Dried Orange Slices

Dehydrated orange slices can be made in the oven, air fryer or in your dehydrator. They are so easy and have so many uses.

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Now if you’ve been looking around specialty stores and on the internet you know that dried oranges are all the rage now. Not only are they great for snacking, they make gorgeous hostess and holiday gifts and are perfect for holiday decorations.

In fact, in the 19th century, children were often given a whole orange for Christmas, in their stockings. It was quite a luxury without the aid of our current grocery stores, where the shelves are teeming with them.

What you need

The only ingredient you need here is oranges. Buy fresh oranges, the freshest you can find, preferably organic oranges that have not been sprayed. Choose oranges that have minimal seeds, like navel oranges or blood oranges even Valencia oranges are good.

How to dry in your food dehydrator

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 orange turn brown.

See section below entitled “How to tell if orange slices are dry”

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How to dehydrate in your oven

Orange 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 orange slices are dry”

Air dried orange slices

If you live in a hot, dry climate, think Arizona or southern California, you can air dry / sun dry orange 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 orange slices are dry”

Air fryer dehydrated

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 orange 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 orange slices are dry”

How to tell if slices are dry enough

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)

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Uses for dried orange slices

Not only are dried orange slices perfectly edible, they are a healthy snack for the kids and perfect when backpacking since they are light and a great pick me up, when you’re tired. But that’s not all, they are great for;

• A garnish for your favorite cocktails.
• Make a perfect garnish for cakes.
• Use them to make orange tea.
• They make great Christmas decor . Make a garland with them and some natural twine for a fun holiday decoration.
• You can also tie single slices with jute and hang them on your Christmas tree as natural ornaments.
• Decorate a wreath with them, cinnamon sticks, pine cones and a big red bow.
• Use them for for gift giving. They make fun holiday or hostess gifts and are so pretty to decorate packages with.
• Your feathered friends in the backyard will love them. Hang them in trees or on your bird feeders to attract Baltimore Orioles, Sparrows, Catbirds and more.
• Make potpourris with dried oranges, a cinnamon stick, whole allspice, cloves, nutmeg and other spices for holiday inspired gifting or in your own home.
• Dip them in dark chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt to make chocolate covered oranges for the holidays.
• You can also make candied orange slices. Then dehydrate.
• If you’d like, make spiced oranges by sprinkling with cinnamon, clove, allspice or
• Grind them with a spice mill to make orange powder to add to cakes, cookies, tea, cocktails and also in savory recipes, like this orange chicken.

Are they a healthy addition to your diet?

Dried oranges retain most of their vitamin C when dried at lower temperatures. They’re high in vitamin B6, polyphenols and more. They are high in fiber, since you consume the orange peel as well.

How to store dried orange slices

Once they are dried, store them in a glass jar or similar airtight container to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the air. They can also be vacuum packed for long term storage.

If using a jar to store it is a good idea to add a food safe silicone pack to absorb moisture.

How long will they last?

Dried orange slices will last at least two years, if they are well packaged to prevent moisture from entering their storage container. Store them in a dark, dry, cool space to prolong shelf life.

Pro Tip: Dehydrate citrus fruits together. They take approximately the same time and temperature.

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More dehydrating recipes

You can dehydrate more citrus fruits too!

• dried limes
• dehydrated lemons
• dried grapefruit
• dried strawberries
• dehydrated garlic scapes
• dried chives

Helpful Tools

• Vevor Food Dehydrator
• mandolin
• Food Safe Silicone Packets

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Dehydrating orange slices is a great way to preserve this highly abundant fruit. They are so good for you and they are incredibly easy with next to no hands on time. Why not make some today?

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I hope you enjoyed the recipe today!

Enjoy. And have fun cooking!

Originally published July 6, 2022.

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