How Much Fruit Fills a Dehydrator?
Get the Tray Breakdown Here

Wondering how much fruit fills a dehydrator? You’re not alone — it’s one of the most common questions we get! Whether you’re drying apples, grapes, or peaches, the answer depends on your machine’s tray size and how thick you slice your produce.

This guide takes the guesswork out of how much to buy — by giving you a practical, tray-by-tray breakdown so you can shop smart and dry efficiently — especially if you're not buying in bulk.

sliced in half green grapes on a Nesco dehydrator

But for now, we're going on the assumption that you're filling FOUR full trays. I created this guide to help make that decision easier for you.

It helps to have a rough idea of how much fruit to purchase at the store!

How Much Fruit Should You Buy to Fill Your Dehydrator?

My handy dandy guide helps you figure out how much to buy if you cannot afford to buy in bulk, or don't have room to store it, and prefer picking up your fruit on a weekly basis.

Maybe it's time to begin growing your own. But... most of us do not have tons of spare time to grow stuff or have room in our fridges and freezers to store it.

Before you go out and buy too much though, a little farther down the page I'll show you roughly how much fruit will fit on four dehydrator trays.

Please remember this is just a guide. It's not an exact science...

Why You Must Use at Least 4 Trays with Nesco

The reason why I picked how much fruit it takes to fill four full trays is this: FOUR trays are the Nesco Dehydrator brand's recommended minimum tray usage.

If you use any less than four full trays, for instance only two trays, then you are not getting the proper air circulation necessary to dry your fruits properly.

Mess-Free Drying: Why Non-Stick Sheets Are a Must

Read more about Nesco dehydrators here. They have plenty of great accessories, such as spare trays (I purchased the four-tray starter Nesco); and they have non-stick solid sheets which are great for making fruit leathers.

The non-stick mesh sheets are great for stopping smaller pieces of food from dropping down into the tray below. When food dries, natural shrinkage occurs. Keeping the dried food on the trays means less stuff to clean up out of the bottom of the dehydrator, right? Right!

Excalibur dehydrators also have non-stick sheets for the same purposes I listed above as the Nesco dehydrator.

Here is Your Guide to How Much Fruit Fills FOUR Trays

  • Apples: fresh, 3-4 medium
  • Apricots: fresh, 5 whole per tray (20 total); frozen, 2lb bag
  • Bananas: fresh, 6-8 medium to large
  • Berries: fresh or frozen, 2lb
  • Cherries: fresh or frozen, 2lb
  • Grapes: fresh, 1lb if cut in half; 2lb if left whole
  • Citrus: 4-5 medium oranges,
    7-8 lemons or limes
  • Melon: 2lbs diced
  • Peaches: fresh, 4 whole if slicing; 16 whole if halving—but please note: you may have to use an Excalibur machine which has the ability to remove alternate trays to allow for the height of the peach, so that would drop the quantity down to 8 and two trays; frozen, 2lb
  • Pears: fresh, 4-6 whole pears; frozen, 2lb
  • Plums: fresh, 24-28 whole, sliced in half—but please note: you may have to use an Excalibur machine which has the ability to remove alternate trays to allow for the height of the plums, so that would drop the quantity down to 12-14 and two trays; frozen, 2lb
  • Rhubarb: fresh, 2lbs sliced into 1" chunks
  • Strawberries: fresh, 1-1/2 to 2lbs; frozen, 2lbs

Nesco vs. Excalibur: Which Dehydrator Do You Prefer?

As mentioned in the dehydrator section, I do have an Excalibur dehydrator and a Nesco dehydrator.

I use the Nesco on a daily/weekly basis, and the Excalibur is great for proofing bread!

Now you know how much fruit fills a dehydrator and thanks for stopping by!

Frequently Asked Questions About Filling a Dehydrator with Fruit

Can I mix different fruits on one tray?

You can, but be aware that fruits dry at different rates. Keep similar-sized and moisture-level fruits together to prevent overdrying or underdrying.

How thick should I slice fruit for dehydrating?

Aim for 1/4" thick slices unless noted otherwise — thinner dries faster, but too thin can stick or crumble.

Can fruit touch or overlap on trays?

No — space is key. Leave a little room between pieces for airflow, which ensures even drying.

Now that you know how much fruit fills a dehydrator — from apples to rhubarb — you're set up for less waste, less guesswork, and tastier results. Ready to try out your perfectly portioned trays?

Download my free 5 Dried Food Recipes PDF (below) and put that dried fruit to delicious use today!

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