Learn how to dehydrate pineapple at home easily so you can enjoy it one more way. Dehydrating pineapples is also a great way to preserve this fruit and enjoy it longer.
Sometimes I wish I lived on a tropical island and can have endless amounts of fresh pineapple to pick… and eat, day and night. Sadly, our climate here in North Carolina just doesn’t support that pineapple dream. What I can do though is the next best thing and dehydrate pineapple to enjoy all year long.
However, just like other fruits, pineapples have a season too and they are most delicious during spring to early summer so I try to preserve as many as I can. Whether I make pineapple jam or throw some pineapple in my homemade yogurt or use it in a recipe that calls for pineapple, I try to use it any way that I can!
Dehydrating Pineapple in the Dehydrator…
Dehydrating pineapple is not hard… at all. I think the most difficult part of the process is peeling the pineapple. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy to prep as an orange or a banana for dehydrating but it is just as easy to dehydrate…. and, trust me, it’s worth the tiny bit of extra work!
Reasons For Drying Pineapples…
- Preserving the flavor – long after pineapple season is over, that delicious pineapple flavor can be preserved by drying them.
- Another way to eat them – we love to peel and slice and eat fresh pineapple, but we also like changing things up a bit and dehydrating one of our favorite fruits gives us just another way to enjoy them.
- Easy to travel with – dehydrated pineapples are a great hiking/camping/picnicking snack. They are easy to pack in a jar or a zip-lock bag and take with you anywhere you go.
- Preserving for long-term storage – when you want to hold on to that pineapple goodness just a little bit longer. Dehydrating is so easy, requires just a few minutes of prep work, and the result is delicious.
- Homemade healthy candy – dehydrated pineapples are better than gummies! They are sweet and, if you want, you can leave them a bit moist. They are homemade, sweet yet healthy candy.
Ingredients…
- Pineapple – I used two fresh pineapples for this tutorial and got a quart of dry pineapple slices.
- Seasonings – it’s possible to add some cinnamon or nutmeg on top of your pineapple slices before you dehydrate them. More on this in the FAQ section below. I’ll keep it simple in the tutorial below and will just use pineapples.
Kitchen Tools…
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Large mixing bowl
- DehydratorDehydrator – I am using a dehydrator that allows me to control the temperature and produces a better end result. If you don’t have one of those, you can still dehydrate pineapples in the oven or in a dehydrator with no temperature control. More on this in the FAQ section below.
- Air tight storage container (I use jars)
How to Dehydrate Pineapple Step By Step…
Step one – prep the pineapple. Remove the top and bottom of the pineapple. Peel, quarter and remove the core (place your knife on a diagonal above the center of each quarter to cut the core out). Slice each quarter of the pineapple into 1/4″ slices. They clean out each slice from any remaining “eyes” (brown, scraggly dots).
Step two – add to the dehydrator. Place the pineapple slices in one layer on the trays of the dehydrator. Place them close to each other but make sure that they aren’t touching. This will allow good airflow and proper drying.
Step three – dehydrate. Dehydrate at 135 degrees F for about 15 hours. At about 12 hours you can start checking your pineapple. If they are completely dry and crispy (break easily) you can remove them from the dehydrator. If after 15 hours they aren’t yet completely dry, leave them for another hour or so.
How to Store Dehydrated Pineapples…
Once the pineapple slices are dry, let them cool for a few minutes and then transfer them to an air-tight container. You can vacuum seal them or use zip-lock bags, however, in my opinion, jars with two-piece lids work best for storage and look beautiful on the shelf.
How to Condition Dehydrated Fruit…
If you are going to store your dehydrated pineapple for the long term, make sure to condition the fruit. This means that after storage, every day for about a week, check to make sure that there is no moisture on the inside of your air-tight container. If you spot moisture, remove the fruit and dehydrate it again for a few more hours. Then transfer to an air-tight container and condition again. If after a week there is no moisture your fruit is ok to be stored for the long term at room temperature.
Note – some people like to leave some moisture in their pineapple slices and not dry them all the way. This is totally fine. Your pineapple should last a few weeks in an air tight container at room temperature or months in the fridge.
How to Use Dehydrated Pineapple…
- As a snack – dehydrated pineapple slices are an easy snack to grab and nibble on. I love mixing them up with other dehydrated fruits like strawberries and watermelon, nuts, seeds, and chocolate chips to make our own Trail Mix.
- Breakfast – they are a great addition to yogurt with homemade granola or to add to any bowl of cereal.
- In baked goods – use this strawberry bread recipe and add dry pineapple instead or in addition.
- Use as a garnish– how cute are these pineapple flowers? Perfect for topping a cake or a garnish for a drink.
- Use as pizza topping – use dry pineapple along with your other favorite pizza toppings (try this pizza dough recipe). So good!
- Add to shakes and smoothies – rehydrate a few slices (instructions below) throw them in by themselves or with other fruit, milk, ice, and anything else you like into the blender and blend into a healthy drink.
How to Rehydrate Dry Pineapple…
If for any reason, you’d like to rehydrate your pineapple slices, set them in a bowl of boiling water and let them rest in the water for ten minutes or so before taking them out. You can use the pineapple-infused water in smoothies, shakes, and baking.
Frequently Asked Questions…
Yes. Drying foods in a proper dehydrator where you can control the temperature produces a better result and preserves the nutrition better, however, if you don’t have a dehydrator, you can follow the same prep instructions: line a baking sheet with parchment paper, turn your oven to its lowest temperature (hopefully it can go very low to around 165 degrees F), and dehydrate your pineapple slices this way. Of course, drying time will change so keep checking the fruit. Also, you might need to turn your baking sheet and/or turn the pineapple slices halfway through.
I usually don’t feel the need to add a thing, however, you can try sprinkling some cinnamon or nutmeg on the slices or even sugar before you place them in the dehydrator, although ripe pineapple is usually very sweet.
Yes, you can slice your pineapple any way that you want. Just try to keep the thickness of the slices 1/4” or less.
The cheaper Presto dehydrator is very popular and you can find it at any Walmart or online. It runs at a temperature of 165 degrees F and there is no way to control the temperature. Yes, you can use this kind of dehydrator to dry pineapple. Again, for best results, we want to process fruit at a temperature of 135 degrees F but a higher temperature will work as well. Drying time will probably be shorter, around 6 hours or so.
Yes, you can. Let them thaw in a colander, set on the trays of the dehydrator, and dehydrate at 135 degrees F until dry.
Yes, you can. Follow the same instructions. You just saved yourself a lot of the prep work.
It’s so easy to dehydrate pineapple! If you can cut and core a pineapple, you are already on your way to enjoying delicious dry pineapple pieces. With so many different ways to use and enjoy pineapple, you will want to start dehydrating pineapple today. I hope that you’ll give it a try! Let me know how it goes.
More Dehydrating Tutorials…
- Dehydrated Kale Chips
- How to Dehydrate Mushrooms
- How to Dry Apples in the Oven
- Purple Sweet Potato Chips Recipe
- How to Dehydrate Jalapenos
- How to Dehydrate onions
How to Dehydrate Pineapple
Homemade dehydrated pineapples are like a homemade healthy candy! They are sweet and delicious.
Ingredients
- 2 pineapples
Instructions
1. Step one – Remove the top and bottom of the pineapple. Peel, quarter and remove the core (place knife on a diagonal above the center of each quarter to cut off the core). Slice each pineapple quarter into 1/4″ slices (or thinner). Clean out the “eyes” (brown, scraggly dots).
2. Step two – Place the pineapple slices in one layer on the trays of the dehydrator. Place them close to each other but make sure that they aren’t touching to allow good airflow and proper drying.
3. Step three – Dehydrate at 135 degrees F for about 15 hours. At about 12 hours you can start checking your pineapples. If they are completely dry and crispy (break easily) you can remove them from the dehydrator. If after 15 hours they aren’t yet completely dry leave them for another hour or so.
4. Step four - Once the pineapple slices are dry, let them cool for a few minutes and then transfer them to an air-tight container for storage.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions...
- Can I dehydrate pineapple in the oven?
Yes. Drying foods in a proper dehydrator where you can control the temperature produces a better result and preserves the nutrition better, however, if you don’t have a dehydrator, you can follow the same prep instructions: line a baking sheet with parchment paper, turn your oven to its lowest temperature (hopefully it can go very low to around 165 degrees F), and dehydrate your pineapple slices this way. Of course, drying time will change so keep checking the fruit. Also, you might need to turn your baking sheet and/or turn the pineapple slices halfway through. - Can I add seasoning to my pineapple slices?
I usually don’t feel the need to add a thing, however, you can try sprinkling some cinnamon or nutmeg on the slices or even sugar before you place them in the dehydrator, although ripe pineapple is usually very sweet. - Can I dehydrate pineapple rings?
Yes, you can slice your pineapple any way that you want. Just try to keep the thickness of the slices 1/4” or less. - I can’t control the temperature on my dehydrator, can I still use it?
The cheaper Presto dehydrator is very popular and you can find it at any Walmart or online. It runs at a temperature of 165 degrees F and there is no way to control the temperature. Yes, you can use this kind of dehydrator to dry pineapple. Again, for best results, we want to process fruit at a temperature of 135 degrees F but a higher temperature will work as well. Drying time will probably be shorter, around 6 hours or so. - Can I dehydrate frozen pineapple slices?
Yes, you can. Let them thaw in a colander, set on the trays of the dehydrator, and dehydrate at 135 degrees F until dry. - Can I dehydrate canned pineapple?
Yes, you can. Follow the same instructions. You just saved yourself a lot of the prep work.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1 pineappleAmount Per Serving: Calories: 83Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 2gSugar: 16gProtein: 1g
Hi! I’m Lady Lee. I help homesteaders simplify their homesteading journey while still producing a ton of food! I am a single mother of four, I was born in Israel and raised in an agricultural commune called a Kibbutz. Now I homestead in central NC.