Dehydrated cherries are a great way to preserve a fresh home-grown harvest or a bunch of cherries which you found on sale at the grocery store.
I provide a comprehensive guide on how to dry cherries at home, including specific instructions, tips, and other valuable information.
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TL;DR
Dehydrated cherries are basically dried fruits, that are left to dry over a period of time so that they preserve better.
The cherries can be dried semi chewy or hard, depending on the preference and use. We tend to enjoy dehydrated cherries as a snack, but you can cut them up and use them in cakes, cookies, and desserts.
Truly, the most effective way to dry cherries, is to use a dehydrator. This is a special device, which doesn't really cost too much, that exclusively dries fresh produce and herbs in ease.
You can sun or air dry your cherries too, but that will take much longer and dehydrator dried fruits are not exposed to dust etc, which makes this the most hygienic method.
Some ovens have a super low-heat setting, 130 Fahrenheit (50 °Celsius), which can be used as a drying function. But that pulls more electricity than a dehydrator, and you will need to keep an eye on your fruits so that they don't burn.
Ingredient Notes
You will only need fresh cherries. Preferably, get ripe, deep red cherries. Smaller varieties will dry through faster.
Sweet cherries will result in sweet dried cherries, and sour cherries will turn into a sour dried cherry snack.
I personally prefer the sour variety, which are rich in nutrients too, but on the other hand, Paul loves sweet cherries.
How to dehydrate with a dehydrator?
Step 1
Begin by rinsing your fruits thoroughly and then pat them dry with a towel.
Remove the seed pit from all cherries. Press the pitted cherries gently with your hand to release some of the excess juice while keeping them separate from the liquid.
Step 2
Spread the fruits out evenly on a dehydrator tray, and keep space for air to flow between the cherries.
Stack the trays on top of each other and heat up the dehydrator.
Step 3
Dry the cherries until they are crisp and perfectly dried.
Finally, store the dried cherries in an airtight container or simply enjoy them as a delicious snack.
📖 Recipe
Dehydrated Cherries in the Dehydrator Recipe
Instructions
- Rinse your cherries well and pat dry them, they should not be wet.1 Pound Cherries
- Remove the cherry seeds by using a pitter or gently pressing each cherry with your fingers to pop the pit out. Do this over a bowl to catch the juice.
- Press the pitted cherries gently with your hand to release some of the excess juice while keeping them separate from the liquid. Pour off the juice into another bowl as you go, so the cherries don't sit in it.
- Place the cherries in a single layer on dehydrator racks, making sure they don't overlap, so the air can circulate properly.
- Dry the cherries at a medium heat setting 135 Fahrenheit/ 50-50 Celsius. For a soft dry, leave them for about 10 hours. For a crisper result, let them dry for 12 to 14 hours. Check the texture and adjust the time if needed. Partway through drying, gently lift or turn the cherries to prevent them from sticking to the rack as they shrink and become sticky.
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
Tips
- Dry at a medium dehydrator heat setting, 135 Fahrenheit/ 50-50 Celsius.
- The time may vary depending on how dry you want them to turn out.
- You can choose to dry your cherries halfway through so that the results are chewy cherries.
- If you decide to dry them longer, your cherries will turn out crispy.
- The longer you dry your cherries, the longer they will remain good.
- The larger the cherries pieces, the longer they need to dry through. The thinner or smaller the cherries, the shorter the drying time.
- Dried cherries can be crushed and turned into a cherry powder too.
Storing
To preserve your dried cherries, store them in airtight containers, mason jars or a large cookie tin box, jar lined with parchment paper or a vacuum-sealed bag.
Unless you live in a humid tropical region, there's no need to refrigerate or freeze them. But you can choose to do so if you want freeze-dried cherries.
Another idea is to vacuum seal them in bags, so that they last even longer.
But, make sure to protect them from direct sunlight, moisture, and high temperatures.
When stored and prepared correctly, they can stay fresh for up to 6–12 months, assuming you don't finish them before that.
FAQs
To operate your dehydrator, refer to the manual for guidance and adjust the temperature settings to be within the range of 135 Fahrenheit / 57 Celsius.
Depending on the size and juiciness of your cherries, and the selected heat setting on your dehydrator, dry them between 4 and 12 hours.
A dehydrator can dry cherries and other fruits more evenly and effectively compared to some ovens that may not be able to operate at low temperatures and could potentially cause the fruits to burn. Additionally, drying fruits in the open sun may not be as hygienic as using a dehydrator. A dehydrator is worth an investment if you intend to dry more fruit snacks. The sun is a great tool to dry your cherries if you live in a sunny, arid area.
I recommend that you follow the steps outlined in the food dehydrator pamphlet. While some newer models can be operated overnight, I, personally, prefer to keep an eye on my cherries when I'm awake.
Yes, you can add dried cherries to muesli, granola, oatmeal, cereals, trail mix, yogurt or add them to a rice pudding or fruit salad. Another idea is to add the pieces to a homemade vanilla ice cream.
More DIY Home Dried Ingredients
We have been dehydrating fruits and foraged ingredients for years at home. Here are more dehydrator recipes to try.
Global Food Recipes
with Spices and Herbs
Free E-Book available for a limited time. Grab yours now and get instantly inspired!
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