Learn how to dehydrate blueberries in a food dehydrator, air fryer, or oven. Blueberries are easy to dry, and you can use them in several different recipes.
We have exactly one blueberry bush. It gives us enough berries for a batch of blueberry muffins each year and that's about it.
That's assuming the chickens don't eat the berries first. I have video of one sitting on the branches so another can eat the berries. Then they switch.
We love blueberries for fluffy sourdough pancakes, muffins, and breads, so I buy extra from the Amish and other local growers and save them for later.
I learned how to dry blueberries so I can save them for the rest of the summer and for the long winter since they have a short season.
How to Dehydrate Blueberries
Are Blueberries Good For Dehydration?
Yes, they are. It's fairly easy to learn how to dry blueberries to use later in recipes. They are small and fairly uniform in shape, so they dry out fairly evenly.
Do You Have to Blanch Blueberries Before Dehydrating?
Technically, no you don't have to blanche blueberries before learning how to dehydrate blueberries. However, they will be tougher if you don't blanch them.
Blanching them helps break the skin, which gives a softer dehydrated blueberry that's better for snacking or topping cereal.
How to Dehydrate Frozen Blueberries
Learning how to dehydrate blueberries that were previously frozen is actually easier than drying fresh blueberries.
I recommend blanching blueberries to burst the skin. When blueberries freeze, the skin bursts, so you don't have to blanche them.
You can simply follow the directions below with frozen blueberries straight from the freezer. You can let them thaw first, but you don't have to.
This is perfect for when blueberries are in season but you are too busy to dehydrate. Simply flash freeze them on a pan, place in a bag, and learn how to dehydrate blueberries when you are ready and have more time.
How Long Does it Take to Dehydrate Blueberries?
When learning how to dry blueberries, the time really depends on the method that you use and the size of the berries. It can take anywhere from 8 to 18 hours to dehydrate blueberries.
Learn how to dehydrate fruit in an air fryer.
How Long Do Dehydrated Blueberries Last?
Once you learn how to dry blueberries, they can last from 6 to 12 months. It's very important that they are completely dry and are not exposed to moisture in the air.
Store them in an airtight container. I use a mason jar with a plastic lid and keep them in a cool dark cupboard or in the basement.
To preserve your blueberries for up to 25 years, learn how to freeze dry blueberries.
How to Use Dehydrated Blueberries
You can enjoy them as a snack or add to a dry trail mix. I also use them for pancakes, blueberry bread, muffins, and other baked goods. They are delicious on top of oatmeal or cereal.
To rehydrate blueberries, soak in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Drain well and use like fresh blueberries.
How to Dry Blueberries Step By Step
How to Prepare Blueberries
We will be discussing three ways for how to dehydrate blueberries, but the prep is the same for each method.
First we will talk about to prep and blanch blueberries, then we will learn how to dry blueberries with each method.
How to Prepare Blueberries for Drying
- Wash blueberries with water in a colander. Pick out stems and bad berries to compost.
- Put blueberries in boiling water for 30 seconds. The skins will start to crack. Remove them with a slotted spoon or spider strainer.
- Put the blueberries in ice water for 30 seconds.
- Remove the berries and let dry.
Once the berries are blanched and dry, learn how to dry blueberries using a dehydrator, air fryer, or oven with the directions below.
How to Dehydrate Blueberries In a Food Dehydrator
I prefer to use a dehydrator. I have three of them, and I like them for different things. One was from Aldi and works good, but it doesn't have an adjustable temperature or fan.
I also have a vintage one that you can't get anymore. It works great and has a fan, but it is hard to clean.
I also have a Nesco dehydrator. I really like it, and it's easy to clean. It has an adjustable temperature control and a fan. It's not fancy, but it works really well for the price.
- Place the blueberries on the dehydrator trays in a single layer. If your dehydrator has a screen, use it because the berries will shrink and can fall through the tray. You can also line the tray with parchment paper.
- Set the temperature to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. If your dehydrator does not have a temperature control, just turn it on.
- Let the blueberries dry for 18 to 24 hours. Keep an eye on them, especially around the 18 hour mark.
How to Dehydrate Blueberries in the Oven
If you don't have a food dehydrator, you can learn how to dehydrate blueberries in the oven. This works good, but it uses more electricity than a dehydrator.
- Like a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Add a layer of blueberries.
- Bake at 135 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 hours.
- You can also heat at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 hours so you can get them done in one day, but keep a careful eye on them.
How to Dehydrate Blueberries in an Air Fryer
For small batches, you can learn how to dry blueberries in an air fryer. This uses less electricity than the oven, so it's a good option if you don't have a dehydrator.
- Place the prepared blueberries on the tray of the air fryer. They should be a single layer and not crowded.
- Set the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Let cook for 15 hours. Check them often after 10 to 12 hours.
How to Tell When Blueberries Are Dehydrated
It's important to make sure that blueberries are properly dehydrated when learning how to dry blueberries. Any moisture left in the berry can cause mold to grow.
Properly dehydrated blueberries will be crunchy. They will be hard and have an almost leathery feel.
Watch the big berries because they might not be completely dry when the smaller ones are. You can remove the smaller ones and dehydrate the large ones longer to ensure that they are done.
And now you know how to dry blueberries! Have you every made them?
For more dehydrated food recipes, check out how to make homemade apple fruit leather and how to dehydrate apples with a dehydrator.
How to Dry Blueberries
Ingredients
- 4.25 cups blueberries
Instructions
- Wash blueberries with water in a colander. Pick out stems and bad berries to compost.
- Put blueberries in boiling water for 30 seconds. The skins will start to crack. Remove them with a slotted spoon or spider strainer.
- Put the blueberries in ice water for 30 seconds.
- Remove the berries and let dry.
- Dehydrator: Place the blueberries on the dehydrator trays in a single layer. Set the temperature to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. If your dehydrator does not have a temperature control, just turn it on. Let the blueberries dry for 18 to 24 hours. Keep an eye on them, especially around the 18 hour mark.
- Oven: Like a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Add a layer of blueberries. Bake at 135 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 hours. You can also heat at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 hours so you can get them done in one day, but keep a careful eye on them.
- Air Fryer: Place the prepared blueberries on the tray of the air fryer. They should be a single layer and not crowded. Set the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Let cook for 15 hours. Check them often after 10 to 12 hours.
Calories
89.63Fat (grams)
0.52Sat. Fat (grams)
0.04Carbs (grams)
22.79Fiber (grams)
3.77Net carbs
19.01Sugar (grams)
15.66Protein (grams)
1.16Sodium (milligrams)
1.57Cholesterol (grams)
0.00
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