Guidlines for drying fruits

[Northern Raider]

Edited by CC to show link to the original article http://www.budget101.com/dehydrated-dri ... -1331.html


Guidelines for Drying Fruits

The times in this chart should be used as guidelines only. Actual Drying time depends on numerous factors including the type of drying method used, the quantity of food being dried, the amount of moisture in the fruit etc. Note: Watch fruits carefully, testing frequently for correct texture/dryness.
Fruit Preparation Appropriate sulfuring time before sun-drying Sun drying time Dehydrator/oven drying time Indicators of dryness
Apples* Wash and core; peel if desired. cut in ¼" slices or rings. 45-60 minutes 3-4 days 6-12 hours Soft and pliable; no moisture in center when cut.
Apricots* Peel if desired halve or slice, remove pit. 2 hours (halves)
1 hour (slices) 2-3 days 16-36 hours (halves)
7-10 hours (slices) Same as apples
Bananas* Peel and cut into ¼" slices N/A 2-3 days
6-7 days 8-16 hours
30-40 hours Leathery but still chewy. (longer drying will make banana chips) (NOT PLIABLE)
Blueberries; Cranberries Halve N/A 2-4 days 8-12 hours Leathery but still chewy
Cherries Pit and halve N/A 1-2 days 18-30 hours Leathery but still chewy
Figs Peel & Quarter N/A 4-5 days 10-12 hours Pliable; slightly sticky but not wet.
Grapes* Halve; seed if desired N/A 3-5 days 24-48 hours Raisin like texture
pliable; chewy.
Peaches;*
Nectarines* Peel if desired. Halve or cut in ¼" slices, remove pit. 2-3 hours (halves or slices) 3-5 days (halves or slices) 24-36 hours (halves); 8-12 hours (slices) Same as apples
Pears* Halve & core, or core & cut in ¼" slices. 5 hours (halves or slices) 5 days (halves or slices) 24-36 hours (halves); 10-14 hours (slices) Same as apples
Persimmons For variety, select firm fruit; for Hachiya variety, let fruit ripen until soft. Peel & cut in ¼" slices. N/A 5-6 days 14-18 hours Light to medium brown; tender but not sticky.
Pineapple Peel, core and cut crosswise into ¼" slices. Dry slices whole or cut them in wedges. N/A 4-5 days (slices) 3-4 days (wedges) 24-36 hours (slices); 18-24 hours (wedges) Chewy and dry to center.
Plums Halve or cut in ¼" slices, removing pit. N/A 4-5 days 18-24 hours (halves); 8-10 hours (slices) Fairly hard and leathery but still chewy.
Rhubarb Cut in ¼" slices. N/A 2-3 days 18-20 hours Hard to crisp
Strawberries Halve or cut in ¼" slices. N/A 1-2 days 20 hours (halves)
12-16 hours (slices) Leathery but still pliable.
*Pre-treat these fruits to protect their color. Dip in an anti-oxidant or a honey-water solution if dehydrator or oven drying. For sun-drying sulfur fruits or dip in solution.
Source: LogicSouth/Lcoble

[preppingsu]

Thanks NR, very useful. I shall be trying some of these out but I only have my oven. Dehydrator is on my list of things to purchase, eventually!

[Bladerunner]

Great info Raider but you please clarify something for me?

Under the times I don't understand what is going on.

e.g. under apples it says "45-60 minutes 3-4 days 6-12 hours"

Could you please break that down for me as I am obviously having a senior moment and don't understand.

Is it 45-60 mins in the oven, 3-4 days in a dehydrator or 6-12 hours in the sun or have I lost the plot?????

Be Lucky

[Carrot Cruncher]

BR, here's a link to the site that I think NR took the article from

http://www.budget101.com/dehydrated-dri ... -1331.html

The formatting of the table didnt copy and paste well, but the headings are clearer on the original page.

Just a reminder to everyone that if we do copy and paste an article from another site it is only polite and proper (and saves any grief from annoyed authors) to at minimum provide a link / credit back to the original source. Some stuff is so widespread that you could never find the original author to credit even if you wanted to but articles like this one should have been credited.

I've edited the OP to show the link to the original source

[Bladerunner]

Thanks Carrot,

It now makes perfect sense. Can I ask what sulphuring time is????

I have a dehydrator which I have only used so far for making fruit strips. We picked a load of blackberries last year and I thought I could boil it down and make fruit strips out of it keep for weeks on end.

Wifey tasted it when the kids came round and it lasted about 20 mins.

Does anyone know if you can make jerky out of bacon and do you have to cook it first or does the dehydration count as cooking?

Sorry for my ignorance but I love beef jerky and it is SOOOO expensive to buy.

Be lucky