Dried Lemon Slices
Dehydrating lemon slices is an easy way to preserve lemons for recipes later on.
Servings: 1 Yield Varies
Ingredients
- Fresh, ripe lemons
Instructions
- Wash and dry lemons and before slicing into sections ¼ to ⅛ inch thick. Remove any seeds.
- Arrange slices on dehydrator trays (or wire racks over baking sheets for oven dehydration) in a single layer, leaving space between slices.
- (Dehydrator) Set your dehydrator to 135° F and dehydrate for 3 to 7 hours adjusting for humidity.
- (Oven) Set your oven as close to 135° F as it will allow (usually 170° F). Dry for 2 to 4 hours. Check every 30 minutes, flipping if needed.
- Slices will be done when they are free of all moisture and crisp.
Notes
When slices are adequately dry, allow them to cool for 30 to 60 minutes before storing. Dried lemon slices are best kept in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed for long-term storage.
Conditioning
You may wish to condition dried fruits after dehydrating them, especially if you are intending them for long-term storage. Conditioning allows moisture to distribute evenly between your dried fruit and substantially reduces the risks of mold or spoiling.
To condition your lemon slices, move them to an airtight container and fill it ⅔ of the way full. Seal and allow to stand for 7 to 10 days. Once a day you should shake the container and check for signs of moisture. If you see condensation appear, your lemon slices need to dehydrate further. Pop them back in the dehydrator and repeat the conditioning process.
If you see no signs of moisture after 10 days, feel free to move your slices to the pantry or another cool, dry location.
Dehydrating Time
Humidity can be a large factor in dehydration times. Be sure to adjust dehydration time for ambient humidity as outlined by the chart below:
- 10 to 30% Humidity: 3 Hours
- 31 to 50% Humidity: 4 Hours
- 51 to 70% Humidity: 5 Hours
- 71 to 80% Humidity: 6 Hours
- Above 80% Humidity: 7 Hours
Nutrition
Serving: 1lemon | Calories: 31kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg