How to Dehydrate Apricots
for Long-Lasting Flavor

Learn how to dehydrate apricots at their peak — and enjoy homemade apricot jam, compote, pies, and sauces all year long!

Dehydrated Apricots in a bowl

Dehydrating apricots is easier than you think, whether you're working with fresh, frozen, or even canned fruit. With just a little prep and the right drying tips, you'll have a stash of delicious, sun-kissed apricots ready for any recipe — no freezer space required!

You can also dehydrate canned apricot, but rinse off the syrup. See the FAQ below...

🔥 Apricot Dehydrating FAQs You Don’t Want to Miss

How long does it take to dehydrate apricots?

Expect 8–16 hours using a food dehydrator. Your apricots should feel pliable, not crunchy.

Can I dehydrate apricots in the oven?

Yes — but ovens often don't get low enough for best results. If you try it, prop open the oven door with a spoon and use the lowest setting.

Can you dehydrate canned apricots?

Absolutely — just rinse off the sugary syrup first! Too much sugar can caramelize during dehydrating.

Do you peel apricots before dehydrating?

No peeling needed! Just halve them and remove the pit.

What's the difference between drying fresh vs canned apricots?

Fresh apricots need a syrup blanch before drying. Canned ones already have that built-in sweetness but still need a rinse!

How do I know when my apricots are fully dried?

Slice one open — it should be pliable but not juicy inside. No sticky fingers!

Apricots growing on a tree

Apricot Nutrition Info.

VITAMINS: Vitamin A, followed by Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, with trace amounts of Folate, Choline, Vitamin K, Niacin, and Vitamin B6.

MINERALS: Potassium, Phosphorus, Calcium, and Magnesium, with trace amounts of Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, and Manganese.

Apricots also have Omega-6 fatty acids.

How to Dehydrate Apricots (And Why Syrup Blanching Matters)

It's time to get busy drying apricots in a dehydrator. Here's how:

If using frozen apricots (allow them to thaw first), and ignore steps 1, 2, and 3.

  1. First, prepare your fresh apricots by washing them, cutting them in half, and removing the pits.
  2. Next, we syrup-blanch the apricots by preparing a mixture of one cup of sugar, 1 cup of light corn syrup, and 2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil, then add no more than 2 pounds of prepared fruit to the pan and simmer gently for around 10 minutes.
  3. Let them cool in the syrup in the pan, for a good half hour. Lightly rinse with clean cold water.
  4. Arrange the apricots on your dehydrator trays, making sure they don't overlap. If you are using an Excalibur dehydrator, you may wish to leave out alternating trays if you find that your apricot halves are too cramped in between the trays. I find the Nesco dehydrator better suited for dehydrating apricots due to its slightly taller spacing between their trays.
  5. Turn on your food 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.

  • Apricots are pliable when dried.
  • Drying time: between 8-16 hours.

NOTE: A lovely lady wrote to me on Facebook to say that her apricots, while blanching, turned into jam! So even though "all was not lost," making jam was not her intention!

I responded with take out your fruit if/when you see it turning mushy. The aim of blanching is to crack the skins which makes the apricots dry faster on the dehydrator. Thanks!

How to Check if Your Apricots Are Perfectly Dried

To check if your apricots are ready, take one off the dehydrator and slice it open. It should be flexible — not brittle — with no juice oozing out when you squeeze it.

💡 Pro Tip: Rotate your trays during drying for even results!

Once you've mastered dehydrating apricots, you're just a step away from something even sweeter: homemade apricot jam! 🍯 Let’s dive in...

🍯 DIY Apricot Jam: From Fresh to Fabulous

Apricot jam, French croissants on a plate

Ready to turn your dried or fresh apricots into something truly irresistible? 🍯 This homemade apricot jam is sweet, simple, and perfect for spreading on everything from toast to croissants.

And the best part? It’s an easy way to use up any extra apricots you have — no fancy equipment needed!

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of apricots, pitted and chopped
  • 3 cups of sugar
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Directions:

  1. To make the jam, start by combining the apricots, sugar, water, and lemon juice in a large pot. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it comes to a boil.
  2. Once the mixture is boiling, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for about 45 minutes, or until the apricots are very soft and the jam is thick.
  3. Once the jam has finished cooking, remove it from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, use a spoon to ladle it into jars or other containers. Be sure to seal the jars tightly and store them in the fridge.

And that’s all there is to it! Now you know how to make apricot jam at home. Give it a try the next time you have some extra apricots on hand - or get busy dehydrating apricots for long-term storage!

Sweet Memories: Apricot Jam and Buttery Croissants

Three croissants

As a kid, my family and I spent our summers in a small seaside town in the South of France — Saint Mandrier,

(Lucky me, right?) My favorite time of day was always breakfast!

It was my proud job to walk to the patisserie each morning and return with a giant paper bag filled with warm, buttery croissants avec beurre — croissants with butter. The scent alone was enough to make my mouth water.

The best part? Slathering those flaky croissants with thick apricot jam the moment I got home. It was pure heaven on a plate.

And to work off all those sweet treats? A few quick dips in the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean kept our waistlines — and our smiles — in check.

Where Apricots Grow Best (And Why It Matters for Taste)

If you love the taste of fresh apricots, you may be wondering where the best place is to grow them. While apricots can technically be grown in any region with a warm climate, there are some areas that are better suited for growing this delicious fruit.

Here are some of the best places to grow apricots:

  • California - Not surprisingly, California is one of the best places to grow apricots. The state has a long growing season and ample sunshine, both of which are necessary for producing good yields of this fruit. In addition, the soil in California is well-drained, another important factor for growing apricots.
  • Arizona - Arizona also has a climate that is ideal for growing apricots. The state has warm weather and plenty of sunlight, and the soil is well-drained in most areas. In addition, Arizona is home to quite a few apricot varieties that are well-suited for the state’s climate.
  • Texas - Texas is another good state for growing apricots. The state has a long growing season and ample sunshine, and the soil in most parts of the state is well-drained. In addition, Texas is home to a number of apricot varieties, too.
  • New Mexico - New Mexico has warm weather and plenty of sunshine, and the soil is well-drained in most areas. In addition, New Mexico is also home to a number of apricot varieties.
  • Nevada - Nevada also has a climate that is ideal for growing apricots. The state has warm weather and plenty of sunshine, and the soil is well-drained in most areas.

These are just a few of the best places to grow apricots. If you live in one of these states, you’re in luck!

Now you know how to dehydrate apricots, you can enjoy delicious apricots any time you like, right from your own backyard or your private stock of jams and jellies!

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