Dehydrated orange slices are perfect for using as decorations or garnishes at Christmas time. Read on to find out how to dehydrate orange slices in the Nutri Foodi.
Trying to figure out how to dehydrate oranges in the Nutri Foodi? Whether you're a newbie or a veteran looking for new tricks, here are a few helpful tips towards making dehydrating oranges in a dehydrator a simple process. Don't forget that you can also use this same technique on other citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, blood oranges and grapefruits. You basically are cooking thin slices of orange at a low temperature for a long time.
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Why dehydrate oranges?
There are many reasons why someone would want to dehydrate oranges. Whether it's to make a citrus-inspired potpourri arrangement, citrus candles, or homemade beauty products and scrubs, dehydrating oranges is a great way of transforming the humble orange into something special.
When it comes to dehydrating oranges, a couple of factors come into play: the intention, orange type, quantity, and apparatus or type of equipment used.
Before you take a knife to the zest or pick at its flesh, knowing the primary use of the dehydrated orange slices will help you cut down on your prep time and better strategize your peeling method.
Dried orange slices used for food and a healthy snack require oranges to be sliced into ¼ inch thick rings, which lay perfectly flat on the dehydrator trays (more on that in a minute). This use is best suited for a sharp knife since it can easily cut thick chunks of orange in seconds.
On the other hand, dehydrated orange slices used for decorations or potpourri may require anything from the strips of the outer lays to wedges or even zest. For this, a peeler, grater, or vegetable chopper would work best and cut quickly.
How does the Nutri Foodi work to dehydrate oranges?
Dehydrating oranges in a dehydrator like the Nutri Foodi requires you to pay close attention to the thickness and amount of orange slices. A dehydrator works like a contained heated vacuum, meaning that the contents inside the dehydrator heat to a certain temperature which then wicks the food items of their moisture until it finally leaves the item seriously shrivelled and dry. The wicking of the moisture can range from a few hours to a full day's worth of work- all dependent on how thick the food item is and how much moisture it currently retains.
The Nutri Foodi comes with a 2 layer wire rack you can use to dehydrate, although you can purchase a 5 layer rack which would be useful if you have a lot to dehydrate at once. Remember you should place your orange slices in a single layer, spaced apart.
How thick to cut orange slices for dehydrating
Now, depending on how ripe and fresh your oranges are, you may have to increase the temperature to 135 degrees or more if sticking with a 6-hour timeframe to ensure that they completely dry out and do not have a tacky texture. Fresh oranges tend to hold a lot of juice in their outer layer and their flesh, so you must give them proper enough time to dry out.
If slicing your orange slices smaller than ¼ inch thick, ensure that you reduce the time limit so that they do not become extremely brittle. Unless you're making potpourri or garland for holiday wreaths and flowers, you'll want them taut to the touch while still having a bit of flexibility for easier chewing.
How To Dehydrate Orange Slices
Dehydrated orange slices are perfect for using as decorations or garnishes at Christmas time. Read on to find out how to dehydrate orange slices in the Nutri Foodi.
Ingredients
- Oranges
Instructions
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Slice the oranges quite thinly – around 3-4 mm thickness.
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Lay the slices out so they aren’t touching on thedehydrator rack.
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Set the Nutri Foodi to dehydrate at 50 degrees for 6 hours.
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Check the oranges, if they need more time you can turn up the temperature slightly to 60 degrees for another hour.
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If your oranges are still a little tacky when they come out of the dehydrator simply pop them on a radiator or in an airing cupboard for a few minutes until they are completely dry.
Dehydrated orange slices uses
Want to know what to do with dehydrated oranges once they are done? There are hundreds of ideas to choose from depending on whether you want to eat them or use them for decoration.
For eating purposes, you could use dehydrated oranges for snacks like orange chips, add them into teas like orange tea, or topping for cupcakes and pastries. You could even grind the oranges down and use them as a sprinkled flavouring! Think how delicious it would be to place dehydrated orange slices onto baked chicken or fish. Or how about pairing with a rich dark chocolate bar for a gourmet snack or midnight treat or as a cocktail garnish? The possibilities are endless here, and you can pair it with many recipes requiring a citrus twist.
For decoration purposes, you could dehydrate oranges and the dried orange slices for sugar or salt scrubs, potpourri blends, aromatherapy, and even gift wrap decorating. Yep, you heard me! Those beautiful Pinterest photos of perfectly wrapped packages with bits of cinnamon sticks, twigs, and orange and lemon slices? That's the real deal, and once you master how to dehydrate oranges for Christmas decorations, you too could recreate this gift wrapping to the delight of all your friends and family!
How to store dried orange slices
One last thing that I wanted to mention about dehydrating oranges in a dehydrator is to ensure that you preserve your dehydrated orange slices in an airtight container away from heated areas or ovens and stoves.
For me, I prefer to dehydrate oranges then immediately transfer them to large glass jars. Mason jars are perfect storage containers because they have tight- fitting lids, severely limiting air exposure, keeping the contents inside intact for extended timeframes. You could easily store dehydrated orange slices for 1 year or more in mason jars with minimal loss in taste or texture.
Perfect for all weathers and a fun activity to enjoy with kids, learning how to dehydrate oranges in the Nutri Foodi is a skill that pays for itself in more ways than one and is an absolute joy to work through. If you found this post useful please share it with your friends on social media and Pin it for later...
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