I've been checking the archives and haven't seen an exact answer to this question. How do I dehydrate apples in a kitchen oven? I plan to peel, slice into rings, dip into lemon juice, but the part I'm not sure about is what temperature should I set the oven to, and how long should I expect the drying process to take? Anybody else dry apples in their oven? Macs are my favorite apple and they are perfectly ripe now in Maine. I'm chopping some for freezing right now and thought I'd have a go at drying as well. Might make a nice cheap, healthy snack for the kids 'cause we really aren't expecting to be employed through the winter. So I'm playing squirrell. :)

-- Nancy in Maine (paintme61@yahoo.com), September 28, 2001

Answers

Nancy,

Even though I do mine in a dehydrator, doing them in the oven is not much different. Unless it is an electric oven. If it is gas, the pilot light should be enough heat. You will probably have to turn and rotate the apple slices and it may take a day or two until they are dry enough. You want them pliable and softer than leather. If it is an electric oven, even on low it is too high. You should never dry above 145-165*.

If your oven is in a wood cookstove. Put the slices in the warming ovens if you have them.

When they are dried, just put them in a jar or zip lock bag. They are delicious.

You can also make applesauce and turn that into fruit leather.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), September 28, 2001.

Hi Nancy, I just dehydrated some, but did it in a dehydrator. It says that Drying Temperature is 150 degrees. Apples it says to Pare, core and cut in slices or rings, Drain and place on tray. You can pretreat with lemon juice for 2-3 minutes prior to drying. I used fruit fresh and just dipped them in (1tsp for 1 ltr.water). Dry Time- 23 hrs. Dryness test- pliable, slightly crisp. If you wish to rehydrate, cover w/hot water and soak for 10-15 min. ~~~ I also dehydrated some peaches, plums, nectarines and bananas. Peaches took the longest at 42 hrs when halved or quartered. I made little diced peices so they got done with the other fruit at 36 hrs. YUMMY! :o) Have fun!

-- notnow (notnow05@yahoo.com), September 28, 2001.

Thanks for the quick responses and the helpful info. I should have specified what type of oven I have. It's gas, but no pilot. It's the kind with an electric igniter. The burners have flints. (click-click-click-click-poof!) I experimented this afternoon and turned my oven on it's lowest setting (170) and was surprised at how long it took! Maybe I'll invest in a dehydrater someday. The fruit leather idea sounds good too. We tasted what I dried and Wooooo! Are they sour! I think some cinnamon and sugar are in order. :) I do believe I have some fruit fresh in the cupboard, I'll dig that out and give that a go rather than the lemon juice. I imagine the reson for using either is only asthetic, so they don't turn brown? I will be putting in an old kitchen cookstove (as soon as we figure out how to put it all back together) so maybe I can dry my apples with that.

Thanks again! I appreciate it.

-- Nancy in Maine (paintme61@yahoo.com), September 28, 2001.

Nancy: My husband's grandmother was very frugal--she dried fruit in the front and back windows of their cars. It worked. I ve not tried it but plan sometime.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), September 29, 2001.

That's funny! But why not? Should work just fine. :)

-- Nancy in Maine (paintme61@yahoo.com), September 29, 2001.