According to TheTopTens Website Strawberries are named as the number 1 fruit of Americans. Strawberries are definitely one of my favorites. One of the many ways to preserve strawberries is to dehydrate them. I like to dehydrate strawberries to take advantage of the short strawberry season. 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 alone.
Today I am 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.
Strawberries to Dehydrate
The first thing you want to do is wash and hull the strawberries with a strawberry huller or a paring knife.
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 dehydrator to 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. Stored properly, they should be good for up to 12 months.
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.
