Strawberries are a delicious fruit that are full of nutrition and they burst with sweetness and flavour too! Only problem is they can go bad quickly, but this is no longer a problem as I will show you, how to dehydrate strawberries. When you dry strawberries out, this locks in the flavour and nutrients, it also adds months to their shelf life! …. Plus, you can use dried strawberries for so many things too! Keep reading to find out more.
Strawberries are pretty much available all year rounds these days, however ones bought during the summer months (their peak season) are usually much sweeter! Strawberries offer so much sweetness and goodness, the only disappointing thing with these is that they can go bad quickly, as they become too ripe to enjoy. BUT I have a super simple solution for you, so you can preserve the freshness and extend the shelf life of your strawberries and it’s called dehydration.
Dehydrating or drying your strawberries is a simple process and, we will go through what dehydration is, how you dehydrate strawberries, what you need to dehydrate Strawberries and what to do if you don’t have a dehydrator, what are the many benefits to dehydrating strawberries, shelf life of dehydrated strawberries and what you can use dehydrated strawberries for.
What is dehydration
This is a process that draws out moisture from food to preserve it and extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Dehydration can be achieved by using a dehydrating machine, these can be purchased relatively cheaply or by using and electric fan oven. Dehydration is achieved by setting your dehydrator to a low temperature and using its fan to draw out any moisture content it has locked in it.
What do you need to dehydrate Strawberries
Fresh Strawberries – if they have just started to go a little soft they are still fine for this process.
A dehydrator or a fan oven – A dehydrator is an electric machine that uses a fan to draw out moisture from fruit, vegetable or whatever is in it.
A knife – to evenly slice your strawberries.
Lemon Juice – This is optional but if you want to preserve the colour or you find your strawberries loose some of their flavour you can dip your sliced strawberries in fresh lemon juice prior to placing these in your dehydrator.
But what if you don’t have a dehydrator?
That’s fine, you can use a fan oven. Set the oven to the fan setting and the lowest temperature it has and this will do the same job as a dehydrator. You will need to place your sliced strawberries on a wire rack with a tray underneath this.
How long does it take to dehydrate Strawberies
Dehydration of your strawberries can take between 8-24 hours. Dehydration time will depend on the climate you live in, the type of dehydrator that you use and the thickness of your sliced strawberries.
How you dehydrate strawberries
Step 1
First you need to select your strawberries, it’s crucial to choose ripe and firm strawberries. Look for ones that are vibrant red strawberries and with a sweet aroma. By choosing good-quality strawberries you ensure your dried strawberries will still be bursting with flavour and colour.
Step 2
Wash and Prepare your Strawberries by gently rinsing the strawberries under cool running water. Then place these on paper towel for a few minutes so any excess water can drain off, if there are any that need a little extra drying just pat these dry with paper towel. Next Remove the green leaves pulling these off with your fingers.
Step 3
Slice your Strawberries evenly, approximately ¼ inch thick as this helps with the dehydration and consistent drying time. By slicing your strawberries this allows for better air circulation and helps the strawberries to dehydrate more efficiently.
Step 4
This is not a vital step, but if you find that your strawberries lose any colour or taste during the dehydration process you can give them a pre-treatment. To pre-treat lightly dip the strawberry slices in lemon juice before you place them in the dehydrator as this can help enhance their flavour and colour. This step is purely optional and can be skipped if desired.
Step 5
Place your Strawberries in the dehydrator and spread the strawberry slices evenly on the dehydrator trays. Make sure the strawberries do not overlap. Set the dehydrator to a temperature of about 50°C (122°F) to make sure you preserve the nutrients and achieve the correct texture. Leave the strawberries to dehydrate for approximately 8 to 24 hours. Dehydration time will depend on your climate, the thickness of your strawberries and the dehydrator that you are using etc. You want your strawberries to be dry to the touch and appear slightly leathery looking.
Step 6
Allow your dehydrated strawberries to fully cool and then store these in an airtight container or zip lock bag. To prolonged shelf life it’s advisable to store your dehydrated strawberries in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and any moisture.
What are the benefits to dehydrating strawberries
When you dehydrate strawberries this significantly extends their shelf life. So you can enjoy the strawberries summer flavors all year long.
By dehydrating strawberries this removes the water content from strawberries and in turn intensifies their natural sweetness. Dehydrated strawberries are packed with flavour and therefore this makes them a great healthy snack. These are also a great treat to pop into your child’s lunch box too.
Dehydrated strawberries are a great on the go snack just pop these in a pot, into your bag. With dehydrated strawberries you also don’t have to worry about them going squishy too. They also take up less space than fresh strawberries too!
Dehydrated strawberries can be used in a so many different ways not just for on the go snacks. Did you know you can rehydrate the strawberries? Just add these to baked goods, cereals, yogurt, or smoothies to add that sweet strawberry taste. You can crush dehydrated strawberries or powder them to create strawberry infused seasonings or garnishes to different salads or dishes. With their vibrant colour too you can even just use these for decoration purposes.
Dehydrated strawberries also retain most of their nutritional benefits too, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibre. They are a convenient way to get the goodness of strawberries into your diet, all year round.
Shelf life of dehydrated strawberries
If you store these properly and you have removed all the moisture these can last about 6 months.
What you can use dehydrated strawberries for
Dehydrated strawberries can be used in so many different ways, including on the go snacks and packed lunches, in salads or other dishes. You could also add to your breakfast, smoothies, baking projects or to infuse oils and seasonings with. I also like to break these down and sprinkle over some of my cakes for extra decoration. I am sure if you think creatively enough, they can probably be used in pretty much anything!
Final word
Dehydrating strawberries is a quick and simple process which allows you to preserve the sweet flavors of these delicious berries, so you never have to waste these again. It can also ensure you can always have some in the cupboard too. So, the next time you have some left over strawberries that you don’t know what to do with them, wash, slice and pop these in your dehydrator to lock in their flavour and goodness so you can enjoy all year round.
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