Try the winter versions of fruit drying at home: use the oven, a heater or a radiator. It works!

You can dry various delicious fruits even without an electric dehydrator. In summer, the power of the sun and wind can help you, in winter, you can do it on the radiator or any heating device, or in a convection oven.

Oven

If your oven is suitable for fruit drying, you do not need a food dehydrator. This method is recommended if the drying takes a short time. Note that ovens consume a lot of energy and you cannot use multiple trays at the same time.

Heating device or radiator

During the winter heating season, fireplaces, radiators, etc. can be used perfectly. Choose a surface that is large enough for the tray on which you will place the fruit to be dried. If the heater is very hot, make sure that it does not touch the bottom of the tray directly, because it will overheat and exceed the recommended maximum drying temperature, which is 40-45 degrees Celsius. In this case, use a grid and place it under the tray.

Free air flow is important. If the space in which the drying takes place is large enough, the air can escape easily. It is not only necessary to heat the air, but also to circulate it. To facilitate this, you can use a simple indoor fan.

This method requires a little more patience than drying in a dehydrator, since you can dry less fruit at a time. Also take into account that the smell of fruit drying can disturb the people living in the same household as you. This form of drying only works in the winter heating season.

The oldest and most natural form of fruit dehydrating is sun and wind drying. Find a semi-shaded place outdoors with good air movement. Blazing sun is not suitable because it heats up the fruit too much, full shade is not good either, because it is not intense enough. This method requires more attention than drying fruit in a dehydrator.

Protect drying fruit from airborne dust and insects. If the weather changes, it starts to rain or the air gets cold, put the drying fruit in a safe place and continue drying the next day. If the weather is not suitable the next day, either, use the oven.

The drying time depends on the quantity, size and thickness of the fruit to be dried. The drying time also depends on the humidity level and temperature. One type of dryer has a stronger fan, while the other has a weaker one. If you want to dehydrate the fruit 100%, the drying will last until it is completely dried.

Dried fruits can be stored in resealable jars or plastic bags in the refrigerator for several months.