It seems as though drying the picture perfect orange is a mystery. Well, at least until now! Below, you will find everything you need to know about how to dry oranges. With a little experimentation, we have found the perfect process for drying oranges. Dried oranges can be used in crafting, potpourri blends, cooking, and more. This process is also a great way to preserve oranges for later uses if they are about to go bad. Take a look at how you can dry oranges. The mystery has been solved!
How to Dry Oranges
Supplies needed:
- Oranges
- Kitchen knife
- Oven
- Oven rack
Directions:
1. To begin, you want to slice your orange into 1/2 inch slices. Doing them any thinner risks oranges that will tear or stick. Doing them any thicker will take longer. Stick to the 1/2 inch rule and you will see great results.
2. Once your oranges are sliced, you want to place them on a baking rack or directly onto your oven racks. We placed ours directly on the oven rack. They are large enough that they won’t slip through. It is so important you pay attention to this step, because if you place the slices on a baking pan they will stick and burn. Allowing air to move through them via the rack is key!
3. Heat the orange slices on the rack at 275 degrees for two hours. Don’t rush this process. The key to great slices is a slow drying process, not a rushed or high heat one.
4. Remove the oranges and allow them to cool. You can let them dry on another rack or a plate.
Aren’t they beautiful? Plus, they smell fantastic. Now, you are free to use your dried orange slices in cooking or crafting. Feel free to add some to your natural home cleaners, or add them to your potpourri mixtures. For a sweet smelling treat you can poke a hole, thread a ribbon, and you have an orange ornament that will reflect light through it like stained glass.
Use this method to dry some oranges for yourself. You will find that it works great!
Barbara Karr says
How do you use them as food after they are dried?
Friggashearth says
They are for decorating and crafting.
Darlene says
HI Katie!
These are beautiful. I would like to try with a blood orange also-just for other shades of the orange at Christmas time. Thank you for your tutorial. I look forward to making these.
Darlene
Nova Scotia
Theresa Scholtz says
Those look perfect! I’m going to try it out, and hang a few in the Christmas tree. Thanks for doing all the experimenting for us! 🙂
Lisa @ The Wellness Wife says
Thanks! I love the dried fruit decorating look but don’t want to buy a dehydrator. This is great!