Dehydrated Watermelon Jerky (Dried Watermelon)
Dehydrated Watermelon is one of the best dried fruits. It is sweet and a little chewy, with the texture of watermelon jerky and the taste of watermelon candy.
Servings: 24 handfuls
Calories: 56kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ripe watermelon seedless recommended
Optional
- Tajin Seasoning this is really good sprinkled on the watermelon
Instructions
- You can cut the watermelon up however you find to be the easiest - I like to cut it in half and then from there into quarters. (I like to put a layer of dish towels under my cutting board because watermelon juice makes a huge, sticky mess.)1 ripe watermelon
- After slicing the watermelon into quarters, slice the skin and rind off in chunks.
- Try to get as much of the rind off as possible.
- Now, slice the watermelon into ¼ - ½ inch thick slices.
- Then slice those slices in half.
- And then cut them in half one last time.
- Line the trays of your dehydrator with the watermelon chunks.
- Cover the dehydrator and let it do all the work. It has a lot of water in it (water-melon...) so it will take time to dry out. On a dehydrator without a temperature setting, it will take 8 - 12 hours. If you can set the temperature of your dehydrator, set it to 135°F for 18 - 24 hours. (It will take longer but the watermelon tastes sweeter and has a better flavor if it dries slower.)
- If you check on the watermelon throughout the dehydration process, there will be three main stages: still normal watermelon, then dried out and a little puffy...
- And finally, ready to eat - its chewy but snaps if you bend it.
How to Dehydrate Watermelon in the Oven
- First, slice the watermelon as directed above.
- Next, place the slices on a cooling rack lined with parchment paper wire over a cookie sheet with edges. For easier cleanup, you can line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil. The wire rack helps with airflow under the fruit and keeps the watermelon from cooking on the bottom instead of drying out.
- Dry/bake the watermelon at 170° (or the lowest temperature your oven has) for 4-6 hrs, checking every hour or so as needed to make sure they don't burn. Keep an eye out to make sure the watermelon doesn't burn.
- Flip the slices over halfway through the drying process to keep them from sticking.
Condition the Dried Watermelon Slices
- Before putting the dehydrated watermelon in long-term storage, condition it for 5-7 days. This means transferring it to an airtight container and observing it, then checking it for moisture every day. If there are signs of moisture, all of the watermelon slices should go back into the dehydrator.
- Once it is fully dried out, the watermelon jerky can be stored
Notes
Serving Size
You can eat a lot of dried watermelon really easily and not realize it and end up with a pretty upset stomach - so just be cautious!How to Store Dried Watermelon
Store dried watermelon in a glass mason jar, ideally with a desiccant packet. The packet will absorb extra moisture so that the watermelon jerky stays perfectly fresh. Tips- Watermelon jerky is also really good with a sprinkle of Tajin Seasoning on top (Chili Lime Watermelon Jerky!) Add the Tajin after a few hours of cooking so that it stays near the outside of the watermelon as it dries, and you can really taste it.
- I recommend storing dried fruit in glass containers as opposed to plastic so that it does not absorb the taste of the plastic.
What can you make with watermelon rind?
You can make candied watermelon rind, watermelon rind pickles, watermelon rind preserves, or tzatziki!How do you know if a watermelon is ripe?
When a watermelon is ripe, it will have a yellow patch on the bottom. It will also seem pretty heavy for its size (full of water!) but also sound like a drum if you tap on it. (You want a hollow thunk sound instead of a shallow tap/knock.)Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 210mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1067IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg
