How to Dehydrate Apples for Apple Chips

Dehydrated apples are one of the best foods to dehydrate for anyone new to dehydrating food. The process of dehydrating apples is straightforward and foolproof with a dehydrator. Dehydrated apples are a healthy snack and a lightweight trail treat. So, if you’re looking to learn how to dehydrate apples, this post is for you.

Whether you’re trying to dehydrate red delicious, pink lady, or green apples, any variety of apples will dehydrate. It is truly based on your personal preference for Apple, but I will explain some of the differences below. The good news is that you can always try a different variety the next time around. Heck, you could even buy multiple varieties for a taste test your first time dehydrating apples.

Simple Way to Dehydrate Apples

Dehydrating apples is a simple way to get into dehydrating food and is going to be the basis of understanding the methodology of dehydrating. You’ll learn quickly what a finished dehydrated food will look and feel like, as well as understanding the preparation and storage that goes into proper food dehydration.

If all of that sounds good to you, let’s get into it!

Materials Needed to Dehydrate Apples

Food Dehydrator

Apples (1+ pounds of apples)

Apple Peeler or Knife

Apple Corer

Large Bowl

Water and one tablespoon of Lemon Juice or Citric Acid Powder*

Baking Sheet and Parchment Paper**

*Optional to prevent apples from browning

**If dehydrating apples in an oven

Dehydrating Apples with a Dehydrator

To dehydrate apples with a dehydrator is going to be the simplest and most consistent way to create this healthy snack.

Selecting the Right Apples

Begin with your apple of choice to create the dried apple slices. If you choose a sweet apple, the apple crisps will be sweet and if you choose a tart apple, the apple chips will be tart. It is a personal preference for apple choice. The best apples in my personal opinion are pink ladies!

Preparing the Apples

Wash the apples to remove any waxy film or pesticides.  Peel the apples so that all of the skin is removed. This step is optional, however the skin gets chewy and difficult to chew through. If you have the time to remove the apple skins, I would recommend it.

As I am peeling apples, I stick the peeled apples in a water bath with a splash of lemon juice. The citric acid of the lemon and water keeps the apples from browning.

Core and Slice

Once all of your apples are peeled, remove the core. You can do this with an apple core or cut the apples in half and remove the core with a pairing knife.

Slice the apples about 1/8th inch thick. I find that the thickness of the slices is about perfect for the final texture without being crispy and too chewy.

Arrange Apples on Dehydrator Trays

Lay the apple slices on a dehydrator tray. Do not stack the apple slices on top of each other. The thin slices should be placed in a single layer.

Dehydrate Apples

Set your dehydrator according to its specific directions. I use a cosori dehydrator, so I set the dehydrator to 145 Degrees and the timer for 10 hours. Again the drying time is going to vary based on the type of food processor you use, so check the directions.

The apples are done when they are no longer stuck and have a gentle bend to them without being crispy. Dry apples have a leathery texture.

Cool and Store

Let the apples cool to room temperature before storing them. Store the dehydrated apple slices in an airtight container in a cool, dark location. The apple rings will store well for about 6 months…but I doubt they will have the chance to make it that long!

Read Next: How to Dehydrate Pasta

Dehydrating Apples in an Oven

While dehydrating apples in a dehydrator is my preferred method, you can dehydrate apples for apple chips in an oven.  Oven-dried apples are one of the easiest ways to dehydrate apple pieces if you do not have a dehydrator.

To dehydrate apples in an oven, prep them following the directions above.

1. Place the apples on a backing sheet prepped with parchment paper.
2. Set your oven to the lowest setting, this is usually around 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. At higher temperatures, apples will dehydrate more quickly. Check them regularly after 2-3 hours. The actual time will vary depending on the air circulation.
4. Remove the apples when they are leathery and cool, and store them in an air-tight container.

There are so many different ways to dehydrate apples, finding what works best for you is going to be key.

Flavored Apple Chips

While apple chips are delicious as is, sometimes adding a little bit of flavoring is fun! Trying new apples for a different snack variety is a great way to narrow down what type of apple you like best, but here are some ideas for flavored apple chips.

1. Cinnamon – Mix cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar together. Dip one side of the apple crisps in the mixture. Cinnamon apple slices are one of my favorite recipes!
2. White Cheddar – Use the white cheddar popcorn powder. Sprinkle sparingly. It tastes best on green apples.
3. Tajin – Sprinkle this sprinkle this spicy chile-and-lime seasoning on your apples before dehydrating them!

Have a flavor you love? Try it out! Once you’ve mastered the apple varieties, try the drying process for other fresh fruit!

Storing Methods

To keep your apple chips nice and leathery, storing your apples appropriately is going to increase their shelf life for longer. Just like an open bag of chips, gives your chips a stale and chewy texture, apple chips will become limp and could start rehydrating. For longer storage, use the vacuum seal method.

• Mason Jar or Airtight Containers: If you plan on eating the chips right away and over the course of a couple of weeks, a Mason jar or Tupperware with a rubber seal will work great. Make sure it is completely sealed and stored in a cabinet or pantry away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Vacuum Seal: if you want to make large batches of apple chips and store them for a couple of years, you can dehydrate the apples and vacuum seal them. When done properly and stored in a dark and cool location, the vacuum-sealed apples will last between 2 – 4 years.
• Freezer: If you want to store dehydrated apples in an airtight container for a period longer than 6 months, you can put them in the freezer where they will be fresh for up to a year. Frostbite will cause the apples to rehydrate.
• Plastic Bags: If you want to store the apples for a quick snack, you can use a plastic bag or stasher bag. Storing apples in this way will reduce the storage time.

Make Your Own Dehydrated Chicken Burritos

Tips to Dehydrate Apples

Here are some quick and helpful tips to dehydrate apples:

Apple Varieties: If you use sweet apples like fuji apples, your apple chips will be sweet. Drying fruits does not change the flavor so if you choose a granny smith apple which is sour, your apple chips will be sour.

Best Results: you will have the best results when you dehydrate apples that are a uniform shape. This goes for the successful drying of foods in general. Try to cup your apples to the same width for the best results.

Storage: Keep the apples in a dry place. Moist air will rehydrate them so it is important that once the apples are cool from the drying process you store them right away.

Vitamin C: You can use an ascorbic acid(Vitamin C) mixture to help keep the apples from browning. It also decreases bacteria growth.  You can use lemon juice as well.

Pack It Up

When you decide to dehydrate apples, you end up with a delicious trail snack. There is so much variety in dehydrating apples that you can truly make this recipe fit your personal needs. Cut the apple slices into cubes to add to trail mix and salads. Cut the apples into disks to dip into caramel or add to a s’more. The possibilities are endless.

You don’t need a dehydrator to dehydrate apples so don’t wait until you have one to practice your dehydrating skills! You can start now.

If you have any questions on how to dehydrate apples, please leave me a comment so I can answer them! 

Otherwise, happy dehydrating and enjoy your new favorite snack!