Guide to Dehydrating Raspberries and Making Raspberry Powder
Are you looking for a way to enjoy your raspberries while camping, without having to worry about them going bad? If so, then read on for my guide on dehydrating raspberries!
Dehydrating raspberries is a great way to preserve their flavor and nutrients, and it’s really easy to do. Plus, you can enjoy them as a healthy snack even when you’re not camping!
Dehydrating Raspberries for Camping
Is there anything better than berry season? When it is raspberry season you can find plump, juicy raspberries at your local grocery store or Farmer’s market. Raspberries are a fantastic addition to snack on or add to any dessert or morning breakfast!
However, if you find you have too many raspberries to eat before they start to get mushy and don’t have time to make jam, try dehydration! I have definitely been guilty (more than once) of coming home with more berries than I have time to eat or process.
Dehydration is a pretty hands-off process. Just make sure you have a 24-hour period during which you can check on the status of your drying berries toward the 18-hour mark and onward to avoid forgetting about them.
While you cannot really overdry the berries, it’s best to turn the dehydrator back on within a short period if they are not dry yet, so the berries stay fresh and don’t sit while still moist on the racks for a long period, encouraging mold.
Choosing Raspberries To Dehydrate
As with all fruit you pick for dehydration, be sure to choose the best raspberries! It’s important to avoid using overripe mushy berries.
Look for firm, fresh berries that are plump and uniform in size. If the berries are too soft or have any mold, they will not dehydrate well.
Can I Dehydrate Frozen Raspberries?
Yes! While you can dehydrate frozen raspberries it is a messier process and you need to use fruit leather sheets on your trays to avoid spillage.
Let berries come to room temperature first prior to putting them in the dehydrator. In the end, you will end up with a flatter end product, not whole plump dried berries.
Preparing Raspberries For Dehydrating
Simply rinse the raspberries and remove any stems. After rinsing gently, pat them dry and spread out on a towel before placing them on the dehydrator tray. There is no need to remove the seeds, as they will shrink during the drying process.
To speed up the dehydration process, you can slice the raspberries in half. That is if you have the extra time to do this! Pick your battles here. I choose not to slice mine.
Some people choose to spritz them with a tiny bit of lemon juice or citric acid solution (see recipe note) to prevent them from turning brown. I do not do this, however, because I enjoy fewer steps and don’t notice a difference in flavor.
How to Dehydrate Raspberries
Spread the berries out on a dehydrator tray, making sure they are not touching. This is likely the most time-consuming part of the hands-on process!
Set the dehydrator to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Dehydrate the raspberries at this low temperature until they are paper dry.
Editor’s Choice: BEST DEHYDRATORS
Different dehydrators have unique features you may prefer, depending on your needs, but I recommend one with a thermostat and a timer. You can also check out my 11 Best Food Dehydrators post for a comparison of all the dehydrators I recommend and which one I have and absolutely love!
How do you tell when dehydrated raspberries are done?
Dehydrating times vary depending on the type of dehydrator being used, the size of the berries, and the humidity at the time but raspberries typically take 18-24 hours to dehydrate completely.
When fully dehydrated raspberries feel firm with no give when pressed on, weightless and hollow, similar to a dry fluffy piece of popcorn. Some will roll immediately around on the tray when you disturb them.
The dried raspberries will be crunchy when you take a bite! This is a sure sign the berry is completely dehydrated.
How to Store Dehydrated Raspberries
Now that you have a wonderfully appetizing pile of dehydrated raspberries it’s time to take further care to preserve them. If not stored properly, they will quickly become stale and lose their flavor.
Once fully dehydrated, store them in an airtight food storage container. The best way to store dried raspberries is in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. To keep them fresh for even longer, you can also vacuum seal the jar.
It’s important to keep dried raspberries away from light and heat, so be sure to store them in a cool, dark place such as a cabinet or pantry. With proper storage, dried raspberries will stay fresh for a year.
Conditioning Dehydrated Fruit
Conditioning is a method that takes place over a 7-10 day period. During this time, store your raspberries are in a non-porous container, shake or stir them once a day, and open and close the jar, to ensure any potential residual moisture is released.
Be on the lookout for signs of spoilage and condensation on the lid. In the event of condensation, return the product to the dryer for proper finishing. Once the product is dry, recondition.
How to Use Dried Raspberries for Camping and at Home
✔ Eat them straight out of the jar as a snack! (It’s impossible not to). Dehydrated raspberries are a perfect healthy snack, especially for camping or hiking.
✔ Add them to your favorite homemade trail mix.
✔ Mix them into your yogurt.
✔ When backpacking or camping dried raspberries are perfect on top of warm oatmeal or mixed in while cooking the cereal to soften the fruit.
✔ Add them to your favorite granola!
✔ Reconstitute them in a little bit of hot water to use in bread, muffins, or chocolate cake.
✔ Incorporate chopped or crumbled dried berries into pancake or waffle batters. Let the batter sit for a few minutes before cooking to soften the fruit.
✔ Crumble the berries and sprinkle them on top of homemade chocolate bark.
✔ Mix raspberry powder into your oatmeal! Kids will love the flavor and color too.
Dehydrated Raspberry Rice Pudding
This simple recipe makes one serving and is a great backpacking breakfast option while on the trail! If you don’t care for rice then use oatmeal. Make it vegan by using dried coconut milk.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup instant rice or instant oatmeal
- 1/4 cup powdered milk or powdered coconut milk
- 1/4 cup dehydrated raspberries
- 1/4 cup pistachio pieces or sliced almond pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- Optional: 1/2 tbs of butter
Instructions
- Add the ingredients into a Ziploc bag or a silicone stasher bag at home. You can choose to pour all the ingredients into a heat-proof bowl at camp or use the Stasher bag as your bowl (use the stand-up style, link below). Pour hot water over the mix, just to cover, and let it sit for five minutes, covered until the grains are soft.
- For a cold porridge, pour cold water over the mix to cover and let it sit, covered, 45 minutes before eating.
How to Make Raspberry Powder
If you love the taste of raspberries, you’ll absolutely love raspberry powder! The bright and tart powder can be used in baking, added to smoothies or icing, and sifted on top of desserts for a pop of color and flavor.
It’s also both beautiful and delicious when used on the rim of your favorite beverage mixed with salt, chili, or sugar!
Making your own raspberry powder is easy to do. To make the powder, simply place dried raspberries in a food processor, spice, or coffee grinder and pulse until they’re finely ground. Sift out the seeds to create a more desirable and fine powder. That’s it!
Final Thoughts on Dehydrating Raspberries
Dehydrating raspberries is a great way to enjoy their summery flavor all year round, especially if you lack extra freezer space. Plus, when you’re out camping, there’s nothing like being able to snack on easily portable fruit. Simply add the berries to your favorite trail mix recipe for your next day hike!
With dried fruit, you can also easily avoid a mushy mess or mold in your cooler from raspberries that didn’t travel well. Having nutritious options to consume while camping definitely helps you stay healthy while enjoying the great outdoors!
So, next time you go camping or hiking, take a few minutes to dehydrate your raspberries to devour while surrounded by nature. Not only will you have something delicious to eat, but you’ll also be doing your part to help reduce waste by using all of the food that you bring with you.
For more food-on-the-go ideas check out our other popular posts: The Ultimate Camping Food List For 2022: FREE Printables and 45+ Best Portable Snacks for Skiing
Basic Recipe for Dehydrating Raspberries
Basic Recipe for Dehydrating Raspberries
Ingredients
- 5 pints raspberries
- 1 spray bottle of citric acid solution or lemon juice /water (optional, see note)
Instructions
- Start with fresh, ripe raspberries. Wash them thoroughly, using a colander, and remove any stems or leaves. Pat dry on a towel.
- Spread the raspberries in a single layer on dehydrator trays. Make sure that they are not touching each other.
- Set the dehydrator to 135 degrees Fahrenheit and let it run for 12-24 hours, depending on how dry you want the raspberries to be.
- Once they are finished dehydrating, store the raspberries in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. They will keep for several months this way.
- Enjoy your dehydrated raspberries in trail mix, yogurt, baked goods, or on their own as a healthy snack!
