Dehydrated pineapple is possibly my favorite dried fruit! If you've never tried it, you'll be surprised how much dried pineapple retains it's sweet and tangy flavor. What you end up with, are bite size pieces of tropical flavored fruit that are the perfect addition to granola, cereal and salsa.
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I've been putting my dehydrator to good use this spring time, and dehydrating fruit when it's at it freshest and juiciest. If you haven't see it, I've just posted my tips for dehyrdating strawberries and how to dehydrate cherry tomatoes. In fact, you can even make vegan jerky!
In this article, we'll go over how to dry pineapple, one of my favorite fruits.
Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
✅Homemade dehydrated pineapple is free from all the refined sugar you might find in commercially dried pineapple. And, it's so sweet that it tastes like candy.
✅Dried pineapple is the perfect addition to homemade trail mixes. Or, you can eat it on its own as a healthy snack.
✅Drying pineapple is super easy. All you need is a pineapple and a dehydrator.
✅It's vegan, gluten free, and Whole 30 friendly.
✅Dried pineapple is rich in bromelain, manganese and dietary fiber.
What Types Of Pineapple Can You Dehydrate?
- Fresh Pineapple: Fresh pineapple is always my first choice. You can usually find pineapples year round in your local grocery store, but they're at their sweetest and freshest from March - July.
- Canned Pineapple: Yes, you can dehydrate canned pineapple. I don't recommend drying the shredded pieces. You'll want chunks that are between ⅛ -¼ inch big. You can also dehydrated pineapple rings. They'll take 14-18 hours in a dehydrator. Canned pineapple frequently comes with added sugar, so if that's a concern for you, I'd stick with fresh pineapple.
- Frozen Pineapple Chunks: Defrost frozen pineapple before dehydrating. Blot dry with a paper towel.
👨🍳How To Dry Pineapple In a Dehydrator
Step 1 - Cut The Pineapple
- If using fresh pineapple, cut off the top and bottom. Stand the pineapple up, and cut it straight down the center to form two large pieces. Using the edge of your knife, slice down and inward to remove the core. Do this on both halves of the pineapple. Cut each half into two pieces. Now, using your knife, make ¼ inch slices all the way down each quarter of pineapple. Finally, cut the pineapple away from the skin. Check out this video on how to prepare a pineapple.
- If using canned pineapple, drain the pineapple chunks and blot them dry with a paper towel. Cut the chunks into ⅛-1/4 inch size pieces. You can also dehydrated pineapple rings, but they'll need more time in the dehydrator than chunks will.
- If using frozen pineapple chunks, thoroughly defrost and blot dry with a paper towel.
- Whichever type of pineapple you choose, be sure to blot the pieces dry with a paper towel before putting them in the dehydrator.
Step 2 - Load Your Dehydrator
- Once you've prepared your pineapple chunks, all you need to do is load them into your dehydrator, making sure that you leave adequate space between each piece. The general rule of thumb is not to cover more than ¾ the area of the mesh inserts.
Step 3 - Dehydrate The Pineapple
- Dehydrate your pineapple at 135ºF (52ºC) for 10-14 hours until the pineapples are dry.
- You may need to rotate your trays every few hours to ensure even dehydration. Check your dehydrator's instruction manual, to see if you need to do this.
❄️Storage Instructions
Put your cooled, dehydrated pineapple chunks in airtight containers. Glass jars with tight-sealing lids or vacuum-sealed bags are ideal. If using bags, squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing them to prevent moisture buildup. Airtight containers help prevent moisture from getting in, which can cause the pineapple to reabsorb moisture and become soft or moldy.
Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. A shelf in your pantry is ideal.
Conditioning
Conditioning is a process used to ensure that dehydrated fruits are evenly dried and free from excess moisture before storage. To condition dehydrated pineapple:
- Place the dehydrated pineapple in a clean, dry container without sealing it.
- Shake the container daily for about a week to redistribute any remaining moisture.
- If you notice any signs of moisture or condensation during this process, return the pineapple to the dehydrator for further drying.
- Once the pineapple is evenly conditioned, transfer it to airtight storage containers for long-term storage.
How To Use Your Dried Pineapple
- Make your own trail mix or add dried pineapple to your granola breakfast bowls.
- Make yourself a smoothie, by adding the dried pineapple to your blender with a little bit of water, give it a whir, and then add the rest of your ingredients.
- Sprinkle some dried pineapple over the top of your porridge or cereal.
- Garnish cocktails with dehydrated pineapple.
you might like this recipe...
Dehydrated Strawberries
Learn how to dehydrate strawberries in your dehydrator or oven.
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
Take a piece of pineapple out of the dehydrator and bend it to see if it's pliable. It should be pliable, not crispy. Give the pineapple a squeeze. If any moisture is released, return the pineapple to the dehydrator.
You should set your dehydrator between 135 F - 145 F. Check your dehydrator's manual for specific instructions, as time between dehydrators may vary.
Yes, you can. A common mistake is to set the temperature too high; this, and leaving the fruit in the dehydrator for too long, can result in an inedible end product.
More Dehydrator Recipes
How To Dehydrate Orange Slices
Dehydrated Watermelon Two Ways
Cucumber Chips - Dehydrated And Baked
📖 Recipe
Dehydrated Pineapple
Ingredients
- 1 large fresh pineapple *or an equal amount of canned or frozen pineapple
- water for rinsing
Instructions
- Rinse the outside of the pineapple with cold water.
- If using fresh pineapple, cut off the top and bottom. Stand the pineapple up, and cut it straight down the center to form two large pieces. Using the edge of your knife, slice down and inward to remove the core. Do this on both halves of the pineapple. Cut each half into two pieces. Now, using your knife, make ¼ inch slices all the way down each quarter of pineapple. Finally, cut the pineapple away from the skin.
- Blot the pineapple pieces with a paper towel to remove any excess liquid.
- Load the pineapple chunks into the dehydrator, making sure that you leave adequate space between each piece. The general rule of thumb is not to cover more than ¾ the area of the mesh inserts in your dehydrator.
- Dehydrate your pineapple at 135ºF (52ºC) for 8-12 hours until the pineapples are dry.Depending on your dehydrator, you may need to rotate the racks every few hours to ensure even hydration.
Notes
- If using canned pineapple, drained the pineapple chunks and blot them dry with a paper towel. Cut the chunks into equal sized pieces. You can also dehydrate pineapple rings, but they'll need more time in the dehydrator thank smaller chunks will.
Kristina
Dehydrated pineapple is a great way to use leftover pineapple (we never eat the entire thing and it ends up going to waste). It's lovely added to homemade granola with cranberry, chocolate and nuts.
Giangi Townsend
I love to cook and bake with dehydrated pineapples but always felt odd to buy them at the store, as you say, they are filled with sugar.
Thank you for sharing this recipe, I will make it and store it away before the holiday season gets here.
Angela
I was looking for a good recipe for Dehydrated Pineapple, thanks I tried it it worked great!
Keri Bevan
Hi Angela, I'm happy it worked out! Thank you for letting me know. x
Natalie
A great snack for my kids! They love it for their sweet cravings, great recipe, thanks!
Keri Bevan
Hi Natalie, Agreed! It's the perfect kid friendly snack. Thank you for your feedback!
Marcellina
I love using my dehydrator to dry fruits when they are at their peak, but it took a long time. Your tip to blot off the excess moisture was exactly what I needed! Thank you!
Keri Bevan
Hi Marcellina, Aren't dehydrators great?? I also like to dehydrate lots of fruit and veggies when they're at their peak. Low effort for big rewards. Glad the tip about blotting off the moisture has shortened your dehydration time.X