How to dehydrate oranges

Hello, there weary internet traveller.

Let me guess, you’re looking into how to dehydrate oranges because you’re bored and in lockdown?

Maybe you want some dehydrated orange slices for cocktails? Or you’re curious how to dehydrate orange slices in the oven.

Whatever the reason you landed on my corner of the internet – welcome and let me show you how I made dried oranges using nothing but my oven, oranges and baking paper.

But first, my life story.

LOL – just kidding. I totally hate when bloggers do that. There’s a mechanical reason that has to do with appeasing the robot gods – but there’s literally no reason all that crap should be before the actual recipe. So, here we go.

How to make dehydrated orange slices

FYI – I currently have COVID and if Kim K can use it as an excuse for failing the Baby Bar, I can use it as a reason this may be a bit more rambly than usual. I mean, I do ramble in general but – ya know.

Dried orange slices recipe – you will need

Oranges – captain obvious at your service
A sharp knife or mandolin
Baking paper
Paper towel
An oven tray
An oven

Dried orange slices recipe – directions

Slice your oranges as thin as you can – I did them anywhere from 2mm to 5mm (Yep, these dried orange slices were created in Australia – I have no idea what that is in US terms)
Pat them dry with absorbent paper on both sides.
Lay the orange slices on a baking tray – use baking paper first as per images.
Bake for about 6 hours at 100 degrees celsius. I have a ‘warming’ setting on my oven and I just used that. At about three hours I flipped them and gave them another pat with the paper towel.
They are done when the innards (pulp?) is transparent like aromatic stained glass.

Note* this is not an exact science. I tried a bunch of different ways and they all worked – thinner, thicker, longer, shorter. For one batch of dried oranges, I left them in for a shorter time and then decided they were still a bit sticky and popped them back in the next day.

Just use common sense and you’ll be right.

I think the success of my dehydrated orange slices came down to the oven. Because I was able to use such a low temp, they kept their colour and shape beautifully. When the oven is too hot, they tend to brown.

Now – my life story

So, once upon a time, there was a little girl who… nope, I’m not going to do that.

But I am going to suggest that you use these dehydrated orange slices for cocktails, to string on the Christmas Tree and to generally make your life smell sweeter.

You may have also noticed that the jars have labels on them – I made these using a Cricut Joy and you can find instructions on how to make labels with a Cricut Joy on my brand new blog Finding Organisation.