Dehydrated strawberries are a great topping for ice cream, salads, and cereal. They're simple to make, only requiring a few minutes hands on time. And, you can make them in a dehydrator or an oven.
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I love strawberries! They're particularly yummy in the spring and summer when they're at their ripest and juiciest. And, this is when you'll get the best results dehydrating them. Of course you can dehydrate strawberries at any time of the year. These days, it's easy to find them in grocery stores year round, but they'll be sweetest if you dry them when they're in season.
If you're interested in learning how to dehydrate veggies, be sure to check out my article on how to make your own dried cucumber chips or learn how to make sundried tomatoes in your food dehydrator, oven or air fryer.
Top Tip: You might also love my recipe for dried orange slices.
Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
- Dried strawberries are a great portable snack.
- Dehydrating fruit is a great way to prevent food wastage.
- This recipe is gluten-free, vegan and free of refined sugar.
- Dehydrated strawberries can be stored for up to a year.
- Dried fruit is the perfect snack for hiking and camping.
👨🍳Dehydrated Strawberries In A Dehydrator
Step 1: Select Strawberries
Choose ripe, fresh strawberries. Look for strawberries that are firm, brightly colored, and free from bruises or blemishes. This will ensure the best flavor and texture in your dehydrated strawberries.
Step 2: Wash The Strawberries
Rinse the strawberries under cold running water to remove any dirt or debris. Gently pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
Step 3: Hull The Strawberries
Use a paring knife or a strawberry huller to remove the stems from the strawberries. Simply insert the tip of the knife or huller into the top of the strawberry and twist to remove the stem and core.
Step 4: Slice the Strawberries
Slice the strawberries into uniform thickness, about ¼ to ⅜ inch thick. This will ensure that they dehydrate evenly and at the same rate.
Step 5: Fill the Dehydrator
Arrange the strawberry slices in a single layer on the dehydrator trays. Make sure they're not touching each other.
Step 6: Dehydrating the Strawberries
Set the dehydrator to 135 F (60 C), and run it for 5-12 hours for chewy strawberries and 5-18 hours for crisp strawberries.Check the strawberries periodically, and rotate the trays occasionally for even drying.
Step 7: Checking for Doneness
The strawberries are done when they are dry and slightly leathery to the touch. They should still be slightly flexible but not sticky or wet. If you bend a slice, it should break cleanly in half.
Step 8: Cooling and Storing
Once the strawberries are fully dehydrated, remove them from the dehydrator and let them cool completely. Store the dehydrated strawberries in a glass jar, airtight container or resealable bags at room temperature for several months. Keep them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Exposure to light can cause them to degrade faster.
Step 9: Conditioning
Conditioning is a process used to ensure that any remaining moisture in the dehydrated fruit is evenly distributed. To condition dehydrated strawberries, place them in a clean, dry container and seal it shut for about a week. Shake the container daily to redistribute any moisture. If you notice any condensation forming inside the container during this process, return the strawberries to the dehydrator for further drying before attempting to store them again.
Dehydrating Strawberries In The Oven
- Preheat your oven to 175 F (80 C). Line 2 baking trays with parchment paper.
- Wash your strawberries thoroughly to remove any dirt or pesticides. Discard any that are decayed, bruised or moldy.
- Hull your strawberries and cut them into ⅜ inch pieces. Try to cut them all roughly the same size so that they dry evenly.
- Before dehydrating your strawberries, blot them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (usually around 140°F or 60°C).
- Place the strawberry slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure they're not touching each other. Prop the oven door open slightly to allow moisture to escape. Bake the strawberries for 4 to 6 hours, checking them periodically for doneness. Rotate the trays halfway through the bake time for even dehydration.
- Remove the berries from the tray and allow them to cool for 30 minutes. If any of the berries are still too moist, return them to the oven for an additional 30 minutes.
🍽️Ways To Use Dehydrated Strawberries
- Add them to your favorite cereal. Try this ultra healthy fruit cereal.
- Add them to granola.
- Grind them to a fine powder, and use them in smoothies for a hit of strawberry flavor.
- Grind them to a fine powder and stir into your favorite vegan yogurt.
- Kids (and adults) might enjoy adding strawberry fruit powder to plant based milks.
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
The short answer is no. For dehydration it's important that you choose the ripest and juiciest fresh strawberries.
No, when you do this you get "case hardening," which is when the outside of the fruit crisps up, but the inside remains moist.
The quickest way to rehydrate dried strawberries is to soak them in boiling water for 10-15 minutes.
More Dehydrator Recipes
Crispy Zucchini Chips - Dehydrator Or Oven!
How To Make Cucumber Chips In A Dehydrator
📖 Recipe
Dehydrated Strawberries
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds fresh strawberries hulled, and cut into pieces that are ⅜ of an inch thick.
- water for rinsing
Instructions
Dehydrating Strawberries In A Dehydrator
- Wash the strawberries thoroughly to remove any dirt or pesticides. Discard any that are decayed, bruised or moldy.
- Hull the strawberries and cut them into ⅜ inch pieces. Try to cut them all roughly the same size so that they dry evenly.
- Before dehydrating the strawberries, blot them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
- Transfer the strawberries to the dehydrator and space them out so that none of them are touching each other.
- Set the dehydrator to 135 F (60 C), and run it for 5-12 hours for chewy strawberries and 5-18 hours for crisp strawberries. *see note 1.
- Rotate the racks every few hours, moving the bottom rack to the top position.
- Remove the strawberries from the dehydrator and allow them to cool for several minutes. They'll firm up a bit as they cool.
- Allow the dried strawberries to cool for 30 minutes, before storing them in an airtight container.
How To Dehydrate Strawberries In The Oven
- Preheat the oven to 175° F (80° C). Line 2 baking trays with parchment paper.
- Wash the strawberries thoroughly to remove any dirt or pesticides. Discard any that are decayed, bruised or moldy.
- Hull the strawberries and cut them into ⅜ inch pieces. Try to cut them all roughly the same size so that they dry evenly.
- Before dehydrating the strawberries, blot them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
- Bake the strawberries in the oven for about 3 hours, or until they’re fairly crisp. Rotate the trays halfway through the bake time for even dehydration.
- Remove the berries from the tray and allow them to cool for 30 minutes. If any of the berries are still too moist, return them to the oven for an additional 30 minutes.
Notes
- Times will vary greatly between dehydrators, so the best practice is to check every few hours to see how dry your strawberries are getting. As an example, I can dry a pound and a half of strawberries in about 6 hours, and they're fairly crisp.
- The strawberries should be dry enough to prevent any microbial growth.
- Store in an airtight container such as a Mason jar.
Cindy
Great resource! I can't wait for strawberry picking now.
Jacqui
Happy to find a version for without a dehydrator!
nancy
such a great idea to dehydrate strawberries. it's the perfect snack!