how can i dry out fruit in an oven?

Question

im using fresh fruit and i want to dry it out, can i just bake it?

Answer 1

You can dehydrate fruit in some ovens if the thermostat will let you go down to around 150F. You need to slice the fruit thinly and place it on racks, even directly on the shelves. Buying a piece of stainless mess is a good help for this. You may also want a drip pan on the lowest shelf to keep the oven floor clean.

This will take several hours. If you plan to do this often, dehydrators are much easier and not expensive. Check garage sales and eBay as well.

Answer 2

Yes, you can use your oven to dehydrate fruit. There are a few things that you have to keep in mind when you do this though.... #1 and most important is food safety. You will be exposing your food to the perfect bacteria breeding temp. for an extended period of time. To minimize the length of time, cut your fruit into uniform shapes and sizes. Place on a CLEAN wire rack and place uncovered in the refrigerator, preferably under the fan.... this will start to evaporate the natural H2O.... if you can do this over night, that is really the most practical way to go. Place the fruit on the same wire rack onto a baking sheet and place in an oven preheated to 145F or set on LOW if you can't set the temp. Shut the door and walk away from it for at least 3 hours.... leave you oven light on if you wish. Opening and closing the door will cause a loss of heat and allow cool moist air back into the oven extending what is already a lengthy process.

I have to state that my culinary degree and training focus more on smoked foods and cured foods, but some of the same principles apply. Remember to keep everything super clean and be very patient with the process. Hope this helps some and Happy Holidays.

Answer 3

Yes, you can!

Since that's all those "fruit dryers" are in the first place, just low-temperature convection ovens. You can do much the same thing with a regular oven set to LOW (150 or so) and leaving the door cracked open with a towel or some such (not sealed, so the air flows).

Here's some links:

Answer 4

In theory you can get a juicer (health food processing device) to take the juice out of the fruit thus leaving you with dry fruit. If you bake it my bet is you will just burn it.

Answer 5

cut your fruit about 1/8 inch thick,dredge it in citrus juice to keep it from discoloring. dry it in a 200 degree oven with the door open. it will take a few hours.just keep an eye on it,checking it from time to time. when it feels dry but flexible it is ready to storei seal it in foodsaver bags. My grandmother stored it in a cool room in a pillowcase.