How to Dehydrate Apples?

When we talk about drying food in the dehydrators, there are varieties of foods which come in our mind. One of the most favorite food items is dehydrated apples. Dehydrated apples are tasty snack which you can make at your home in just a few years. The home-dried apples are healthy food that you prepare without the addition of any preservatives or chemicals.

But, do you know that how to dehydrate apples in a food dehydrator?

Well! You can easily make your dehydrated apples at home without much effort. In fact, the quality (no chemicals) of the apples dried at home is far better than the store bought food. You can consume them in any season whether winter or summer.

Nowadays, as people are getting more health conscious, you can gift this to your friends and relatives in the form of gifts instead of sweets or chocolates.

In the below article, we will tell you about the steps of making dehydrated apples in a much clarified manner. The entire process of dehydrating apples in a food dehydrator is so easy that any person can do that.

What Do You Need to Make Dehydrated Apples?

There are few important things which you need to make dehydrated apples in a dehydrator which we are stating below:

• Food Dehydrator
  The first important thing, of course, is a food dehydrator in which you will dehydrate apples. This machine needs to be set at a particular temperature for drying. It takes a few hours for completing the whole process.

• Dehydrator Trays
  The next thing is the trays of the dehydrator over which you will place the apples after drying. These trays come along with the dehydrator.

• Apples
  You need to buy some fresh apples for drying. The quantity of apples depends upon the space available in the drying trays of your dehydrator. Thus, you should buy the apples accordingly or otherwise you can dry your apples in batches.

• Knife or Slicer and Peeler
  For cutting the apples in proper shape, you need a knife or slicer. But if you want to dry apples without their skin, then you must have a peeler also which removes the skin of the apples very efficiently.

• Acidulated Water – Water and Vinegar or Lemon Juice
  You also need some plain water and vinegar for dipping the apples after cutting. You can also use the lemon juice as a substitute.

• Jars for Storage
  After completing the drying process, the dried apples have to be placed in some airtight jars or any vacuum zipper bag. It helps in keeping the apples away from coming in contact with the air. It makes the life of the food longer also.

List of Steps for Dehydrating Apples

The following tutorial needs to be followed for drying apples in a food dehydrator in a best possible way:

1) Picking Out the Apples
How can you begin the drying process without picking some good apples to form the grocery store or from your garden? Well! The apples you are going to use for drying must be of high quality and try avoiding picking any bruised, mushy, or rotten apples.

2) Wash the Apples
Don’t you want to dry apples in the proper hygienic way? Thus, after getting the apples to your home, simply rinse them under plain water. Some grocery store owners put stickers on the apples which you must remove efficiently before cutting.

3) Eliminating Bruises or Soft Spots
If you find any bruised or soft parts on the apples, then cut them out.

4) Taking Out the Apple Skins (Optional)
This step is optional for some of you. It is not mandatory to remove the skin of the apples. It is entirely your choice. Some may prefer dried apples with skin, while others may like dried apples without skin. If you want to remove the skin, use a peeler as they can take out the skin very easily and quickly.

Important Tip
If you are on a healthy diet and want to reduce some fat, it is advisable to make dried apples with their skin. The skin of the apples is very healthy and contains lots of fiber, which ultimately helps in weight loss.

5) Slice the Apples in the Accurate Thickness for Drying
Now, the next step is to cut the apples into about 1/3rd inch thickness. The thickness should not be more than ½ inch, otherwise, the apples will not dehydrate well. You can save the cores of the fruit for making apple scrap jelly, apple scrap vinegar, or homemade apple pectin later on.

6) Put the Slices Inside the Acidulated Water
After slicing the apples, place them in acidulated water for some time. Do you know how acidulated water is prepared? For making the acidulated water, you need to have one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar and add it to one-quarter of water. This mainly helps in avoiding the browning (color change when coming in contact with the air after cutting) of the apples.

7) Drain the Apples in a Strainer
Now, drain your apples in a strainer. Let them stay in the strainer for a few minutes so that all the water drains out completely. If you’re short on time, you can use a dish towel to soak the excess water from the apples by gently pressing.

8) Put the Apple Slices Over the Dehydrator Trays
Now, place the acidulated and drained apple slices over the dehydrator trays. Remember, the slices of apples should not touch each other, and there must be some space between each piece.

Important Tip
When you place the slices of the apples with some space in between them on the trays of the dehydrator, it benefits in even drying of the apple from all sides. This is a necessary step that helps in the uniform drying of the food.

9) Dehydrate the Apple Slices
After placing the slices, put the trays inside the food dehydrator for drying. Set the temperature to 130°F. Turn on the dehydrator and dehydrate the apples until they become crispy and leathery in texture. It will take around 12 hours to finish the whole drying process in the dryer.

10) Make the Dehydrated Apples Cool Down
As soon as your apple slices are dry, turn off the food dehydrator. Take out the trays from the machine and let the apples cool down at room temperature for about 10 minutes. This entire process is known as “conditioning.”

11) Store the Dried Apples
The last and final step is to store the dried apples after they cool down. Transfer them to airtight glass jars or vacuum zipper bags. Remember that the jar or bag should be sealed tightly so that no air can enter inside.

12) Label the Jars
You may label the jars for your convenience and ease. This will help you know the contents of the jar. You can also write the date and year of drying so that the oldest jar can be used first. Usually, the shelf life of dried fruits ranges between 6 months to 1 year.

Important Tip
If you want to increase the shelf life of dehydrated food, try to keep it away from direct heat or sunlight. It will be more beneficial if you store them in a dry, dark, and cool place.

Are Dehydrated Apples a Healthy Option Than the Fresh Apples?

It is well said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but some people have a misconception in their mind that the dried apple is not so much healthy as compare to the fresh one. But that is not true at all.

We agree that the taste of the dried apple cannot match up to the taste of the fresh apple. But, the dried apple is nor more lack behind in the content of nutrients. It is much convenient and compact option that we have.

The following are the few benefits and the disadvantages of eating dehydrated apples over the fresh apples:

1) Nutrition

You must know that the apples are an excellent source of insoluble and soluble fiber. The soluble fiber helps in controlling the cholesterol in our body, and insoluble fiber makes your digestive system strong. When you eat one medium size fresh apple, you get around 4 grams of fiber, which is around 15% of your daily need. But, in merely 1/3rd cup of the dried apples, you get around 2.5 grams of fiber.

When you eat fresh apples, you get a small quantity of vitamin C. But in the case of dehydrated apples, you do not get any Vitamin C as the entire nutrient is lost during the dehydrating process.

2) Servings

Advantage: The dried food is portable, easy, and convenient as compared to fresh apples. You can store lots of dried food in your zipper bag and carry it along with you for any long journey.

Disadvantage: The fresh apples contain very fewer calories. In one medium size apple, you get around 80 calories. In 1 cup of dried apples, you get around 209 calories. The content of water in the fresh apple fills you up much quicker than the dried food.

3) Sugar

Advantage: If you buy dried apples from the grocery store, there are good chances of sugar in them. The manufacturers of dried foods add sugar for flavor. Thus, you cannot say that such food is healthy to eat as it contains lots of calories. But if you make dried apples at home, then this point is not valid.

Disadvantage: Compared to dried food, fresh apples have their natural sweetness, which does not result in the addition of calories to your daily intake. So, fresh apples are the much better option here.

4) Treat Form

Advantage: Dried apples are not a substitute for fresh fruit, but they might be a healthy treat or snack for your kids. You can simply eat them whenever you feel hungry on long trips or journeys.

Disadvantage: Sometimes, kids do not like the dried apples due to their different taste and appearance, which is different from the fresh one.

Tips for Dehydrating Apples in a Food Dehydrator

The following are few tips which you can follow while drying apples in a food dehydrator:

• If you want to increase the flavor of the dried apples, then just stew them before consuming. It can become a good substitute for the fresh apple.
• When the extreme weather seems to be rainy, then you must dry out the apples indoors only. Additional care should be taken that they do not get over-dried in the dehydrator.
• During the drying process, place the apple slices nicely on the trays so that they do not touch each other.
• There is no requirement to add any sweeteners while drying your apples. When you dry apples in the dryer, its natural sugar gets more concentrated, which is relished by everyone.
• It will be better if you choose good quality apples for the drying process.
• If you soak, spray, or dip the apples in lemon juice, then your apples will not turn brown due to oxidation.
• The apples should be dried accurately at the right temperature because if your food is under-dried, it can result in the formation of mold inside the fruit jar.
• If you are a fitness freak and want to add some sugar to the dried apples, then just sprinkle some cinnamon powder over them. It is not only a healthy substitute for sugar but also adds more flavor to your apples.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do I Need to Ripe the Apples Before Drying Them in the Food Dehydrator?

It is not compulsory that you have to ripe the apples before drying. The apples which are not ripe taste bitter as well as sour. Thus, if you want a sweeter taste, then you can ripe your apples.

Q: Is It Essential to Soak the Sliced Apples in the Lemon Juice?

It is not critical to soak the sliced apples in the lemon water. But if you do that then, it will not make your apples turn brown soon. The acid present in the lemon does not allow the browning of the apples due to oxidation.

Q: I Have Heard That by Adding the Pineapple Juice in the Lemon Juice Make the Dry Apples Taste Sour. Is This True?

No, this is not true. The flavor and early bitterness or sweetness of the apples totally depend on the variety of fruit you are using. In fact, the sugary taste of the apples gets more prominent, if you dry them for the longer period in the machine.

Q: How Much Time Will It Take to Dehydrate Apples in the Food Dehydrator?

The dehydrating time depends on numerous things i.e. the type of dehydrator you are using, the water content of the apples, as well as the thickness of the apple slices. The dehydration time for apples is around 12 to 24 hours. If you choose the higher temperature, then your apples get dry faster.

Q: When Will I Know That My Apples Get Dried Completely?

Well! Your apples get adequately dried as soon as they become leathery, crispy, and very dry. If you like to have crispy apples, then it is advisable to dehydrate the apples for the longer period.

Q: What Is the Best Way to Store the Dried Apples?

When your apple slices get cool, own completely, put them inside the plastic Ziploc bag or any airtight container. Then, seal them correctly and store in a dry and cool place.

Q: What Is the Shelf Life of the Dried Apples?

The standard shelf life of the dried apples is six months. If you seal them correctly and store in dry and cool place, then they can exist for the longer period. In fact, if you keep them in a freezer, then it also extends their shelf life more.

Q: How Much Be the Quantity of Fresh Apples Will Be Required for Making Dried Apples in a Food Dehydrator?

The quantity of the apples depends on the type of apple you are using and how much water content is present in them. In general, five average sizes of fresh apples produce two cups of dried apples.

Dehydrating Apples Video Guide

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Conclusion

At last, we just want to say that the dehydrated apples are one of the healthiest substitutes for unhealthy snacks. You do not have to buy them from the market as it can be easily prepared at your home now with the help of a food dehydrator.

The benefit of homemade apples over the store-bought apples is that there are no chemicals or preservatives are used while drying apples at home. You can enjoy this wonderful snack at your home while watching TV or listening songs.

If you have any query in your mind then, write in the below comment box. We will be the very happy answer to your question. Besides this, if you want to share any views regarding the above article then that is also welcome.

We hope you will make very delicious dehydrated apples on your own at home and share your experience with us.