Strawberry Recipe {Oven Dried Strawberries} (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to dry strawberries in the oven? ›

Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat. Arrange strawberries, cut-side down, on the prepared baking sheet; bake until completely dry, about 4 hours, flipping once halfway through bake time.

How to tell when strawberries are done. Strawberries should be pliable when they are completely dried but have no obvious remaining moisture (tear one in half and squeeze—if moisture appears, dry them longer). If you sliced your strawberries thin for crunchier chips, you can dehydrate them until they snap when bent.

You can use an oven set to a low temperature, around 150-200 °F, to dehydrate strawberries. Spread the sliced strawberries on a baking sheet and bake for several hours, flipping occasionally, until they're dried out.

Dry cut-side up at 130 to 140 degrees F. Use a dehydrator or dry in an oven if you are able to set the oven temperature low enough. Drying time depends on the size of the berry pieces, exposure to air to cut surfaces, temperature, air circulation and method of drying.

It's not required to pre-treat, but an acidic solution keeps strawberries from darkening (think about how apples or pears turn dark quickly) and improves safety. The easiest and most accessible pre-treatment method is a quick soak in lemon juice. Mix equal parts lemon juice and water to make a lemon juice solution.

Dried strawberries bring the same benefits as fresh or frozen varieties and, in some cases, might even provide more fiber and more of the antioxidants than fresh fruit. You may also notice more freeze-dried products in your supermarket these days.

“A dehydrated fruit is a dried fruit but a dried fruit is not necessarily a dehydrated fruit. Everything depends on the quality of the drying process used.”

Dehydrated fruits should be leathery and pliable. Test for the perfect dryness by removing a few pieces from the dehydrator, cooling to room temperature, and squeezing between your fingers. If no moisture forms on your hand or the fruit and the pieces spring apart when released, they are dry!

Syrup blanching fruit is a common pre-treatment of certain fruits before dehydration. The added sugar helps to sweeten tart fruit and acts as a good preservative.

Berries may take anywhere from 9 hours for small slices to 36 hours for whole berries. When sufficiently dry, strawberries should be pliable and leathery with no beads of moisture when pressed between your fingers. If desired, berries may be dried further until almost crisp.

What can I use if I don't have a dehydrator? ›

Your oven can be used to dry foods when you keep it temperature around 140° F (60° C). Though oven drying can take around 6-10 hours depending on the specific food, this method may be beneficial for people who don't want to purchase any additional appliances.

Both techniques work equally well, but parchment paper will make cleanup much easier!

You can leave them out 30 minutes at room temperature, or speed the process by popping them into the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

You can easily dry them in a few different ways. Let them air dry. Pat them dry with a towel. Run them in a salad spinner lined with a towel.

Use room temperature strawberries and DRY THEM really well.

Take the strawberries out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before dipping them. Wash them and gently dry them all over with a paper towel. You want to make sure they're very dry, otherwise the chocolate won't set on them properly.

Dehydrated strawberries can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark area for one year. You can store freeze-dried strawberries for 10-15 years when vacuum-sealed with an oxygen absorber.