A step by step tutorial on how to dehydrate raspberries, that will help you capture the flavor of raspberries all year long.
Raspberries are a favorite in my house amongst my five kids – which is great when they are on sale for $.97 each. At one point, we had a few raspberry bushes here at our house but they didn’t grow well. I’m almost certain it was the heat here in Phoenix… it gets so hot in the summer and they require quite a significant amount of water.
In some areas of the county, raspberries grow beautifully – wild, perfect and delicious. For right now though, I buy mine at the grocery store (which means that we need to eat them rather quick before they turn!)
Thankfully, it’s really easy to dehydrate them. After they are dehydrated you can use them for granola, or even grind them down into raspberry powder.
How to Dehydrate Raspberries
- Thoroughly wash and dry your raspberries. I like to drain mine in a colander and then blot them dry with a thick towel to get as much water off of them as I can.
- Arrange the raspberries in a single layer on your dehydrator trays. Place the raspberry with the center hole facing down to allow any remaining water to drip down.
- Spritz them with a tiny bit of lemon juice or vinegar to prevent them from turning brown. Then dehydrate them at 130 degrees F for 12-18 hours.
Wash and Dry your Raspberries
Start by picking raspberries that aren’t over-ripe. If they are over-ripe (mushy, dark red) they will not dehydrate well and they might fall apart.
Wash and dry your raspberries and allow them to drain in the colander. Dump them out on a heavy (clean) towel and try to pat them dry as best as you can. Raspberries like to absorb water, they are almost like a sponge. Not to mention, the center hole tends to collect water as well.
Fill up your Dehydrator Trays
Place your raspberries face down on the dehydrator trays, making sure to provide ample space between the berries. I was able to fill up my entire dehydrator with 4 lbs of raspberries.
If you have a spray bottle, carefully spray the raspberries with a light layer of lemon juice (or vinegar). That acid will help them retain their color through the dehydrating process.
Place your trays inside the dehydrator and dry your raspberries for 12-18 hours at 130 degrees F. As time progresses, the raspberries will get lighter and crisper as the water gets pulled out of the fruit.
Store the Raspberries
Once the raspberries are done, you’ll want to store them away from light and moisture. You can vacuum pack them with a food saver attachment, or simply grind them down to powder and store that way.
I like to put mine in food saver bags and vacuum save, then pop them in the freezer for long term storage. When stored properly, raspberries will keep for up to one year.
More things you can do with your dehydrator:
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