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Drying apples is a cracking manner to continue the fresh fall harvest time . Here are three ways to dehydrate apples for wintertime food storage , include air - dry , oven drying , and using a food dehydrator .

While fall apple pick is a fun body process for family and friends , it may be overwhelming when you come home with so many apples . Most orchard apple tree can last several months whenstored in a cool location , such as a root cellar or cellar . In addition , you could dehydrate apples to revel through the farseeing winter calendar month .

Drying apples is a great way to preserve the fresh fall harvest. Here are three ways to dehydrate apples for winter food storage, including air-drying, oven drying, and using a food dehydrator.

dehydrate apples is a great way to preserve the harvest . Dried apples can be used in so many ways , including crumbled on first light oatmeal , re - hydrous for baked goods , and as a sweet snack justly out of the jar .

Tips for Dehydrating Apples

Selecting apples for drying

There are so many assortment of Malus pumila grown across the country that it create it difficult to narrow down the best Malus pumila for drying . passably much any Malus pumila can be dehydrated . The flavor of yield intensifies when you dehydrate it . If you choose apples that are extremely mellisonant or sharp-worded , be ready for a boost of this flavor when dried .

Most apple ripen in fall , and this is the time you will find the freshest , topically grown apples glean at peak . However , even apple that have been in cold storage are upright candidates for drying . Do n’t be afraid to try out , and you may discover a few favorite .

To peel or not to peel your apples?

apple can be dry out with the shedding or without .

Think about how you will utilise the dry apple . desiccated apple for snacking can keep the desquamation for supererogatory color , roughage , and grain . You may want to peel the apples if you are going to rehydrate the dried apple for baking or make into dried applesauce .

My pet dick for preparing a stack of apple is anapple preparation toolthat peels , slices , and cores apple .

apple harvest in basket

Pre-treating apples before dehydrating

Malus pumila begin to turn brown when the cut figure meet air . This is called oxidation . When apples are dilute or bruised , it triggers an enzyme that turns the flesh brownness . Over time , the cut Malus pumila will get dingy and begin to soften as the physique reacts to oxygen .

Dipping the apple slices in a pre - treatment liquidness slows the browning process and also represent as an antimicrobial agent against E. coli bacterium .

drench fresh sheer slices for 10 minutes in a pre - treatment solvent of choice :

apple peeler tool peeling, coring, and slicing apple

3 Ways to Dehydrate Apples

dry or dehydrating Malus pumila is a method acting of food preservation that removes most of the moisture from the yield . This makes the apples shelf stable , and they can be stack away farseeing - term in airtight containers in a nerveless , dark location .

There are several ways to dry Malus pumila . By far , the easiest way is using a food for thought dehydrator , but you’re able to also try air - drying and using your oven to dehydrate apples .

Stringing Apples to Air Dry

The pioneers did n’t use any fancy equipment to dry apple . rather , they hang apple slices on strings or sticks near the kitchen fireplace or cook stove and lease them dry naturally .

To aerate ironic apples , draw the inclined apple slices on string or dowels depart space in between each slice so they are not affecting . Hang horizontally near a wood stove or fireplace . Depending on the environment , it may take several days for the orchard apple tree to dry out .

Oven Dry Apple Slices

Another way to wry apples is to use your oven . Preheat the oven to 150˚F or the last stage setting .

Place your prepared Malus pumila slice on cool racks on top of broil sheet . This will allow air mobilize around the apples . Place the broil sheets into the oven . Crack enter the oven door about 2 - inches so moisture can break away .

Oven dry your apple until done , about 2 - 3 minute . The time will variegate depending on the thickness of your slices , wet point in your apple , and humidity in the aviation . Begin checking after 1 hour . Flip the Malus pumila slices over and remove slices that are done .

apple slices threaded on a wooden dowel

Dehydrate Apples with a Food Dehydrator

My preferred manner to dry apple is using a food dehydrator . A food dehydrator is a big tool for preserving the harvest . It dries nutrient by moving tender air through drying tray .

Astackable food dehydratoris enceinte for small batches . Consider invest in one of theExcalibur dehydratorsfor desiccate larger batches of produce and herbs for your food storage .

Steps to Dehydrate Apples Using a Food Dehydrator

Step 1: Gather your ingredients and equipment

Step 2: Mix the pre-treatment solution

Step 3: Prepare the apples

Wash your orchard apple tree under clean run water and billet on a kitchen towel to aviation dry .

Peel the apples , if desired . trim back off bruises and damage arena . Cut orchard apple tree crossways into 1/4 - column inch slices . Remove the seeded player and cores .

dribble the apple slices into the pre - treatment liquidity and soak for 10 minutes .

apple pieces spread out on a baking rack to dry in the oven

Step 3: Arrange the apple slices on drying trays

Remove the apples from the pre - treatment solution and place on your drying projection screen in a unmarried layer .

Step 4: Dry the apples

bug out your dehydrator at 145˚F to evaporate the moisture on the control surface of the fruit from the pre - treatment solution . execute the dehydrator for about an hr at this temperature .

shorten the temperature to 135˚F to stop drying the apple slices . dry up the apple until they feel leathery and show no sign of moisture .

Step 5: Test for dryness

desiccated Malus pumila are end up drying when they feel rubbery and dry to the touch . To test , fold the dried apple piece in one-half . It will not stick together if it is dried right . If the apples do stick when turn up , dry the apples a niggling longer .

Another way to test is to rupture the Malus pumila piece in half and look for wet . The orchard apple tree is not dry enough if you may see beads of wet along the tear .

If you care your dehydrated apples crunchy like a cow chip , dry them until they snap when you bend them .

bowl of apple slices in pre-treating liquid

Step 6: Store the dehydrated apples

Allow the desiccated apple slices to cool for 30 minutes , and then package into airtight containers , jounce , or bags . Label , date , and stash away in a dark location .

I like to store dry apple in small jars because each time you spread out the jar you introduce wet to the desiccated apple pieces . Too much moisture may cause mold .

6 pounds of apples will shrink down to about 1 pound of dried apples depend on the type of apple and moisture content . You ’ll need about 4 dry pint size of it jars .

apple slices spread on on a food dehydrator screen

Keep an middle on the dehydrated apples for about a calendar week . Shake them in their jars to distribute any residual moisture evenly throughout the orchard apple tree pieces . If you see any condensation on the side of the containers , regress the apples to the dehydrator and dry longer .

in good order dry apple should keep for about 6 months seal in airtight containers and salt away in a cool , dry position . you’re able to also freeze for long storage , up to a class .

How to Rehydrate Dried Apples

restructure dry apples and utilise them in your preferent recipes , including breads , PIE , and strudel , or purée the rehydrated apples with a potato masher for dried applesauce .

To rehydrate dried apples , simple sop them in raging liquidity . Use about 1 loving cup of liquid for every 1 loving cup of dried Malus pumila . Heat Malus pumila succus or water in a tidy sum until it boils . sprain off the heat , and add the apple pieces to the stool . Let the apples soak until rehydrated , about an hour . Once the apple are rehydrated , substitute them for impudent and proceed with your formula .

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition

Other Ways to Preserve Apples:

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closeup of a jar of dehydrated apples

Drying apples is a great way to preserve the fresh fall harvest. Here are three ways to dehydrate apples for winter food storage, including air-drying, oven drying, and using a food dehydrator.

Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden

Drying apples is a great way to preserve fresh fall apples for food storage. Here are three ways to dehydrate apples, including air-drying, oven drying, and using a food dehydrator.