Learn how to make dehydrated marshmallows with a food dehydrator or how to freeze dry marshmallows with a Harvest Right freeze dryer for home use. Dried marshmallows have a longer shelf life, so you won't waste food. Then you can use them in recipes and hot cocoa.

How to Make Dehydrated Marshmallows

Name: How to Make Dehydrated Marshmallows
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 h
Total time: 24 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 cups mini marshmallows

Learning how to make dehydrated marshmallows is a great thing to know! Dehydrated and freeze dried marshmallows have all sorts of uses and are great as ingredients or toppings, or even on their own. Kids and adults alike will love the taste of marshmallows and you will like how easy they are to make and store.

They are great for traveling as they are incredibly light and tasty on their own, and they are perfect for holiday sweets such as hot chocolate or pies.

Learning how to freeze dry marshmallows may sound like a large process, but it is actually super easy to do! Following is a simple guide on the many ways you can use to learn how to make dehydrated marshmallows.

How Do You Preserve Marshmallows?

There are several methods that you can use to preserve marshmallows including: freeze drying, dehydrating, using an oven or air fryer and even using vacuum sealers.

Of all these methods, freeze drying with a Harvest Right freeze dryer is the most effective.

Freeze driers can be costly, but using them to dehydrate food means having food with a shelf life of several decades. Plus, it is easy to reconstitute freeze dried food when you pull it out from storage.

If you have a dehydrator that will work better than traditional and other methods of drying, but not as good as a freeze dryer.

You can also learn how to dehydrate in air fryer.

How Do You Dehydrate Marshmallows?

There are a few ways you can dehydrate marshmallows. The most effective way is through the use of a freeze drier.

You can also use traditional methods of drying or other machines such as an oven, air fryer, or dehydrator. However these methods will not be as effective, but they are cheaper.

What Can I Do With Dried Out Marshmallows?

Dried marshmallows can be used as a topping or ingredient for all sorts of recipes. You can use them in cakes, cookies, brownies and other baked goods as a delicious ingredient.

You can make all sorts of s'mores themed desserts as well. Smores pies, S'mores cookies with cake mix, and other delicious treats can all be made with dried marshmallows.

It is also a great way to spruce up a beverage hot or cold. Dried marshmallows go great on coffees, cocoas and shakes.

I used dried marshmallows to make Grinch hot chocolate sticks, this hot chocolate sticks recipe, magical unicorn hot chocolate stirrers, hot chocolate spoons, and hot chocolate bombs with marshmallows. You can also add them to a turmeric and cinnamon hot chocolate recipe.

Can Marshmallows Be Freeze Dried?

Yes! Marshmallows can absolutely be freeze dried. In fact, freeze drying marshmallows is the best way to dry them out and store them. Freeze dried foods, on average, can last up to several decades if stored properly.

Not to mention there are all kinds of recipes that you can use dehydrated marshmallows in and foods you can top with dehydrated marshmallows. You can even eat them on their own for a quick delicious treat.

What Happens When You Freeze Dry Marshmallows?

When you freeze dry foods the machine will remove the water content of the food you are drying. This allows the food to be stored for up to several decades depending, and you can reconstitute it later on.

How Long Does It Take To Dehydrate Marshmallows?

Typically, how long the dehydrating process will take will depend on the food you are drying. For marshmallows, they are much smaller so they will not take as long as larger foods. You are probably going to want to allot at least eight hours to the drying process.

It is important that you are around when the marshmallows are done being freeze dried as they will need to be moved into sealed containers for long term storage. The longer they sit out the more moisture can re-enter them, lessening their shelf life.

How to Freeze Dry Marshmallows With Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Dehydrating with a Harvest Right freeze drier is very easy to do. First, lay out your marshmallows on the sheet and insert them into the machine. Then, if they are already dried out tap ‘dried’ but if they are fresh and spongy tap ‘not dry’.

Simply hit start and wait as your marshmallows are dehydrated over a several hour period. When they are done in the machine you need to move them to storage containers rather rapidly.

For short term storage, you can place them in a mason jar with an oxygen absorber. For long term storage, use mylar bags and oxygen absorbers.

You will have about half an hour after you open the freeze drier to store all of your marshmallows so I recommend having your empty containers ready so you can quickly dump out the trays.

Once all of your marshmallows are in sealed containers simply store them in a cool and dry place until you need them again.

For more freeze drying recipes, check out these posts:

How Do I Freeze Dry Marshmallows Without A Dehydrator

Without a machine, you can always use the sun or a freezer to dry your marshmallows. Be warned, however, that these methods will take a lot longer and the marshmallows will not have near the shelf life.

For the sun, simply place your marshmallows on a tray and stick them outside in a sunny spot until they are to your liking.

For the freezer method, place your marshmallows into a container or bag and set in the freezer. After about two weeks check on them and move them to a sealed container for storage if they are done.

How To Dehydrate Marshmallows With Dehydrator

Using a dehydrating machine is a lot like using a freeze dried. Simply lay out your marshmallows on the trays and slide them into the machine. Hit start and check on your marshmallows regularly.

When they are to your liking stop the machine and move the marshmallows into sealable containers for storage. Dehydrated marshmallows will last longer than sun or freezer dried marshmallows but not as long as freeze-dried marshmallows.

Also learn how to dehydrate bananas and how to dehydrate blueberries.

How To Dehydrate Marshmallows In The Oven

The trick to dehydrating marshmallows in the oven is keeping the oven at the lowest temperature so as to not melt or burn the marshmallows. Set your oven as low as it will go and place your marshmallows on a tray.

Slide them into the oven and check at least every twenty minutes. Toss them around until they are completely dried through. When they are done let them cool and move them into sealed containers or bags for storage.

I recommend keeping the door to your oven cracked to make it easier to check on them and to avoid overheating. The last thing you want is a sticky, goopy mess in your oven because it got too hot.

How To Dehydrate Marshmallows In Air The Fryer

Using the air fryer is very similar to using the oven. Simply throw your marshmallows into the air fryer leaving room between each marshmallow and bake on the lowest possible temperature.

Check every so often, about every fifteen minutes or so, and shake for best results. When they are done let cool and transfer to containers. This process should take about an hour total.

You can also use your air fryer to make air fryer apple chips.

Dehydrated Marshmallows Recipe (How To Make Freeze Dried Marshmallows)

To make dried marshmallows, you will need:

6 cups mini marshmallows

How to Make Dried Marshmallows

Here is how to make dehydrated marshmallows using different methods.

Dried Marshmallows in Dehydrator

Add marshmallows in a single layer in a dehydrator. Allow them room to expand as they dry.
Set the dehydrator to 120 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Let dry for 6 to 12 hours. They are done when they are hard.

Dried Marshmallows in Oven

Preheat oven to 200 degrees or the lowest setting for your oven.
Place marshmallows in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Stir marshmallows every 20 minutes. Bake until completely dry. This will take about 1 to 2 hours.

Dried Marshmallows in Air Fryer

Place marshmallows in a single layer in the basket or on the tray.
Set the air fryer to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cook for 1 hour. You can add more time if needed. Heat in 15 minute increments until done.

Dried Marshmallows in Freeze Dryer

Place marshmallows on the freeze dryer sheet. They can be touching but don’t pile them on too much.
Choose “Not frozen”
And then follow screen prompts.
I found that these took about 12 hours. When they are done they should be hard, and not soft at all.

Now you know how to make dehydrated marshmallows! Try them in this easy slow cooker hot chocolate recipe.

How to make dehydrated marshmallows was originally posted at Homesteading in Ohio.

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