dehydrating apples to making tasty fruit leathers, these dehydrator fruit recipes will lead you to snacks that are healthy and full of natural sweetness. So let’s get into the wonderful world of dehydrating fruit and explore just how simple it is to make home dried fruit!
Before we get into the recipes, let’s talk about why dehydrating fruit is so cool. Dehydrating removes the water from the fruit which not only extends its shelf life but also concentrates the natural sugars and intensifies the flavor. Dried fruit is an amazing snack, a versatile ingredient for cooking and baking, and a great option for hiking and travel.
Plus dehydrated fruit retains most of its nutritional value so it’s a healthy alternative to sugary snacks. Full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals dried fruit will give you energy, support digestion, and provide essential nutrients.
Before you dive in to dehydrating fruit, you’ll want to have the following tools and ingredients:
A food dehydrator (like the Excalibur
Parchment paper or silicone dehydrator sheets
A sharp knife
Ascorbic acid or lemon juice to retain color and vitamin C
An airtight container or mason jar for storing your creations
This is very important. You’ll want to use firm fruits that possess the highest sugar content for the sweetest results. And it’s not recommended to use bruised or overripe fruit, as they may dry unevenly and spoil.
Apples
Bananas
Strawberries
Mangoes
Pineapples
Tomatoes
Now you’re ready to prepare the fruits for dehydration, and ensure your dried fruit is ridiculously good:
Slice fruit into even, thin pieces (the thinner the better).
Dip fruit pieces into a solution of lemon juice and boiling water or cold water with vitamin C.
Pat dry the fruit
For example, to dehydrate apples, you should:
Cut apples into thin slices.
Dip in ascorbic acid or lemon juice.
Lay slices in a single layer on the dehydrator tray.
Dry the fruit at 135°F (57°C) for 12-16 hours.
Perfect dehydrated fruit takes practice and attention to detail. Here are a few tips to help you get it right:
Whether using fresh or canned pineapple, you’ll love this tangy and sweet snack:
Snip off the leafy crown and fibrous skin from the pineapple.
Slice fruit into thin rounds or larger chunks.
Place fruit in a single layer on the dehydrator trays.
Dry the fruit at 135°F (57°C) for 12-16 hours.
These sweet and luscious fruits are great added to trail mixes:
Wash and pat dry cherries.
Remove the pits.
Place cherries on parchment paper.
Dehydrate at 145°F (63°C) for 12-18 hours.
A classic favorite and great for any healthy snack:
Peel and slice bananas into thin rounds.
Dip in lemon juice to prevent browning.
Lay them in a single layer on the dehydrator tray.
Dry for 8-12 hours at 135°F (57°C).
You can have a lot of fun making fruit leathers from your favorite dried fruits. Here’s a simple fruit leather recipe to get you started:
Blend your favorite fruits until smooth.
Spread the puree in a thin layer on a sheet of parchment paper.
Dehydrate at 140°F (60°C) for 6-8 hours.
Cut into strips and roll up with parchment paper for easy storage.
Store your dried foods in an airtight container or in mason jars to keep them fresh and maintain their nutritional value. For long term storage, it is best to vacuum seal your food with oxygen absorbers.
Dried fruit is super versatile and can be used in many ways. Here are some ideas:
Dehydrating fruit is a great way to preserve and enjoy your favorite fruits. However, dehydrating bruised or overripe fruit can lead to unsatisfactory results. Bruised spots on the fruit will likely darken and harden during dehydration. Overripe fruit has an excess amount of moisture content which will lengthen dehydration times and may dry unevenly.
When choosing fruits for your dehydrator fruit recipes, choose fruit that is ripe and hard. They will contain the highest amount of sugar and nutrients and make your homemade dried fruit extra delicious with natural nutrients. Turn away from any fruit that has brown speckles or soft spots as these blemishes will transfer to your final product.
If you somehow have excess overripe fruit, don’t worry! Although they won’t be the best choice for dried fruit, you can still make fruit leathers with them. Simply puree the overripe fruit and pour the puree thinly onto parchment paper laid over your dehydrator trays. Dehydrate until crispy, time will vary depending on your fruit. You’ll have a delicious, chewy snack in no time.
For hard fruits like apples or pears, it’s important to store them appropriately until you’re ready to dehydrate! Use airtight containers or mason jars to keep the fruit fresh, and always dry off the fruit pieces after you wash them to remove excess juices. This will ensure optimal results when drying the fruit.
How long your dehydrated fruit will last is dependent on how you properly store your dried foods. When you vacuum seal your dried fruits in airtight containers like mason jars or in a ziplock bag with oxygen absorbers you’ll be able to keep your dehydrated produce fresh for much longer than the typical dried fruit. Dried fruit stored properly will last anywhere from 4 months to a year.
For long term storage, you can also place your homemade dried fruit in the refrigerator or freezer to preserve it for an even longer shelf life. This is a great method to retain the nutritional content and maximum sweetness of your dried fruits for a longer period of time.
Watch out for storage conditions. A cool, dark place is best for storing dried fruits as light and heat will break down dried fruit over time. Also, using airtight containers will prevent moisture and pests from ruining your stash. It is always good practice to check on your stored dried fruits for any signs of spoilage like an off smell or mold.
In short, your dehydrated fruit can last a pretty long time when prepared and vacuum sealed properly and stored correctly. This tasty healthy snack is perfect for your delicious trail mix or to enjoy by itself!
Dehydrating fruit is a great way to enjoy the harvest of the season and preserve your favorite fruits for a long time to come. When you dehydrate fruit, you are naturally enhancing the natural sugar content of your chosen produce. During dehydration, water content is removed from the fruit, leaving the flavor and sweetness behind. Your dried fruit will have an intensely sweet flavor for you to enjoy on your hike or as a sweet snack. Fruits such as pineapples and bananas have a naturally high sugar content which will become extraordinarily sweet when dehydrated.
It is important to note that the dehydration of fruit increases the sweetness but also means that the caloric density increases. This makes homemade dried fruit a calorie dense, energy rich snack that is packed with vitamins and minerals. Although they make a perfect healthy snack, dried fruit should be consumed in moderation if you are counting calories.
Additionally, as the water content is removed, the fibrous content of the fruit remains and you’ll feel full after eating a small amount. Dehydrated fruits such as apples, mangoes, and berries are good sources of dietary fiber for maintaining digestion and blood sugar levels.
A fun fact about naturally sweet dried fruit is the versatility of dehydrator fruit recipes. You can add a sweet zing to your trail mixes use dried fruit as a tasty ingredient in granola or enjoy the fruit by itself as a snack.
To ensure you retain the maximum sweetness and nutritional content of your dehydrated fruit, always use fresh, hard fruits and handle them gently during preparation. Avoid bruised or overripe fruits as these qualities will transfer to your final product. Utilize tools such as a sharp knife to achieve thin, uniform slices of fruit for optimal drying.
The end result of properly dehydrating fruit will be an absolutely delicious, naturally sweetened treat that will curb your appetite and provide you with a healthy, gluten free option for any snack lover.
Dried fruit is not just delicious; it’s also good for you. Here are some reasons to add dehydrated fruit to your diet:
Dehydrating fruit at home is rewarding and fun and can make healthy snacks packed with natural sweetness. With the proper tools and a little practice, you’ll be enjoying all sorts of homemade dried fruit treats for use in trail mixes, for on the go snacks and so much more. Happy dehydrating!
