Tips for Dehydrating Cherries at Home
Preserving Fresh Cherries
Do you love to bake with dehydrated cherries, but don’t like the price? Same. It can be expensive to purchase dried cherries. It’s less expensive if you (already) have a dehydrator, though buying one gives you so many options to preserve your own food. You will also know what went into preserving your cherries.
Use your delicious dried cherries to make cherry scones, muffins and dried fruit snacks.
What is Needed to Dry Cherries?
washed pitted cherries (dry)
bowls
colander
cutting board
knife
cherry pitter
dehydrator & dehydrator trays (we suggest plastic trays)
pastry scraper
What Kind of Cherries to Use
Start out by deciding what you want to use the cherries for. Is it for baking, eating as a snack? What are your favorite cherries? Or maybe it’s as simple as these cherries are on sale at the store or the trees you have planted have given you more than you can eat fresh.
Once you have your answer, those are the cherries that you will want to preserve. Be sure to write on the packages what they are, so you can easily find the kind you want, if you are drying several cherry varieties.
Sour Cherries versus Sweet Cherries
Select the fresh cherries you enjoying eating and baking with. Either are perfect dehydrated. Be sure to take the whole cherries and half them to dehydrate and most important, label. If you are dehydrating a lot of fresh fruit, you may not recognize it as dried fruit or dried cherries as the shape and color changes.
Can I Dehydrate Cherries in the Oven?
I have not done this, but it can be done. It is something you can definitely do if you don’t have a dehydrator. I would be concerned about the heat from the oven and the fruit burning, so keep an eye on it if you try this method.
Where Can I Store Dried Cherries?
Dehydrated cherries that have been vacuum sealed can be stored in a cool dark place 40F or and will last up to 2 years. If stored at 70F they will last 12 months. If you do not put in vacuum sealed containers, store at 70F in a cool dry place.
Tips to Dry Cherries
freezing cherries and thawing will remove extra juice and speed up the dehydrating
fresh cherries should be washed and pitted should be dehydrated quickly to prevent fruit spoiling
check to make sure the cherries are completely dry before storing
whole cherries should be cut cherries in half to speed up drying
use a plastic dehydrator tray as they are easier to remove cherries or use silicone mats
store dried cherries in an airtight container in a cool dark area
pit cherries and halve after washing to speed drying time
- love to dehydrated? Try dehydrating apples.
Preserve Sweet & Delicious Cherries | Dehydrated Fruit
Ingredients
- washed pitted cherries
Instructions
- Wash and then pit cherries, removing stems.
- Place cherries in freezer bags and allow to freeze for several hours (or overnight). You can skip this step, but dehydrating may take longer)
- Thaw the cherries and then drain the excess juice.
- Place the cherries on the cutting board and cut in half, checking for any missed pits.
- Place the cherries on the dehydrator tray and fill.
- Dehydrate at 135F/57C for 24 hours, or until the cherries are dried.
- Remove the cherries using a bench scraper (optional) and portion into freezer bags and freeze.
- You can also use a food saver and store the bags in the freezer.
- Serve in your scones, muffins, in fruit & nut mix.
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