How To Make Dried/Dehydrated Citrus
via shortgirltallorder
A couple years ago, I made my first attempt at DIY dehydrated citrus to use as garland around the holidays. It ended it that I did not make nearly enough, but otherwise simple and great.
We found that Short Girl, Tall Order made her the exact way we did and thought it was the best way to show you!
If you’re someone who owns a dehydrator - amazing, but if not, like me, this process will work the best for you. While it’s quite a bit more time consuming, it’s mostly a hands-off process during the timeliest parts.
What citrus can I dehydrate?
While any citrus can be dehydrated, for this post she used the following:
Dried Lemons (2-3 hours)
Dried Limes (2-3 hours)
Dried Blood Oranges (3-4hours)
Dried Cara Cara Oranges (3-4 hours)
Dried Navel Oranges (3-4 hours)
Dried Grapefruit (5+ hours)
via shortgirltallorder
Steps to dry citrus in oven
Preheat oven to 200F convection settings
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a wire rack
Thinly slice the citrus
Add to tray & bake 3-4 hours or more
Things to think about
Flip the citrus after about two hours (and at two hour increments after that) to insure they’re getting evenly and thoroughly dried.
While you might remove some citrus before others, confirm that it is completely dried or else it might mold and not hold as intended. All moisture must be removed.
Try to slice as thin as possible - using a mandolin, if you have one.
via shortgirltallorder
What can I do with dried citrus?
drink garnish
baked good garnish
make a garland
use it in decor
as garnish to a wrapped gift
…and so much more!
How to store dried citrus:
The author says it best: If you have properly dehydrated your citrus (aka no moisture remains) then they can actually last for several years! I have some that have lasted up to 3-5 years that I use as decorations.
I find dried citrus is best within one year if you are using it on baked goods, in teas, and as a cocktail garnish for the best flavor.
When storing, make sure to store my citrus wheels in a closed container or zip-loc bag in the fridge or dark cold space in your home. This will help the citrus last longer and keep the radiant bright color longer.
let’s keep the season alive!
