Dehydrating Apples {+Oven Method}

Learn all about dehydrating apples in a food dehydrator or in the oven. Dryings 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: Drying Pears, Dehydrating Garlic, Homemade Tomato Powder, 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 lazy efficient 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

• 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.

More Recipes Like This

• Complete Guide to What to Can in Fall
• Canning Applesauce – How to Can Applesauce
• Canning Apple Butter
• Homemade Peppermint Extract
• Canning Peaches

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

How to Dehydrate Apples

Learn how to make dried apples in a food dehydrator or in the oven.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time8 hrs

Total Time8 hrs 20 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dehydrating apples, dried apples, drying apples, drying apples in the oven

Calories: 95kcal

Author: Sarah Cook - Sustainable Cooks

Equipment

• Cutting Board
• Knife
• Mixing bowl
• Dehydrator

Ingredients

• 10 Apples {choose firm apples like Fuji}
• 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice

US Customary - Metric

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

Store in an air-tight container. They will keep for at least a year if not exposed to too much light or heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 40g | Calories: 95kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 10.1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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Apple Peeler/Corer

Dehydrator

Glass Storage