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News
2005-02-09
Drying Fruits- Preparation and Chart of Drying Times

You'll have fun drying fruit! It's one of the oldest and most popular dehydrated foods. Enjoy dried fruit as a naturally sweet snack, in your favorite recipes, candied, or in good tasting leathers. Apples, peaches, bananas, and pears are long-time dehydrating favorites. But why stick to the tried and true? Dare to dry dates, have a fling with figs, or perk up yourself with persimmons. Challenge yourself to master them all!


Fruits dry best at 135 F.
Fruit Preparation Test Time
Apples Pare, core, and cut into 1/4" slices or rings. May be sprinkled with cinnamon, if desired.
12 lbs. fresh applies = 1 lbs. (3 pints)

Pliable

7-15*
hours
Apricots Wash, cut in half, slice and remove pit. Dry skin side down.

Pliable

20-28
hours
Bananas Peel and cut into 1/8" slices.

Leathery

6-10
hours
Berries Leave whole. For wax-skinned berries pre-treat by crazing.

Leathery

10-15
hours
Cherries Remove stems and pits. Cut in half and place skin side down on a tray. Will be like raisins; watch to prevent over drying

Leathery
& Sticky

13-21
hours
Citrus Peel Avoid fruits with signs of mold, dyed, color-treated, or sprayed. Wash skins with vinegar water to remove wax, if applicable. Peel off very top layer of skin, avoiding the white material.

Crisp

3-8
hours
Cranberries Same process as for berries.

Pliable

10-12
hours
Dates Wash well, cut in half and pit, if desired.

Leathery

16-28
hours
Figs Wash, cut out blemishes, quarter and spread one layer deep, skin side down.

Pliable

22-30
hours
Grapes Wash, remove stems and either cut in half or leave whole. Place halves skin side down. Blanching will reduce drying time by 50%.

Pliable

22-30
hours
Kiwi Peel and slice horizontally 1/4" thick.

Leathery
& Crisp

7-15
hours
Nectarines Wash, pit and, if desired, peel. Cut into 3/8" slices or circles. Dry skin side down.

Pliable

8-16
hours
Peaches Wash, pit and, if desired, peel. Cut into 1/4" slices.
12 lbs. fresh peaches = 1-1 lbs. (2-3 pts)

Pliable

8-16
hours
Pears Wash, remove core, peel if desired. Cut into 1/4" slices or quarter the pear.

Pliable

8-16
hours
Persimmons Wash, remove cap and peel if desired. Slice into 1/4" circles.

Leathery

11-19
hours
Pineapple Peel, remove fibrous eyes. Remove core and cut into 1/4" slices or wedges.

Pliable

10-18
hours
Prune Plums Wash, cut in half, remove pits and pop the back to expose more surface to the air.

Leathery

22-30
hours
Rhubarb Wash, cut into 1" lengths.

Leathery

6-10
hours
Strawberries Wash, cut off caps, slice 1/4" thick.

Leathery
& Crisp

7-15
hours
Watermelon Cut off rind, cut into wedges and remove seeds.

Pliable
& Sticky

8-10
hours

* Drying times are approximate and will vary due to a number of factors. These include amount of humidity in the air, the moisture content of the food being dried, and the preparation methods. Recording your actual times in a dehydrating journal will prove to be a valuable asset for future drying sessions, especially for seasonal items.

This fruit drying chart was compiled from the Excalibur Dehydrating Guide and Preserve It Naturally II The Complete Guide to Food Dehydration. For additional information on applicable pre-treatments, drying tips, rehydration and uses, please consult these references.

Dried Fruit Storage: Store dried fruits in a cool, dark, dry location. Fruit held in storage at 50 to 60F retains more food value than when it is stored at higher temperatures. The absence of light in the storage area preserves colors and vitamins. One of the best storage containers are mason jars. Properly sealed, they are moisture proof, insect proof, reusable for many years, and come in a variety of sizes to meet all of your fruit dehydrating needs. Available where canning supplies are sold.

Our Banana Slicer, Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer, V-Slicer, and Sodium Bisulfite are products that will enhance your fruit drying efforts.

Written by: Excalibur
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