Fresh peaches are in season. One of the easiest ways to preserve them are to dry them so you can enjoy the sweet flavors of summer long after peaches season has past.
One of my favorite ways to preserve seasonal fruit is to pull out my dehydrator and make dried fruit snacks.
Making dried peaches is as easy as slicing the fruit into thin slices, arranging the slices on a dehydrator tray and dehydrating the fruit until the peach slices are pliable.
Properly stored dried fruit can last a year or longer and is a great way to preserve favorite seasonal fruits.
Ingredients
You will need fresh ripe peaches, a produce protector that prevents browning and protects the flavor of the fruit, and water to make dehydrated peaches.
- Fresh firm but ripe peaches: Free stone peaches work the best.
- Prevent fruit browning: this is optional but is worth the extra work to protect the ripe fruit before drying. I use Ball Fruit Fresh whenever I am working with fruits that brown quickly. You can also use a mixture of lemon juice and water to prevent browning.
- Water: Gently scrub the whole peaches under cold running water to remove any dirt. I like to use a plastic bowl filled with cold water.
Directions
These directions are for how to dehydrate peaches with a dehydrator.
Step 1: Wash the peaches in cold water to remove any dirt or insects.
Step 2: Mix ½ teaspoon of Fruit Fresh with one cup of water in a large bowl. Set aside.
Step 3: Using a sharp knife cut the peach in half vertically. Twist the peach in half and remove the pit. Cut each peach half in half so you have 4 quarter pieces of peach to work with.
The peeled fruit will be juicy and slippery. It is much easier to work with smaller pieces of fruit at a time.
Do you have to peel peaches before dehydrating?
Peeling peaches before dehydrating is not necessary and is an individual choice. I like to peel peaches and dried apple slices when I am drying them because the peel tends to have an unappetizing hard and tough texture.
Step 4: Ripe peaches are very easy to peel with a sharp paring knife. If the peach is ripe enough you can work an edge away from the flesh with the tip of a knife and slowly pull it away from the peach flesh of without much waste.
I prefer to peel peaches this way instead of using the quick blanch and ice water bath method.
Step 5: Place a quarter piece down on a cutting mat and cut ¼ inch slices. You don't have to be exact but the thicker the peach slice is the longer it will take to try.
Immediately place all of the peach slices into the bowl with the Fruit Fresh or lemon juice and water. Gently swish the slices around so all sides are coated with the liquid.
Continue slicing one peach at a time and adding the slices to the bowl to keep them from browning.
Step 6: Arrange the slices in a single layer on a dehydrator tray. Lining the trays with a mesh screen liner will help keep the bulky trays cleaner and to help the pieces of fruit to their hold shape.
Continue loading the trays until you run out of sliced peaches.
Step 7: Set the temperature of the dehydrator to 135 F. degrees. Load all of the trays into the dehydrator. Dehydrate the sliced peaches for 3 to 8 hours.
The amount of time it will take to dehydrate peaches will be determined by the type of food dehydrator you are using and how thick the slices have been cut.
I have two different models that I regularly use.
My round Presto dehydrator took longer then the square Excalibur dehydrator.
Step 8: Peel the pieces of dried fruit from the trays and allow to come to room temperature before checking the pieces to make sure the entire slice is completely dry. Press the thickest areas to make sure it is not mushy at all. If there are any mushy soft areas on a slice return them to the dehydrator for another hour before checking again for doneness.
Storing the fruit in an airtight container instead of a bag will extend the storage time.
For long term storage you can vacuum seal the fruit in serving sizes to extend the shelf life of dried fruit snacks for years.
How long to dehydrate peaches
It only took 3 hours for the ¼ inch thick peach slices to dry in the Excalibur dehydrator.
While in the round Presto it took 6 to 7 hours.
Both appliances were set to the same 135 F. degrees. The Excalibur air flow blows from the back of the appliance across the drying trays while the Presto airflow has to travel from the bottom of the appliance up through the trays.
The more trays you have stacked on a round dehydrator really makes a difference in the amount of time it takes for the fruit to dry completely.
Recipe FAQs
The amount of time it takes to properly dry peaches can vary. The thickness of the slices, the temperature of the dehydrator and even the model of food dehydrator used will determine how long it takes to dehydrate peaches. Drying times can vary from as little as 3 hours to as long as 12 hours.
Dehydrated peaches can last anywhere from a month to a year. Storing them properly in an airtight container is the key to prolonging the shelf life of dried fruits. If you have a vacuum sealer you can extend the shelf life of dried fruit for years.
Dehydrated peaches should be pliable when they are done. If you dry them too long the slices will become brittle. But that doesn't mean they are over dehydrated. It depends on the texture of dried peach you enjoy eating. The over dried piece will still be edible they will just be crispy.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Peach tips: Use firm but ripe peaches. If the peaches are too soft it will be impossible to cut into ¼ inch slices. The soft fruit will turn to mush as you tried to cut it into slices.
- Peeling peaches before drying: There are two methods for slicing peaches.
- Slicing: Use a sharp knife that will cut through the peach without applying too much pressure. A dull knife will need more pressure as you cut and will smash the piece of peach. I would not use a mandolin for this reason also.
- Pretreating peaches to prevent browning: Pretreating is not necessary but if you want the dried peaches be to be bright and vibrant color the extra step is worth the minimal work.
- Checking the dried peaches: You should always pick up each piece of dried fruit to check to make sure the fruit is completely dried. You can not tell just by looking at the fruit. The outside could be completely dry while thicker uneven areas could still be mushy. Press down on each dried slice and make sure you do not feel any mushy areas.
- Long term storage of dried fruits: For long term storage you can vacuum seal the fruit in serving sizes to extend the shelf life of dried fruit snacks for years.
What to use dried peaches for?
- Dried fruit snacks
- Add to granola or oatmeal
- Rehydrate by soaking in water to use in favorite peach recipes.
- Use rehydrated peaches to make peach iced tea, peach cobbler, peach jam, or rustic peach pie.
- Camping and hiking snacks.
More Dried Fruit Recipes
Stock the pantry with dried fruit snacks the family will love.
Dehydrating for the pantry
Love the idea of stocking your pantry with fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables? Check out more of my food dehydrating recipes.
- Dried herbs: Check out more of my dehydrated herbs recipes.
- Dried vegetables: Check out more of my dehydrated vegetables recipes.
- Dried fruits: Check out more of my dehydrated fruits recipes.
Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Dehydrated Peaches
Ingredients
- 6 lbs, Peaches
- 1 teaspoons Fruit Fresh (will depend on how many peaches you are drying)
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Wash the peaches in cold water to remove any dirt or insects.
- Mix ½ teaspoon of Fruit Fresh with one cup of water in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Using a sharp knife cut the peach in half vertically. Twist the peach in half and remove the pit. Cut each peach half in half so you have 4 quarter pieces of peach to work with.
- Ripe peaches are very easy to peel with a sharp paring knife. If the peach is ripe enough you can work an edge away from the flesh with the tip of a knife and slowly pull it away from the peach flesh of without much waste.
- Place a quarter piece down on a cutting mat and cut ¼ inch slices. You don't have to be exact but the thicker the peach slice is the longer it will take to try. Repeat with all peaches.
- Arrange the slices in a single layer on a dehydrator tray. Lining the trays with a mesh screen liner will help keep the bulky trays cleaner and to help the pieces of fruit to their hold shape. Continue loading the trays until you run out of sliced peaches.
- Set the temperature of the dehydrator to 135 F. degrees. Load all of the trays into the dehydrator.
- Dehydrate the sliced peaches for 3 to 8 hours.
- Peel the pieces of dried fruit from the trays and allow to come to room temperature before checking the pieces to make sure the entire slice is completely dry. Press the thickest areas to make sure it is not mushy at all. If there are any mushy soft areas on a slice return them to the dehydrator for another hour before checking again for doneness.
- Store in an air tight container.
Video
Recipe Expert Tips
- Peach tips: Use firm but ripe peaches. If the peaches are too soft it will be impossible to cut into ¼ inch slices. The soft fruit will turn to mush as you tried to cut it into slices.
- Peeling peaches before drying: There are two methods for slicing peaches.
- Slicing: Use a sharp knife that will cut through the peach without applying too much pressure. A dull knife will need more pressure as you cut and will smash the piece of peach. I would not use a mandolin for this reason also.
- Pretreating peaches to prevent browning: Pretreating is not necessary but if you want the dried peaches be to be bright and vibrant color the extra step is worth the minimal work.
- Checking the dried peaches: You should always pick up each piece of dried fruit to check to make sure the fruit is completely dried. You can not tell just by looking at the fruit. The outside could be completely dry while thicker uneven areas could still be mushy. Press down on each dried slice and make sure you do not feel any mushy areas.
- Long term storage: For long term storage you can vacuum seal the fruit in serving sizes to extend the shelf life of dried fruit snacks for years.
Kerryanne
Arlene, I really need to buy a dehydrator. Your peaches look amazing!
Thank you for sharing your dehydrated peaches tips at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I'm delighted to be featuring them at the party today and pinning also.
Hugs,
Kerryanne