How To Dry Cranberries at Home | Dehydrated Cranberries
Making Dried Cranberries
Fresh cranberries are only available for a short period of time here in Michigan. Typically in the Fall and served at Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can use the oven or a dehydrator and make dehydrated cranberries to last year-round (and save money).
I’m sharing my experience and problems I had when we made our own dried cranberries with my dehydrator.
Note: Get the most for your money and buy your cranberries when they are on sale.
What Do I Need to Dehydrate Cranberries?
You need washed cranberries to dehydrate them. They can be fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries.
Can I Use Frozen Cranberries or Do They Need to Be Fresh Cranberries?
You can use fresh or frozen cranberries. You will need to chop them before dehydrating. I would try to chop them when the are partially frozen or thawed. They may be to hard to chop when fully frozen to do by hand and you would need a food processor to chop slightly)
Do I Need to Cut Cranberries Before Dehydrating?
If you attempt to dehydrate cranberries while they are whole, it will take several days for them to dehydrate. We attempted to dehydrate them for 36 hours and they were still not dehydrated. Dehydrating them when cut in half, the cranberries dehydrated within 14 hours at 150F.
I attempted to dehydrate whole cranberries in the dehyrator. After 3 days, they still were not dehyrated. I tried poking them with a fork, pressing them flat with a rolling pin. I ended up with flat leathery (and still not dry) cranberries.
What Temperature Do I Dehydrate Cranberries?
Dehydrate your chopped cranberries at 150F (65.55 Celsius) for at least 14 hours in a dehydrator. If you are drying cranberries in the oven, check the cranberries to ensure they are not browning and only drying.
Do I Add Sugar to While Dehydrating Cranberries?
These are sugar free dried cranberries, no added sugars are needed. You can add sugar to your recipes when using the cranberries. You could potentially create a mess in your dehydrator if you add sugar to the cranberries.
How Do I Know When The Cranberries Are Completely Dehydrated?
The cranberries will be dry, not sticky. If you pinch one, it should be hard or crumble into cranberry powder.
How Should I Store Cranberries to Keep Them Fresh?
Dried cranberries should be stored in an airtight container. For long term storage, we use a vacuum sealer for our jars or food saver bags portioned out for recipes. I personally like the jars as I can reseal if we don’t use it all. Airtight container should only be used for short term use or if you are storing in the freezer.
What Is the Measurement of Dry Versus Fresh Cranberries?
Use 1 cup of dried cranberries to 2 cups of fresh whole cranberries. You could even use 3/4 cup dried to 2 cups fresh if you have crushed them like suggested and want to use fewer cranberries.
How Do I Rehydrate Dried Cranberries?
Place cranberries in a bowl, covering with hot water and let sit for 15-20 minutes and discard water. You can also place cranberries covered in hot liquid in the microwave and heat up for 30 seconds and let them sit for 5 minutes. You can also heat liquid you have for your recipe and let the cranberries soak in it for 20 minutes and then use in your recipe.
Homemade Dried Cranberries Tips
wash the cranberries and remove any spoiled cranberries or rocks
cranberries can be fresh cranberries or semi-thawed frozen cranberries
rough chop the whole cranberries at least in half
place on silicone mat on dehydrator trays to catch small pieces
if dehydrated cranberries in the oven, use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
cranberries should be in 1 layer on tray for best dehydrating
check on cranberries to ensure they are drying
inspect dried fruit and pick out any moist or squishy berries (if there are a lot, you can reprocess those or make cookies)
allow the cranberries to remain in the dehydrator on the cooling rack until cool completely
Store dried cranberries in an airtight container or use a vacuum sealer (date jar), vacuum bags
How to Dry Cranberries at Home
Equipment
Ingredients
- fresh washed cranberries
Instructions
- Place cranberries in bowl and fill with water. Let the cranberries sit. Pick out any spoiled cranberries and remove any rocks.
- Drain cranberries and remove water.
- Place the cranberries on the cutting board and chop them at least once. This will allow the cranberries to dry quicker. Chop the cranberries to the consitency you want, remembering they will shrink as they dry.
- Put the chopped cranberries onto the silicone mat and place on the dehydrator rack, filling the mat as full as possible.
- Place the rack into the dehydrator, repeating process until all the cranberries are chopped and in the dehydrator.
- Turn the dehydrator on to 150℉ (65.5 ℃) for 14 hours.
- After 14 hours, check to ensure the cranberries are dry and not sticky. Dry longer if needed.
- Once dry, turn off dehydrator and allow to cool.
- Inspect the berries to find any berries that are not dried completely and set aside.
- Place the dried berries in a jar and vacuum seal. Making sure to date and label.You could also place into a food saver bag and airtight container, depending on when you are using the cranberries.
Video
Notes
Homemade Dried Cranberries Tips
- wash the cranberries and remove any spoiled cranberries or rocks
- cranberries can be fresh cranberries or semi-thawed frozen cranberries
- rough chop the whole cranberries at least in half
- place on silicone mat on dehydrator trays to catch small pieces
- if dehydrated cranberries in the oven, use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
- cranberries should be in 1 layer on tray for best dehydrating
- check on cranberries to ensure they are drying
- inspect dried fruit and pick out any moist or squishy berries (if there are a lot, you can reprocess those or make cookies)
- allow the cranberries to remain in the dehydrator on the cooling rack until cool completely
- Store dried cranberries in an airtight container or use a vacuum sealer (date jar), vacuum bags
