We had some summer-like weather yesterday, and I wasn't in the mood to spend much time in the kitchen. This technique requires you to be home for a while, but is very hands-off. Also, the technique should be applicable to a number of fruits and vegetables; feel free to experiment!
Dehydrating fruits and veggies doesn't require a fancy dehydrator. If you set your oven to the lowest temperature, you can dry produce. The time this takes will vary based on your oven and the produce you choose, but have some patience, and check on it regularly.
I decided to start by drying a few apples. I sliced them on the mandolin, and I found that the 3/16ths inch slice dehydrated better than the 1/4 inch slice. I'll try 1/8th inch slices next time, and see how those do - I imagine they'll dry faster.
Then, I laid the slices out on a baking sheet lined with a silpat liner (parchment paper would also work). I baked them for an hour at 200 degrees, flipped, and let them go about 30 minutes more. That's it! I left them a bit soft, but you can keep going until they are crispy if you prefer.
Properly dehydrating foods is a method of preservation. I can't make any guarantees about success with this technique as a preservation method, but the end result is delicious.
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