Dehydrated fruits can provide the sweet taste and satisfaction you may be missing in your diet if you’re watching your sugar content because of weight issues or if you have a health condition like heart disease or diabetes. When you dehydrate fruits and eat them as a snack or in meals you can stop worrying about adding refined sugar for an added boost of sweetness.
First, know how to choose the fruits best for dehydration such as strawberries, apricots and apples. Then, you should learn about the best methods for dehydration to draw out the natural sweetness and health benefits of the fruits.
Whatever type of dehydrator you use, you’ll need to know the types of fruits which are best dried and can offer the most benefits and taste. Here are some fruits to try so you’ll get the most out of your dehydrating efforts:
Blueberries
High in beneficial antioxidants, blueberries can just be placed in the dehydrator until dry and crunchy. They are very sweet and perfect to sprinkle on your morning cereal or yogurt.
Apricots
Great for a quick and nutritional snack, apricots are a great fruit for the dehydrator. Choose apricots that aren’t green or overripe, but are a light orange in color and firm to the touch.
Tomatoes
You will love the tangy, but sweet taste of dehydrated tomatoes. Use them in stews and other recipes to add vitamins, minerals and an awesome taste. You can even grind the dried tomatoes and make seasoning power or make purees and ketchup.
Apples
This fruit is one of the best choices for dehydrating. Use them to dip into peanut butter or use them in compotes and make applesauce. For best results, select ripe and crisp apples of any type. Slice the ends of the apple and then slice into thin round (you can leave the peels on). Pop out the seeds and you’re ready to dehydrate.
Bananas
Bananas provide quick energy and are great as an on-the-go snack. They are a great source of Vitamin C, K, A, choline, niacin, riboflavin, potassium and much more. Transform them into chips with your dehydrator by first chilling and then slicing into rounds.
Strawberries
So sweet and tasty, dehydrated strawberries are wonderful on cereal or mixed with yogurt. Choose strawberries in season and wash and hull them first. Let them drain in a colander before slicing and hulling. Be sure to slice the strawberries either crossway or top to tip and be sure theyÕre even in thickness so they’ll dry evenly.
Investing in an inexpensive dehydrator can be one of the best choices you will ever make to ensure the vitamin-rich and great taste of fruits all year long.
