Dried fruits are just a really nice thing to have on hand– they keep for a long time, are nutrient-rich, and can be added to a ton of recipes or snacks to add energy and flavor. Until this week, though, I’ve never tried drying fruit on my own because we don’t have a dehydrator.
I thought I’d start oven drying with a small project– literally, small blueberries! I played around and found the easiest way to dry blueberries– with 0 calories added and minimal work needed.
You’ll Need:
- fresh blueberries (about a cup for every cookie sheet)
- cookie sheet(s)
- parchment paper
Directions:
- Rinse blueberries and let air dry (or pat dry with a paper towel.)
- Spread blueberries on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.
- Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
- Bake blueberries in oven for 3 hours at 225 degrees.
- Remove and cool berries before placing in an airtight container.
Other ideas for use…
- Purchase a large quantity of blueberries when they’re on sale, dry them, and freeze them in freezer bags. (Yay for saving money and staying healthy!)
- Use dried blueberries in place of or in addition to raisins in recipes (like oatmeal cookies).
- Stir in dried blueberries to yogurt, oatmeal, and cereal.
- Immediately portion into single-serving bags or containers to easily throw into lunches or nosh on for a snack.
Unfrozen and at room temperature, the dried blueberries should last about a month. (But you’ll definitely have eaten them all before then!)
PS. Love healthy tips? Here are 5 easy changes to make to your lifestyle.
Can you do this with frozen blueberries too? Thanks!!