Knowing how to dehydrate peaches is the gift that keeps on giving. The unique snack can be used in endless ways, and dehydrating is a great way to use an abundance of peaches!
Learning how to dehydrate peaches may seem daunting, but it’s very easy-to-learn. Keep reading for a step-by-step tutorial of everything you should know about how to dehydrate peaches, including required supplies and different methods!
Why Should I Dehydrate Peaches?
Dehydrating peaches is a fantastic way to prevent food waste by extending the life of this beloved fruit.
Dehydrated peaches make for a great healthy snack on their own, but their addition to various dishes can take your meals to new heights.
Oatmeal, homemade granola, trail mix, ice cream, pies, and even fresh salads can benefit from adding the unique element of dried peaches.
How to Pick Out the Best Peaches to Dehydrate
Knowing how to dehydrate peaches means knowing which peaches are the best for the job. Ideally, your peaches should be ripe– but not too ripe. Soft peaches take longer to dehydrate, but provide a better and sweeter flavor.
If your peaches are overripe, they may struggle to dehydrate properly. On the other hand, peaches that aren’t ripe enough will lack flavor and give you more difficulty when removing the peel.
If you’re wondering if you can dehydrate frozen peaches– you can! However, frozen peaches have a lot more moisture than fresh peaches and therefore take longer to dehydrate.
Prepping Your Peaches
Before you get started, there are some things to know about prepping your peaches before you dehydrate them.
Peeling
Peeling the skin off your fruit is an optional part of dehydrating peaches.
Most people choose to peel peaches, but ultimately the decision is up to you– fruit skin doesn’t change the dehydration process. However, keeping the skin on can help with added health benefits, such as additional fiber and antioxidants.
If you prefer to remove the skin, there are two easy methods you can choose from.
Using a Knife
The traditional method of peach peeling involves carefully using a paring knife or fruit peeler to remove the skin. Although effective, this method can be time-consuming with large quantities of peaches.
Additionally, this may leave inconsistencies in your peaches due to chunks of flesh accidentally being removed during the peeling process.
Blanching
The easiest way to remove the skin before dehydrating peaches is by blanching them. For this method, start by bringing a large pot of water to boil. Use a paring knife to gently cut small “x”s on the bottoms of your peaches (this will make removing the skin much easier).
Find a bowl large enough to hold all of your peaches and fill it with cold water and ice. Place the bowl away from the boiling pot, as it will be used afterward.
Lower the heat and slowly drop your peaches in– let them sit for about 30 to 45 seconds. Once time is up, you may see the edges of your peach skin starting to split–this is a good thing!
Using a slotted spoon, remove your peaches from the hot water and immediately transfer them to your ice water bath. Let the peaches cool for about one to two minutes. You want them to reach a temperature that’s easy to touch.
Once your peaches are cool enough to handle, you should be able to easily remove the skin with your fingers.
Removing the Pit
Most peaches can be classified into two categories: freestone and clingstone. Freestone peaches are commonly found in your average grocery store– the pit easily falls right out of the fruit.
Clingstone peaches give fruit fanatics a bit more difficulty– the pit “clings” to the flesh of the fruit, making it difficult to remove. If you’re up for the challenge, clingstone peaches are known to be sweeter than the freestone variety!
The hybrid semi-freestone peach is the third (and much less common) variety of peach. This type of peach has a pit that can be a bit tricky to remove but should still slide out with a little elbow grease.
To remove the pit, simply slide the point of a sharp knife into the peach until it hits the pit. Carefully maneuver the knife around the edge of the fruit. Once you’ve come full circle, it should be easy to take both halves of the peach and twist until it breaks in two.
Freestone peaches should easily release the pit, clingstone peaches will need a bit of knife work to assist in removal.
Slicing
Learning how to dehydrate peaches means figuring out the best way to slice your peach. The thicker your slice is, the more time it will need to dehydrate properly. The ideal size to slice your peaches is about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch thick.
When slicing, try to make all of your pieces the same size to ensure an even dehydration process. We don’t want any pieces to burn while others still need more time!
Optional: Lemon Juice Bath
Just like other fruits, sliced peaches that receive prolonged exposure to air have the potential to oxidize and turn brown. This process is natural and mostly cosmetic– the flavor won’t change.
However, some people find browned peaches unsightly. Giving your sliced fruits a quick bath in a lemon juice solution is a great way to prevent oxidation from occurring.
This step is completely optional when learning how to dehydrate peaches, it’s just a matter of personal preference. To create your lemon juice solution, mix equal parts water with lemon juice.
The amount of solution you need is dependent on how many peaches you’re dehydrating. You should have enough solution to cover as many slices as you place in the bowl at one time.
How to Dehydrate Peaches in a Dehydrator
If you already own a dehydrator, or you’ve decided to invest in one, here’s what you need to know to dehydrate peaches.
Supplies
- Peaches
- Sharp knife
- Large pot for boiling (optional)
- Lemon juice (optional)
- Slotted spoon (optional)
- Food dehydrator
Steps
- Wash your peaches and peel them if desired. (You can either choose to peel with a knife or by blanching.)
- Slice your peaches between 1/4 to 1/2 an inch thick, ensuring that all slices are about the same size.
- Optional: To prevent oxidation, drop your fruit slices into a lemon juice solution. Let them soak for a few minutes, and then remove them with a slotted spoon.
- Place sliced peaches on dehydrator trays, making sure that they are evenly spaced and not directly touching.
- Check your dehydrator settings and set it to the recommended temperature. For most dehydrators, this will be between 125 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Dehydrate peaches for 8 to 12 hours, depending on the temperature and thickness of your slices. Keep a close eye on your fruit, every dehydrator works differently!
- Once peaches appear to be done, remove trays from the oven and let cool completely. Peaches should be chewy and pliable.
- Enjoy your delicious treat and store the remaining fruit in an airtight container.
How to Dehydrate Peaches in the Oven
If you don’t have a dehydrator, don’t fret! There are oven methods for dehydrating peaches you can use.
Supplies
- Peaches
- Sharp knife
- Large pot for boiling (optional)
- Lemon juice (optional)
- Slotted spoon (optional)
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheets
Steps
- Wash peaches and peel if desired.
- Slice peaches between 1/4 to 1/2 an inch thick, making sure that all fruit pieces are evenly sliced.
- Optional: To prevent oxidation, drop your fruit slices into a lemon juice solution. Let them soak for a few minutes, and then remove them with a slotted spoon.
- Preheat your oven to its lowest setting. For most ovens, this is 170 degrees Fahrenheit, although this may vary. If your oven doesn’t go that low–no worries. Just set your temperature to the lowest option and keep an extra close eye on your peaches!
- Line parchment paper over a baking sheet and place your peach slices on top, making sure there’s plenty of space and no overlap.
- Place baking sheets in the oven and turn the fan on for circulation. If your oven doesn’t have a fan, leave the door slightly ajar to allow airflow.
- Let peaches bake for 6-8 hours, checking on them at least every 2 hours. Each oven is different, so it’s important to keep a close watch! Your peaches may need less or more time to dehydrate.
- Once your peaches are done, remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the fruit dry completely before removing it from the paper. Peaches should be chewy and pliable. Place in an airtight container and enjoy!
How to Store Dehydrated Peaches
After you learn how to dehydrate peaches, it’s important to know the best way to store your dehydrated fruit. Using an airtight container is the best way to maintain shelf life.
The fruit should be stored at room temperature, which is a great way to save kitchen space. No more excess fruit taking up room in your fridge or freezer! Dehydrated peaches should keep for at least six months.
Now You Know How to Dehydrate Peaches
Ta-da! Now that you know how to dehydrate peaches, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Whether you have a fruit dehydrator or prefer dehydrating peaches in an oven, one thing is for certain. Knowing how to dehydrate peaches is a skill you will use time and time again.
Excited for more peach content? Check out my peaches page for growing tips, info guides, recipes, and more!
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Spending her early childhood in the Hudson Valley region of New York, Alanna Singletary has wonderful memories of helping her uncle tend to his lush garden each year.
Rather than turning on Saturday cartoons, her winter mornings were filled with sap collection and maple syrup production; while summer days brought tomato picking and countless hours tending to a homemade tomato sauce.
Now residing in North Carolina, Alanna continues to assist with her father’s grand garden and is working on growing crops of her own. Her garden experience at an early age set her up for a constant desire to learn, something she continues to carry in all aspects of life.