How to Make Dried Cherries

Dehydrating cherries is an easy process that can be done in an oven, dehydrator, or even naturally out in the sun. Depending on the method you use, and whether you choose to dehydrate whole cherries or cut them in half, the drying process can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. Read on to learn how to make this delicious snack!

Ingredients

Cherries- any kind will do, just make sure they're fresh, and have no blemishes.

1

Wash the cherries.

Use cool water for washing. Then, remove the stems. ^{[1]
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2

Pit the cherries.

This is much easier with a cherry pitter, which leaves the cherries whole. Alternatively, you can cut them in half with a paring knife, and remove the pits.^{[2]
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3

Dry the cherries.

Use a paper towel to pat them dry. Be gentle - squeezing or drying too roughly can damage the cherries.

4

Prep the cherries for baking.

Place the cherries cut side up on baking sheets. Make sure they are not touching. Preheat you oven or dehydrator to 165*F

5

Dehydrate the cherries using an oven or dehydrator

Leave them in the oven or dehydrator for about 3 hours, or until the tops look leathery and wrinkled. Then reduce heat to 135, for another 16-24 hours.^{[3]
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- You can tell the cherries are done when they start to look similar to raisins. They should be hard, but still pliable, a little bit sticky, and when you squeeze them, no liquid should come out.

6

Alternatively, dry your cherries in the sun.

If you would like to dry your cherries in the sun, it's almost the same procedure as above.
- Place the patted dry cherries on trays, and cover them with cheesecloth. Also, it is a good idea to put the trays on top of something, so they're not on the ground.
- Leave them in the sun for 2-4 days. It really depends on the temperature and humidity, so check them often.^{[4]
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- Once they are fully dried, place the cherries in a 160 degree oven for 30 minutes. This will kill any (unlikely) bacteria that may have formed.

Community Q&A

Question

I have frozen sour cherries from my garden, but I did not pit them first. Can I still use them?

Community Answer

You wouldn't want to ingest cherry pits, so it would be smart to unthaw them and remove the pits before using them to make dried cherries.
Question

Can the pits be used for anything?

Community Answer

I wouldn't use them. Cherry pits contain cyanide, which can make you sick, so don't use the pits.
Question

I have dried cherries with sugar and oil added. Can I still cook with them?

Allison Schick

Top Answerer

You can probably still use them in recipes, but the flavor or texture may be slightly different, especially in baked goods, depending on the amount of oil.

Warnings

If you're drying your cherries in the sun, make sure it's a sunny forecast for the next few days. Rain will ruin your batch of cherries.

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