How to Dehydrate Berries

When you are learning how to dehydrate berries, it takes a little more preparation, but it's well worth the time and effort! You can then enjoy them year 'round!

Today, I'm going over two specific berries, namely Blueberries and Cranberries.

How about a beautiful blueberry pie—and dress up plain old cereal in the morning!

And Cranberries at Christmas—who doesn't love cranberry sauce?

Image by Permission Camtasia 2018

Blueberries Nutrition Info.

Blueberries are a wonderful source of vitamin A, vitamin C, followed by vitamin K. They have trace amounts of Folate, Choline, Niacin, vitamin E, Betaine, Thiamine, and Riboflavin.

The minerals they contain are: Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, with trace amounts of Manganese, Iron, Zinc, and Copper. These fantastic berries contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids too.

Cranberries Nutrition Info.

Cranberries are also a good source of vitamins A, and vitamin C, followed by vitamin K, and Choline, plus trace amounts of Vitamin E, Folate, Pantothenic Acid and Betaine.

Their minerals are Potassium, Phosphorus, Calcium and Magnesium, with trace amounts of Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Zinc, and copper. They also contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids too.

How to Dehydrate Berries—Skip the Dip?

Skip the dip in boiling water! How? Buy your blueberries and cranberries frozen!

You'll be able to skip the step because the manufacturer will have already done that step for you. How neat is that? Plus, you won't get stained fingers ... :-)

Ready to get busy dehydrating berries? Here's how:

How to Dehydrate Berries

If using a frozen variety, ignore steps 1 and 2

1. Prepare your berry of choice by rinsing them in a sieve and remove the stems.
2. Dip them into boiling water until you see their skins crack! This helps in the dehydrating process.
3. Arrange them on your food dehydrator trays, making sure they don't touch each other so that air can circulate.
4. Turn on your dehydrator and set the temperature between 125°F and 135°F (or per your food dehydrator's instructions).

• They will feel leathery when dried sufficiently.
• Drying time: between 10-18 hours.
• Remember to rotate your food dehydrator trays, for even drying.

The Old Farmer's Almanac is a great go-to for discovering the best berry-picking times. For blueberries click here. Learn how to harvest cranberries here at Wikihow.

What Are the Different Types of Blueberries?

There are several different types of blueberries that you can grow. Some of the most popular varieties include:

Highbush Blueberry: The highbush blueberry is the most common type of blueberry grown in the United States. This variety has a sweet flavor and is often used in pies or jams.

Lowbush Blueberry: The lowbush blueberry is a variety that is native to Canada. This type of blueberry has a tart flavor and is often used in pies or sauces.

How Do You Grow Blueberries?

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Blueberries are a type of fruit that is grown in acidic soil. Blueberry plants need full sun and moist soil to grow well. Watering blueberry plants regularly is important, as they will not tolerate drought conditions.

Blueberries are typically harvested in the summer, after the fruits have turned blue.

What Are the Different Types of Blueberry Sauce?

There are several different types of blueberry sauce that you can make. Some of the most popular varieties include:

Blueberry Syrup: This type of blueberry sauce is made from blueberries and sugar. Blueberry syrup is often served with pancakes or waffles.

Blueberry Coulis: Blueberry coulis is a type of blueberry sauce that is made from blended blueberries and strained to remove the seeds. Blueberry coulis is often served as a topping for desserts.

How Do You Make Blueberry Sauce?

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Ingredients:

• 1 pint fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, and water.
2. Cook over low heat until the sugar is dissolved and the blueberries are soft, about 10 minutes.
3. Mash the blueberries with a spoon or an immersion blender.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and vanilla extract. Add this mixture to the blueberry sauce and stir until thickened.
5. Pour into a serving dish and refrigerate until chilled.

Cranberries at Christmas!

EFD IMAGE PERMISSION CAMTASIA 2018 FOR SUSAN GAST AND EASY FOOD DEHYDRATING

Many of us use Cranberries at Christmas time. I mean, what turkey dinner is complete without Cranberry sauce? So get busy dehydrating berries!

What Are the Different Types of Cranberry Sauce?

There are several different types of cranberry sauce that you can make. Some of the most popular varieties include:

Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce: This type of cranberry sauce is made from whole cranberries and sugar. Whole berry cranberry sauce is often served with turkey or ham.

Cranberry Relish: Cranberry relish is a type of cranberry sauce that is made from chopped cranberries, sugar, and spices. Cranberry relish is often served with turkey or ham.

How Do You Grow Cranberries?

Used by Permission / Canva registered user

Cranberries are a type of fruit that is grown in wet, acidic soil. Cranberry plants need full sun and moist soil to grow well. Watering cranberry plants regularly is important, as they will not tolerate drought conditions.

Cranberries are typically harvested in the fall, after the fruits have turned red.

What Are the Different Types of Cranberries?

There are several different types of cranberries that you can grow. Some of the most popular varieties include:

American Cranberry: The American cranberry is the most common type of cranberry grown in the United States. This variety has a tart flavor and is often used in pies or sauces.

Northern Cranberry: The northern cranberry is a variety that is native to Canada. This type of cranberry has a sweet flavor and is often used in desserts or as a garnish.

How Do You Make Cranberry Sauce?

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Here is an easy recipe to make your own Cranberry Sauce:

Ingredients:

• 1 package fresh cranberries (12 oz)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, and water.
2. Cook over low heat until the sugar is dissolved and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes.
3. Mash the cranberries with a spoon or an immersion blender.
4. Pour into a serving dish and refrigerate until chilled.

Best Cranberry-Pineapple Pie... on the planet!

Make this Cranberry-Pineapple Pie Today

And that reminds me, my mom makes a killer dessert pie:

Mom's Cranberry and Pineapple Pie.

Mom makes this pie for special occasions—like birthdays—and now always at Christmas time. Now you know how to dehydrate berries, you can make this a new holiday favorite at your house!

Susan Gast began Easy Food Dehydrating in December 2010. Read Susan's story of what sparked her interest in all things related to "food dehydrating."

Susan is featured on Mother Earth News blog, and on Solo Build It (SBI) who host this site along with her sister site, Finally-Keto. Read her first SBI interview, and her second SBI interview. Susan also runs an additional SBI website: SusanGast.com - Non-Fiction Author - and showcases many of the books she's created and marketed over the years.

Since 1980, Susan's involvement in publishing - in one form or another - led her to create a "review site" of products related to the publishing industry. Visit ePubTechReviews today.

Do you want to send Susan a quick message? Visit her contact page here. She'd love to hear from you!

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