How to dehydrate apples (easy dried apple recipe)

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Do you have access to fresh apples and have too many to possibly eat? Would you like to know how to preserve them for the months ahead? Dehydrating your apples is a great way to continue to enjoy your apple harvest. This post walks you through everything you need to know about dehydrating apples to preserve them and keep them shelf stable. Learn how to source, slice, dry and store apples, so that you can enjoy them as a healthy snack well beyond apple season.

What are dehydrated apples?

Dehydrated apples are apples that have been dried to a point where they are shelf stable, meaning that you can store them for a long period of time without them going bad. Homemade ehydrated apples are the perfect snack as they contain no added sugar or preservatives and are a great source of fibre and antioxidants. They are great on their own or in a trail mix, we love to take them hiking!

When are apples in season?

In our area, apples are generally in season in late summer/early autumn, but seasonality of apples can vary greatly depending on the type of apple trees in your area and your location/climate. Towards the end of summer I like to keep an eye on the roadside apple trees, as this gives me a good indication of when I’ll need to start foraging and preserving. I also like to keep an eye out for apples that are being sold by local organic growers, as you can sometimes get seconds apples which are perfectly fine for preserving. 

Where can you source an abundance of apples?

You can source apples from wherever you like, but I encourage you to think about when they’re in season in your area, as this will generally mean you can get apples more cheaply. As I mentioned, I like to forage from roadside apple trees, as these are free! It’s a good idea to make sure that no chemical spraying has occurred around areas that you are foraging. If in doubt, contact your local shire council. 

Fortunately for me, I have a few good friends that have apple trees on their property, and they are more than happy to share their excess. I like to trade something I’ve made/grown for some of their apples, it’s such a win-win!

How do you store dried apples?

Storing dried apples is simple, and homemade dehydrated apples can be stored for up to a year in the right conditions. Here are some storage tips to help you get the most out of your apple harvest.

• Allow apples to cool completely before storing them.
• Store your dried apples in a clear air tight container. Use moisture absorbing sachets if you live in an area with high humidity. You can also vacuum seal your dried apples for longer storage.
• Make sure they are completely dry before storing them. If you see any condensation on the jar/container, this means that they contain moisture. Remove them from their container and place them back in the dehydrator for another few hours until they are completely dry. Check for signs of mould. If you see any mould you need to discard the batch.
• Label the container with the date so that you know how long you’ve had them.
• Place your containers/jars of apples in a cool, dark, dry place.

What are the best varieties of apples for drying?

There’s a huge variety of apples out there, and most of them are suitable for dehydrating. Personally, I think that the best apples to use are the ones that you can find locally for good a reasonable price. Here are a few good choices:

• Golden Delicious
• Pink Lady
• Royal Gala
• Granny Smith
• Red Delicious

What equipment do you need to make dried apples?

You need some basic equipment to dehydrate apples. These include:

• Apple peeler
• Apple corer
• Sharp knife
• Chopping board
• Large bowl
• Food dehydrator – I love my dehydrator. I use it for drying food/herbs, making yoghurt and sometimes use it for my sourdough bulk fermentation.

Alternative dehydrator options – oven with light on, or set to 60 degrees Celcius. Solar dehydrator. Drying rack set above or beside a wood stove to dry apples.

What ingredients do you need to dehydrate apples?

• Apples
• Lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
• Cold water
• Ice
• Optional: cinnamon

How to dehydrate apples

Source apples

Look for apples that are inexpensive and in season. You can try a few different varieties to see which ones you prefer for your dried apples. I really like Gala and Golden Delicious apples.

Prepare lemon water bath

In a large bowl half filled with cold water, place 6-12 large ice cube and allow the water temperature to drop.

Squeeze half a lemon into the water, or add 1/4 cup lemon just. This lemon water bath will be used to dunk your apple slices and prevent them from turning brown.

Core and peel apples

Start by giving your apples a good wash under running water.

Working on one apple at a time (to prevent browning), core and peel your apple. Peeling is optional, I actually prefer to leave the skin on sometimes, and just remove any blemishes.

You can save the apple peels and cores to make some apple cider vinegar if you like (recipe coming soon).

Slice and soak in lemon water bath

Slice apple to the desired thickness and shape. You can use a mandolin slicer, but I prefer to use a sharp knife. 

Be aware that the slices will become thinner as they dry. The thickness of the slices will determine how long it takes to dry in the dehydrator. The thicker the slices, the longer they will take to dry.

I like to slice mine into apple rings or thin slices about 3mm thick, but it really comes down to personal preference.

Place apple slices straight into the lemon iced water bath and submerge them, then continue onto the rest of the apples until you have filled the bowl.

Place on drying racks

Remove the apple slices and place on dehydrator racks or baking sheet in a single layer. If you wish, you can lightly sprinkle your apple slices with cinnamon. This makes for a delicious variation to the plain dehydrated apple slices (a handy tip from a friend of mine).

Dehydrate

Place in the dehydrator and set to 60 degrees Celsius, or in the oven set to the 60-65 degrees Celsius if possible. Allow the apple slices to dehydrate for 4-8 hours depending on the thickness and the moisture content of the apple slices.

Check apples occasionally to ensure they are not drying too much, otherwise they may become crispy like apple chips (unless this is the goal!) If using an oven, you may need to prop the oven door open with the handle of a wooden spoon to ensure that the heat isn’t too high.  It’s a good idea to measure the temperature of the oven with a thermometer to make sure that the temperature is correct.

You can taste the apples to make sure that they are dried to the desired texture. They should be chewy and you shouldn’t be able to detect any apple ‘juice’ when you chew them.

Store your dehydrated apples

Once the apples are dried, allow them to cool to room temperature. and place them in an air-tight container, preferably transparent. I like to use a large mason jar. Place them in a cool, dark, dry place and check on them after a few days to make sure that there is no condensation evident. If there is, return the slices to the dehydrator and dry for a further one hour at a time until they are completely dry.

You can store your dehydrated apples for up to 12 months.