Dehydrated Apples in the Air Fryer
Description
Thin apple slices dried low and slow in the air fryer until chewy or crisp. Two ingredients, no added sugar, and they keep for months.
Ingredients
- 3 firm apples, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
- 2 cups cold water, optional
Instructions
- Wash and dry the apples. Core them, then slice into 1/8-inch rounds using a mandoline for even thickness.
- Stir the lemon juice into the cold water. Soak the slices for 5 minutes, then drain and pat completely dry on a clean towel.
- Toss the dry slices with the cinnamon in a large bowl until lightly coated.
- Arrange the slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the racks, without overlapping.
- Set the air fryer to 135°F (or the dehydrate setting) and run for 4 hours, flipping or rotating the slices every 90 minutes.
- Begin checking for doneness at 4 hours. Cool a test slice for one minute — chewy apples should be leathery with no visible moisture when torn; crisp chips should snap. Continue in 30-minute increments as needed, up to 6 hours.
- Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely, at least 1 hour.
- Pack loosely into a glass jar and condition on the counter for 7 days, shaking daily. If condensation appears, dry the batch further before sealing for storage.
Equipment
- Air fryer with a dehydrate setting or a low temperature range,
- Mandoline slicer
- Apple Corer,
- Wire cooling rack
- Airtight glass jar
Notes
- Slice thickness controls everything. 1/8 inch gives crisp chips in 4–6 hours; 1/4 inch gives chewy dried apples in 6–8 hours.
- No dehydrate setting? Use the lowest temperature your air fryer offers, up to about 150°F, and start checking an hour early.
- Quick version: 300°F for 15–20 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes. Crisp and delicious, but eat within a week — these are not shelf-stable.
- Storage: 6–12 months in an airtight jar in a cool, dark spot. Vacuum-seal or freeze for longer.
- Do not skip cooling before storing. Trapped steam is the number one cause of moldy dried fruit.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 73kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 7mgPotassium: 152mgFiber: 4gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.2mg