Dehydrating Limes
Dehydrating limes is a simple process that involves very little hands-on time. A great way to preserve this unique fruit to use in many other ways.
Out of all the citrus we have dehydrated over the years, the smell of the dehydrated limes is my favorite. I love the others too but the limes have stolen my heart.
Limes are freshest when purchased in the late winter and early spring. Luckily with new technologies that are available now, fresh citrus can be purchased year around.
So whether you have a lime tree in your back yard or they have a great sale at the grocery store, you can make these limes any time of the year.
You can dry the slices or you can even just dry the lime zest.
You don’t necessarily need a dehydrator to dry limes. There are actually four easy techniques. Commercial dehydrators, your oven, the sun or air dried or your air fryer.
What you need
For this recipe you only need fresh limes. Try to get the freshest limes. It’s best if you can find organic ones that have not been sprayed with chemicals.
If you can’t, wash them with a vinegar and water solution or just soap and water. Rinse well under hot water. Dry them well before slicing.
How to make them
Step Two
Slice limes into ¼ inch slices. Use a sharp chef’s knife, serrated knife or mandolin.
Step Two
Arrange slices on dehydrator rack in a single layer.
Step Three
Slide the tray into the dehydrator.
Step Four
Place odd sized pieces and ends on a separate rack. They generally take less time.
The ends are great to make lime powder for flavorings.
Set dehydrator to 100°F / 40°C. Dehydrate for 18-24 hours. Flip slices every 8-10 hours so that they dry evenly.
Test them after 24 hours. If they are not quite dry, continue to dehydrate until they are dry.
If you would like to speed up this process, you can turn the dehydrator up to 170°F / 80°C. They will take 2-4 hours at this higher temperature. The reason I like to do them at a lower temperature is that they keep their lovely color much better. Turning up the heat can make the natural sugars in the limes turn brown.
See section below entitled “How to tell if lime slices are dry”
How to use your oven
Lime slices can be baked in the oven to dry. Perform steps one and two above. Place them in a single layer on parchment paper lined baking trays. Turn oven to it’s lowest setting (generally 150-170°F / 80°C) Slide the sheets on to the oven rack, crack open the door and prop it with a wooden spoon or something similar that will not conduct heat.
Allow the slices to dry for about 2-4 hours. Flip them over every 30 minutes or so. This will ensure that they dry evenly.
See section below entitled “How to tell if lime slices are dry”
How to air dry / sun dry
If you live in a hot, dry climate, think Arizona or southern California, you can air dry / sun dry lime slices too. Perform steps one and two above. Place them on a piece of cardboard or on parchment lined baking sheets. Allow them to dry for a least a couple days.
If nights tend to be damp, remove them to the house or garage and then place them back out in the full sun the next day.
See section below entitled “How to tell if lime slices are dry”
Pro Tip
Dehydrate your citrus together. They take the same temperature and about the same amount of time.
How to use your air fryer
Preheat the air fryer to it’s lowest temperature. Perform steps one and two above. Arrange slices on air fryer basket. Air fry for 30 minutes. Remove and flip the pieces over. Air fry for an additional 20 minutes.
Check the progress. If the lime slices are not quite dry, air fry in 5 minute intervals, turning the slices over each time you check, until they are dried.
See section below entitled “How to tell if lime slices are dry”
How to tell if lime slices are dry
Since these fruit have so much sugar, they may still look a bit shiny due to the sugars on the outside of the slices. To test, break a slice in half. The rind should crack pretty easily and have very little bend left. (the flesh will still bend)
How to store dehydrated limes
Store dried lime slices in a Mason jar or similar air-tight container. We’ve found that adding a food safe silicone packet will prolong the shelf life of the product by reducing potential moisture contamination.
Dehydrated lime slices will last at least one year. Store them in a cool, dark, dry place to prolong shelf life.
How to use them
- They make a great garnish for cocktails or beer.
- Grind them up in a coffee mill or spice grinder and make lime powder.
- Make limeade with the powder.
- Use the powder to make lime salt for cocktails or lime sugar for baking.
- Flavor water, soda or sparkling water.
- Use it for flavoring for cakes, cookies and other baked goods.
- Make a delicious Lime Buttercream Frosting.
- Make a lime salt for gifting or to keep in the pantry.
- Add them to a potpourri with other citrus slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice and the like for decoration around the holidays.
- Use them for a holiday wreath with lemon, grapefruit slices and orange slices.
To make fruit powder
You can use lemons, limes, oranges or grapefruit to make citrus powder. Make sure that your citrus have been fully dried.
- Break up the fruit with your hands.
- Add it to a blender, spice mill or food processor.
- Pulse a few times to make the pieces smaller.
- Then run continuously for 2 to 5 minutes until you have a fine powder.
- Run the powder through a fine mesh strainer to remove larger pieces.
- Reprocess those larger pieces until fine.
- Store in airtight jars. Use for baking and more. See suggestions above.
More recipes for dehydrating
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I hope you enjoyed the recipe today.
Enjoy. And have fun cooking!
Dehydrated Lime Slices
Ingredients
- 2 fresh lime
Instructions
Drying in dehydrator
- Wash and dry the outside of the limes well.2 fresh lime
- Using a sharp knife or your mandolin, slice about ¼ inch thick. Try to get slices as uniform as possible so that they dry at the same rate.
- Arrange slices on dehydrator racks. Pat both sides dry with paper towel.
- Slide rack into dehydrator.
- Set dehydrator to 100°F / 40°C. Dehydrate for 18-24 hours. Flip slices every 2-3 hours so that they dry evenly.
- If you would like to speed up this process, you can turn the dehydrator up to 170°F / 80°C. They will take 2-4 hours at this higher temperature. The reason we like to do them at a lower temperature is that they keep their lovely color much better. Turning up the heat can make the natural sugars in the limes turn brown.
- See important recipe notes below.
Drying in your oven
- Wash and dry lime well.
- Using a sharp knife or your mandolin, slice about ¼ inch thick. Try to get slices as uniform as possible so that they dry at the same rate.
- Place them in a single layer on parchment paper lined baking trays.
- Turn oven to it’s lowest setting (generally 150-170°F / 80°C) Slide the sheets on to the oven rack, crack open the door and prop it with a wooden spoon or something similar that will not conduct heat.
- Allow the slices to dry for about 2-4 hours. Flip them over every 30 minutes or so. This will ensure that they dry evenly.
- See important recipe notes below.
Air dried
- Wash and dry limes well.
- Using a sharp knife or your mandolin, slice about ¼ inch thick. Try to get slices as uniform as possible so that they dry at the same rate.
- If you live in a hot, dry climate, think Arizona or southern California, you can air dry lime slices too. Place them on a piece of cardboard or on baking sheets. Allow them to dry for a least a couple days, depending on how hot it is.
- If nights tend to be damp, remove them to the house or garage and then place them back out in the full sun the next day.
- See important recipe notes below.
Drying in the air fryer
- Wash and dry limes well.
- Using a sharp knife or your mandolin, slice about ¼ inch thick. Try to get slices as uniform as possible so that they dry at the same rate.
- Preheat the air fryer to it’s lowest temperature. Arrange slices on air fryer basket. Air fry for 30 minutes. Remove and flip the pieces over. Air fry for an additional 20 minutes.
- Check the progress. If the limes slices are not quite dry, air fry in 5 minute intervals, turning the slices over each time you check, until they are dried.
- See important recipe notes below.
Condition your fruit
- See details in notes below.
See all of my favorite tools and gift ideas on my New Amazon Store!Check out Binky’s Amazon Store!Notes
- Use the slices for a garnish for cocktails. They are especially good with gin cocktails.
- You can use them to garnish cakes, and breads.
- Use to flavor water, sparkling water or punches.
- Grind it in a spice mill or coffee grinder to make Lime powder.
- Lime powder can be used to flavor baked goods, make limeade, and flavor meats and seafood dishes. It’s especially good with shrimp and fish.
- Add to soups, sauces and stews.
- Make potpourri to give as gifts around the holidays. Add other dried citrus as well.
- Use a bit of jute twine to make Christmas tree ornaments.
- Make a garland with other citrus.
- Give jars to friends and family for a fun homemade gift around the holidays.
Nutrition
Originally published July 11, 2022.
Greetings, do you grind the peel too? Thank you!
Yep! The peel has incredible flavor. Thanks for checking out the recipe Terri!
I totally agree Sarah. It does make the house smell incredible! Thanks for letting me know you like it!