How to Dry Strawberries?

People freeze strawberries or turn them into a jam to preserve them, but a better option is to dehydrate them so you can store them for a long time. Dried strawberries can be eaten as a snack, added to salads, cereals, muffins, pancakes, cookie dough, smoothies, granola, ice cream, or even yogurt.

These dried strawberries make for a delicious healthy snack and a great addition to several larger recipes. You can even crush them into a simple strawberry powder. Plus, Cyruscrafts offers dried fruit for sale in its online store—and ships it to Canada and the United States.

Choosing Strawberries to Dehydrate

The best results will come from using fully ripe, plump, bright red strawberries. Discard any bruised or dark spots; they may be moldy. Strawberries with many white spots are not quite ripe and can result in sour or tart flavors—even after cooking! 

How do I make dried strawberries?

So if you are looking to extend the life of your strawberries throughout summer (and well beyond!), we have got you covered! Here we will tell you everything you need to know about drying strawberries.

Drying Strawberries by The Sun-Dried Method

Sun drying is an easy way to preserve strawberries. First, clean and quarter each strawberry. You can leave them whole with the top removed if you prefer—make sure they are cut so they dry at the same rate. Arrange your berries skin-side down on a baking sheet covered with a screen.

Place the strawberries in direct sunlight for at least 24 hours. If your climate, humidity, and strawberry size are correct, then they will take less time to dry than others may.

Whole berries take longer to dry, giving off more moisture than cut pieces of fruit. Place them in a sunny spot and check every few days for wrinkling or softness; if so, re-dry the fruits by spreading them out on paper towels until crisp again. Do not use whole berries in humid environments because they may grow mold underneath—or inside!

Drying Strawberries in an Oven Method

You can make your own dried fruit in the oven, even if you don't have a food dehydrator. You only need patience and low heat to create this tasty treat that will fill your home with delicious smells! 

Oven drying is quicker than sun drying and is very simple to use. Use the oven to make strawberry chips or chewy candies.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees while you slice the strawberries into ⅛-inch pieces. Spread them out on a parchment paper–lined baking sheet so they don't touch each other.

Place the strawberries in an oven heated to 200 degrees and bake for 1-2 hours, until both sides are dried (you may have to flip them over halfway through). Continue baking for up to 1 hour longer if necessary.

The strawberry chips are ready when the slices are crisp and easily snap in half without bending. Allow them to cool completely before putting them in an airtight container.

How to Dehydrate Strawberries in a Food Dehydrator?

Dehydrating strawberries is a straightforward process—a great ingredient for beginners! Once your berries are prepped, set up your dehydrator and follow these steps:

Place the strawberries on your dehydrator's trays. If you use a tray with large holes, line it with parchment paper or, better yet, a mesh liner cut to size. (Leave space between pieces so that air can circulate them.)

First, dry strawberries on a baking sheet and place them in the oven at 135ºF (57ºC) for 6 to 12 hours.

Depending on your machine, you may need to rotate the trays periodically so that they all get equal exposure to the drying elements.

How to store dried Strawberries

If you are dehydrating strawberries for snacking on them within a week or two, store them in a sealed container or zip-top bag in your pantry. Let them cool before placing them in their containers so they are not damaged by condensation during transfer. Dehydrated strawberries can last over a year if dried thoroughly and stored correctly.

If you want to learn more about dried fruits and their benefits, look at this list of other blogs:

• Raisins in Water
• Everything You Should Know About Green Raisins
• You Should Know These Facts About Anjeer