Best Apples for Dehydrating

Drying is the oldest preservation method for apples and many other fruits and vegetables. Today, dehydrated apple chips and sulphured and unsulphured apple rings are popular snack items. Dehydrating apples at home is a simple project and a good way to stock up on a healthy snack and versatile recipe ingredient.

Choosing Apples to Dehydrate

Regardless of what type of apple you use for drying it should be fresh and firm. When dehydrating apples, choose a variety that is not juicy and one that has firm flesh. Firm apples hold their shape through the drying process. Another factor involved in selecting apples to dry is their flavor. Fuji is the sweetest variety. They are ideal for making dehydrated apple chips. Gala, Golden Delicious, and Honey Crisp are also good options when you want a sweet treat.

Granny Smith and Braeburn apples have a tart flavor. These two types of apples are often dried and used in baked goods. When dried, Pink Lady apples have a good balance of sweet and tart flavor. They also have a good texture and retain their color more than other varieties of apples.

Making Dried Apples

Dried apple slices and dried apple rings can be prepared in a dehydrator or oven. Five pounds of fresh apples will yield about 2 quart jars of dried apple slices. Slice firm apples into 1/4 inch slices. The slices can be cut in half or dried as apple rings. To help the dried apple rings retain their light color, dip them in lemon juice before placing them on the dehydrator trays. It can take about 10 hours to dehydrate the slices. If using an oven, dry the slices at 200 degrees and leave the oven door slightly open to allow some heat and moisture to escape. Regardless of which drying method you use, the slices must be completely dry in order to assure preservation.

Healthy and Delicious

Dried apples are a good source of fiber. They provide numerous vitamins and minerals your body needs to function at its best. Unsulphured apple rings are available for people who require or prefer foods without sulfites. Dehydrated apple chips can be eaten as a snack or chopped and added to cereal and many other foods to give them a nutritional boost.