One of the things that I dehydrate regularly are orange slices.

Dehydrating is a great way to preserve food and save money. I do this on a regular basis for selling, and for personal consumption.

Not only am I able to extend the shelf life of the produce, but I can also capitalize and buy in bulk when the prices are cheap.

You can do this using a dehydrator or an oven. Drying via dehydrator is what I use and am most familiar with, so it’s what I’m sharing in this article.

• Wash the oranges thoroughly. I usually soak the fruits for about 10 minutes and wash several times in running water before letting it dry.
• Slice the fruit a quarter of a inch (or thinner) each slice. You can do this thicker, but note that the thinner the slice the shorter the cooking time.
• Place th slices on trays. You can crowd it as long as they don’t overlap. Oranges do not shrink too much as it dries.
• Set the dehydrator at 55 degrees Celsius and leave to dry for 30 to 35 hours.
• Once done, check if the fruit has completely dried out. To do this, take out a couple of slices and let it completely cool. Your oranges are done if:
  • It isn’t sticky to touch.
  • It’s crisp. It snaps easily when you break it
• Let the orange slices cool before storing in an air tight container.
• Keep it in a dry and cool place.

As long as it is properly stored, 18 months to 2 years is the advised shelf life of dried orange slices.

I’ve never had to store it that long though, before it’s consumed by my family or sold. The longest I’ve had is 6 months and quality is still the same.

Learn how to make Lemon Marmalades at home. Check out How To Make A Small Batch Of Lemon Marmalade.