How To Dehydrate Blueberries
Transform fresh, juicy blueberries into sweet, tangy treats that can be enjoyed all year round with this easy to follow guide. Packed with taste, these preserved delights add a wonderful touch to your meals. From adding a burst of sweetness to your granolas and baked goods, to enhancing the flavor profile of your salads and desserts, dehydrated blueberries are a pantry must have.
Ingredients
- 1 lb blueberries fresh
Instructions
Prepare Blueberries:
- Rinse blueberries under warm running water, remove any stems and blemished fruit.
- Spread washed berries on clean kitchen towel to dry before checking.
Check The Berries:
- Set a wide, heavy bottomed pot with 2-3" of water over medium heat and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath.
- Add blueberries to the water, in 1 lb batches, and boil for 30 seconds.
- Remove and plunge into a cold water bath immediately.
Dehydrate Blueberries:
- Using a slotted spoon, scoop and spread prepared blueberries on dehydrator trays, it’s important to keep it in a single layer to improve drying time, efficiency, and consistency.
- Dehydrate blueberries at 135f until completely dry. Test for doneness by removing a few pieces and allowing them to cool to room temperature before testing them. Properly dried blueberries should be a crisp and leathery.
Store + Condition:
- Once the blueberries are completely dried, allow the racks to cool in the dehydrator for 30-45 minutes before transferring to long term storage containers. This allows the heat to dissipate and reduces the chances of condensation forming in your storage container.
- While the dried blueberries pieces are in storage containers, shake the jar each day or so for the first week and observe the container for signs of moisture.- If there are no signs of moisture, you’re good to go, place them in a cool dark place for long-term storage!- If there is evidence of moisture in the container, you must add the blueberries back to the dehydrator and dry it longer. After they’ve been dried the second time, you’ll need to go through the conditioning process again.
Notes
Batch:
There is no limit to how many blueberries you can dehydrate using this method, aside from your available dehydrator space!Storage:
Dehydrated blueberries, when properly stored in an airtight container, preferably glass jar, in a climate-controlled location will maintain their quality for at least 12 months. Aim to keep yours in a cool, dark location, away from light that can degrade the quality during long term storage. From there, they go into our storage room in the basement, where they are protected from sunlight, heat, and temperature swings.Rehydrating blueberries:
Although dried fruits are most often eaten in their dried state, they can easily be rehydrated. The steps to rehydrate dried blueberries are the same as most dehydrated foods – add desired amount of blueberries to a heat safe bowl and add enough boiling water to just cover and allow to stand around 10 minutes or so. They can also be reconstituted by soaking in fruit juice. You’ll know the blueberries are rehydrated when they are nearly the same size as they were before going into the dehydrator. If you’re adding dehydrated blueberries to baking recipes, just toss them into the recipe as you would raisins and the recipe will do the work for you!Recommended Equipment + Ingredients
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 71kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gPotassium: 252mgFiber: 2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 73IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.4mg
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