How to Dehydrate Oranges in a Food Dehydrator

Dehydrated oranges slices are an amazing chewy and tangy snack that you can consume. You may also use it for ice water, garnishing tea or the cocktails. The peels of the dried oranges delicately increase the taste and fragrance of an extensive range of dishes. It can last for a long time if you store them properly. Using the food dehydrator for drying oranges is one of the best and quick ways in comparison to the oven and sun drying method.

But do you know how to dehydrate organs in a food dehydrator?

In the below article, we are going to give you the step by step instruction about the way through which you can easily dehydrate organs in the food dehydrator. Besides this, we will also share some useful info with you about the dried oranges as well.

So, let’s begin!

List of things required for drying Oranges in a food dehydrator

The following are the essential things that you need for dehydrating oranges in the food dehydrator:

1. Food dehydrator
2. Water
3. Organic wash or Distilled white vinegar
4. Food slicer or sharp knife
5. Airtight container or the Mason jar

Step by Step Instructions to Dehydrate Oranges in a Food Dehydrator

The following are the steps that you need to follow for drying oranges in a food dehydrator:

Step 1: Wash the oranges

You should wash the oranges thoroughly with the help of water before dehydrating them in the dehydrator. You can also use an organic wash that is available in the market for washing the fruit. Or you can also prepare you to own organic wash by mixing 2 cups of water with 120 ml of distilled white vinegar and then soak the fruit in the solution for around 10 to 15 minutes and after that easily rinse it with the water.

Step 2: Cut the slices of the oranges

Now you have to slice the oranges. Take the oranges and cut them into the thin slices without taking off the peel. You can use the food slicer or the sharp knife for slicing. Don’t forget to slice them straight with the crossway to form round “wheels.” The slices that are thinner will dry out better. You should try to cut the slices for around 0.6 cm thickness as a maximum.

Step 3: Place the oranges in the dehydrator

Now place the oranges on the trays of the food dehydrator. You should keep in mind that while putting the slices of the oranges, they should not overlap or stack each other. One more tip here is that you can take off the peels of the slices also and dehydrate them along with the slices of the oranges at the same time. The dried peels can be used for seasoning or in herbal teas.

Step 4: Turn ON the dehydrator machine

Now you have to dehydrate the slices of the oranges for around 5 to 12 hours period. The temperature, as well as the drying time, might differ on the basis of the food dehydrator you are using, your personal choice and the thickness of the slices. You should dehydrate the slices of the oranges for 5 to 12 hours at the temperature of 115 degrees F to 135 degrees F (46 degrees C to 57 degrees C), or till the time the slices are tough and breakable.

Step 5: Store them safely

Now store the slices of the oranges safely in the airtight container. You can use a vacuum sealed mason jar for storing the dried slices of the oranges. Keep in mind to store the jar inside a dark and cool place. The dried orange slices can be store for two years with the right storage. The vacuum sealing provides the additional freshness to the food while placed inside the Mason jar. You can buy these jars easily at any store.

Tip for dehydrating oranges in the food dehydrator

You can follow the below tips for better results while drying the oranges in the food dehydrator:

• You should use a food slicer instead of the knife for more uniform size and width of the orange slices. It is not mandatory to use it, but it will help you a lot in saving time while drying fruit.
• The water content in the peel should be around 20% after the drying process.
• The dried oranges can be used for dressing up the dishes and drinks. Numerous people love to eat them as snacks. You can use them in dessert or any treat too.
• You can check the dryness of the peel by cutting them and checking any moisture in it. The dried peel should not stick to itself and must bend in half.

Different Uses of Dehydrated Orange

Below are the various uses of the dehydrated oranges:

• You can use them as travel food or quick snacks.
• It can help you in preparing the orange tea easily and quickly
• You can use it for garnishing the dishes and salads
• You can also grind it into the powder form and utilize it in the stews, soups or baked food
• It can be added to the container of tea or water and kept aside in the fridge. You can feel a very nice and refreshing taste of it while consuming.
• Besides all this, you can also use it for decorating and including some color in your home

FAQs about dehydrating oranges

Q: How should we store the dried orange slices?

A: The dried slices of the oranges should be stored in an airtight container that has a tight-fitting lid. You should keep the jar in the dark and cool place where there is no direct sunlight.

Q: How much time will the dehydrated oranges last?

A: The dehydrated oranges can easily last for around two years if you dried and stored them correctly.

Q: How will I get to know that the dried oranges slices are getting old?

A: You can see that the color of the dried orange slices will get dark along with the crinkly texture. But you can still use them in your recipes. These are the only signs of orange slices getting old.

Q: Can the dried orange slices get mold?

A: Well! If you do not dehydrate them correctly then, you can soon see the mold on the container of the peel of the dehydrated orange. You should discard them if they get mold or bad. Moreover, clean the jar cautiously for the next use. The dried food get mold only and if you do not dehydrate them thoroughly. So, always do the right and ample drying without any hurry for long term storage of the oranges.

Q: Do the oranges still have a sweet flavor even after getting dehydrated?

A: Yes, the oranges still have a sweet flavor even after getting dehydrated. The sweetness is inside the thickset area of the oranges, and they turn into like small sugar chunks after getting dehydrated in the food dehydrator.

Final word!

So, that’s the final destination of our article!

Oranges are an ultimate source of Vitamin C which helps in rebuilding bones and tissues along with the boost in immunity. It is one of the best-dehydrated fruits that offer you Vitamin C in the natural form.

We hope that after reading the above info now, you can say that you know how to dehydrate oranges in a food dehydrator. There are so many recipes, drinks, and desserts in which you can use the dehydrated oranges for enhancing the flavor. You can also use the method like sun drying and oven drying for drying oranges, but they are more time taken and offer less uniform result.

Is there anything that is still knocking in your mind? If yes then, do let us know in the below comment box. We will try our best to eradicate your doubts out of your mind. Don’t forget to tell us how was your experience regarding the dehydrating oranges in the food dehydrator.

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