As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Learn all about making this dehydrated orange slices recipe in a food dehydrator or an oven. Dehydrating oranges is a simple project for adults and kids and makes amazing additions to sweet and savory dishes and crafts.
Dehydrated orange slices are a great ingredient to have on hand for sweet and savory dishes as well as homemade drinks and seasonal crafts/decor.
The best part of drying oranges yourself? The process is so simple, and you only need one ingredient – fresh oranges!
If you decide that dehydrating oranges just isn’t for you, check out my tutorial on how to freeze oranges.
How to use dried oranges
The possibilities for dehydrated oranges are endless! Combine the slices with sugar in a food processor to make orange sugar.
For other options, use them anywhere you want to punch up the orange flavor, like in Instant Pot orange chicken or air fryer orange chicken, cranberry orange sauce, in casseroles, or stews and soups.
They’re also incredible in homemade mulling spice mixes, dried potpourri, or to garnish homemade drinks.
To rehydrate dehydrated oranges, cover dried orange slices in cool water and soak for 1-2 hours.
PRO TIPS/RECIPE NOTES
- For the evenest cuts, use a mandoline or a serrated bread knife. The serrated knife works much better than a chef’s or paring knife.
- Avoid the temptation to increase the heat on the dehydrator or oven to speed up the process. Low and slow wins in the race on this one.
- Remove the seeds if you plan to grind the dried oranges into powder. If you’re drying them for decoration or to flavor dishes, it is fine to leave the seeds in while drying.
- Orange slices are done when they don’t feel wet anymore (2-12 hours) and they feel brittle. Some of the slices will finish before the others on the same tray. Remove those that are done and set them aside.
- Dried oranges will last for 12-18 months if stored in a cool dry place. Please make sure the orange slices are fully cooled before putting them into an air-tight container.
Get my Canning e-book!
It’s 51 pages of every helpful tip and trick you could want as a brand new canner, AND it includes 13 ad-free canning recipes that are designed to take you from novice to pro.
Dehydrated Orange Slices Recipe
Instructions
- Clean whole oranges with warm soapy water. Rinse and pat dry.
- Using a serrated (bread) knife or mandoline, carefully slice thinly (~1/4 in).
- Arrange the slices on dehydrator trays so that there is space around each slice, and the slices are not touching.
- Set the dehydrator to the "fruit/vegetables" setting (135˚F or 57˚C degrees) and dry for 4-12 hours. Rotate trays every few hours.
- The length of time they need to dry out will vary based on how many trays you have going on at once, and how thick the orange slices are.
- Orange slices are done when they don’t feel wet anymore (4-12 hours) and they feel brittle.
- Some of the slices will finish before the others on the same tray. Remove those that are done and set them aside.
Notes
- Avoid the temptation to increase the heat on the dehydrator or oven to speed up the process. Low and slow wins in the race on this one.
- Dried oranges and other citrus will last for 12-18 months if stored in a cool dry place.
- To rehydrate dehydrated oranges, cover dried orange slices in cool water and soak for 1-2 hours.
- Follow the cleaning and slicing instructions above and then place orange slices on baking drying racks set into baking sheets.
- Place in the oven at the lowest temperature possible (usually 140-170˚F degrees) and prop open the door with the handle of a wooden spoon. This allows condensation to escape instead of just settling back onto the oranges.
- Bake for 3-6 hours.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I do this with limes as well. I keep a mason jar of halved lime slices and I’ll put one or two in my glass of pop for a ‘lime Coke’.
I keep seeing garlands made of dried orange slices in my social media feeds and keep thinking I should make some!
How smart! I’ve never considered using it for soft drinks.