How to Prevent Fruit Leather Holes in Your Dehydrator Snacks

If you're tired of holey fruit leathers, here's how to prevent fruit leather holes and avoid having your roll-ups looking more like Swiss cheese than a smooth, chewy snack!

✅ Quick Answer: How do you prevent fruit leather holes in the dehydrator?
To prevent fruit leather holes, blend fruits into a smooth purée with no chunks or excess liquid, spread evenly at 1/8–1/4 inch thickness, eliminate air bubbles by tapping the tray, and rotate trays while drying. Avoid fruits with seeds or high water content unless strained or thickened.

Folks write in to ask, "Why does this happen and how do I stop fruit leather holes from appearing?"

Holey Fruit Leather, Batman!via Ideogram

Holes in fruit leathers are a common frustration, but with my tips coming up, you can prevent the holes and create perfectly smooth hole-free fruit leathers every time.

Why Do Holes Show Up in Fruit Leather?

I remember the first time I made fruit leathers. All was going well... until the holes appeared. I did some research as to why and applied the findings.

Understanding the causes is the first step to having a hole-free fruit leather.

Top 4 Reasons for Holey Leathers

    1. Uneven spreading
    2. Air bubbles
    3. Excess liquid
    4. Fruit chunks

1. Uneven Spreading

Thin spots dry faster and can create holes.

On my related "how to dehydrate fruit roll-ups" page, I show you a way to spread out the puréed mix on your sheets. Caveat: Don't make it TOO THIN towards the center. Nip over to my page here to see the spreading technique, then come on back here!

Back already? Cool... If you still get holes, make sure the leather mix is almost the same thickness all around if you experience a holey leather. Dehydrators with the center hole in the trays tend to dry out faster at the OUTER edges!

2. Air Bubbles

Trapped air expands during drying, leaving holes behind.

Just like when you make cake batter - to get rid of the air bubbles, bakers bang the cake-batter-filled tins on their countertops a few times to make the air bubbles rise and burst. Do the same with your trays - gently!

3. Excess Liquid

Too much moisture can cause separation and holes.

Don't make 'em too runny. If it kind of pours out of the blender, it's a bit "thin," so put it back in the blender, and add another apple to the mix (or a banana) - depends on what your fruit base is, of course.

4. Smash the Fruity Chunks

Large pieces can create weak spots that become holes.

If you are using your blender to make your fruit leather, just look for chunks of fruit that didn't hit the blades fully. When these fruity chunks dry, they contract and can leave holes. We don't want holes.

4 Easy Prep Steps to Prevent Fruit Leather Holes

fruit leather with words "fruit leather perfection"

Follow these four easy steps to set yourself up for hole-free fruit leather success:

Step 1. Achieve the right consistency:

  • Blend fruits thoroughly for a smooth purée.
  • Aim for an apple sauce-like texture.
  • Drain excess liquid from very juicy fruits.
  • Add a thickener like ground chia seeds or apple sauce if needed.

Step 2. Prepare your tray:

  • Use specially made non-stick sheets or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  • Keep your tray level for even spreading.

Step 3. Spread your mix like a pro:

  • Use an offset spatula (Amazon affiliate link) to help you spread it out at a uniform thickness.
  • Aim for 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness across the tray.
  • Spread to the edges, but not over them.

Step 4. Eliminate air bubbles:

  • Tap the tray gently on the counter several times.
  • Use a toothpick to pop any visible bubbles.

Drying Tips: What to Watch For While Fruit Leather Dries

Even with perfect prep, issues can arise while drying your leathers, so remember to:

  • Set the right temperature: 135°F is ideal for most fruits.
  • Rotate trays: Every 2 to 3 hours to ensure even drying.
  • Check regularly: Especially towards the end of the drying process.

💡 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.

Yeah, I know the dehydrator manufacturers all claim that you don't need to rotate your trays due to their perfect air-drying system blah blah blah - but I beg to differ.

Depending on where your dehydrator fan is located, odds are the foods closest to that fan WILL dry out faster. Makes sense, right? Right!

How to Fix Fruit Leather Holes Midway Through Drying

If you spot holes forming:

  1. Pause the dehydrator.
  2. Prepare a small amount of fresh fruit purée (same as your original mixture).
  3. Carefully fill the holes using a small spoon or piping bag.
  4. Smooth the surface gently.
  5. Resume drying, checking more frequently.

The trouble with spackling up holes with purée, though, is that those areas will take longer to dry than the rest of it. Also, the partially-dried part of the leather may get overly dry. Let's aim for evenness from start to finish.

Pro Tips for Smooth, Hole-Free Fruit Leather

Pick the Right Fruit

Pick the right fruit for your fruit leathers. Follow these four suggestions:

  1. Choose the right fruits: Apples, berries, and stone fruits work well.
  2. Avoid seeds and fibers: Strain out the seeds and fibers so you won't get weak spots.
  3. Don't over-dry: Leather should be pliable, not brittle.
  4. Always allow to cool down to room temperature before handling. I didn't one time and felt like using a chisel to remove it. Lesson learned.

If your leathers are sticking more than you like, use a light spraying of oil next time.

Use vegetable or coconut oil (for a less obvious oily taste than say, olive oil) and use a very light spray motion across the tray. Do the spraying in the kitchen sink!

Breaking down the above four points:

The reason for choosing apples, berries, and stone fruits is that apples are high in pectin which helps give us a good even texture and have a neutral flavor.

The reason for berries: they're rich in flavor and natural sweetness and have a good balance of acid and sugar.

Stone fruits like apricots, peaches, and plums also have a good balance of sweetness and acidity, plus they purée well.

Regarding the seeds and fibers: If seeds remain in the mix, they'll create hard spots and could create a choking hazard - especially where kids are concerned. Fiber can be stringy which affects the overall consistency of the leather.

So, seeds and fibers have a tendency to create weak spots as our leathers dry...

Pin and/or Print This Out!

How to Fix Holey Fruit Leathers - Print This Out!

Which Fruits Cause Problems in Fruit Leather?

Most fruits do well in a dehydrator, leather-wise, but... (and there's always a but!):

Citrus Fruits

Citrus: Lemons, limes, oranges, plus grapefruits have a high acidity and could make for a tart leather. Hey, many folks like tart-tasting stuff. I remember as a kid enjoying a hard candy called Sour Balls and another one called Pear Drops (which, to me, smelled like nail polish remover!)

So, if you're not into tartness, you'll need to add sugar. And you know the bad rap sugar's getting... (rightly so). Also adding excessive sugar can make the leather gummy and sticky.

Watermelon and other Melons with High Water Content

Extremely high-water content melons make it time-consuming to dry, and they sometimes come out brittle and prone to those dreaded holes...

Bananas

Believe it or not, bananas can turn really brown and look horrible. Best to mix bananas in with other fruits, you know - blend it in.

Pineapple

Pineapples contain the bromelain enzyme which messes with the "setting" of a fruit leather, and that can result in a sticky mess.

Kiwi

Yep, they contain seeds - so if you want to use kiwi, strain the seeds out first.

Whole Berries: Blackberries, Raspberries

It's those large seeds that if left in, cause holes. Like the kiwi fruit, strain 'em first if you want to use these otherwise awesome berries.

Practice Makes Perfect: Don’t Stress About Your First Batches

Remember, creating the perfect fruit leather is part science, part art. Don't feel bad if your first few attempts aren't perfectly hole-free.

If you follow the tips I've shared, and with a bit of patience and practice, you'll be making beautiful, hole-free fruit leather like a pro, too.

Happy dehydrating!

Try This Two-Tone Fruit Leather Idea

See this ingenious use of two flavors of fruit purée by Slizzerd on Reddit who used two different kinds of fruit mixes and spread it out in bands, using square solid sheets.

Fruit leather with dual mix - beforeSource: Slizzerd on Reddit
Fruit leather with dual mix - afterSource: Slizzerd on Reddit

Fruit Leather FAQ: Common Problems and Fixes

Why does my fruit leather have holes in it?

Holes are typically caused by air bubbles, uneven spreading, excess liquid, or leftover fruit chunks. Blend your purée until smooth, tap the tray to remove air bubbles, and spread the mixture evenly to avoid thin spots that dry too quickly.

Can I fix fruit leather holes while it’s still drying?

Yes. Pause the dehydrator, prepare a little fresh fruit purée, and use a spoon or piping bag to fill in the holes. Smooth gently and resume drying—but note that patched spots may take longer to fully dehydrate.

How thick should I spread fruit leather mix?

Spread the purée to a uniform thickness of 1/8 to 1/4 inch across the tray. Too thin leads to tearing and holes, while too thick can leave it sticky or under-dried. Use an offset spatula for best results.

What fruits should I avoid in fruit leather?

Avoid high-water fruits like watermelon and fruits with seeds like raspberries, blackberries, and kiwi—unless you strain them first. Pineapple may remain sticky due to its enzymes. Blend with apples or bananas to improve texture and drying.

How do I store fruit leather?

Let the leather cool completely, then store it in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags. Keep in a cool, dark pantry for short-term use, or freeze it for longer storage without affecting texture or flavor.

Why is my fruit leather brittle instead of pliable?

It was likely over-dried. Fruit leather should be flexible but not sticky. Next time, start checking doneness toward the end of drying and aim for a leathery texture, not crisp.

Can I save fruit leather that’s stuck to the tray?

Yes. Pop the tray in the freezer for 10 minutes — it makes the leather easier to peel off cleanly. You can also spray trays lightly with coconut or vegetable oil before drying next time.

If your fruit leather has been more holey than heavenly, don’t give up! With a few prep tricks and a watchful eye, you’ll be turning out smooth, chewy fruit leathers like a pro. And if you're hungry for more ideas, grab my free PDF (below) — 5 Dried Food Recipes That Actually Taste Great — packed with easy, delicious ways to use your dehydrated goodies.

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