Dehydrated Citrus {Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemons and Limes}
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Welcome to yet another adventure spawned by my inability to walk past a kitchen gadget without bringing it home!
Enter: dehydrated citrus – the surprisingly versatile, stunningly beautiful preserved fruit that’s justified my latest appliance acquisition.
These jewel-toned slices have transformed from impulse project to pantry staple, elevating everything from water pitchers to baked goods with minimal effort.
Whether you’re a fellow kitchen gadget enthusiast or just looking for a way to preserve citrus at its peak, these tasty circles of concentrated flavor will make you feel like the culinary genius you are (or at least help you pretend your own appliance hoarding is totally justified)!
This dehydrated citrus recipe is dedicated to being justified!
Tips & Tricks
- Use a mandoline! The trick to getting perfectly sliced, and evenly drying citrus wheels is a mandoline. {careful – they are fingertip killers!}
- Organic fruit might be a good idea because we are using the whole fruit, but like I say in my Sous Vide Limoncello post; I am not an organic elitist! Either way, wash the peel really well in hot soapy water, and Bob’s your uncle.
Key Ingredients
Fresh Citrus: Whether you choose lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, or something else, ensure that you firm, heavy fruits that are free of bruises, blemishes and soft spots.
How Dehydrate Citrus Wheels:
When planning to dehydrate anything, you’ve gotta pick out the stars of the show. For this recipe, I chose to use grapefruit, lemon, lime, and orange. Be mindful of your dehydrator’s capacity, though!
- Wash your citrus fruits in hot, soapy water and scrub well with a firm bristle brush. Rinse under cool running water and dry thoroughly before proceeding.
- Using a sharp mandoline or a sharp knife and a careful hand, slice the citrus fruits into even 1/8-1/4″ rounds.
- Place in a single layer on the dehydrator trays.
- Dehydrate at 135f until completely dry and crisp. You can test for doneness by folding the fruit, if it cracks, it’s done!
- Store in an airtight container once cooled.
Storage
Store your dehydrated citrus wheels in an airtight container for up to a year in a cool, dark place.
How To Use:
I’ve been eating them straight out of the container – nothing like being able to eat the crispy, chewy flesh. Is there a cooler way to boost your vitamin C? I think not!
Here are a few more ideas for using your dehydrated citrus slices:
- crush the dehydrated lemon sliced into coarse chunks and add to a salt grinder for lemon salt!
- using a high powered blender or food processor blend the dehydrated grapefruit slices, then add to a jar of sugar for yummy grapefruit sugar.
- dip the dehydrated orange slices into dark chocolate for an amazingly yummy treat.
- add a dehydrated lime slice to a cup of hot tea.
- use the dried citrus wheels to garnish cocktails.
Recommended Equipment
I have and love this Excalibur 9 Tray Dehydrator. In a 2020 update, I can tell you that I’ve used my dehydrator MUCH more in recent years than the first couple I owned it. It’s got plenty of capacity, built-in timers, an adjustable thermostat, and a comprehensive dehydration guide.
📖 Printable Recipe
Dehydrated Citrus {Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemons and Limes} Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 grapefruit
- 2 lemon
- 2 lime
- 2 orange
Instructions
- Use a sharp mandoline to slice the citrus fruits into uniformly sized pieces.
- Spread in a single layer on the trays of your dehydrator.
- Dehydrate at 135f for about 12 hours – you’ll know they are done when they are crispy, but chewy once cooled.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
