7 Ways to Dehydrate Strawberries at Home [Step by Step]

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

Dehydrate Strawberries Using Sun-drying

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.