A dehydrator is an odd kitchen tool to recommend. Most people, including myself, only pull it out four or five times a year, tops. It's a bulky item to store for something used that infrequently, but when you need it, it sure is nice to have it around. One major way I use my dehydrator is for fruit, like when I want to dehydrate excess strawberries, apples and especially.
In the spring, I can't help myself, I HAVE to get a crate of Cottle Farms strawberries. And as the only person in the house who really eats fruit, it's arguably ALWAYS more than I can reasonably eat before they go bad. So I preserve them, half by freezing for summer smoothies, and some of the rest by dehydration! The dehydrating way of preserving is something I only started doing recently after I picked up a bag of freeze dried strawberries at Trader Joe's. Either version makes for a fantastic snack, and cookie add-in, which I'll share a recipe for soon!
Dehydrated Strawberries
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- 16 ounces fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Wash the strawberries and pat dry with a kitchen towel.
- Slice the green tops off and discard.
- Cut each strawberry into thin slices, you can get 3-4 slices from most regular sized berries.
- Spread out generously on the dehydrator trays. The air moving around the berries is what dries them out, so give them space to breathe.
- Set on 135 F for 8-14 hours.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. The drier they are, the more likely they can be stored at room temperature, otherwise put them in the fridge, though they may not last as long there with fridge condensation.
Choosing a Dehydrator
Before you commit to a dehydrator, I recommend borrowing one from a friend to try it out first, if possible. There are several styles of dehydrator, and the two main differences are size and performance. As you might imagine, the larger (and more expensive!) the dehydrator, the more professional-grade dried food you can get out of it.
I have a much older style of the Nesco dehydrator. The updated one linked here has a clear lid (wish mine did!) but the footprint and workings are very similar. There is no timer on it, but it has several temperature settings. It's a plug and use device, and the tight fitting lid keeps dust out when you're not using it.
More appliance-like dehydrators will get you a higher degree of dryness and pro results. This Excalibur dehydrator looks like a small oven, and its level of drying power is reflected in the price.
More Strawberry Recipes
