Drying fruits

[88GT]

Do you have to skin/peel them?

All the directions say to core (well, duh) and peel. But all the pictures show the apples curly-qued up with red edges. Clearly not peeled. I assume the pears would be the same.

What about peaches, plums, and the like?

For those that dry citrus: do you peel first? What do you use them for? Can you eat them as a snack or are they better used as ingredients in recipes?

 

[JayPea]

I'm subscribing to this thread because I'm curious also. I got a dehydrator for Xmas and looking to learn the craft. Drying fruits are on the agenda for sure!

 

[spencer rifle]

We peel most of ours, but not all. Firmer, drier fruits like apples and pears can go either way. Some of the moister fruits like citrus you may find take forever to dry and might still get moldy. We usually can those.

 

[THard6]

I thought all people even the fruits dried off with a towel!

i'd say things like oranges, bananas, need pealed. but fruits with harder skins can dry along with the fruit, from what I can see.
never done it, but will be interested in seeing what other have to say about it!

 

[williamnewman1]

we dehydrate a ton at my house ..... fruit/jerky etc

peaches/plums/apples/pears/etc ........ core but leave peel
- love the extra "bite" of the peel
banana ...... peel and dice into "chips" or slivers
-might add sugar if you are used to commercial (i don't)
mango......peel and core
-great lightweight snack
citrus - don't , never worked well for us like "spencer rifle" said canning

 

[Icarry2]

TLC Cooking "How To Dry Fruit"

Using Dehydration to Preserve Fruits, Vegetables, and Meats - Home - Virginia Cooperative Extension

Personally some are harder to dry than others and canning is the best way to preserve them.

My advice, experiement.. See what is worth your time and search for different methods and try them yourself.

TJ

 

[hooky]

we dehydrate a ton at my house ..... fruit/jerky etc

peaches/plums/apples/pears/etc ........ core but leave peel
- love the extra "bite" of the peel
banana ...... peel and dice into "chips" or slivers
-might add sugar if you are used to commercial (i don't)
mango......peel and core
-great lightweight snack
citrus - don't , never worked well for us like "spencer rifle" said canning

This is consistent with what I've found to work well too.

To avoid fruit from browning while the dehydration process takes place, we dip them in a 1:5 solution of lemon juice to water

 

[Survivalcookie]

This is consistent with what I've found to work well too.

To avoid fruit from browning while the dehydration process takes place, we dip them in a 1:5 solution of lemon juice to water

The thinner you cut your fruit the faster they dry...just make sure they are good and dry...something like pineapples and mango will be chewy...apples and bananas will be harder.
We make alot of fruit leathers...even made some squash leathers...

 

[Survivalcookie]

OOO and by the way if you have a bunch of apple cores you can make vinegar out of them...have not tried this yet but think it is a skill we all should know.
Making Vinegar From Scratch - Off The Grid News

 

[kolob10]

We dry everything except citrus. We have even dried persimmons but that takes awhile. Apples and bananas are our favorites. W dry apples with the peel off.

 

[recon19d]

I picked up about 5 cans of Pineapple one day when they were on sale. It pulled them out, they had been cut into rings, So i stacked them a few high and cut them like a pizza and made a bunch of wedges. Threw them on my dehydrator. They totally flattened out and were like thin chips but tasted great. For sure plan on doing it again. Make sure you rotate the levels too so everything is equally dried!

 

[hooky]

The thinner you cut your fruit the faster they dry...just make sure they are good and dry...something like pineapples and mango will be chewy...apples and bananas will be harder.
We make alot of fruit leathers...even made some squash leathers...

I do apples thin for oatmeal. I like them a little thicker if I'm munching on them by themselves.

As far as leathers, we also do that with spaghetti sauce. I'll have to try the squash. That sounds good. I made sauce for beef stroganoff and then dehydrated that. I also dehydrated some of the egg noodles. Added in some dehydrated hamburger and it was easily my favorite backpacking meal.

 

[dbishop728]

how long will they last dehydrated and how do you store them

 

[Survivalcookie]

I do apples thin for oatmeal. I like them a little thicker if I'm munching on them by themselves.

As far as leathers, we also do that with spaghetti sauce. I'll have to try the squash. That sounds good. I made sauce for beef stroganoff and then dehydrated that. I also dehydrated some of the egg noodles. Added in some dehydrated hamburger and it was easily my favorite backpacking meal.

MMM spaghetti sauce leather...do you reconstitute it or just but the stuff in it like a taco
and eat it?

 

[Molly Belle]

I peel apples when I dehydrate them. I also like to sprinkle them with a little cinnamon. MMMM.... Yummy. You can't eat just one. Another easy thing to do with a dehydrator is to buy a bag of frozen, chopped veggies and just spread them on the trays. They are nice in soup. Of course, it's better when it is your own veggies, but for a wintertime project, it is fun.

 

[Rikkrack]

Agree with all that is said on canning citrus, and dehydrating others.

We have stocked up on frozen veggies when a really good sale and dehydrate straight out of the freezer.

Also fresh herbs from garden during growing season.

If doing onions dehydrate in garage or somewhere not in kitchen. and cut thicker as they shrink down to nothing and will stick to the trays.

You can also dehydrate shrimp and eggs.

We also dehydrate potatoes when a good sale. You will need to dip in lemon juice, citric acid, or can dissolve vitamin C tables in water or they turn brown.

Dehydrated zucchini and yellow squash with dill is good. Add salt AFTER you dehydrate or they never dry right and are never crisp.

Sweet potato chips are good too

 

[irishfan]

The thinner you cut your fruit the faster they dry...just make sure they are good and dry...something like pineapples and mango will be chewy...apples and bananas will be harder.
We make alot of fruit leathers...even made some squash leathers...

I am going to try pineapple here soon. I actually like to eat apples and bananas as they are dehydrated instead of soaking them again.

 

[PistolBob]

I like to slice strawberries, dip them in apple juice, and then shake in a baggie full of hot chocolate mix. Take them out of the baggie once they are covered and dry them on your dehydrator....GREAT addition to trail mix, snack bags, etc.