Quick Answer: How to Dehydrate Strawberries at Home
The best ways to dry strawberries at home are – using an oven, sun drying, using a food dehydrator, using a microwave, drying them using a Ninja dryer, and freezer drying. You can choose the method based on the availability of time and appliances needed. People who live in tropical climates should use the sun to dehydrate their strawberries naturally. Both ovens and microwaves, with the use of a food dehydrator, is ideal for drying strawberries.
Strawberries, commonly mistaken for a berry from a botanical perspective, are commonly consumed for their flavoring and juicy pulp.
They are a rich source of Vitamin C and are known for their antioxidant properties. If you are in search of a healthy alternative instead of candy, you should consider drying your strawberries.
But, there are numerous methods for doing so, which is the best? We have put hours of research and experience into developing seven easy ways for drying strawberries.
How to Dehydrate Strawberries Using Oven
Time needed: 3 hours.
Using an oven to dry your strawberries is a quick and effective way. You will get your strawberries dried up within a few hours.
However, you will have to keep an eye to make sure they don’t burn.
Optimum temperature: 200 degrees Fahrenheit
- What will you need?
1. Fresh Strawberries
2. Baking sheets
3. Bowl - Wash your Strawberries
Cleaning strawberries when they are dehydrated is unlikely, so you will have to do it ahead of time.
Using a colander, rinse the strawberries under cold water. Allow them to soak for a few minutes in the sink before laying them out to dry.
- Take off the Tops
The stem and leafy part of the strawberries must then be removed. Remove the stem entirely, and merely slicing off the top won’t suffice.
The best method is to cut in a circular motion around the top stem and remove the cone-shaped portion from the middle of the very top. - Slice the Strawberries
Break small strawberries in half and larger ones in quarters for the oven.
- Dry the Strawberries
Place the strawberries on a baking sheet in the oven. To avoid sticking, position the cut sides up.
Allow three hours in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for the fruit to bake. If your oven is old, you can switch the sheets around the oven to ensure even heating.
Keep an eye on your strawberries while they are drying to make sure they don’t get burnt - Cool the Strawberries
Allow for a half-hour cooling period Cut one of the slices in half to make sure there isn’t any moisture left.
Place them back in the oven in case there is moisture in them.
Dehydrate Strawberries Using Sun-drying
Time taken: A few days
Optimum temperature: Natural sunlight
What will you need?
- Fresh Strawberries
- Good amount of sunlight
- Drying racks
- Reflective sheets
Drying your strawberries in the sun is the simplest method. You will need a good amount of sunlight and can dry strawberries in huge bulks accordingly.
Set the Racks
The racks should be positioned above the reflective surface on blocks. Food-safe products include rubber, stainless steel, and Teflon-coated materials.
To keep the strawberries protected from bugs, cover them after the screens are in place. Your best options are cheesecloth or another screen.
Wash your Strawberries
Rinse your strawberries under running water and clean them from your hands.
Take off the Tops
The stem and leafy part of the strawberries must then be removed. Remove the stem entirely, and merely slicing off the top won’t suffice.
The best method is to cut in a circular motion around the top stem and remove the cone-shaped portion from the middle of the very top.
Placing in the Sun
Since the strawberries dehydrate at a slower pace in the sun, it will take a few days for them to fully dry.
To stop overnight dew, bring the strawberries inside at night. Keep an eye on the strawberries and take them off the racks when they are properly dried.
Dehydrate Strawberries Using a Food Dehydrator
Time taken: 8-10 hours
Optimum temperature: 135 degrees Fahrenheit
What will you need?
- Fresh Strawberries
- Dehydrator trays
- A Bowl
If you want to dehydrate your strawberries without having to worry about them burning, go for a food dehydrator. It is safe and easy to use.
Wash the Strawberries
Since it is doubtful that you will be able to clean strawberries once they are dehydrated, you will have to do it ahead of time.
Wash the strawberries in cold water. Allow them to soak in a bowl for a few minutes before drying them out.
Cut the Tops
The strawberries’ stems and leafy parts must be removed. It is crucial to completely cut the stem; simply slicing off the top won’t suffice.
Cutting in a circular motion around the top stem and removing the cone-shaped part from the very top is the best process. Watch Ally do this here:
Chop the Strawberries
Chop them into strips, and make sure the size and thickness are the same.
Dry your Strawberries
Place the slices on dehydrator trays with around a half-inch of space between them if using a dehydrator.
Set the dehydrator to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The strawberries should be dry after eight to ten hours.
Dehydrate for 10 to 14 hours for crispier slices. The strips should feel dry when they’re done.
Cool Them
After removing the strawberries from the heat, allow for a half-hour cooling time. Cut one of the slices in half to check for any remaining moisture.
Keep them in an airtight container away from light and heat, ideally not plastic.
Dehydrate Strawberries Using Air Fryer
Time taken: 2 hours
Optimum temperature: 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
What will you need?
- Fresh Strawberries
- Air fryer basket
- A pair of Tongs
Using an air fryer for dehydrating your strawberries is one of the quickest methods. You will only be able to dehydrate a bunch of strawberries using an air fryer.
Clean the Strawberries
To clear any soil, wash and dry the strawberries first. Cut the stem ends with a knife. Strawberries should be thinly sliced, around 1/8 inch thick.
Take off the Tops
The stem and leafy part of the strawberries must then be removed. Remove the stem entirely, and merely slicing off the top won’t suffice.
The best method is to cut in a circular motion around the top stem and remove the cone-shaped portion from the middle of the very top.
Place in Basket
Assemble the strawberry slices so that they are close together but not touching.
Dry the Strawberries
Dehydrate the strawberries on your air fryer’s lowest setting. Most of them usually equip a dehydrating setting.
Flip your strawberries, using tongs, after an hour on their other side and let them dry.
Dehydrate Strawberries Using a Microwave
Time taken: 35-40 minutes
What will you need?
- Fresh Strawberries
- Microwave-safe plate
- Parchment paper or baking sheet
- A pair of Tongs or fork
Using a microwave for dehydrating your strawberries is a great idea. You won’t need to dehydrate your fruit in batches and can just dry a good quantity of strawberries with a microwave.
Clean the Strawberries
Wash and dry the strawberries first to remove any dirt. With a knife, cut the stem ends. Strawberries should be sliced very thinly, around 1/8 inch thick.
Take off the Tops
The stem and leafy part of the strawberries must then be removed. Remove the stem entirely, and merely slicing off the top won’t suffice.
The best method is to cut in a circular motion around the top stem and remove the cone-shaped portion from the middle of the very top.
Prepare the Microwave Plate
On the microwave tray, put a sheet of parchment paper and lay the strawberries on the sheet.
Dry your Strawberries
Cook for 30 minutes on defrost. To achieve the perfect consistency, flip the slices with tongs or a fork and cook on defrost in 5-minute increments.
Check your Strawberries
You will need to constantly check your strawberries to make sure they don’t burn.
If the strawberries aren’t dried properly, place them back inside and continue with the process.
Dehydrate Strawberries Using a Ninja Dryer
Time taken: 5 hours
Optimum temperature: 135 degrees Fahrenheit
What will you need?
- Fresh Strawberries
- A bowl
A Ninja dryer is quite famous for drying fruits and you can use it for your strawberries. You will get crispy fried strawberries within just five hours.
Wash the Strawberry
Clean the strawberries nicely under running water. Remove any dirt from your hands and rinse them thoroughly.
You can soak them in a bowl as well for a few minutes and then pat them dry.
Take off the Tops
The stem and leafy part of the strawberries must then be removed. Remove the stem entirely, and merely slicing off the top won’t suffice.
The best method is to cut in a circular motion around the top stem and remove the cone-shaped portion from the middle of the very top.
Place the Strawberries
On the ninja foodi basket, arrange the sliced strawberries. It’s fine if the sides are in touch with one another. Close the crisping lid and place the basket in the Pot.
Set the Dehydrator
Dehydrate for 5 hours at 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure you check and rotate trays on a regular basis.
Dehydrate Strawberries Using Freeze-drying
Time taken: A few days
What will you need?
- Strawberries
- Dry ice
- Freezer bags
Freeze-drying your strawberries is a great way to store the fruit for a long duration. You won’t require much equipment to do so.
Wash the Strawberries
Take your organic strawberries and wash them with clean water. Make sure you rub off all the dirt off them before you pat them dry.
Take off the Tops
The stem and leafy part of the strawberries must then be removed. Remove the stem entirely, and merely slicing off the top won’t suffice.
The best method is to cut in a circular motion around the top stem and remove the cone-shaped portion from the middle of the very top.
Slice the Strawberries
Thinly slice your strawberries using a sharp knife.
Place them in Freezer Bags
Put them in a single layer in freezer bags. The air in the bags should be squeezed out and the bags should be tightly sealed.
Set the Dry Ice
Cover the bottom of a cooler or even a bucket with a layer of dry ice. Wear gloves if you are going to do this.
Place the Strawberries on Dry Ice
Place the fruit-filled bags on top of the dry ice. If necessary, stack the bags.
Replace the lid on the bucket, but don’t tighten it too much because some air needs to escape. Close the lid entirely until the ice has completely evaporated.
Knowing When the Strawberries have Dehydrated Correctly
When sliced thinly, a batch like this takes about 8 hours to dry, but it can take up to 12-18 hours if done in halves.
Strawberries should feel dry to the touch, like paper, and pliable, but not break like vegetables when fully dry.
Allow cooling to room temperature before repeating the test. Put them back in to dry if they are bendy.
The Best Strawberries to Pick for Dehydrating
Only the fresh strawberries used to produce them would be as sweet as the dried strawberries.
Though strawberries are available all year in grocery stores, the best results come from dried strawberries made with freshly picked berries from a local farm.
The Importance of Conditioning Strawberries after Dehydrating
Even if the strawberries have been properly dehydrated, there can be some moisture left in the fruit that you cannot sense.
This shouldn’t be enough to keep the berries clean and mold-free for a long time. If you do what’s known as “conditioning” the dried fruit, you’ll get a tastier, better product.
Fill glass jars just 2/3 complete with the dried, cooled fruit bits, and cover the jars. For one week, shake the jars a couple of times a day.
This redistributes the fruit fragments, as well as any remaining moisture. If there is some condensation on the jars’ tops, then the fruit isn’t completely dried.
It should be returned to the dehydrator for a few hours. After conditioning your dried strawberries, store them in airtight containers away from direct light and heat.
The Right Way to Store your Strawberries
An airtight mason jar would suffice for daily use. Vacuum sealing is the safest choice for long-term storage.
Mason jars that have been vacuum-sealed using an O2 absorber or a vacuum sealing unit. I prefer to use the Foodsaver Handheld Vacuum Sealer with the required container attachments.
Desiccant pack to absorb any moisture in an airtight bag. The desiccant pack is used to absorb any moisture that may have accumulated during storage or from the frequent opening of the container.
It does not take the place of conditioning. It only aids in the absorption of moisture introduced by frequent jar openings. Oxygen absorbers in mylar packing containers.
Our Take on Which Method is Best
People who live in tropical climates should use the sun to dehydrate their strawberries naturally. Both ovens and microwaves, with the use of a food dehydrator, is ideal for drying strawberries.
This is for drying them in bulk for long-term storage. If you need to dry strawberries quickly, use a microwave rather than an air fryer or freeze-drying them.
If you reside in a region where there is limited access to sunlight, you can use all the indoor methods discussed above to dry your strawberries.
FAQs
Frozen strawberries can easily be dehydrated. Use pre-sliced strawberries or slice them while they are frozen.
If you let them defrost, they will become mushy and difficult to cut. It would be better to slice it beforehand.
Strawberries dry in about 8 hours. Since it’s difficult to cut each piece to the same thickness, dehydrating all of the pieces.
This process may take anywhere from 6 to 10 hours.
Yes, indeed! Preheat the oven to the lowest setting possible. Mine is about 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spread the strawberries out on a baking sheet covered with a non-stick mat or parchment. Bake for 2 hours before flipping the strawberries.
Bake for another half-hour, then search for “doneness” every 10 -15 minutes after that. Strawberries can easily burn at this point, so keep an eye on them.
Desiccant packs are moisture absorbing, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are made from a variety of materials.
Adsorb gas, moisture vapor, or odor with these packages. Silica gel regulates moisture levels without corroding other materials or releasing contaminants into the atmosphere.
The majority of desiccant bags last between one and three years.
Bottom Line
We’ve gone through seven simple ways to dry strawberries for various purposes. We hope that this guide has helped you understand how to dry them at home with ease.
If you find this article helpful, share it with your friends and family, and drop a few comments below regarding any questions you have. All your doubts and feedback will be acknowledged.