Fruit dehydration tips
Dried fruit is a superb food treat. Try it plain as fruit leather, or in ice cream cobblers and pies.
It is hard to imagine a better tasting more nutritious snack than dried fruit. Dried fruit is naturally
sweet, has no preservatives, and is inexpensive.
Your food dehydrator makes drying fruit easy. With all fruits it is best to wash them before begi-
nning. After that, most fruits just need halving, coring or pitting and slicing before placing them
in the dehydrator.
You do not have to pre-treat fruits to get good results, but some fruits, such as apples, pears, pe-
aches, apricots and bananas tend to darken somewhat with drying or storage beyond six to seven
months. Although still edible when darkened, they tend to not appear as tempting to the palate.
If you do not mind the change in color of your dried fruit, there is no need to pre-treat. Fruits like
bananas turn brown without pre-treatment, but at the same time they become very sweet and
bursting with pure banana flavour by simply slicing and placing directly into the dehydrator. For
drying times of fruits, refer to the fruit preparation table.
To avoid fruits from darkening, fruit pieces can be dipped in solutions of lemon pineapple,
or orange juice, or ascorbic acid prior to dehydration dip the fruit in the solution for two minutes.
Drain on paper towels and place in drying trays.
Lemon, pineapple or orange juice
Fresh or bottled lemon, pineapple or orange juices are the best because of their natural sweetness.
Pineapple and orange juice can be used full strength or diluted to taste. If you use lemon uice,
it is best to dilute it with 1 part juice to 8 parts water and soak the fruit pieces for two minutes. Be
aware that the taste of these juices can overpower the taste of the fruit being dried and may not
always prevent discoloration of food. Experiment with the dilution and soaking times to suit your
taste.
Ascorbic acid
Crystalline ascorbic acid or products with ascorbic acid made for preserving fruits for canning
may be obtained from drug stores or from stores selling canning supplies. Most grocery stores
sell it with their canning supplies as well. Mix 1 tablespoon in four cups of water and soak the fruit
for about two minutes. Like lemon juice, the taste can be quite overpowering so experiment with
concentrations and soaking times.
Sodium bisulfite
Sodium bisulfate can be purchased at your local pharmacy. If you or anyone who will be eating
the food has any known chemical allergies, you should check with your physician before using this
chemical. Be certain to ask for food grade (safe) product only. Mix 1 teaspoon of sodium bisulfite
in 1 quart of water. Dip the sliced fruit in the solution for few minutes. Remove, drain and place
on the dehydrator tray.
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