Dried Orange Slices: How to Make and Use Them For More Than Just Decorations

A few years ago Marilyn Beard of Just Making Noise wrote about how she was drying orange slices. I’ve done that to use the slices as Christmas tree decorations but the thought of eating those dried discs never occurred to me.

Marilyn has a cool blog with great ideas, so we HAD to give this a try. Besides, it seems that near the end of citrus season we always have more oranges than we can reasonably consume. The quantities are high and the prices are low. I have no willpower to resist.

Our food dehydrator is always ready to use on demand which makes it so easy to give a new idea a quick try. With our first batch of orange slices the color was bright and the texture crispy. We ended up with a gallon of dried slices and a kitchen that smelled heavenly.

The real measure of success in this house is not how lovely a food is or how good it smells, but will someone actually eat it. We brought out the dried orange slices in the fall when the bulk of the summer fruit harvest was gone. The orange slices were gobbled along with dried apple and pear slices. “Yum! Put some of those in my lunch bag,” my grandson suggested.

Thank you, Marilyn! We add a new member to the dried fruit stash we keep in the pantry.

This is so absurdly easy, you will want to give it try.

Dried Orange Slices Steps

1. Wash and dry the fruit.
2. Slice the oranges into 1/4 inch thick rings.
3. If your oranges have seeds, pick them out. Our oranges are seedless, making this project a quick one.
4. Arrange the slices on the dehydrator trays and set the heat to about 110 degrees. You could go with a higher heat and do the oranges in less time but the lower heat helps preserve the orange oil in the rind and with the oil comes the flavor.
5. Depending on how large your oranges were initially, the drying time may be as long as two days. Start checking after the first day. The oranges should be crispy with no indication of moisture.
6. Allow the slices to cool to room temperature before storing them in airtight containers with tight-fitting lids. We store ours in gallon-sized glass jars in order to enjoy the beauty of the fruit. Keep your containers in a cool dark place to preserve the color of the fruit.

Dried Orange Uses

• Quick snacks and travel food
• Make an orange tea
• Garnishes
• Grind into powder and use to flavor soups, stews, baked goods.

Dried Orange Q & A

Q: Where can I buy dried orange slices?

A: If you’re in a pinch and shopping for the orange slices instead of making your own, this is a high-quality orange from our Amazon partner (here).

Q: How do you store your dried orange slices?

A: Store your dried oranges in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid (plastic will work too). Place them in a cool, dark pantry.

Q: How long will the dried oranges last?

A: Your oranges will last about two years if they were dehydrated and stored properly.

Q: How do you know when they are getting old?

A: As the dried orange slices age, the color of the fruit portion will darken and they will get a bit more “crinkly.” You can still use them.

Q: Do my dried orange slices have mold?

A: They sure might if they were not thoroughly dried! You should be able to see and smell the mold in your jar of dried oranges. Compost them if they mold. Clean the jar well.

Q: Are oranges still sweet when they are dried?

A: Yes, the sugars are in the fleshy portion of the fruit and will be like little sugar nuggets when they are dehydrated.