Dehydrating Fruit With An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Dehydrating fruit is a great way to create healthy snacks for work, school lunches, breakfast, and more. While it may sound complex, it's actually simple to do at home, especially if you have an air fryer. Air fryers are versatile kitchen appliances that can be used for air frying, baking, roasting, broiling, and reheating food. They can also be used for dehydrating fruit, meat, vegetables, and even seeds and nuts.

Air fryers with a dehydrate setting make the process extremely simple. All you need to do is place your chosen food in the air fryer basket and turn the setting to dehydrate. The air fryer will then circulate warm air around the food to remove excess moisture. However, even if your air fryer doesn't have a dehydrate setting, you can still dehydrate food by setting the lowest temperature possible (around 80 degrees Celsius or 125-145 degrees Fahrenheit) and leaving the food to dehydrate for several hours.

The time it takes to dehydrate food will depend on the type of food and the moisture content. For example, apples, which are juicy, will take longer to dehydrate than kale, which doesn't hold much moisture. It's also important to cut the food into thin slices (around 1/4-inch thick) to ensure even dehydration.

How to dehydrate fruit in an air fryer without a dehydrate setting

Dehydrating fruit in an air fryer is a simple process and a great way to make healthy snacks without investing in a dehydrator. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to dehydrate fruit in an air fryer without a dehydrate setting:

Step 1: Prepare the Fruit

Cut your chosen fruit into thin slices or strips, aiming for a thickness of around 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch. The thinner the slices, the faster they will dehydrate and the crispier the texture. You can leave small fruits like berries and grapes whole. If desired, you can soak the fruit in lemon juice or sugar water before dehydrating to enhance the flavour and preserve the colour. Ensure the fruit is thoroughly dry before placing it in the air fryer.

Step 2: Set Up the Air Fryer

Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. Place the fruit slices in the basket, ensuring they do not overlap and that there is good air circulation. If your air fryer has a dehydrate setting, use this. If not, set the temperature to the lowest setting possible, ideally 125°F to 145°F.

Step 3: Dehydrate the Fruit

Place the basket in the air fryer and let it run for 30 minutes. Then, flip the fruit slices and dehydrate for another 15 minutes. Check the fruit regularly to prevent burning. The fruit is done when the centres are hard to the touch. Depending on the fruit and the thickness of the slices, the total dehydrating time can range from 1 to 6 hours.

Step 4: Cool and Store the Fruit

Once the fruit is dehydrated, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool down for at least 6 hours, or up to 24 hours for the best results. This step continues the drying process and locks in the flavours. After cooling, store the dried fruit in airtight containers in a cool, dry, and dark place. Properly stored, your homemade dried fruit can last up to six months!

The benefits of using an air fryer over an oven for dehydrating fruit

Dehydrating fruit is a great way to create healthy snacks and add tasty treats to breakfasts and lunches. While it is possible to use an oven to dehydrate fruit, there are several benefits to using an air fryer instead.

Speed

Air fryers work more quickly than ovens thanks to their controlled and circulating heat. Dehydrating fruit in an oven can take up to 12 hours, whereas an air fryer can reduce this time by a few hours. For example, dehydrating strawberries in an oven takes around 6 hours, but in an air fryer, this time is reduced to 4 hours.

Energy efficiency

Using an oven to dehydrate fruit is not the most energy-efficient method. Air fryers, on the other hand, are designed to circulate hot air around food, cooking at very high temperatures for short periods. This means that air fryers can achieve the same result as an oven in a shorter amount of time and with less energy usage.

Counter space

Air fryers are compact appliances that can perform multiple functions, including dehydration, baking, broiling, roasting, and reheating. This means that you don't need to invest in a separate dehydrator, which would take up additional counter space.

Customization

Air fryers allow you to customize the flavours, textures, and consistency of your dried fruit. You can dehydrate fruit at various temperatures, with lower temperatures resulting in a chewier texture and higher temperatures leading to a crispier texture. You can also add flavour enhancers before air frying to intensify the taste.

Clean-up

Dehydrating fruit in an oven can be a messy process. Air fryers, on the other hand, are known for being easy to clean. Using parchment paper to line the air fryer basket can make clean-up even easier and help prevent the fruit from sticking or burning.

The best fruits to dehydrate in an air fryer

Dehydrating fruit in an air fryer is a simple process and a great way to create tasty, healthy snacks. It is also a lot cheaper than buying dried fruit from the store.

To dehydrate fruit in an air fryer, start by slicing the fruit into thin strips or discs, no thicker than half an inch. Place the fruit in the air fryer basket, ensuring the pieces do not overlap. Set the air fryer to its lowest temperature setting, ideally no higher than 80 degrees Celsius or 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Check and turn the fruit every 30 minutes or so to ensure even drying and to prevent burning. The dehydration process can take anywhere from one to six hours, depending on the fruit.

Once the fruit is dry, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool down for at least six hours, but preferably up to 24 hours. This step will further dry out the fruit and lock in the flavours. Finally, store the dehydrated fruit in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

How to prepare fruit for dehydration in an air fryer

Preparing fruit for dehydration in an air fryer is a simple process.

Firstly, select your fruit of choice. You can dehydrate most fruits, but some popular options include oranges, apples, bananas, and berries.

Next, slice the fruit into thin pieces. Aim for slices that are less than half an inch thick to speed up the dehydration process and ensure they don't crumble once dried. For smaller fruits like berries, you can leave them whole.

If you're using citrus fruits, you can include the rind in the dehydration process. You can also mix different types of fruits, like oranges and blood oranges, to add variety in colour.

Once sliced, pat the fruit dry with a clean cloth. You can also soak the fruit in lemon juice or sugar water to enhance preservation and add flavour. However, ensure the surface of the fruit is completely dry before placing it in the air fryer.

Now, you're ready to arrange the fruit in the air fryer basket. Ensure the slices don't overlap and that there's good air circulation. If your air fryer has a dehydrate function, use that setting. If not, set the air fryer to the lowest temperature setting possible, ideally 80 degrees Celsius or lower.

For those without a dehydrate function, you may need to flip the fruit slices halfway through the process to ensure even dehydration. Check the fruit regularly to prevent burning, and remove the slices when they are hard to the touch.

Using parchment paper to line the air fryer basket can make cleanup easier and help prevent sticking.

Dehydrating fruit in an air fryer typically takes around 4 to 6 hours, depending on the fruit. Once the dehydration process is complete, remove the fruit and let it cool for at least 6 hours before storing it in an airtight container.

How long to dehydrate fruit in an air fryer

Dehydrating fruit in an air fryer is an easy and cost-effective way to make delicious snacks. The time it takes to dehydrate fruit in an air fryer depends on the type of fruit you are using. For example, apples, which are known for being juicy, will take longer than kale, which doesn't hold on to much excess moisture once it's been picked.

If your air fryer has a dehydrate function, simply place your fruit of choice in the basket and turn the setting to "dehydrate". Most fruit will dehydrate at 175ºF (79.4ºC) and the process usually takes about 4 hours. However, the time can vary from 1 to 6 hours depending on the fruit. For example, dehydrating strawberries, tomatoes, and bananas in an air fryer takes about 4 hours, while carrots take 3 hours, and kale takes just 1 hour.

If your air fryer doesn't have a dehydrate function, you can still dehydrate fruit by using the lowest temperature setting available, ideally 120-140ºF (48.9-60ºC) or 80ºC or lower. Cut your fruit into thin strips, about 5-6mm thick, and pat the surface dry with a clean cloth. Place the fruit in the basket of your air fryer, ensuring the pieces don't overlap. Check and shake the basket every hour to turn the fruit and prevent sticking. The dehydrating process in an air fryer can take anywhere from 1 to 6 hours, depending on the fruit.

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