How to Make Dried Papaya

Dried papaya has a sweet, tropical flavor. Dried papaya has a longer shelf life than fresh papaya. Removing the water from the fresh fruit makes it a little sweeter and enables you to enjoy more of the fruit without feeling excessively full. Dehydrated papaya has the same nutritional value and provides the same health benefits as fresh papaya. Papaya slices and papaya chunks can be enjoyed in numerosu ways.

Oven drying papaya

There are several variations on how to dry papaya in the oven. One of the simplest methods is to wash and peel the fresh fruit, slice it in half and remove the seeds. Slice the fruit into thin slices and place slices on a cookie sheet. Put them in a 100 degrees Fahrenheit oven for about 12 hours. Leave the oven door slightly open during the drying process. After 6 hours, turn the slices over and return the pan to the oven. Monitor them over the next few hours. Remove the slices when they are dry and brittle. Before putting the slices in the oven, you can soak them in a quart of water to which 1 teaspoon of citric acid or 2 1/2 tablespoons of ascorbic acid has been added. Soak them for 10 minutes, drain and let dry thoroughly before placing them in the oven.

Dehydrated Papaya

To dry papaya in a dehydrator, wash, peel, remove the seeds and slice the fruit. Place the slices in single layers on dehydrator trays. Dehydrate at 130 degrees for approximately 8 hours. Remove when the pieces are dry to the touch.

Air Fryer Drying

Prepare in the same manner as mentioned above. Place papaya slices or papaya chunks in the dehydrator basket. Set the temperature to 130. The drying process will take about 4 hours.

Naturally Dried Papaya Slices

Naturally dried papaya slices require time and patience. Thinly sliced papaya pieces can be placed in a single layer on a tray outside in a sunny location and left for several days. The slices need to be covered with some type of netting or mesh material to keep bugs off the fruit as it dries. High outdoor temperatures and low humidity are necessary for the slices to dry properly.