Dehydrate fruit in air fryer if you want to preserve them for a longer period. Preserving is easy but preserving the fruits deliciously is another thing. You have to keep good flavors in your fruits while you dehydrate them. There are several benefits of this dehydrating in air fryer. The use of an air fryer makes this process even more easier. Before jumping into the process make sure that your air fryer is working properly. The touch screen is working and there will be no air fryer explosions in case of high temperatures.
Preserving the natural sweetness of fruits has been a tough task for years. It usually takes too much time to dehydrate them and increase their shelf life. But as long as you own a good company like a Ninja or a Chefman air fryer, this is not a task for you at all. All you have to do is use the ingredients to coat the fruits and enhance the flavors as reheating biscuits. The whole recipe depends upon your right choice of flavors. In addition to the typical uses of air fryers including cooking and roasting, dehydrating fruits is such a major benefit.
Techniques to Dehydrate Fruits in Air Fryer
Dehydrating fruits in the air fryer comes with so many benefits. But first, you have to learn the correct method of doing it. Get your hands expert in performing all the activities and functions. For this purpose, go through all these steps one by one.
Selecting the Fruit For Dehydrating
The first step for dehydrating is selecting the right fruit that you have to dehydrate. The fruits with high water content are the most suitable for dehydration in the air fryer. Use ripe fruits including pineapples, apples, mangoes or berries. You can also add bananas to this list. All of these fruits are rich in water content and they should be ripe enough.
Preparing the Fruits
Preparing the fruit for dehydration is essential. Wash these fruits under the tap running water and then use a knife or a peeler to peel them. Then use a sharp knife to slice the fruits in an even slice for proper dehydration. Remove all sorts of seeds and pits from the fruits. These can be a hindrance in the process of dehydrating so it is better to avoid them.
Spicing and Seasoning the Fruits
The next step is to add flavors and seasonings that help preserve the fruits and increase their shelf life. Sprinkle some cinnamon and pour some lemon juice. Then, add some honey to it. Other than seasonings, you have to pass some of the fruits through another process. Soaking these fruits in the sugar syrup will be very beneficial as mango chips. Citrus solution can also perform the same function.
Filling the Air Fryer Basket
The next step is to arrange the fruits in the air fryer basket. Clean the air fryer before putting. You have to put the fruit slices evenly in the air fryer tray. Arrange them properly and avoid the overcrowding of the air fryer. Keep spaces so that the hot air will pass through and dehydrate the fruits easily.
Setting the time and temperature for the Air Fryer
Then you have to set a proper timer for dehydrating the fruits. The temperature for this purpose should be 57 degrees to 60 degrees Celsius. The basic dehydration or cooking time for the fruits is about 2-4 hours. However, the time period varies depending on the type of fruit.
Keeping an Eye While Available Tools Cooking
For uniform drying, you need to flip the slices in between the process. Moreover, the fruit slices should not have a sticky texture. They should be pliable and soft. Check them from time to time.
Storing the dehydrated Fruits
The last step is to take the dehydrated fruits out of the air fryer. Then leave them for some time so that they can cool down. Put them in the airtight containers away from moisture. They will retain their freshness when you keep them in some dark place.
The problem of not having the Dehydrating Option in the Air Fryer
Even if there is no dehydrating option in the air fryer, you still do it by setting the same temperature. the heating element of your air fryer should work properly in that case. It will prevent the heating of the appliance so that the air fryer will not explode. The keep-warm option on the air fryer would be helpful in this manner like Ellio’s Pizza. The ventilation system of the air fryer should work so that the air circulation will be smooth and constant. As the cooking process is already very long, there is no need to preheat the air fryer. To avoid burning the fruit inside the air fryer, there should be smooth hot air circulation.
The time varies for all types of fruits. Every fruit dehydrates on its version of time and therefore there is no fixed time. Two hours is the average time to dehydrate fruits in the air fryer. It also depends upon the type of air fryer and its performance during the process.
Fruits which are Best for Dehydration in the Air Fryer
Fruits that are best for dehydration in the air fryer include the apples, pineapples and even bananas and strawberries go through the process of dehydrating each these fruits so that you can easily dehydrate them.
Dehydrate Fruit in the Air Fryer (Pineapples)
Dehydrating pineapples in the air fryer is an easier task. The dehydrated preserved pineapples taste like candies and you can have them in any season. You don’t have to wait for the summer to have this flavor. But whenever you crave to have the pineapple flavor, you can simply open the jar full of pineapple candies. Indulge the pineapple and have the satisfaction.
- To dehydrate the pineapple you have to follow the following steps:
- Peel and slice the pineapple into bite-sized chunks. Then use a paper towel to pat dry these chunks.
- Spread the pineapple chunks in the air fryer tray but keep spaces between them.
- For an additional flavor, sprinkle some cinnamon on the pineapple chunks.
- Set the time and temperature to 175 degrees and one hour. After the first hour, select the keep warm option and keep it in the air fryer for another hour.
- Then take the pineapple chunks out and put them in the air-tight storage box, use them to flavor toaster strudel.
- Dehydration of Apples in the Air Fryer
Other than pineapple, apple is also the best fruit to preserve after using the basic seasonings. Slice the apple into thin slices and arrange these slices into the air fryer. Creating apple chips or apple rings would be great fun for giving them the actual shape of the candies. But the dehydrating time for the apples is very long. It requires at least 3-4 hours to dehydrate your apples. Keep an eye on your appliance in case it malfunctions. Overheating can cause errors in the working of the air fryer screen or the whole appliance can stop working. Keep a check on the heating element if it is working properly.
Dehydrating Bananas and Strawberries
Strawberries are the favorite of every person out there. But you can’t have them around the year. There is a particular season of strawberries and it ends in a shorter period. So to keep your favorite fruit in your fridge for the whole year you can preserve them. Dehydrating at home in your appliance is the best way to do it. The same concept goes with the banana. Bananas cannot be kept even in the fridge for a longer period. This is because they rip too quickly and get spoiled. So you slice them and preserve them with the help of the air fryer.
For the strawberries keep the temperature at 135 degrees. This is a perfect temperature to dehydrate strawberries for 2-3 hours. The keeping warm option is also a priority in this case as well. The temperature and period for bananas are different from strawberries. The temperature for the bananas should be 130 degrees. But at this low temperature, the process can be 8-10 hours long. So increase the temperature to 175 degrees. To decrease the period to at least 3-4 hours. Both of these can be used to flavor buttermilk biscuits and cinnamon rolls donuts.
Dry Mangoes in the Air Fryer
Mangoes are the most lovable fruit to exist on the planet. It is a family favorite and is present in everyone’s fridge throughout the summer. But as soon as the winter comes, you cannot find it. So drying the mangoes and turning them into candy-like textures is the best decision. This helps to satisfy your craving even without the proper season of mangoes. you can also use these to stuff donuts with this flavor. Most the people prefer slow dehydration of mangoes. So keep the temperature at 130 degrees. The period for the mangoes will be 5-6 hours.
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Pro Tips for Dehydrating Fruits in the Air Fryer
Dehydrating fruits in the air fryer is not as easy as it seems to be. The process is too long and tiring. Your device can malfunction in longer periods of heating. These tips will help you in the overall process. You can’t be careless towards the appliance which is constantly working for hours.
Make smaller chunks of the fruits or keep the slices small . Also, slice them in the same sizes. Whenever you fill the air fryer tray, keep spaces between the fruit slices.
Prevent the fruit slices from touching each other. This can cause burning or improper heating. The chunks will not get the exact flavor and texture like air fryer batter veggies. So your time will be wasted.
You have to be consistent during the process. Consistency is the key to getting results from the process. The process should be smooth enough for this purpose.
FAQS
What is an ideal and average temperature to dehydrate all sorts of fruits?
You should have a low-value temperature for smooth dehydration. To save the flavor and nutritional value of all the fruits the temperature should be at 135-140 degrees Fahrenheit.
What other food items can we dehydrate in the air fryer?
Other than these fruits, you can dehydrate different vegetables. In addition to these, air fryer dehydration of herbs is also possible.
Bottom Line
To preserve the natural sweetness of fruit, dehydration in the air fryer is the most modern way of doing it. You should try to dehydrate fruits in the air fryer once at least. Once you get experience you will have jars of these fruity candies like pineapples, apples, and mangoes all at once. All the children at your place are also going to love this new idea of yours. These are the most organic and hygienic treats that you can prepare at home. Considering the good for health, serve them to the elders of your family as well. The skill of food preservation is an art and you have to master it, because the benefits and ease that come with it are uncountable.
Dehydrating Fruit in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- Assorted fruits of your choice such as apples, bananas, strawberries, mangoes, etc.
Instructions
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Prepare the Fruit:
- Wash and dry the fruits thoroughly.
- Peel the fruits if desired, and remove any stems, seeds, or cores.
- Slice the fruits into uniform slices or pieces, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. This ensures even drying.
Preheat the Air Fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer to the lowest temperature setting available. Most air fryers have a dehydrate function or a temperature setting of around 130-140°F (55-60°C).
Arrange the Fruit in the Air Fryer Basket:
- Arrange the sliced fruit in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the dehydrating tray. Make sure the pieces are not touching or overlapping to allow for proper airflow and even drying.
Dehydrate the Fruit:
- Place the fruit-filled air fryer basket or dehydrating tray in the preheated air fryer.
- Dehydrate the fruit at the lowest temperature setting for 2-4 hours, depending on the type of fruit and desired dryness. Check the fruit periodically and rotate the trays if necessary for even drying.
Check for Doneness:
- The fruit is done when it is dry to the touch and has a leathery texture. It should bend without breaking.
- Some fruits may take longer to dehydrate fully, so continue dehydrating as needed until they reach the desired consistency.
Cool and Store:
- Once the fruit is fully dehydrated, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool completely.
- Store the dehydrated fruit in an airtight container or resealable bags at room temperature. Properly dried fruit can last for several weeks to months when stored in a cool, dry place.
Enjoy Your Dehydrated Fruit:
- Enjoy the dehydrated fruit as a healthy snack, add it to cereal, oatmeal, or trail mix, or use it as a flavorful topping for yogurt or desserts.
Notes
Tips:
- Uniform Slicing: Try to slice the fruit into uniform thickness to ensure even drying.
- Patience: Dehydrating fruit takes time, so be patient and allow the process to complete for the best results.
- Experiment: Feel free to experiment with different fruits and flavor combinations to create your favorite dried fruit snacks.
Enjoy Your Homemade Dehydrated Fruit!
With your air fryer, you can easily make delicious and nutritious dehydrated fruit at home. Whether enjoyed as a snack on its own or used as an ingredient in your favorite recipes, homemade dehydrated fruit is a versatile and flavorful addition to your pantry. So grab your favorite fruits and start dehydrating!Marco Bianchi, a culinary virtuoso with a flair for innovation, has made a name for himself as a celebrated chef in the United States. Born with a passion for cooking, Marco’s culinary journey began in his early years, inspired by the diverse flavors and techniques he encountered.