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How to Dehydrate Fruit

Thanks for wanting to know how to dehydrate fruit. Listed below are our top 14 choices.

Click an image and read all about that individual fruit and how to dehydrate fruit properly.

When drying fruit, it is best done at the peak of the season when your favorite fruits are readily available... you'll save money too because they are plentiful. You can enjoy dried apples, oranges, and strawberries year-round too!

Why Dehydrate Fruit?

There are many reasons to dehydrate fruit:

• Dehydrated fruit makes a healthy snack that you can take with you anywhere.
• Dehydrating fruit preserves the nutritional value of the fruit better than canning or freezing.
• You can control the amount of sugar added to your dried fruit when you make it yourself.

How Many Ways Can You Dehydrate Fruit?

You can dehydrate fruit using an oven, dehydrator, or the sun.

Dehydrating Fruit in the Oven

You can dry fruit in your oven, but it will take longer than using a dehydrator. The benefit to using your oven is that you probably already have one!

To dehydrate fruit in your oven:

• Preheat oven to 140-160 degrees F.
• Wash fruit and slice it into uniform pieces. If you are drying grapes, leave them whole.
• Spread the fruit onto a silicone baking mat or use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Make sure that the pieces are not touching each other.
• Bake in the oven for 6-8 hours, or until the fruit is dried to your desired consistency.
• Let the fruit cool and then store in an airtight container.

Dehydrating Fruit in a Dehydrator

A dehydrator will speed up the process of drying fruit and will result in more consistent results. Dehydrators also usually come with trays that you can use to dry smaller items like herbs or spices.

To dehydrate fruit in a dehydrator:

• Wash fruit and slice it into uniform pieces. If you are drying grapes, you can choose to leave them whole. If you cut in half using a sharp knife, place them 'cut-side up' in a single layer on your trays (prevents drips!) and they will dehydrate faster.
• Spread the fruit onto the dehydrator trays.
• Make sure that the pieces are not touching each other.

Dehydrate at 135 degrees F for 6-8 hours, or until the fruit is dried to your desired consistency.

Let the fruit cool and then store in an airtight container. NOTE: Check out our individual 'fruit' pages for their specific dehydrating instructions!

Dehydrating Fruit in the Sun

You can also fry fruit using the sun, but it will take longer than using a dehydrator or oven. The benefit to using the sun is that it doesn't require any extra equipment and it's free!

To dehydrate fruit using the sun:

• Wash fruit and slice it into uniform pieces. If you are drying grapes, leave them whole.
• Spread the fruit onto a silicone baking mat or use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Make sure that the pieces are not touching each other.
• Place the baking sheet in a sunny spot and let the fruit dehydrate for 6-8 hours, or until it is dried to your desired consistency.
• If it is not sunny enough, you can place the baking sheet in an oven set to its lowest temperature (usually around 170 degrees F) to speed up the process.
• Let it cool and then store in an airtight container.

And keep an eye on the weather... and pesky insects!

Can You Dehydrate Frozen Fruit?

Yes, you can dehydrate frozen fruit! It doesn't matter if the fruit was fresh or frozen when you started the drying process.

See the individual fruit pages for how to dry fruit when you click on the fruit images coming up.

Which Are the Best Fruits to Dehydrate?

How Long do Dehydrated Fruits Last?

Dried fruits are a healthy and delicious snack for people of all ages. They can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks when stored in a refrigerator.

Dehydrating helps to preserve their nutrients and flavor, making them a great option for those who want to enjoy the taste of fresh fruit without the hassle of preparing it.

When dehydrating fruit, it is important to choose ripe and fresh produce. This will help to ensure that they retain their flavor and nutrition. Dehydrated fruits can be enjoyed on their own or added to other dishes. They are a great way to add flavor and nutrition to your diet.

Learn How to Make a Fruit Leather

Try our fruit leather recipe! Also known as roll-ups or fruit rolls. A leather is a rolled-up, chewy, fruit-flavored snack that is popular with kids and adults alike.

Used by Permission / Camtasia 2022 License

Prep Now, Save Time Later!

Pick your goodies from your trees, or get them at your grocery store - either way, prep them as soon as you get them! This saves time and effort later on.

How Much Fruit Should I Buy To Fill 4 Dehydrator Trays?

Click here for a general guide on how much fruit to buy to fill 4 dehydrator trays.

watch this fun time-lapse video
of fruits and vegetables dehydrating!

What's The Ideal Temperature when
Learning How to Dehydrate Fruit?

They are best dehydrated between 125°F and 135°F—any hotter than that may cause the skins can get crusty, i.e. 'hard.' This is known as 'case hardening', which prevents the inside of them from drying properly.

Don't be tempted to turn the food dehydrator on high to speed up the process!

Fresh lemons, limes, and oranges are simply washed and sliced and put on your food dehydrator with no further preparation necessary!

Fresh lemons, limes, and oranges are simply washed and sliced and put on your food dehydrator with no further preparation necessary!

An EASY Way To Loosen Frozen Fruit!

Before opening your bag of frozen fruit, throw it down onto your countertop (not too hard!) a few times to loosen any big pieces that may have frozen together in a clump! If you still have a few small clumps on your tray, run it under cold water for a few seconds and that will take care of it!

Bananas, apples, and strawberries need a generous spraying of lemon juice. Lemon juice is a totally acceptable substitute for ascorbic acid, which is used by professional dehydrating plants, and lemon juice works wonderfully!

Two reasons for spraying with lemon juice are to prevent them from darkening and to prevent bacterial growth during drying.

Dehydrated Fruit is Dry When...

... they don't stick together! Dehydrated fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes get really dry, almost brittle. Place it in airtight bags, (such as Ziploc bags), and let them hang around your kitchen for a day or overnight.

People often miss this important step when learning how to dehydrate fruit. This step is called conditioning and enables the air and any moisture in the bag to distribute evenly—so that the dehydrated fruit will be ready for vacuum sealing. Remember, some fruits will remain naturally sticky, such as prunes, raisins, and dates.

Can You Feed Fruit to Your Pets?

Used by Permission / Camtasia 2022 License

Pets are a common staple in many households and provide us with companionship, love, and laughs. When it comes to what we feed our furry friends, there are a lot of options on the market.

However, one question that many pet owners have is whether or not they can feed fruit to their pets. The answer is yes! While fruits are not a necessary part of a pet's diet, they can be a nutritious treat.

Just like with humans, moderation is key when feeding fruit to pets, as too much sugar can lead to weight gain and other health problems.

Did you know that dehydrated vegetables make for excellent dog meals because they contain all of the same nutrients as fresh fruits and vegetables but without all the water weight.

So go ahead and show your furry friend some love by giving them a tasty dehydrated treat!

How to Store Dehydrated Fruit

Dehydrated fruit can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months. For longer storage, you can keep it in the fridge for up to a year or in the freezer for up to 2 years. Check our 'How to Store' page here.

Mason jars are great for storing. You can easily see what's in them!

Dehydrated fruit makes a delicious snack that you can enjoy all year round.

Are Dehydrated Fruits Keto Friendly?

Some folks say they're OK. I don't think they are. Why? Too many carbs. When we eat too many carbs while on a Keto diet, we may find ourselves 'out of Ketosis,' the state we need to be in to drop the weight. Read more about the Keto diet at Finally-Keto.com

Dehydrating Fruit for Backpacking

When you learn how to dehydrate fruit, you'll see that it's a great way to add snacks to your backpacking trip. Not only is it lightweight and easy to transport, but it also provides your body with essential nutrients and antioxidants. It's also a great way to add some extra sweetness to your meals.

To dehydrate fruit, simply slice the fruit thinly with a sharp knife, and spread it out on a dehydrator tray. Set the dehydrator to a low temperature and dehydrate it for 8-12 hours.

Once the fruit is dehydrated, it can be stored in an airtight container and will last for several months. Dehydrating fruit is a great way to make sure you have snacks on hand when you're out on the trail. Again, check our individual fruit pages for specifics.

Dried Pineapple Anyone?

In my podcast, I talk about how to dehydrate fruit, and pineapple in particular (episode 4). It's a yes and no fruit to me. It can get mushy because of its water content.

Are You A Visual Learner?

Click Pic to see our 3-hr Udemy Course!

The Easy Way to
Learn How to
Dehydrate Food - Safely!

Consider taking our Food Dehydrating Made Easy course over on Udemy.

Now you know how to dehydrate fruit - safely. Thanks for stopping by.

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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