How to Dry Orange Slices (Citrus) in the Oven or Dehydrator
Dried orange slices are a beautiful, inexpensive, eco-friendly addition to winter holiday decor. Come learn how to dry orange slices in either the oven or a food dehydrator, plus ideas for how to decorate with them! Use this tutorial for lemons or grapefruit too.
Equipment
- Sharp knife and cutting board
- Baking sheet lined with parchment paper (for oven method) OR a food dehydrator
- Lint-free cloth towel or paper towels for blotting
Ingredients
- Oranges (or lemons, grapefruit)
Instructions
Prep
- Begin by cutting your oranges into thin slices. Aim for ⅛” to ¼” thick. Try to cut each slice the same thickness for even drying. Cutting across the “equator” or center of the orange (as opposed to top stem to bottom) to reveal the perfect cross-section.
- Before putting the orange slices onto trays, gently blot them with paper towels or a cloth towel to remove excess juices and expedite the drying process.
- Next, spread the orange slices out on either a baking sheet or your food dehydrator trays. If you’re using the oven method, line the baking sheet with parchment paper first. Oranges get sticky! Lay the slices out in a single layer. It’s okay if their sides are touching, but they should not overlap.
Drying Oranges in a Dehydrator
- Set the thermostat to 130-135°F. If your machine doesn’t have a precise temperature control, choose a “fruit” setting or medium heat. When in doubt, check them after an hour or two to ensure they’re not turning brown and adjust as needed.
- Allow them to dry until no moisture remains** (See notes below.) In our machine, the orange slices were mostly dry within about 8 hours, though a few damp pieces remained, so I turned the temp down to 125F and let it continue to run overnight to finish off.
- Depending on your dehydrator (e.g. if it has a top or bottom fan), you may want to rotate the trays after several hours to promote even drying. I don't need to rotate ours since the fan is in the back of the machine for even airflow.
Drying Oranges in the Oven
- Dry the orange slices in the oven on 200 to 225°F for several hours, until they’re fully dry* (see notes below). It should take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, depending on your oven and size of orange slices. I found the sweet spot in our oven to be 215F, where 200 was going too slow but 225 was turning them brown.
- Carefully flip the slices every hour or so to promote even drying.
- Once they are done, transfer the dried orange slices to a cooling rack.
- Enjoy!
Ways to decorate with dried orange slices
- Add twine or string to your dried orange slices by making a small hole near the top, and tie a knot around the rind if needed (since it’s the most sturdy part). Dried orange slices may also have a natural hole in the center that you can insert string through instead.
- Attach dried orange slices to green wreathes or garlands using twine, wire, or pipe cleaners.
- String up dried orange slices as tree ornaments using ribbon, twine, or string. Get creative and add bows, bells, beads, feathers, or other fun additions
- Create a dry orange garland by stringing your orange slices on twine or string, either alone or together with popcorn, wood beads, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, or similar seasonal items. These are beautiful on a Christmas tree, streaming down a stairwell banister, strung across a sunny window, doorway, or fireplace mantle.
- Combine dried orange slices with natural greenery like pine or cedar, sprigs of rosemary, rustic pine cones, branches, acorns, chestnuts or walnuts to create a festive centerpiece, such as in a shallow bowl or tray.
- When wrapping gifts, affix them to the package with twine in lieu of curling ribbon or a bow.
- Last but not least, stick a dry orange slice or two inside your favorite tea, holiday cocktail, or mocktail for a beautiful citrusy flair.
Notes
**For either method** The orange slices are considered “fully dry” once they appear dry, and thickest parts of the fruit are no longer gooey or soft to the touch. It is okay if they feel ever-so-slightly sticky still, since they will continue to dry and harden once they’re removed from the heat.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!