how to make dried fruit

Just follow these instructions and make this device for a small amount of money. If you want to learn how to use a dehydrator or dry your fruits outside, keep reading the article! Allow your fruit and vegetable slices to cool for 30 to 60 minutes or until completely cool to the touch before packing. If you don't own one, cookie sheets lined with slightly smaller wire racks make oven-drying a straightforward task. All you have to do is slice citrus fruit thinly, then pop it in the oven on about 100 degrees c. Any hotter than this and the fruit will cook, which is not what we’re doing here! How to Make Dried Fruit First, you’ll need some oranges and/or lemons. References 1/2 – 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder. Drying the fruit is very simple. The fruit should be chewy when done, not squishy or crispy. The choice is yours! Let mother nature dry the fruit for a week or two. Once the fruit is completely dry, remove from the oven and let the trays sit out overnight (at least 12 hours) before storing. Knot thread between slices to keep slices separate. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Tree fruits such as stone fruit (apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines), mangoes, bananas, apples, figs, dates and pears. Cut your oranges into 1-2cm thick slices and pat dry with paper towels or a tea towel to absorb the excess juice. Best of all, you can dry your favorite in-season fruits now, and store them for up to one year! wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Optional, but helpful. Cutting through the … What do I put to keep apricot from turning black? Approved. Make a knot on the non-folded end. Place the fruit onto a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. If rack drying outdoors, place the fruit on your drying rack instead of using a cooking sheet. Then, spread the fruit out on a lined baking sheet and put it in the oven. This article has been viewed 357,922 times. If you’re looking to enter the world of dried fruits, here’s where to start. It’s also faster and safer than using a sun drying method, especially in cooler regions. These include: Vine fruits such as grapes. Combine 2 cups of chopped fruits and berries into a saucepan with 1 cup water, and cook over medium heat until fruit is soft. Oven drying is the simplest way to dry food, because it requires little to no special equipment. It’s also possible to dry whole fruit. For this Instructable we decided to use a variety of fruit and two different drying racks. How do you store dried fruit and how long does it last for? Does drying fruit alter the sugar content? Dried fruit is a delicious and healthy addition to granola, cereal, muffins, yogurt and so much more. Fruit ‘n’ Nut Granola is packed with lots of ingredients that taste great. You want them a little thick, but not too thick or they won’t dry. Wash and peel the fruit (blueberries, apricots and cherries work best if dried whole). And, yes, you do need a special piece of equipment, too. I've said it before but I'll say it again. Using the beauty of nature in your home decor is kind of a no brainer. How to Make Your Own Dried Fruit. Preheat the oven to 170°F. You can dry a wide variety of fruits, including grapes (sultanas, currants and raisins), apples (sliced), apricots, pears, peaches, figs, dates, plums (prunes) and bananas. Poke a hole in the middle of the dried fruit slices with a large needle, paperclip, or skewer. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Whatever container you use, it must be airtight. An electric dehydrator with its own trays provides almost all you need to complete the drying task. Most wood trays also work, but avoid green wood, pine, cedar, oak, and redwood. It can be used alone or with pine cones, holly and other branches to form garlands and wreaths. Arrange the slices of fruit in a single layer on nonstick baking sheets—and make sure the pieces aren’t touching each other. Do I need to peel figs before drying them? (where to buy arrowroot) 3. Smoke the apricots with burning sulphur before drying or spray with sodium metabisulphate solution, then dry them. Keep the slice thickness uniform. Before slicing make sure you have your chopping board and knife ready as well as having an oven rack close by to place the orange slices on when you are done cutting the fruits. Peel and core the fruit (primarily apples) into chains. Dip the fruit in salt water. Select fruit that is ripe—but not overripe—and free of bruises. For more details, check out. ", "A lot of mangoes in Sri Lanka go to waste in season. ", "The article has helped me in my business plan ideas that I am planning to undertake.". Dry the fruit until it is perfect, which could take a few days. "I have been wanting to know if it's possible to dry fruit in the oven, so a person doesn't need to buy a special, "Good guide to general techniques. Ingredients: Fruit of your choice; 1/2 cup lemon juice; 1/2 cup water; Special equipment needed: Cheesecloth; Thermometer; Mandolin Slicer; Directions. Once the fruit is thoroughly dried (it can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours depending on thickness of slices and the fruit’s water content), remove the trays from the oven and let stand overnight (at least 12 hours) before placing in storage containers. However, with most of the water removed, the fruit's sugars are more highly concentrated, so it will taste sweeter. Let the fruit dry for 4-8 hours at your oven's lowest temperature setting. Sliced fruit can also be threaded on a clean cotton string and hung to dry in the sun. Keep the oven door open slightly during drying and stir fruit every 30 minutes. Prep fruit: wash thoroughly, and slice into uniform pieces. Those once-plump raisins and bright dried cranberries are now even more dry, shriveled, and maybe even hard. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Spread onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. How to Know if Fruit is Fully Dried? The average kitchen oven holds approximately 4 to 6 pounds of fruit at one time. If you're drying small fruits like berries, you can leave them whole. Tie fruit-filled thread horizontally between two upright posts or other convenient objects. Dried fruit can also be stored frozen for up to a year; it thaws quickly once removed from the freezer. Obviously … By using our site, you agree to our. In this case, 97% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Let these great dried fruit recipes to brighten your meal. Begin checking the fruit after the first 24 hours to prevent it from over-drying. Once opened, dried fruit will stay at its best if placed into a resealable bag and kept in a cool place. It is fairly easy to make up your own mixture by using 30% raisins, … Turn the oven off, and let the slices sit for 1 to 2 hours before taking them out. Thread a cinnamon stick over the folded end of the raffia and slide it down to the knot. ", http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-raisins-sultanas-and-currants-223285, http://www.backpackingchef.com/dehydrating-fruit.html, http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2013/08/how-to-dehydrate-fruit-basic-food-preservation/, http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-dry-fruit-in-the-oven-92637, http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/uga/uga_dry_fruit.pdf, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Select fruits that are suitable for drying. Once the fruit is finished drying, take it out of the oven and serve or store for later! 2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Make-Dried-Fruit-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Dried-Fruit-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Make-Dried-Fruit-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid10868-v4-728px-Make-Dried-Fruit-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"