Fruit is nature’s sugar. And dried fruit is nature’s answer to healthy candy. Its chewy texture, concentrated sugars, high nutrition stats and easy portability far outweighs the processed sweetness, chemicals and additives in any bag of licorice or chocolate bar. Plus since any fruit can be dried, the snacking possibilities are endless from ribbons of fragrant dried mangoes to soft and tart apple rings.
But dried fruit can get expensive especially for uncommon fruits like berries, tropical fruits and other seasonal tree fruits. So for those looking to save on their grocery bill but still eat healthy, then making your own dried fruit with a food dehydrator will in the long run, keep money in your pocket and your diet healthy.
Here is what you need to know about drying fruit:
The versatility of dried fruit
While dried pineapple, apples, bananas and raisins are all easy to find at your local grocery store, often they are prepared with added sugars, oils and preservatives like sulfur dioxide. And although most stores carry the same types of dried fruit, most fruit can be dried from blueberries to nectarines and from strawberries to cantaloupe.
Dried fruit is full of fiber, vitamins and minerals and it has an obvious longer shelf life than fresh fruit.
You can add dried fruit to yogurt, granola, cereal, or baking batter, or use as a salad or ice cream topping. Kids love dried fruit because it is so sweet. Since most of the water from the fruit has evaporated, what is left is a very concentrated form of the fruit’s natural sugars.
How is fruit dried?
There are three primary methods for drying fruit: One is to let the fruit bake in your oven on very low heat for several hours. Secondly, you can dry the fruit out in the sun for 8-36 hours depending upon the water content of the fruit and the last option is to use a food dehydrator.
How do I choose a dehydrator?
For those who are looking for an effective and timely way to dry fruit, a quality food dehydrator is an excellent option. Food dehydrators vary in size and price depending upon your needs. While there are many dehydrators you can choose from, you do want to invest in a good one so that fruit is dried consistently and that is enough tray space to produce more than just a handful of dried pineapple chunks.
Good dehydrators can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 and while this price tag may seem a bit much for a kitchen appliance, keep in mind that it is an investment in your health and in quality. Most dehydrators come with numerous racks as well as timers and temperature gauges so that your fruit is dried evenly and efficiently. Also, all dehydrators dry a lot more than just fruit.
You can dry vegetables for chips, meat and fish for jerky, herbs for cooking and petals and flowers for potpourri. The possibilities are just as endless as the variety of fruits you can dry.
- Heather Ashare, MPH