Dehydrated strawberries make the best snack. They can be enjoyed in many ways – from eating them in their dehydrated state to creating recipes like strawberry powder.
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I’ve been obsessed with my dehydrator for years, and I am excited to share how I like using mine. I love dehydrating all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. But one of my all-time favorites is dehydrated strawberries.
Dehydrated strawberries are a versatile pantry staple and a great way to preserve fresh strawberries. Add them to oatmeal, yogurt, trail mix, or granola. You can also eat them as strawberry chips. Dehydrating strawberries offers multiple advantages, including extended shelf life and flavor preservation – perfect for long-term storage and usage!
Ingredients
Strawberries – fresh, ripe strawberries work best for dehydrating.
Tools Needed for Dehydrating:
- Dehydrator – One with temperature and time controls is ideal.
- Oven (although not my preferred choice)
- Air Fryer (most modern air fryers feature dehydrating capabilities)
- Cutting board and a sharp knife – for prepping the berries.
- A strawberry huller – to remove the stem from the strawberries.
How to Prepare Strawberries for Dehydrating
Begin by washing and drying the strawberries before hulling them and cutting them into uniform-sized pieces measuring 1/4″- 3/8 ” thick. Doing this ensures even drying throughout the drying process.
How to Dehydrate Strawberries in a Dehydrator
Spread strawberry slices on dehydrator trays. Adjust the temperature to 135 degrees Fahrenheit and set the timer for 8-12 hours.
Your strawberries will be ready to dehydrate once they feel leathery and pliable when touched, not wet or sticky. Keep dehydrating until you get the texture you want. Let them cool, then store them in an airtight container.
How to Dehydrate Strawberries in an Oven
For oven-dehydrated strawberries, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and heat the oven to its lowest temperature, which is usually between 175 degrees-200 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread strawberry slices out in an even layer on this sheet before placing them in the oven.
Bake the slices for 4-6 hours, checking them every hour until desired texture has been reached. They should be leathery yet pliable, not wet or sticky. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container.
This method takes the longest. I prefer the results of dehydrated strawberries from the dehydrator. They had a better texture and retained a bright red color. Oven-dried strawberries were slightly brown.
How to Dehydrate Strawberries in an Air Fryer
For air fried strawberries, put the strawberry slices evenly in the basket to dehydrate strawberries in an air fryer. Set the air fryer to 135 degrees Fahrenheit and fry for 4-6 hours on the lowest setting, checking every 30 minutes. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container.
How to Store Dehydrated Strawberries
When it comes to storing dehydrated strawberries, choosing the appropriate container is key in maintaining their freshness and flavor. Popular methods for packaging dehydrated strawberries are Mason jars or vacuum sealing.
Mason Jars: Fill each Mason jar with dehydrated strawberries, leaving some space at the top for air circulation. Seal tightly to create an airtight environment.
Vacuum Sealing: Evenly distribute the dried strawberries among several vacuum seal bags, then use a vacuum sealing machine to extract any air and seal the bag securely.
When stored properly in an airtight container in a cool, dark location, dehydrated strawberries can last for up to one year, sometimes longer, as long as any signs of spoilage or moisture buildup are regularly checked for.
Selecting the Ideal Strawberries
When choosing strawberries for dehydrating purposes, aim for ones that are sweet, firm, ripe, and firm – although smaller berries tend to dehydrate faster than larger ones. Avoid any strawberries which have softened over time or appear moldy.
Use organic strawberries if possible. When dehydrating frozen ones, allow them to defrost fully before beginning.
How to use Dehydrated Strawberries
My dehydrated strawberries make an ideal snack without added sugars or artificial ingredients. I enjoy snacking on my dehydrated strawberries regularly as they retain their natural sweetness while providing essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber for healthful living.
Use them in your favorite recipes without adding additional liquid, such as baked goods or oatmeal, without needing additional moisture.
Dehydrated strawberries can easily be transformed into strawberry powder. To do this, dehydrate them until crisp before placing them into a blender or food processor and processing until a fine powder forms.
The strawberry powder makes an exquisite beverage when added to milk or water—store the strawberry powder in an airtight jar.
How Can I Stop Berries From Turning Brown When Dehydrating
While dehydrating in an air fryer or dehydrator won’t lead to the browning of strawberries, dehydrating in an oven might. By treating with lemon juice treatment before dehydrating in the oven, browning can be reduced significantly and the color preserved.
Mix equal parts lemon juice and water in a small bowl, then dip sliced strawberries in it, being sure to cover each piece completely. Shake off excess liquid before placing your strawberries onto a clean, dry surface such as a tray for further drying.
Conditioning Dehydrated Strawberries
After dehydrating strawberries, it’s essential to condition them for long-term storage. Conditioning refers to evenly dispersing any residual moisture within the dehydrated food product – this will prevent mold growth as well as condensation from occurring inside storage containers.
Shake your container daily for one week to ensure the strawberries remain pliable and don’t stick together. If condensation forms inside your container, return it back to the dehydrator for additional drying time.
Conditioning may not be necessary if your intent is short-term storage. I usually eat these within a week. They are that just that good!
Rehydration Process
To rehydrate dried strawberries, simply soak them in warm water until they reach the desired texture. Drain any excess liquid, pat the strawberries dry with paper toweling, and use them in recipes or as snacks!
Rehydrated strawberries make an excellent alternative to fresh fruit when adding flavorful touches to dishes such as oatmeal, muffins, and scones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dehydrated strawberries offer a concentrated sweet taste with textures ranging from soft and pliable to crisp depending on drying method and duration; as these strawberries become crispier as time progresses.
Full strawberries do not lend themselves well to dehydration as their size and shape make it hard for moisture to escape easily, thus unevenly dissipating in the drying process. Slicing your strawberries into small, evenly-sized pieces facilitates more efficient and quicker dehydration.
The best temperature for dehydrating strawberries is between 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you have a dehydrator that only dehydrates at a temperature of 165 degrees, your strawberries will be fine. Just not that they will be finished dehydrating in less time.
I hope you enjoy these Dehydrated Strawberries as much as we do. If you have tried dehydrated strawberries, we’d love to know your thoughts. Please feel free to leave us a comment below and tell us what you think.
Dehydrated Strawberries
Ingredients
- 1 lb strawberries
Instructions
- Remove the stem and white part of the strawberries and cut them into uniform-sized pieces measuring 1/4″- 3/8 ” thick.
Dehydrator Instructions
- Spread strawberry slices on dehydrator trays. Adjust the temperature to 135 degrees Fahrenheit and set the timer for 8-12 hours. Dehydrate until desired texture is reached. Let them cool, then store them in an airtight container.
Oven Instructions
- For oven-dehydrated strawberries, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and heat the oven to its lowest temperature, about 175 degrees-200 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread strawberry slices in an even layer on this sheet before placing them in the oven.
- Bake the slices for 4-6 hours, checking them every hour until desired texture has been reached. Let them cool, then store them in an airtight container.
Air Fryer Instructions
- For air-fried strawberries, put the strawberry slices evenly in the basket to dehydrate strawberries in an air fryer. Set the air fryer to 135 degrees Fahrenheit and fry for 4-6 hours on the lowest setting, checking every 30 minutes. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container.
Suggested Tools
Notes
- Your strawberries will be ready to dehydrate once they feel leathery and pliable when touched, not wet or sticky. Keep dehydrating until you get the texture you want.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries. Overripe or moldy strawberries should not be used. Properly dehydrated strawberries can be stored for up to 1 year with proper storage.
Carole Melton
Friday 22nd of March 2024
Dehydrated Strawberries are the best to make for Strawberry Powder.
Tanya
Friday 22nd of March 2024
Hi Carole, I agree. I love a good strawberry powder for mixing into drinks.