If you are lucky enough to have an apple tree, or access to some yummy apples, you may want to try this! Dehydrating apples is fantastic. The apples will last a long time if stored properly in your food storage, or they make great snacks. I will be putting some recipes up on some great ways to use dried apples.
Directions:
1. Choose apples that are firm and ripe.
2. Wash apples.
3. Using an apple peeler/slicer/corer, remove skins and core. Although you can dehydrate apples with the skins on, they (the skins) tend to be tough when dried. If you choose to leave the skins on, you may want to use a corer tool, then a meat slicer to slice. See corer below.
4. Put a clean spray bottle top into a bottle of lemon juice. This will be used to spray the apples.
5. All apples need to be pretreated before drying. This can be done by soaking apples in a citric acid solution (Fruit Fresh), or simply spraying with lemon juice. Soaking the apples tends to make them more mushy. I prefer to just spray with bottled lemon juice. After the apple is cored, peeled, and sliced, cut in half. Fan the pieces as shown, and squirt with the lemon juice.
6. Spread apple slices in a single layer on the dehydrator tray. Spray again with lemon juice. Dehydrate for about 16 hours, at between 125-130 degrees. Any hotter than that you may get "case hardening" where the outside is dry, but the inside is still moist. This will cause quick spoilage. Note: if you are going to use these slices for snacking, you can sprinkle a bit of sugar and cinnamon on them prior to drying. However, for long term storage, don't add the sugar and cinnamon.
7. When apples are done and cool, remove and put in a ziplok bag. Wait a few hours before vacuum sealing them with an oxygen packet. If any moisture condenses on the ziplok, the apples are not fully dehydrated and will need to go back in the dehydrator for a couple of hours.
Corer tool. I bought this at Williams-Sonoma for about $10. They can also be purchased on
Amazon.com.
Related Posts by Categories
Why do the apples have to be treated? I've never done anything but slice, core, and dry (in that order) and my dried apples slices look and taste great.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason to treat is to help with the color. The lemon juice helps the apples keep from turning brown.
ReplyDeleteHow long do they last when stored?
ReplyDeleteProperly packaged & stored... for years!
ReplyDelete