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A zoomed in image of a white bowl of dehydrate watermelon.
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4.67 from 3 votes

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.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 5 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: dehydrated watermelon, dried watermelon, watermelon jerky
Servings: 24 handfuls
Calories: 56kcal
Author: Kari

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe watermelon seedless recommended

Optional

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
    A watermelon cut in half on a white cutting board.
  • After slicing the watermelon into quarters, slice the skin and rind off in chunks.
    A quarter of a watermelon with the skin being cut off.
  • Try to get as much of the rind off as possible.
    A quarter of a watermelon on a white cutting board without the skin.
  • Now, slice the watermelon into ¼ - ½ inch thick slices.
    Thick slices of watermelon on a white cutting board.
  • Then slice those slices in half.
    Large cut up slices of watermelon on a white cutting board.
  • And then cut them in half one last time.
    Cut up slices of watermelon on a white cutting board.
  • Line the trays of your dehydrator with the watermelon chunks.
    A dehydrator with slices of watermelon in it before dehydrating.
  • 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.)
    A dehydrator with watermelon drying in it and the cover on.
  • 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...
    A dehydrator with slices of partially dried watermelon in it.
  • And finally, ready to eat - its chewy but snaps if you bend it. 
    A dehydrator with slices of dried watermelon in 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