How to Dry Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a bitter citrus fruit that can be eaten on its own or put into recipes. Dried grapefruit can be candied, used as a decoration, or even dipped in chocolate. To dry your grapefruit, make sure to slice it into thick slices, place it in your oven or a food dehydrator, and check on it every few hours for a dry, crisp texture.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Drying in the Oven

1. Preheat your oven to . Citrus dries the best at a low and slow temperature. Set your oven to to avoid burning your grapefruit slices.^[1]
   
   • Turning your oven up higher will not make your grapefruit dry faster.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Parchment paper ensures that the grapefruit won’t stick to the baking sheet that you are using. Cut a sheet of parchment paper down to the size of your pan and lay it on top.^[2]
   
   
   • The grapefruit will get sticky as it dries out, so it is important to put down parchment paper as protection for your tray.
3. Wash and dry your grapefruit. Since you are keeping the peel of the grapefruit on, run it under cool water and gently scrub it to remove any dirt or debris that could be on it. Pat it with a clean towel until the grapefruit is mostly dry.^[3]
   
   
   
   • Do not use soap to wash your grapefruit.
4. Slice your grapefruit into thick slices. Use a thin, serrated knife or mandolin to carefully slice your grapefruit into thin slices. The thinner the slice, the faster the grapefruit will dry. Try to make sure the slices are somewhat even so that they will dry at the same rate.^[4]
   
   
   • Cut off the top and bottom of the grapefruit before you start slicing to make it easier.
   • Instead of slices, you could cut the grapefruit into segments. You'll likely need to reduce the baking time, so check on the drying process frequently.
5. Put the grapefruit slices onto the parchment paper. Make sure the slices don’t touch each other or overlap. Leave about of space in between each slice.^[5]
   
   
   • If the grapefruit slices are in layers, they won’t dry out as quickly.
6. Sprinkle the grapefruit with superfine sugar for a sweeter taste. Grapefruit is fairly bitter on its own, especially with the rind included. To cut down some of that bitter taste, coat the slices in fine white sugar to candy them in the oven.^[6]
   
   
   • Candied fruit is shinier and looks more appealing than normal dried fruit.
7. Set your baking tray on the middle rack of your oven. Do not place your baking tray too near the heating elements of your oven or it could burn your grapefruit slices. Make sure your parchment paper doesn’t touch any of the heating elements in your oven.^[7]
   
8. Flip the grapefruit slices after 2 hours. Set a timer on your oven for 2 hours. Take the baking tray out of the oven and flip each slice using tongs. Make sure they do not sit on top of each other after you flip them.^[8]
   
   
   
   • The grapefruit will be hot, so use caution as you flip them over.
9. Take the grapefruit out after 3 more hours. Set a timer on your oven for 3 hours. Take the grapefruit out and let them cool. If the slices are sticky or damp, they need more time in the oven.^[9]
   
   • You can eat the dried grapefruit slices on their own, use them as decorations, or dip them in melted chocolate to make a dessert.
   • Store your dried grapefruit in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

[Edit]Using a Food Dehydrator

1. Slice your grapefruit into thick slices. Use a thin, sharp knife to slice your grapefruit into small slices. Your grapefruit needs to be thin so that it dries more quickly.^[10]
   
   
   • For more bite-sized pieces of grapefruit, cut it into segments instead. Cut off the bottom and the top of the grapefruit. Use your knife to remove the peel and gently pop the segments out.
2. Toss the slices in olive oil and salt to bring out their flavor. Place your grapefruit slices or segments into a large bowl. Pour of olive oil and ¼ tsp (1.4 g) of salt into the bowl. Gently toss the bowl until all of the slices of grapefruit are covered in oil and salt.^[11]
   
   
3. Lay the slices onto your dehydrator mesh sheet. Spread the grapefruit slices out on the mesh sheet of your dehydrator, making sure they don’t overlap each other. Depending on how big your grapefruit is, you may need to use a couple of sheets.^[12]
   
   
   
4. Dry the slices at for 6 hours. Set your dehydrator to . Check on your grapefruit slices after 4 hours. Touch the grapefruit slices to see if they are crisp and dry to the touch. If they aren’t, dry your slices for up to 2 hours more.^[13]
   
   • If you cut your grapefruit into segments, it could take up to 8 hours to dry.
5. Store your dried grapefruit in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Place your dried grapefruit into a container that has a lid. Store it in a cool, dry place and use it within 1 month. You can eat the slices on their own or even grind them up into a powder.^[14]
   
   
   
   • Grapefruit is pretty bitter, so it may not be good on its own.

[Edit]Things You’ll Need

[Edit]Drying in the Oven

• Baking tray
• Parchment paper
• Knife

[Edit]Using a Food Dehydrator

• Knife
• Food dehydrator

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Qow3bRfx8&feature=youtu.be&t=18
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Qow3bRfx8&feature=youtu.be&t=70
3. ↑ https://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/how-to-dry-citrus-in-the-oven
4. ↑ https://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/how-to-dry-citrus-in-the-oven
5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Qow3bRfx8&feature=youtu.be&t=70
6. ↑ https://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/how-to-dry-citrus-in-the-oven
7. ↑ https://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/how-to-dry-citrus-in-the-oven
8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Qow3bRfx8&feature=youtu.be&t=85
9. ↑ https://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/how-to-dry-citrus-in-the-oven
10. ↑ https://www.saveur.com/article/techniques/dehydrating-grapefruit/
11. ↑ https://www.saveur.com/article/techniques/dehydrating-grapefruit/
12. ↑ https://www.cravethegood.com/dehydrated-citrus-oranges-grapefruit-lemons-and-limes/
13. ↑ https://www.saveur.com/article/techniques/dehydrating-grapefruit/
14. ↑ https://www.cravethegood.com/dehydrated-citrus-oranges-grapefruit-lemons-and-limes/