How to Make Dried Orange Slices
Dried orange slices make a beautiful Christmas ornament or decoration; string them up on a tree, add them to a wreath, or embellish some gift wrap. This is a fool proof guide for how to dry oranges in the oven.
I love the cozy and natural look that dried oranges add to Christmas. I think they look especially beautiful woven into a Christmas wreath or used as a garnish on a Christmas dessert. The options are endless when brainstorming ways to add these to your holiday décor. Not to mention they are aromatic and add a Christmas-y scent so the air!
These dried orange slices are easy to make and take very little effort. They’re a great activity to do with your kids over the holidays. Get them to help you lay the slices on the cookie sheet or string them onto a garland!
What are the best oranges for dehydrating?
A large orange with more pulp, like a navel orange is the best variety in my opinion. But even within navel oranges, there can be a lot of variance that can affect your end result! Even though most oranges will still make beautiful decorations when they’re dried, there are a few things that make them look even better:
A deeper orange colour
A thicker peel rather than the soft thing peeled oranges look better when they’re dried. The white portion on the rind really contrasts with the orange.
Look for the oranges that have a really rough porous texture since these typically have the thicker peel.
Make sure there are no soft or bad spots on the orange.
Materials
Oranges – oranges that are slightly passed their prime for eating are honestly the best to use for this craft. It’s a great way to repurpose oranges that you don’t necessarily want to eat, but the drier oranges will obviously dry out faster which cuts down your baking time.
Cookie sheets
Parchment paper – not necessary but helps prevent the oranges from sticking to the sheet.
Sharp Knife – the sharper the better (and safer) to help you get even and thin slices.
Cooling racks – you can let them finish drying on a rack to prevent them from getting too dark in the oven.
Steps
1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F
2. While oven is heating, thinly slice up an orange. Slice the oranges very thin, about a ¼ inch. Pat it with a paper or kitchen towel to remove some of the juice to help with the drying time. Don’t squeeze or they won’t look as nice dried out!
3. Arrange the oranges on a lined cookie sheet so they aren’t touching each other.
4. Bake the orange slices for about 2 -3 hours, flipping every hour or so. The baking time will depend on the thickness of your slices. Bake the oranges until they are dry to the touch, then let them finish drying on a cooling rack.
You can also use a dehydrator instead of the oven. If this is the route that you choose, the process will be similar and the colour of your oranges will be even more vibrant than they are in the oven.
Tips
What kinds of citrus can you dry?
- You can dry all kinds of citrus fruits. The drying time will depend on the size and variety. A grapefruit will take longer since it is a larger fruit that can’t be cut quite as thinly, where as a lemon or lime could take less time.
Can you eat them?
- Of course! They are still an orange after all. They make beautiful garnishes on holiday desserts on in drinks. If you plan on eating them, reduce the drying time so they are a little easier to chew.
How to store
- It is recommended that you store dried oranges in a container with air flow, otherwise you risk that they will mold. If stored properly, dried oranges will last for years as a beautiful decoration.
How can I use dried oranges?
The possibilities are endless when it comes to using up your dried orange slices, especially around the holidays!
FOR DECORATION:
string onto a garland
use them as decorations on a tree
embellish your Christmas wreath
FOR GARNISH:
Add them to spiced apple cider
decorate the tops of your Christmas cakes
Garnish your cocktails
Add them to some water for flavour
OTHER
use them in potpourri
dress up your wrapped gifts
I hope you have fun making these classic Christmas decorations. Let me know what you end up using them for in the comments!
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