How to Dry your own Fruit

Drying Fruit

Dried fruit slices and peels are a great way to give your home a country prim look.  They are fragrant and can be added to potpourri blends, fixins blends, wreaths, swags.  They also make pretty and fragrant gift package decorations.  When they are placed around candles, especially bakery candles, they give a nice country prim look.

The pic above is of an orange fixins blend.  It combines dried orange slices and orange peels with fragrant spices like cinnamon sticks, allspice, and cloves.  The look and smell is very seasonal and makes a great addition to country prim home decor.

The easiest way to dry fruit slices is to use a dehydrator.  If you do not have a dehydrator, you can use the standard oven method.

To dry apple slices using the oven method, core your apples and slice them about 1/4 inch thick.  In order to prevent them from oxidizing and turning brown during the process, dip the slices into a solution of 2 cups lemon juice and 3 tablespoons salt.  Make sure the slices are well soaked for about 15 minutes.  After you remove them, pat them dry with paper towels and place them on cookie sheets and dry for about 6 hours at 150 degrees.  Keep the oven door slightly ajar to ensure good air circulation.  Turn the slices when they start to curl.

For oranges, slice them about 1/4 inch thick and gently squeeze out as much of the moisture as possible without squeezing and misshaping the slices.  Then place the slices on a cookie sheet and dry for about 6 hours at 150 degrees.  As with the apples, keep the oven door slighty ajar for air circulation.

This HOW TO was provided by Tina at TC Fragrance Crafts. Thanks Tina!

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