Learn all about dehydrating apples in a food dehydrator or in an oven. Drying apples is a simple project for adults and kids and makes amazing healthy snacks.
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Dried apples are a favorite snack in our house. The best part of drying apples yourself? The process is so simple, and you only need two ingredients – apples and lemon juice.
Looking for more dehydrator tutorials? Check out our posts on: Dehydrating Oregano, Dehydrating Mint, Drying Limes, Dehydrating Marshmallows, Drying Peaches, Dehydrating Onions, Drying Rosemary, Drying Pears, Dehydrating Garlic, Homemade Tomato Powder, Drying Chives, How to Dry Basil, and Dehydrating Tomatoes.
What Are The Best Apples For Drying?
Easy to find varieties such as Gala, Fuji, Gravenstein, and Honeycrisp are all great. Look for firm and flavorful apples that you would enjoy for fresh eating. Even though the drying process concentrates the sweetness of the apples, sour apples will still make sour dried apples.
How Long Does it Take to Dry Apples?
The length of time they will need to dry out will vary based on how many trays you have going at once, and how thick your apple slices are. On average, it takes 4-8 hours for up to nine trays of apples.
Helpful Dried Apples Supply List
- Dehydrator (I have this one)
- Lemon juice or citric acid
- Vegetable peeler and a sharp knife, or be
lazyefficient like I am and use this peeler/corer - Large bowl for soaking the apples
- Refuse bowl for skins and apple cores
How Do You Dry Apples in the Oven?
Follow the peeling and soaking instructions above and then place apple slices on baking drying racks. Place in the oven at the lowest temperature possible (usually 140-170 degrees F) and prop open the door with the handle of a wooden spoon. This allows condensation to escape instead of just settle back onto the apples. Bake for 5-8 hours.
How Do I Know if Dried Apples are Done?
Apples are done when they don’t feel wet anymore (4-8 hours). Some apples will finish before the others on the same tray. Remove those that are done and set them aside.
Even finished apples might feel a bit sticky when warm. Allow the apples to cool for an hour and then fold a slice between two fingers. If the apples aren’t sticky/tacky and there is some give when you fold it, it’s done. If the apples fold in half like a piece of paper, they are overly dried. Still edible and delicious, but likely a little tougher.
Store them in an air-tight container like a mason jar. If you see any condensation inside the container after a day or so, the apples were not dried long enough. It would be best to store them in the fridge or freezer at this point.
Pro Tips/Recipe 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 apples will last for up to a year if stored in a cool dry place.
- You do not have to peel the apples, but the peels may get very hard during the drying process and could detract from the taste.
Dehydrating Apples
Instructions
- Fill a bowl with cold water and 1/4 cup of lemon juice.
- Set up a workstation with a peeler, cutting board, sharp knife, and a bowl for the peels and cores.
- Clean apples, peel, core, and slice the apples thinly.
- Place the slices in the water/juice mixture.
- Arrange the slices on dehydrator trays so that there is space around each slice, and the slices are not touching.
- Set dehydrator to the "fruit/vegetables" setting (135 degrees F) and dry for 4-8 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 apple slices are.
- Apples are done when they don’t feel wet anymore. Some apples will finish before the others on the same tray. Remove those that are done and set aside.
Notes
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Thanks for sharing this amazing dried apple recipe with all of us. I really like this recipe.
The link you have for oven drying racks links to racks that are not oven safe.
Amazon changes links over the years without letting us know. I’ll update. Thanks!
How do I do the apple slices in the oven? I don’t have a dehydrator.
Hi Felicia, there is this info in the post:
HOW DO YOU DRY APPLES IN THE OVEN?
Follow the peeling and soaking instructions above and then place apple slices on baking drying racks. Place in the oven at the lowest temperature possible (usually 140-170 degrees F) and prop open the door with the handle of a wooden spoon. This allows condensation to escape instead of just settle back onto the apples. Bake for 5-8 hours.
I received a lovely gift of schnitz foldovers for Christmas, made with rehydrated dried apples and spices. Oh, they are so delicious – taste a bit like mincemeat. They were so tasty that I just had to find out how to dry apples without a dehydrator. I look forward to trying your recipe as well as the one reader’s suggestion for the cinnamon sugar apple peels.
Thank you!
That sounds absolutely delicious Jean! Do you top it with ice cream or anything like that?
No ice cream. Just enjoy it as it is!
Delicious!!