Posted in Baking, breakfast, Food, Home Food Preservation

Drying Your Own Fruit

Posted on by lmc



One of my favorite ways to preserve fruits and vegetables is to thinly slice them and dry them in my dehydrator.  Drying is one of the oldest methods for preserving foods. This makes for a nutritious and convenient snack that needs little space for storage. There are two ways in which I dry fruits… I often purée fresh fruit in the blender, spread the purée on a dehydrating sheet and dry the product according to the manufacturer’s instructions. I then wrap long strands of the dried leather in cellophane and store it in a mason jar.  Other times, I simply slice ripe fruit, process it in the dehydrator overnight, condition the fruit and package for a nutritious and high-energy snack.  Drying your own fruit at home is far less expensive than purchasing packaged dried fruits and can insure that there are no extra preservatives added to the fruit.















Some fruits suitable for drying include apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, and berries.  To process, carefully follow the directions that accompany your dehydrator or use a recipe from a reputable source.  These recipes  have been tested to reduce any food safety issues and boost nutritional impact.  If you are interested in making your own jams or jellies, pickles, salsa, fruit leather or dried fruit, here are a few sites that will provide you with an abundance of carefully tested recipes. 

The National Center for Home Food Preservation – http://nchfp.uga.edu

Drying Fruits and Vegetables Penn State Extension – http://extension.psu.edu/food/preservation/safe-methods/drying-vegetables

Ohio State Extension Food Preservation – http://extension.oregonstate.edu/fch/food-preservation





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36 thoughts on “Drying Your Own Fruit”

    1. It was worth the investment for me. If you do decide to by one…
      Make sure you by a model with a temperature gauge. Fruit is then dried at the correct temp for a shorter period of time. This holds in more vitamins and nutrients. Good Luck!

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    1. I’ve been drying fruit for quite some time. I love knowing that it’s only fruit with no other preservatives… Good stuff!🍌🍓🍒🍏🍐

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  7. OMG, that looks amazing! I wish I had the space for one of these things. I now use my oven, but it doesn’t give the same result like this machine makes it look…

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    1. i have a few friends that have success drying fruits and vegetables in their oven. I bought this machine about two years ago and I love the convenience of it. The best part is that you can add trays to make room for drying more fruit without having to add space on your countertop because you are adding height, not width. I box up the machine when I’m finished using it and put it back in my storage area. This model is also really easy to clean and sanitize so I really love it.
      All the best to you and continued success drying foods in your home! Have a good day!😊

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    1. It’s worked out well for my family. I love preserving fresh fruits and vegetables. We use them in cereal, oatmeal, trail mix, and I often put dried fruit in my baking recipes. I hope you have a chance to try it! Thanks for your comment and have a great day!

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    1. There are lots of different models out there that range from moderately priced to quite expensive. One thing that I looked for was a model that had a temperature gauge. You want to be able to dry the fruit at s recommended temp and buying a model with a gauge will give you control over time and temperature. Good luck!

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    1. …Might want to add it to your Mother’s Day gift list…😊
      The whole family will benefit from the sweet natural treats that the dehydrator produces. Have a good day and thanks for stopping by!🌸

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  15. I’d never thought of using a dehydrator to make fruit leather from pureed fruit and now I want to get a dehydrator and make homemade fruit leather! And dried banana slices are wonderful. It’s like eating candy without all the artificial stuff.

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    1. You are so right, Stephanie! Dried fruit is like nature’s candy. And fruit leather is super easy to make. Just follow the manufacturers directions and make sure you by a dehydrator that has a fruit leather tray. Most have them but just check to make sure. Good luck!🌷🌷

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