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Why buy dried fruit from the store when you can make it at home? With a dehydrator, it’s easier than ever.
There are so many ways to preserve the flavors of summer — canning, freezing, dehydrating, etc. We all want to be able to taste the sweet signs of summer even during the coldest, darkest winters. As always, #SundaySupper is here to help make that a little easier for you. We’re sharing our favorite recipes for Saving Summer today. Thanks to our co-hosts, Stacy of Food Lust People Love and Heather at Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks!
I actually did almost the same thing for last year’s Saving Summer theme — dried peaches. The only difference? I tried doing it in my oven since I didn’t have a dehydrator. While the outcome was still pretty good, it’s nothing compared to this time around when I actually did have a dehydrator to use. One of my friends let me borrow hers to do a little experimenting. First I tried pureeing strawberries and spreading it out to make fruit leather. Obviously I spread it way too thin, because it basically evaporated… Oops. Then I sliced up some zucchini and made zucchini chips — those were delicious! I sprinkled with a little extra virgin olive oil and sea salt and had an awesome little snack on my hands. I also tried papaya, however I don’t think I left it in long enough because it wasn’t quite as firm and chewy as I would have liked. It wasn’t the same as my favorite dried papaya from a certain store… Still good though!
My last and final experiment, and the one that worked best, was with pineapple. I often buy dried pineapple from that same store where I get my papaya, but it’s super sugary and sweet. Who even knows what’s added to the fruit before dehydrating it… I like knowing that there was no added sugar and certainly no preservatives or anything like that in my dried pineapple. And you know what? It was still deliciously sweet, juicy and perfectly chewy.
There really isn’t a recipe for this — all I did was slice up the pineapple about 1/4-inch thick and put it in the dehydrator for 12 hours. The dehydrator I used (Excalibur) had a chart that said what temperature it should be on depending what you were making. It makes things pretty easy. It even came with a booklet with instructions on how to prepare each fruit or vegetable.
Have you ever used a dehydrator before? What are some of your favorite things to dehydrate?
Don’t forget to check out all the fun and creative ways my #SundaySupper friends are Saving Summer!
Canning
- Blackberry Chia Seed Jam from Books -n- Cooks
- Cherry Lemon Jam from Food Lust People Love
- Chocolate Blackberry Preserves from The Redhead Baker
- Gilded Bluebarb Jam from What Smells So Good?
- Hamburger Dill Chips from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Piri Piri Hot Sauce from Curious Cuisiniere
- Southwestern Salsa from The Freshman Cook
- Spiced Peach Jam from Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Spiced Vanilla Rhubarb Jam from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Strawberry Balsamic Syrup from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Watermelon Butter from Palatable Pastime
Dehydrating
- Blueberry Peach Fruit Roll-Ups from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Dried Pineapple from Take A Bite Out of Boca
Fermentation
- Fermented Spicy Daikon Spears + A Cocktail from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Simple Pickled Cabbage from Simply Healthy Family
Freezing
- How to Freeze Blueberries from Pies and Plots
- Peach Crisp from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Roast Tomato Soup with Basil-Butter Croutons from Caroline’s Cooking
- Summer Veggies from Momma’s Meals
Infusing
- Raspberry Vinegar from Magnolia Days
Pickling
- Black Radish Pickles from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Bread & Butter Pickles from Adventures in All Things Food
- Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles from Life Tastes Good
- Mustard Pickles from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Pickled Cherries with Five Spices from Nosh My Way
Preserving in oil or butter
- Garden Herb Butter from An Appealing Plan
- Spinach and Pistachio Pesto from Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
And for even more help and support
- 5 Food Preservation Tips from Sunday Supper Movement
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After a trip several years ago to the Middle East, I actually got into drying fish. It has to be cut very thin and the more lean and less oily the fish the better (i.e. grouper or mahi seem to work better than kingfish). My dehydrator is kind of like my waffle iron – a kitchen appliance that is nice to have, but a pain to store when not in use (I actually have an old Excalibur as well). Thanks for sharing your experience! chuck
I have not used a dehydrator. I tried using the oven to make apple chips and it was a disaster. Perhaps one day I’ll add a dehydrator to my kitchen gadget collection.
Or find a friend who has one you can borrow like I did 🙂
My favorite dried fruit is mango but there are some brands that add too much sugar which, for me, covers up the natural flavor of the fruit. I’d love to be able to make my own. Your pineapple turned out just perfect, Shaina!
Thank you, Stacy! I agree about some brands adding way too much sugar. That’s what I find with pineapple…and why making my own was so much better! 🙂
I love dried fruit but have never made any at home! Your pineapple looks incredible! I would snack on this all day long 🙂
Thanks, Liz! I did snack on it all day … and now I want more!
These look like an addictive snack! I do love that pineapples are available year round though – they are a tropical break when it’s snowing out 🙂
Agreed!
Dried Pineapple is so tasty and this looks super easy
Oh yeah, just slice and leave alone for 12 hours…super easy.
I have never used a dehydrator. We do eat a lot of dried fruit but I don’t know how often I would use a dehydrator and I hate to have it end up in the storage room with the rest of the gadgets I don’t use.
I know what you mean, it is so big and bulky…but I really loved having it to make these!
I used to dehydrate apples but never tried pineapple. Great snack idea!
Ohh apples are a great idea too!
Awesome!! We love dried pineapple, can’t wait to make my own
It’s addicting! You’ll love it.
A dehydrator has never been on my list of things I thought I might want in the kitchen, but these pineapple chips have me tempted!
It’s such a big machine, BUT it can save you money in the long run!
Woah! I’ve been wanting to get a dehydrator for a while now, but have been putting it off since it’s just another bulky appliance (and truth be told, I’m gunning for a smoker first!). But this makes me want one even more now!
On another note, I subscribed to your blog but for some reason I only get some of your posts? I have to look into that, because I’m missing stuff like THIS!!!