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A bowl of dehydrated strawberries on a wood background with some daisies and small purple flowers scattered around.
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4.67 from 3 votes

Dehydrated Strawberries

Dehydrated Strawberries are an easy way to make the most of a summer abundance of strawberries. They are as sweet as candy without actually being candy - the perfect kind of treat.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Conditioning7 days
Total Time7 days 8 hours 5 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Condiments, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: dehydrated fruit, dehydrated strawberries, dried strawberries
Servings: 4
Calories: 151kcal
Author: Kari
Cost: $2

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pint strawberries at least, you can use as many as you can fit in your dehydrator

Optional

Instructions

  • Slice the strawberries into 1/4 inch pieces. There are two different ways to do this - I have shown them in options a and b. I slice the tops off (save them - see below), then either option a) slice them lengthwise, or option b) slice them through the middle in circles.
    Sliced strawberries on a white cutting board.
  • Lay the strawberries out on the tray of a dehydrator, ideally not touching each other so that they can dry fully on all sides. Optionally, you can drizzle them with a little lemon juice or sprinkle a little sugar on them, but we don't think it is needed.
    Sliced strawberries on the tray of a dehydrator.
  • Place the trays in the dehydrator, then set the temperature on the dehydrator to the fruit setting, on mine it is 135°F. If you are using a smaller dehydrator that doesn't have a temperature control, just turn it on.
    Sliced strawberries on the trays of a dehydrator.
  • Set a timer for 6 hours, but check the fruit after a few (maybe 3 or 4) hours to make sure that everything is drying out as expected. It should take between 6 and 10 hours to try out fully - if cut evenly, they should all be done in 8 hours.
    The dial of a dehydrator set to 135 degrees.
  • Totally optional, but I like to also dehydrate the tops of the strawberries and feed them our dog as treats. Sometimes she acts like she likes them. You can also dry them out and save them to steep and make strawberry tea!
    The tops of strawberries laid out on the tray of a dehydrator.
  • Dehydrated strawberries are ready when they are chewy with a little bit of bend to them - kind of like the pliable but tearable texture of jerky.
    A dehydrator tray with sliced strawberries on it.
  • The final step is to "condition" your strawberries. If you put them into an airtight container when they are warm and fresh out of the dehydrator, you will trap moisture and they will likely grow mold or get soft. 
  • Let the strawberries come to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container. I like to use glass jars over plastic because I have noticed that things like dried fruit, crackers, chips, etc. will start to absorb the taste of plastic after a while. 
    A jar of dehydrated strawberries on a wood background with some daisies scattered around.
  • For about 7 days, check on your strawberries daily, shaking the jar around and checking for moisture. Once you are certain that the strawberries are completely dry, place a desiccant pack in the jar with them and place them in a dry place that doesn't get really hot. 
    a spilled jar of dehydrated strawberries with a bag of desiccant packs
  • Enjoy when you want something sweet!

Notes

Frequently Asked Questions
Can you dehydrate frozen strawberries?
You can absolutely dehydrate frozen strawberries. Either use pre-sliced strawberries or slice the strawberries while they are frozen - if you let them defrost, they will be really mushy and hard to cut.
Can you dehydrate strawberries in the oven?
Yep! Set your oven to the lowest temperature possible - mine is about 180°F - and spread the strawberries out on a baking sheet with a non-stick mat or parchment covering it. Bake for 2 hours, then flip the strawberries over. Continue baking for half an hour, then check for "doneness" every 10 -15 from there on out. Strawberries can burn easily at this stage so watch them carefully. Let them cool and store immediately with a desiccant pack as they will most likely not be 100% dried out. 
 
Serving Suggestions/Uses
Once your dehydrated strawberries have been properly conditioned, you can eat them as snacks, add them to trail mix, cereal, oatmeal, or desserts. They are also really good if you let them steep in lemonade (Peach Lemonade with Bourbon and dried strawberries?) or tea.
Storage/Shelf Life
Dried strawberries will last a long time as long as they are properly conditioned and stored correctly. If you add a desiccant pack and store your strawberries in a dry place away from drastic temperature changes, they could last years.
Tips
  • Waiting until your strawberries are really ripe and are starting to get a little soft makes them super duper sweet. You can dehydrate strawberries at any stage of ripeness, but the riper they are, the sweeter they will be!
  • Dehydrate a lot more than you think you will want. They are so yummy and you will be happy you made a lot. There really isn't much of a time difference between slicing 15 strawberries and 25 strawberries and if you are already running your dehydrator, you might as well fill it up!
  • If you are using a dehydrator that does not have temperature control, the strawberries might dry faster than if you set the temperature to 135°F.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pint berries | Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 724mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 57IU | Vitamin C: 278mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg