According to TheTopTens Website Strawberries are named as the number 1 fruit of Americans. Strawberries are definitely one of the favorites of Marie and Emmaline. They are such a fabulous fruit and so very versatile. One of the many ways to preserve strawberries is to dehydrate them. I like to dehydrate strawberries to take advantage of the strawberry season which is short but oh so sweet! Dehydrated strawberries don’t rehydrate very well, (If you want to do that try freeze-drying) but they do make a fabulous healthy treat. They are a nice addition to cereals, granola, trail mix or just eating all by themselves.
Today we are excited to teach you how to dehydrate strawberries. It is so simple to dehydrate strawberries you will be shocked you haven’t done it before. It’s a foolproof beginning lesson to food preservation. So, let’s begin. First, you need a dehydrator. Here are a few to choose from!
Strawberries to Dehydrate
The first thing you want to do is wash and hull the strawberries.
Slice Strawberries
Cut the strawberries into 1/4-1/2 inch slices.
Strawberries Ready for Dehydrator
Load the dehydrator trays with a layer of your sliced strawberries leaving a small space between each. Turn on the dehydration at 130-135 degrees F. Your strawberries will be done when they are very dry to the touch. This can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours depending on your dehydrator, how thick your strawberries are, etc. Since strawberries are 90% water they will shrink down quite a bit. In fact, they shrink so much it always amazes me.
Dehydrated Strawberries
Place strawberries in an airtight container and store them in a cool, dry place. Make sure you label what they are and the date you dehydrated them.
If you have any questions about using a dehydrator look at our canning basics posts. We think this tutorial will answer any questions you may have.
