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    Home » Baking & Cooking Basics

    How to make dried/dehydrated citrus

    Published: Jan 25, 2021 · Modified: Aug 30, 2021 by Megan · This post may contain affiliate links.

    117.8K shares
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    dried citrus including cara cara oranges, lemon, lime, blood orange, and navel orange
    dried citrus with text "how to dehydrate citrus in the oven".

    Ever wondered how to turn fresh citrus into the most gorgeous dried citrus in your oven? If so, I can't wait to share my ultimate guide on How to Dry Citrus in the Oven with you as well as some of my favorite ways to use dehydrated citrus!

    overhead shot of dried citrus wheels including blood oranges, navel oranges, limes, and lemons

    Every time I post a recipe with dried citrus involved, I get questions asking how I made my dehydrated citrus slices without a dehydrator. While this process is rather time-consuming (3-6 hours total) it's VERY easy because most of that is hands-off time just waiting for the citrus to dehydrate.

    What citrus can I dehydrate?

    While any citrus can be dehydrated, for this post I used the following:

    • Dried Lemons (2-3 hours)
    • Dried Limes (2-3 hours)
    • Dried Blood Oranges (3-4hours)
    • Dried Cara Cara Oranges (3-4 hours)
    • Dried Navel Oranges (3-4 hours)
    • Dried Grapefruit (5+ hours)
    citrus on a baking tray labeled by fruit including blood oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, cara cara oranges, and navel oranges

    Steps to dry citrus in oven

    One: Preheat oven to 200F convection settings

    The first step to making perfectly dried citrus is to set your oven at the right temperature.

    For my oven, 200F is the perfect low temperature to bake my citrus wheels. However, if your oven can go lower you can set it all the way down to 170F for similar results (though it will take a bit longer to dry out the citrus).

    By setting the oven at a low temperature, you are essentially very slowly dehydrating the citrus slices over a period of 3-6 hours by drawing out all of the moisture.

    Also, I always recommend using the convection settings in your oven if available. A convection oven has a fan at the back which helps to evenly circulate the steam.

    This is ideal for dehydrating fruit so the moisture is removed evenly and it actually makes the process faster!

    Two: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a wire rack

    It's important to use parchment paper or an oven-safe bakeable wire rack on top of a baking tray or else the citrus may stick to the pan while dehydrating.

    If neither of these options is available, you can always lightly coat a pan with oil to avoid this problem.

    However, I prefer not to use oil when drying fruit in the oven so I always recommend parchment paper when available. I always use If You Care parchment paper since it is compostable!

    Three: Thinly slice the citrus

    This step is crucial to perfectly dried citrus! I recommend using a mandoline so you can guarantee the fruit is sliced evenly. However,  if you have great knife cutting skills using a very sharp knife also works.

    slices of oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and blood oranges on a baking tray
    Fruit slices on the tray before being dehydrated

    Four: Add to tray & bake 3-4 hours or more

    Once the citrus has been sliced, add it to the parchment-lined tray (or tray coating with oil/ with a wire rack) and place the citrus so it is at least ½ inch apart between slices.

    Then, bake the citrus anywhere from 3-6 hours. I highly recommend removing the tray at the two-hour mark and flipping the citrus as well as rotating the tray in the oven for the best results.

    Some ovens run a little hotter or colder, so make sure to only remove the citrus wheels from the oven once they are completely dried and all the moisture has been removed.

    Otherwise, they will mold and now keep as long as they should. It's also important to note that the larger the citrus, the longer it will take to dehydrate. That means lemons and limes are likely going to be done before larger fruits like oranges and grapefruit!

    picture of citrus labeled with text including blood orange, lemons, limes, navel oranges, cara cara oranges

    What can I do with dried citrus?

    There are SO many ways to use dried citrus, but here are a few of my favorites:

    1: As a cocktail garnish

    Try using dried grapefruit in Grapefruit Rose Paloma

    Add a dried blood orange on top of a Blood Orange Mint Mimosa

    Dehydrated limes make a great garnish to a Tequila Smash cocktail

    Dried orange slices are amazing in this Cranberry Gin Fizz

    2: As a dessert topping

    I love using dried lemons on layer cakes like my Lemon Lavender Cake

    3: Add dried citrus to tea for flavor

    It adds a citrus essence that is truly so enjoyable!

    4: Make citrus sugar!

    I absolutely love making citrus sugar! You can use it in many baking recipes if you want to add in extra citrus flavor. I especially love doing this with lemons and have used it in my Vegan Lemon Poppyseed Donuts for even more lemon flavor.

    Dehydrated citrus sugar also can be used as a garnish around the rim of cocktails.

    5. Make a citrus garland as decor

    This is especially popular to do during the Holidays with orange slices and cinnamon. However, I personally feel it can be a great decoration year-round!

    6. Dip it in chocolate & eat

    Don't forget to add a little flaky sea salt on top! The combination of citrus, sweet chocolate, and sea salt is absolutely divine.

    a lemon lavender cake and cocktail using dried citrus wheels as a garnish
    Two ways to use dried citrus- on top of a cake and as a cocktail garnish

    How to store dried citrus:

    If you have properly dehydrated your citrus (aka no moisture remains) then they can actually last for several years! I have some that have lasted up to 3-5  years that I use as decorations.

    I find dried citrus is best within one year if you are using it on baked goods, in teas, and as a cocktail garnish for the best flavor.

    When storing, make sure to store my citrus wheels in a closed container or zip-loc bag in the fridge or dark cold space in your home. This will help the citrus last longer and keep the radiant bright color longer.

    bowl full of slices of dried citrus

    I hope this guide on How to Dry Citrus in the oven helps you make these gorgeous citrus wheels from the comfort of your home. Enjoy!

    -TSG

    If you loved this recipe, please leave a 5-star review on the recipe card. I always appreciate your feedback and support! You can also follow along on my Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest, or sign up for our newsletter!

    overhead shot of dried citrus wheels including blood oranges, navel oranges, limes, and lemons

    Dried Citrus

    How to dry any citrus fruit for beautiful dehydrated citrus wheels!
    4.89 from 256 votes
    Print Pin
    Course: Baking & Cooking Basics
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 15 + slices
    Author: Megan Horowitch

    Ingredients 

    • 2 Lemons cut into ¼ inch slices
    • 2 Limes cut into ¼ inch slices
    • 1 Blood orange cut into ¼ inch slices
    • 1 Cara Cara Orange cut into ¼ inch slices
    • 1 Navel Orange cut into ¼ inch slices

    Instructions

    • Preheat the the oven to 200F (or 170F if your oven can go lower) and make sure to set to convection oven settings. Then, line a tray with parchment paper and set aside.
    • Use a mandoline or a very sharp knife to slice the citrus into slices no more than ¼" in width. If the slices are thicker, they will take longer to cook.
    • Place the citrus slices onto the parchment lined tray and bake anywhere from 3-6 hours depending on the size of the citrus. Lemons and Limes take the least amount of time followed by oranges and lastly grapefruit which will take the longest.
    • After about 2 hours of baking, flip the citrus so the side facing the parchment paper is now exposed. Also, rotate the tray so that the citrus that was closest to the glass is now in the back of the oven. Continue this process every 2 hours as needed.
    • Once the citrus has no more moisture and is brittle to the touch, remove from the oven and let cool completely.
    • Use as a cocktail garnish, topping on a baked good, or blend into a citrus sugar. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Please see blog post for cooking times for citrus as well as tips on how to use dehydrated citrus wheels
    • Dried citrus wheels can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for several years assuming all the moisture has been removed. I prefer using them within a year of making if using for an edible purpose such as a cake topping or cocktail garnish.
    • Follow these same steps to make dried citrus in a dehydrator, but dehydrate for 6-8 hours at 135F.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 15kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Sodium: 1mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
    Tried this recipe?Mention @shortgirltallorder or tag #sgtoeats!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cm says

      November 27, 2022 at 1:04 am

      Are they fragrant?

      Reply
      • Megan says

        November 27, 2022 at 4:40 pm

        A little! Not as much as a fresh citrus.

        Reply
    2. Lorraine Stuart says

      November 20, 2022 at 2:01 am

      5 stars
      I had no idea it was so easy! I recently purchased some dried citrus wheels to use as cocktail garnishes….but I will definitely make my own next time. Thanks for posting!

      Reply
      • Megan says

        November 20, 2022 at 7:59 pm

        You're welcome 🙂

        Reply
    3. Aurailia Arnold says

      November 07, 2022 at 7:59 pm

      Great article. I am looking to creating my own dehydrated citrus for my simmer pot i sell, instead of buying them in bulk. I like this process a lot. Can I also do the same with apples?

      Reply
      • Megan says

        November 07, 2022 at 11:41 pm

        Yep also works for apples but you will need to adjust the time- I'm not sure exactly how long but the same temperature works 🙂

        Reply
    4. Julie says

      November 02, 2022 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      Love your detailed directions. I’ve always wanted to try this. Thanks for the inspiration!

      Reply
      • Megan says

        November 02, 2022 at 2:01 pm

        So happy you enjoyed them 🙂

        Reply
    5. Megan says

      October 30, 2022 at 8:05 am

      I tried this but the color wasn’t as bright when I got them to a non sticky point…. Any tips?

      Reply
      • Megan says

        October 30, 2022 at 2:10 pm

        Your oven may run a little hot and it may be worth turning down the temperature a little bit next time. To keep the color drying them out slowly at a low temp is crucial. It also may just be the citrus not being as vibrant to start with so. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    6. Jan says

      October 26, 2022 at 12:26 am

      Can you use the dehydrate setting on the air fryer?

      Reply
      • Megan says

        October 26, 2022 at 1:09 am

        I would assume so but I really don't know how long.

        Reply
    7. Christine says

      October 19, 2022 at 2:20 pm

      Question, do you eat or grind the rind after dehydrated or do you remove it?

      Reply
      • Megan says

        October 19, 2022 at 4:47 pm

        You can eat it 🙂

        Reply
    8. Jon says

      July 30, 2022 at 12:45 pm

      Have you ever ground dried citrus into salt? If so, can you recommend a ratio of citrus to salt? Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Megan says

        July 30, 2022 at 3:15 pm

        I've personally never done that, only with sugar, but I bet it'd be delicious! I don't know what amount would work best as a ratio but let me know if you try it 🙂

        Reply
    9. Tina says

      July 06, 2022 at 11:37 pm

      Can you use as potpourri?

      Reply
      • Megan says

        July 07, 2022 at 4:05 pm

        Definitely! Just make sure they are completely dried out and not soft in any spots and they should work perfectly for that.

        Reply
    10. Mar C says

      July 05, 2022 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      great for the sail boat

      Reply
    11. Tina says

      March 20, 2022 at 9:10 pm

      Do you remove the seeds first or just dehydrate them as well?

      Reply
      • Megan says

        March 21, 2022 at 1:46 pm

        It depends on what you're using it for. I keep them in if used as a dessert/cocktail garnish or as a garland. If grinding into a powder, you'll want to remove them either before or after dehydrating.

        Reply
    12. Teresa Potjer says

      February 07, 2022 at 9:39 pm

      How do you make the citrus sugar from the dried rounds. Would love to add some more zing to my baking

      Reply
      • Megan says

        February 07, 2022 at 10:35 pm

        You can use one slice of dried citrus and blend it into a little bit of sugar. Then mix that into more unblended sugar to use for baking. You can use more citrus for more of an intense flavor and test it out!

        Reply
    13. Hanaha says

      January 28, 2022 at 11:50 pm

      5 stars
      I found this very helpful

      Reply
      • Megan says

        January 29, 2022 at 5:12 pm

        So happy to hear that!

        Reply
    14. Marita says

      January 20, 2022 at 10:29 pm

      I made them, and I sprinkled the tops with just a bit of sugar, my orange’s were not very sweet. I ate them like candy. I’m now addicted, and just two slices satisfied by need for something sweet after dinner.

      Reply
      • Megan says

        January 21, 2022 at 5:14 pm

        Sounds so delicious!

        Reply
    15. Dom says

      January 07, 2022 at 11:30 pm

      5 stars
      Good clear instructions

      Reply
      • Megan says

        January 09, 2022 at 3:59 pm

        So glad you liked them 🙂

        Reply
    16. Margarita R says

      December 22, 2021 at 4:29 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for your easy to follow instructions

      Reply
      • Megan says

        December 22, 2021 at 1:45 pm

        You're welcome! 🙂

        Reply
    17. Andrea D Buck says

      December 01, 2021 at 1:58 pm

      A friend and I are having a garland making brunch this weekend! Definitely glad I have the time to prep ☺️ I’ve started making a few small batches - if they are still a bit sticky, I’m guessing that’s an indicator that they aren’t quite dried yet? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Megan says

        December 01, 2021 at 2:35 pm

        How fun! Yes, if they are still sticky you'll want to keep drying them for longer at the low temperature. Just make sure to have the convection oven setting on or it takes a lot longer. You want them dried throughout so they can keep for a really long time.

        Reply
    18. Kathy L says

      November 15, 2021 at 1:06 am

      5 stars
      can't wait to do these to decorate and use is Christmas cookies and Drinks

      Reply
      • Megan says

        November 15, 2021 at 1:15 am

        It's such a great addition to cocktails and as a garland- enjoy!!

        Reply
    19. Clarice says

      November 11, 2021 at 3:11 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful! Will be using for my wreath this holiday season! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Megan says

        November 11, 2021 at 4:08 pm

        That sounds lovely- you're so welcome! 🙂

        Reply
    20. Susan says

      January 26, 2021 at 12:55 am

      5 stars
      Gave some dehydrated orange and apples to my grandson... he strung them up for window decorations.

      Reply
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    Hi, I'm Megan! I believe eating plant-based food can be enjoyable for everyone. Eating plants doesn't have to be hard and it certainly shouldn't be boring. I am here to help you on your journey to eating food you actually feel good about and to make cooking at home fun again! 

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