How To Dry Apples
Learning how to dry apples is super simple! I do it every fall with the bevy of apples we always pick at the local orchard. Dried apples make for great snacks and are awesome in baked goods, oatmeal, and granola. I'll show you how to dehydrate apples using what you have—your oven, a dehydrator, or even the power of the sun!
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 126kcal
Ingredients
- 6 pounds apples
- lemon juice, citric acid, or ascorbic acid
- water
Instructions
Dehydrator
- Core apples and cut into thin slices. A mandoline slicer is the best option for this.
- Combine 1 tablespoon lemon juice or ¼ teaspoon ascorbic or citric acid with 4 cups of water. Submerge the apples slices, then drain.
- Place the apple slices in a single layer on dehydrator trays.
- Dry the apples in the dehydrator at 160°F. It will take several hours for the apples to dry, and the exact time will depend on the size of your apple slices, the humidity in the air, and other considerations.
- Your apples are finished when they are dry, but still slightly pliable. If you like crispy dried apples, you can continue drying them until they are completely dry and crisp.
Oven-Dried
- Preheat your oven to 160°F. If your oven doesn’t go that low, preheat it to as low as it will go, but know that you’ll need to keep a close eye on your apples to prevent burning and baking.
- Core apples and cut into thin slices. A mandoline slicer is the best option for this.
- Combine 1 tablespoon lemon juice or ¼ teaspoon ascorbic or citric acid with 4 cups of water. Submerge the apples slices, then drain.
- Place a baking rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Place the apples in a single layer on the baking rack.
- Dry the apples in the oven. It can help to flip your apple slices over halfway through the drying process. If you have a few trays of apples in your oven, crack the oven door to allow for better circulation.
- It will take several hours for the apples to dry, but the exact time will depend on the size of your apple slices, the humidity in the air, and other considerations.
- Your apples are finished when they are dry, but still slightly pliable. If you like crispy dried apples, you can continue drying them until they are completely dry and crisp.
Sun-Dried
- Sun dry apples only when warm, dry, sunny weather is expected for several days. If you live in a high-humidity region, sun-drying may not be right for you.
- Core apples and cut into thin slices. A mandoline slicer is the best option for this.
- Combine 1 tablespoon lemon juice or ¼ teaspoon ascorbic or citric acid with 4 cups of water. Submerge the apples slices, then drain.
- Place a baking rack inside a rimmed baking sheet or use large screens set up outside for circulation. Place the apples in a single layer on the baking rack or screens.
- Place the apples in a sunny spot with good circulation, away from where critters can get to them. You may want to cover your apples with insect netting to prevent insects from getting into them.
- It will take several hours to days for the apples to dry, but the exact time will depend on the size of your apples, the humidity in the air, and other considerations.
- Your apples are finished when they are dry, but still slightly pliable. If you like crispy dried apples, you can continue drying them until they are completely dry and crisp.
Notes
- You can skip the browning treatment step with the lemon juice or acid if you use modern apple varieties that do not to brown, like Cosmic Crisp.
- To store apples: store them in an airtight container (we like to use canning jars) in a dark, cool part of your pantry. If properly dried, they’ll last for 6-8 months. To ensure a longer shelf life, store in the freezer.
- Dried apples will become more crisp after they cool.
- To make apple chips: cut the slices to ⅛" in thickness and dehydrate longer until the chips snap when you bend them.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 126kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 25g
