Dehydrating Cherries and Strawberries

[Shoshana]

I just bought 8 pounds of organic strawberries and 12 pounds of organic cherries!

 

I do have a dehydrator but I have only ever done bananas and green peppers and that was over 3 years ago so I have to sort of start from scratch.

 

Any tips or advice for me?

Also what would be the best way to store these? I have a large amount of pint canning jars I could put them in. I do have a Food Saver that I have never used before and am thinking about doing the jar feature. I could seal them in the bags but I would rather keep them in glass instead of plastic if possible.

 

If properly dehydrated, how long would they store do you think?

 

Thank you very much!

[sassenach]

Once dehdrated and vaccuumed into the jars it can extend their storage for at least 6 more months. Sometimes a year. It may depend on your climate and humidity ( which raises the heat index). I know alot of folks get alot more mileage that way with dried fruits than they would with out vaccuum packing them. So between 12 mos and a year and a half, they may last, vaccuumed into the jars.

[Crazy4Canning]

To dry the cherries you should pit them first. The pitter I want to get is about $35. You can pour the cherries into a container and inside of 1/2 an hour you've pitted a caseful. Otherwise, you're stuck doing this individually....one...at...a...time.

 

Here is a website:

 

http://www.cookware.com/filters/nobot/Frui...CFQwxawodvT0QcQ

 

For the strawberries, just clean, slice, and dry.

 

For storage, I use old vintage wire-clasp jars with a good rubber ring. Keeps the air out AND looks pretty.

[RTR]

I also recommend that you put these skin side down so that they don't stick to your trays. I have done strawberries and they were very good. I haven't done cherries, but they are in the plan. Good Luck!

[Shoshana]

Thank you all for your responses. I dried the strawberries overnight and took them out this morning (Monday morning). They turned out great. I just wish I had bought more. I hope to start on the cherries tomorrow.

 

 

[Ambergris]

My cherries didn't do well. I was told they might have done better had I frozen them first. Freezing ruptures some of the cell walls, and allows much faster dehydration. But I have not tried that myself.