How to Dehydrate Citrus: Lemons, Limes, Oranges

How to Dehydrate Citrus:
Lemons, Limes, Oranges

Sliced fresh oranges on a Nesco dehydrator

Are you ready to learn how to dehydrate citrus? Put them at the top of your dehydrating 'to-do' list!

Dehydrated Citrus is Ideal for Recipe Flavoring

Grab your cutting board and a really sharp knife.

Begin by Using a Good Sharp Knife!

Check out this great chef's knife with a full tang that means the handle and blade "are one" so they can't come apart when we're slicin' and a dicin'.

I know these Cutluxe Chef knives may be a little expensive, but they do last pretty much a lifetime when you maintain their cutting edges.

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SUPMAKIN Slicer + Dicer Mandoline
AllForOnce brand

French fry cutter, vegetable chopper, vegetable slicer cutter, potato slicer, chopper for kitchen meal prep.

A multi-function mandoline that I just couldn't resist getting!

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TOP Frequently Asked Questions:

How to dehydrate citrus in an oven?

Ingredients:

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, (and grapefruit!)

Equipment You'll Need:

  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire cooling racks (optional)

Directions:

Wash and dry citrus fruit thoroughly. Leave their rind/skins on. Slice very thinly, between 1/8 to 1/4 inch if possible. Remove any seeds.

Arrange slices in a single layer without overlapping on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Place wiring cooling racks on top (optional).

Preheat oven to its lowest possible setting, ideally around 140°F-150°F. Prop the door open slightly with a wooden spoon handle if you can.

Dehydrate your citrus slices for 6-10 hours, flipping them over halfway through. Check periodically and rotate the sheets front to back if hotspots occur.

Citrus slices are fully dried when no moisture remains. Their texture will be completely stiff and brittle, and all moisture pockets gone. The edges of the fruit slices will curl upward.

Allow to fully cool before transferring dried citrus to an airtight container. Citrus slices can be eaten as-is or pulverized into zest for adding to recipes!

Monitor oven temp closely to prevent burning. Enjoy your homemade dehydrated citrus garnishes! Adjust methods as needed based on your oven model.

How to dehydrate citrus in an air fryer?

Supplies Needed:

  • Citrus fruits
  • Air fryer
  • Parchment paper

Directions:

  1. Wash citrus fruits thoroughly and pat dry. Slice very thin, between 1/8 to 1/4 inch if possible.
  2. Cut a parchment paper liner to fit your air fryer basket. Arrange citrus slices in a single layer on the liner without overlapping.
  3. Set air fryer to lowest temperature, around 95°F to 115°F if there is a dehydrate setting. If not, set to warm setting (~115-135°F).
  4. Dehydrate citrus for 6-12 hours, checking periodically. Carefully flip slices and rotate basket occasionally for even drying.
  5. Citrus is fully dehydrated when very stiff and brittle with no moisture pockets. Edges will curl upward when ready.
  6. Turn off and remove citrus once fully dried. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container up to 6 months.
  7. Use dehydrated citrus slices as garnishes, crushed into zest, or added to tea. Rehydrate in water if desired before use.

Monitor carefully - air fryer can burn food quickly if temperature is set too high. Enjoy your homemade dehydrated citrus!

Dehydrated citrus uses?

Check out the FAQs above; they mention using ground up citrus as recipe flavorings!


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Treat yourself today with my free eBook. Learn how to dry the top six herbs and make herb-infused oils and vinegars!

Click the book cover and that will take you to my secure download page and full deets.

It's my gift to you as a way of saying "thanks for stopping by!"



How to Dehydrate Citrus

  1. Wash the skins of your citrus fruits
  2. Slice the citrus into 3/8" thick slices and arrange on your food dehydrator trays
  3. Turn on your food dehydrator and set the temperature between 125°F and 135°F (or per your food dehydrator's instructions). Drying time: between 2-12 hours.
  • Citrus is brittle when dried fully.
  • Please remember to rotate your dehydrator trays for even drying.
Assorted Citrus

Dehydrating Citrus is So Easy!

Citrus is probably one of the easiest fruits to dehydrate.

Sadly, not one of the most edible slices of fruit to eat when dried, in my humble opinion!

BUT, read on to see how easy it is to dehydrate citrus for use in recipes and drinks!

Citrus Nutrition Info.

LEMONS + LIMES + ORANGES

Lemons

VITAMINS: High Vitamin C content along with vitamin A.

MINERALS: High in Potassium and Calcium and also contain decent amounts of Magnesium and Phosphorus.

Limes are very often used in drinks and for the famous Key Lime Pie dessert!

VITAMINS: Limes contain good amounts of Vitamins A and C and contain Folate and Choline too.

MINERALS: Limes have Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus.

Oranges

VITAMINS:Loaded with Vitamin C, plentiful Vitamin A, and Folate.

MINERALS: Oranges score well in Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Potassium.

All three citrus fruits contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Dehydrated oranges in a bowl

Lightweight and Brittle when Dehydrated

When fully dehydrated, the dried oranges shown in the bowl were so lightweight!

They make a really neat musical tinkling sound when tossed.

Don't Forget: Dehydrate Citrus for Flavorings

Don't forget that these dehydrated citrus rinds can be great ground up to be used for flavorings and for baking!

If you remove the dehydrated rind and white pith, the dehydrated fruit centers make a tasty snack. The pith is the bitter-tasting part of citrus.

Vacuum-Sealed Dehydrated Oranges

Vacuum-Seal and Protect Your Dehydrated Citrus

This is what dehydrated oranges look like after they've been vacuum-sealed and wrapped in plastic wrap – ready to be stored away for long-term storage.

Check out the deals on Amazon below for plastic wrap.

Target stores also have their own brand which I've used with good results.

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Plastic Wrap - 400-foot Roll

  • 400 square foot roll. Clings tight, easy-to-handle wrap
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Plastic Wrap - 200-foot Roll

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Lemons - Before and After Dehydrating :-)

Sliced lemons before dehydrating

Lemons in a bowl, after dehydrating

Ahh ~ The Scent of Orange Blossom: Love It, or Hate It?

Living in central Florida, we're lucky enough to have a few orange trees in our front yard.

But across the street are vast orange groves, and boy oh boy, can you ever smell the orange blossom scent when they're in full bloom!

To me, the orange blossom scent is one you either love or hate! I'll leave you guessing which side of the citrus fence I'm on! :-)

If you want to know more about growing citrus in Florida, please visit Gardening Solutions/University of Florida.

orange tree bearing fruit

Top Orange Producing Areas are:

Oranges are a type of citrus fruit that is grown in warm climates all over the world.

The three biggest orange-producing countries are:

  • Brazil
  • United States
  • China.

Oranges are typically harvested from October to March.

This can vary depending on the climate and the specific variety of orange.

What is the Best Way to Plant  Orange Trees?

Orange trees are best planted in areas that receive full sun and have well-draining soil. The trees should be spaced about 8-10 feet apart.

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

What is the Best Fertilizer  for Orange Trees?

Orange trees need to be fertilized regularly to produce healthy fruit. A good fertilizer for orange trees is one that is high in nitrogen and potassium.

Apply fertilizer to the soil around the tree three times per year: once in the spring, once in the summer, and once in the fall.

Orange trees typically take 3-5 years to produce fruit. This can vary depending on the climate and the specific variety of orange trees.




a lemon tree and a lime tree

Where are Lemons and Limes Grown?

Lemons and limes are a type of citrus fruit that is grown in warm climates all over the world. The three biggest lemon and lime-producing countries are Brazil, the United States, and Mexico.

Lemons and limes are typically harvested from October to March. This can vary depending on the climate and the specific variety of lemon or lime.

What is the Best Way to Plant  Lemon and Lime Trees?

Lemon and lime trees are best planted in areas that receive full sun and have well-draining soil. The trees should be spaced about 8-10 feet apart.

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

What is the Best Fertilizer  for Lemon and Lime Trees?

Lemon and lime trees need to be fertilized regularly to produce healthy fruit. A good fertilizer for lemon and lime trees is one that is high in nitrogen and potassium.

Apply fertilizer to the soil around the tree three times per year: once in the spring, once in the summer, and once in the fall.

Lemon and lime trees typically take 3-5 years to produce fruit. This can vary depending on the climate and the specific variety of lemon or lime trees.

So when you've got left-over fruit, you need to learn how to dehydrate citrus! And now you know just how easy that is to do with Easy Food Dehydrating helping you every step of the way!

Thanks for stopping by “How to dehydrate citrus in a dehydrator.” I hope you've learned a lot!

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Susan Gast, founder of Easy Food Dehydrating

Hi, I'm Susan Gast, founder of Easy Food Dehydrating. My passion for dehydrating food began in 2010 while seeking crafty uses for abundant tomatoes. I've since devoted myself to elevating the art of removing moisture from fruits, vegetables, meats, and so much more!
JOIN ME as we unlock the magic of food preservation through dehydration together!
Read About Me here.

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