Dehydrated apples are a healthy and delicious snack option. Dried apple slices are so easy to make in a dehydrator, the oven, or even sun dried. I use an peeler, corer to make it an even faster job as you’ll see below. Dried apples are great snacks to take on the go or apple chips to add in lunches. The natural fruit sugars are concentrated along with the flavor creating a sweet treat!
Besides being a healthier alternative dried apples or apple chips are both chewy and sweet. These delicious treats also have the same nutritional value as fresh apples and increases their shelf life. In fact, one slice of a dehydrated apple is equal to 2 slices of fresh apple. Dried apples have the same calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, sugar, and fiber as fresh apples. Dehydrated apples also remove the messy juice that leave toddlers fingers and faces all sticky and can be made bite sized for little ones. They are quick on the go snacks that are healthier than potato chips or granola bars for example.
WHAT KIND OF APPLES DO I USE? You can use any apple to dehydrate though there are some differences in taste and texture depending. The taste of dehydrated apples become more concentrated. Firm and dense apples really create apples with a nice consistency, in my opinion. Apples that are really juicy do not really hold their shape when dehydrated and can really shrivel up.
SWEET APPLES
I prefer to use sweet apples like Gala and Fuji apples. Today I am using Fuji apples to demonstrate dehydrating apples. Sweet apples taste like candy when they are dehydrated and I add cinnamon to mine before placing them on the dehydrator so we get yummy cinnamon apples when they are complete. If you want to get your loved ones to eat healthier try dehydrated fruits.
TART APPLES
Tart apples or the more acidic apples end up having a tangy taste after they are dehydrated. Some of the tart apple choices are Granny Smith and Honeycrisp where we live.
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INGREDIENTS
- Apples of your choice (I am using Fuji apples)
- Cinnamon (or you can keep them plain)
EQUIPMENT
- Apple peeler/corer (This just makes the job even easier but you can peel and slice them with a knife as well)
- Dehydrator (I am using a dehydrator as this is my preferred choice)
- Large bowl or plastic bag to mix the apple slices with cinnamon
HOW TO MAKE DEHYDRATED APPLES IN A DEHYDRATOR
PRO You can set it and forget it and go about your day unlike using an oven. CON You have to purchase a dehydrator if you don’t already have one.
1. First I am going to wash the apples
2. Next I set up my apple peeler/corer
3. One after another I peel and core every apple in the bag
4. I cut the spiraled apple rings in half and then place them in either a bag or bowl
5. Sprinkle on as much or as little cinnamon as you want and mix to coat them all well
6. One tray at a time lay your apple slices out without any of the pieces touching.
7. When you have finished stack the trays in the dehydrator and turn it on to 135 F for up to 10 hours depending on their thickness and when they are done to your liking. After three hours my slices were still pretty pliable so I checked again at about 7 hours and they were perfect. This is all dependent on how thick your apple slices are.
8. Let them cool slightly for 10 minutes or so and remove them from the trays. I find they are harder to get off later if I wait until they are completely cool. Allow them to cool completely before storing them. I am keeping mine in a glass jar on the counter because I know they will be gone within the week.
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HOW TO MAKE DEHYDRATED APPLES IN THE OVEN
Creating dehydrated apples in the oven is the same up to the point of loading them after being prepped. Preheat your oven to it’s lowest temperature with the desired temperature being 160 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the apple slices out just like in the dehydrator. If you oven does not go down to 160 F just make sure you check on the slices more frequently to make sure they do not burn. You will bake them in the oven until they are to your desired texture. Remember if you want them to be a little chewier you will take them out sooner, or bake a little longer for a crispy result.
PRO no new equipment to purchase. CON It ties up your oven and you can’t leave it un attended.
HOW TO MAKE SUN-DRIED APPLES
Again all the prep work is the same. Then you will want to treat them with lemon juice or use Ball ® Fruit fresh to help prevent browning. You will lay them out on a rack placed in a baking sheet and place them in the sun. You’ll want to cover them with mosquito netting to keep bugs away and in a place out of reach of pests. Dry for several hours to several days until the apples are dry.
PRO Minimal equipment is needed CON You have to live in the right climate and have the right weather forecast to be successful with this. You’ll need several dry days with low humidity and sun to get the perfect dried apple
HOW DO YOU STORE DEHYDRATED APPLES? After they have cooled completely you can keep them at room temperature for a few months. Even better, they will keep up to a year if kept in the freezer.
DO I NEED TO PEEL THE APPLES FIRST? No, you do not have to peel the apples first. If you want one smooth consistent color and consistency I would consider removing the peel first. If you would like a healthier snack consider leaving the peels on, plus they add a pop of color. I am using an apple peeler, corer today so the peels will be removed. Most of an apples nutrients are in their skin so removing them removes a lot of their health benefits. Leaving the skin on will give you 100% more Vitamin A and Calcium.
Pro tips... *If you are not adding cinnamon you can brush the apple slices with lemon juice to help prevent browning for a nicer color.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPLE CHIPS, RINGS, AND DRIED APPLES? The short answer is basically nothing but shape and bake time.
APPLE CHIPS
Apple chips are typically sliced like a traditional chip, though I have seen them in ring shape as well. People will typically use a mandolin to create a very thin and consistent slice. The thinner the slice the faster it will dry and crunchier it will be. You will dehydrate or bake these until crispy like a chip.
APPLE RINGS
Apple rings are basically called apple rings due to their shape. They are cross section slices of the apple. Depending on how thick or thin they are decides whether they are chewy or crispy.
DRIED APPLES
Dried apples are the tradition dehydrated pieces. They are not typically made in rings but can be if that is preferred. They are made when an apple is cored and sliced and dried to a leathery consistency so they still have a little bit of softness to them creating a chewy and sweet dried apple. Today that is what I will be making.
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For more great snack ideas.. Dehydrated Pineapple Coffee Bean Cookies Blueberry No Bake Cream Cheese Dessert Cups Strawberry Cake Cookies
Dehydrated Apples
Equipment
- 1 dehydrator
- 1 Apple peeler/corer
Ingredients
- 6 lb Fuji apples
- cinnamon
Instructions
- Wash the apples before you begin and your dehydrator trays if its been stored a while so the trays can dry while you prepare.
- Next I get my Apple peeler/corer set up and ready to go.
- One after another peel and core every apple in the bag
- Cut the spiraled apples in half and place them in a bag or a bowl
- Sprinkle the cinnamon on and add as much or little as you want coating them well.
- Next start laying the apple slices on the dehydrator trays making sure to not touch them together so they dry completely
- Then stack all of the trays back on the dehydrator and turn it on at 135℉ for up to 10 hours depending on the thickness of your slices.
- When they are at your desired crispness turn off the dehydrator and let them cool for about 10 minutes. Remove them from the tray to finish cooling completely. I find it harder to remove them nicely if they are complete dry.
- Once cooled you can store them in a sealed container on the counter for up to 3 months or freeze for up to a year. If setting them out on the counter I would check them at least once a month for moisture but mine are typically eaten within the week.