15
O
VEN
C
OOKING
APPROX.
FRUITS
VARIETIES BEST
PREPARATION
DRY TIME
TEST FOR DONENESS
FOR DRYING
at 140
°
F **
AT MIN. DRY TIME
Apples*
Firm varieties: Graven
Wash, peel if desired, core and slice
4-8 hours
Pliable to crisp. Dried
Stein, Granny Smith,
into 1/8” slices.
apples store best when they
Jonathan, Winesap,
are slightly crisp.
Rome Beauty, Newton.
Apricots*
Blenheim/Royal most
Wash, halve, and remove pits.
18-24 hours
Soft, pliable.
common. Tilton also good.
Bananas*
Firm varieties
Peel and cut into 1/4” slices.
17-24 hours. Pliable to crisp.
Cherries
Lambert, Royal Ann,
Wash and remove stems. Halve and
18-24 hours. Pliable and leathery.
Napoleon, Van or Bing.
remove pits.
Nectarines
Freestone varieties.
Halve and remove pits. Peeling
24-36 hours
Pliable and leathery.
and Peaches*
is optional but results in
better-looking dried fruit.
Pears*
Bartlett
Peel, halve and core.
24-36 hours
Soft and pliable.
Pineapple
Fresh or canned.
Wash, peel and remove thorny eyes.
Canned:
Soft and pliable.
Slice length wise and remove the
14-18 hours
small core. Cut crosswise into
Fresh:
1/2” slices.
12-16 hours
Orange and
Select rough-skinned fruit. Wash well. Thinly peel the outer
1-2 hours
Tough to brittle.
Lemon Peel
Do not dry the peel of fruit 1/16 to 1/8” of the peel. Do not use
marked “color added”.
the white bitter pith under the peel.
VEGETABLES
Tomatoes
Plum, Roma
Halve, remove seeds. Place tomatoes 12-18 hours
Tough to crisp.
skin side up on rack. Prick skins.
Carrots
Danvers Half Long,
Do not use carrots with woody fiber
4-8 hours
Tough to brittle.
Imperator, Red Cored
or pithy core. Wash, trim tops and
Chantenay
peel if desired. Slice crosswise or
diagonally into 1/4” slices. Steam
blanch for 3 min.
Hot Peppers
Ancho, Anaheim
Wash, halve and seed. Prick
4-6 hours
Pods should appear
skin several times.
shriveled dark red and crisp.
HERBS
Parsley, Mint,
Rinse in cold water. Pat dry with a
1-3 hours
Brittle and crumbly.
Cilantro, Sage,
paper towel. Leave stems on until
Oregano
leaves are dry, then discard.
Basil
Cut leaves 3 to 4” from top of plant
2-5 hours
Brittle and crumbly.
just as buds appear. Rinse leaves in
cold water.
*Fruits requiring an antioxidant to prevent discoloration and loss of nutrients. Refer to the notes on page 14 for specific methods.
** 12 Hour Off will not occur during drying functions.
Drying Guide
(lower oven only)
