Dried fruit is a healthy snack that is also super sweet, making it a perfect replacement for candy if you’re trying to cut out some of the processed sugar or fat from your diet. It’s also delicious on top of oatmeal, granola, or yogurt! While a dehydrator is the usual way to dry fruit, you can actually make decent dried fruit yourself at home with just an oven and a little patience! Here’s how.
- First, choose your fruit. Common fruits to dry include mangos, apples, pineapples, and apricots. Keep in mind that fruit with less moisture will dry quicker as will types you can more easily cut thin.
- Slice your fruit into thin slices. Most of the time you’ll want to peel them as well, though some people prefer their apples with the peels on. Make sure to core or remove the seeds as well (except in cases where you’d eat the seeds, like strawberries).
- Next, soak the fruit in water and lemon juice for about ten minutes to prevent browning. Preheat your oven to 170°F in the meantime or 200° if that’s the lowest it will go.
- Place your fruit in one layer on some baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Put them in the oven for about 8 hours, making sure to flip the fruit every so often. If your oven is at the hotter temperature, you may want to pull them out a little sooner. If you can go lower for a few extra hours, that’s even better.
