Dehydrator Fruit Candy

[Tadpole]

I noticed in the "What are You Putting Up?" thread that several people mentioned they were canning pears.

One thing I enjoy doing with the hard canning pears is cooking them in heavy syrup, then dehydrating them. You end up with a sweet, chewy, pear-flavored candy.

Since I don't like canned pears a lot, that's what I used to do with the tons of pears Dad gave us every year.

Also, when canned pears begin darkening and don't look too appetizing, you can take them out of the jars and dehydrate them and make them fun to eat again.

This also works with almost any fruit you can cook in a syrup.

Besides being good for snacks, they are good added to baked goods.

 

[auntnuts]

Tadpole, my hubby loves the dried pineapple I make him using canned pineapple. I buy the pineapple slices then cut them to desired size. Pineapple chunks in the can are too small.

I started experimenting and took some canned tropical fruit that the kids didn't really care for and dehydrated that.

Well...............they loved it, said it was better than candy. The jar of the dried fruit quickly emptied!

So now, if they don't like a certain fruit in the can, I dehydrate it and they eat it just like candy.

 

[Deemy]

Hadn't thoought of that I'm in the process right now of doing water melon. three days to dry sheese

 

[Tadpole]

Auntnuts, isn't it fun!

I have to admit, I haven't used my dehydrator nearly as much this year as in years past. But these posts on dehydrating have me just dying to try new things again.

First I have to dry the scallions I harvested today...

Have you ever tried drying fruit flavored yogurt? I never have, but I have heard that it makes a delicious snack for lunchboxes and hiking.

 

[Tadpole]

Deemy, watermelon? I wouldn't have thought of trying that!

What is it like dehydrated? Do you cut it thicker to make up for the big water content?

 

[auntnuts]

Tadpole, I love my dehydrayor and experiment all the time with it

Right now i have 2 of them going with zucchini, cukes, chamomile flowers, chives and onions.

This past winter I had a lot of tangerines left over( the girls sold fruit for the marching band). I hate to throw anything out, so i tried drying it, even though I know drying citrus is not recomended. The girls use the dried tangerines to add flavor to their hot tea.Has a good flavor to it.

My advice is to just try anything.if ya don't like it or it doesn't turn, just don't do it again

 

[Tadpole]

Giggle. I love that philosophy!!!!

I've never dried tangerines, but after having beef with tangerine peels at a chinese restaurant, I have dried tangerine peels!

 

[Gingergirl]

When drying canned fruit, try a spinkle of your favorite spice like cinnamon or nutmeg to vary the flavor. I've also sprinkled on ground nuts. For company, I've even dipped the dried fruit in melted chocolate.

I' ve also used the dehydrator to make candied fruit and candied peel for my Christmas fruitcake and stollen. The color is not always so spectacular, but the flavor is so much better.

 

[Tadpole]

For company, I've even dipped the dried fruit in melted chocolate.

Ahhhhhhhh......

 

[blueberry]

Great idea! I can't wait till my pears are ready! I love dried fruit.

I haven't tried watermelon, but I have done cantaloupe. Cantaloupe has never been my favorite, but cantaloupe chips are great. It does take a little longer because of the high water content, but it is worth it

 

[Lady in Ash]

I'm convinced after reading all the responses that I have to try fruit again in my dehydrator. I've never liked anything I've done in the past except for herbs -- which turn out excellent.

I have a Harvest Maid dryer which can no longer heat up to 145. I'm stuck at 125 for everything. Does this make a difference? The reason I ask is my book says you should dry certain things at 145 and my results at 125 just haven't been that good. What brands of dryers is everyone using?

 

[Gingergirl]

Lady,

I have two American Harvesters, small and large. I've had them for about 10 years and they still work fine. The small one has setting for "type" of item being dried (herbs, fruits,seeds, and such) without an on/off switch. I use it for herbs and flowers. The large one has temperature setting and an on/off switch. I've added lots of trays and use it for fruits and vegetable. It is quick and works just fine.

I use Denna DeLong's book as my guide. Many of the fruits and vegetables should be dried at higher temps for the first 1-2 hours then the temp is reduced. I've found this does make a real difference. She is also very strong on pre-treating and conditioning fruits and veg. This also has makes a real difference.

One objection I have with the American Harvester is the round tray with the hole in the middle does make it harder to get a nice spread of your fruit puree for making leathers. As I don't do this much any more (Kids are in college,) this really isn't much of a consideration for me. Certainly doesn't out weigh the lower cost.

 

[Lady in Ash]

Gingergirl,

Thanks for the reply. My dehydrator is warped and the trays no longer fit smoothly. Before I invest in a newer one though, I think I'll check out Delong's book. I'm encouraged by everyone's results, and I would like to add dried foods to my canning. I just like the idea of putting food up, and I sure get a kick out of serving meals with so much of my own stored foods. I guess it's kind of an ego booster for me.

 

[Gingergirl]

Lady,

I wish I could remember which member here, but I do remember her saying that going down into her basement was like a visit to the grocery store. I know it gives me a sense of accomplishment, security, wealth of higher quality, and one way to put a little bit of "love" on the table for my family. All of those things SHOULD boost our ego.

 

[blueberry]

Does anyone know if the "fruit candy" will work with unripe pears?

I had a bad storm last night. One of my trees is a 'fall pear' that does not get ripe till Oct. or Nov.

I just picked up two bushels of small, green, unripe pears that were knocked off the tree durning the storm. I am afraid to just let them sit and 'get ripe', because they were probably bruised in the fall.

Laugh, a prepper simply can not let two bushels of fruit go to waste

 

[momof23goats]

thanks for all the info, I was wondering if I could dry, my canned fruit, and frozen fruit. I am making homemade trail mix, for hubby.. HE doesn't eat fruit like he should. I have pecans, and I am drying bannas now, I wanted to dry some sweet cherries I had canned, and how about some blueberries I froze? can I dry those. I just froze them, didn't do anything to them but clean them. I have dried cranberries already. thanks so much for the info, guess I will start my other dryer up wih cherries in it. now If sme one will tell me if I can dry frozen blueberries, I will be set to go. thanks

 

[Deemy]

I sliced the watermelon about an inch and half thick...took 3 days to dry but is very yummy! I wouldn't have thought about doing canned fruit!

 

[Mushroom]

Does anyone know if the "fruit candy" will work with unripe pears?

I had a bad storm last night. One of my trees is a 'fall pear' that does not get ripe till Oct. or Nov.

I just picked up two bushels of small, green, unripe pears that were knocked off the tree durning the storm. I am afraid to just let them sit and 'get ripe', because they were probably bruised in the fall.

Laugh, a prepper simply can not let two bushels of fruit go to waste

How about using a watermelon rind pickle recipe and make pickled baby pears out of them? That sounds pretty good and will be useful. You also might try making pickled crabapple recipe using the pears. That might be tastey.

Mushroom

 

[momof23goats]

so can I dry fruit that has been frozen? does anyone know? I don't have that many blueberries, so i sorta want to make sure before I do it. I don't have enough to make a batch and have it fail. what do ya think?