Dehydrating fruits, such as bananas, apples, apricots or berries, allows you to store them for a longer period of time and in less space than canned fruit or fresh fruit. Dehydrate bananas to add to trail mix or for a quick, healthy snack. Using a microwave oven to dry the bananas gives you a jump-start on the dehydration process. It allows you to use less energy by operating your conventional oven for a shorter amount of time than the traditional 8 to 10 hours required when you do not start the process with a microwave.
Step 1
Purchase ripe bananas whose peels appear solid yellow or have a few brown spots, similar to light freckling across a person's cheeks or the bridge of her nose. Use the bananas immediately so they do not become overripe.
Step 2
Peel the bananas and slice them into 1/4-inch pieces, either lengthwise or crosswise, with a sharp knife. How you slice the bananas is up to you, as long as they are 1/4-inch thick.
Step 3
Soak the banana slices in a mixture of 1 tbsp. of lemon juice and 1 quart of water for 10 minutes. Remove the bananas from the lemon-juice soak and pat them dry with paper towels.
Step 4
Line the bottom of microwave-safe cooking trays with microwave-safe non-stick baking liners; look for liners coated with Teflon or an equivalent. Place your banana slices on the liners.
Step 5
Dehydrate the bananas in the microwave oven at medium power for 10 minutes, or until the bananas begin to develop brown spots. Transfer the banana slices to an oven-safe baking sheet lined with the non-stick baking liners.
Step 6
Place the bananas in a conventional oven preheated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving the door open slightly. Set a working table fan on a chair or stool next to the open oven door and facing the oven to increase the air circulation in the oven.
Step 7
Continue to dehydrate the bananas in the oven for 4 to 6 hours, checking every 30 minutes until they reach your desired level of dehydration.
Things You'll Need
- Sharp knife
- Lemon juice
- Paper towels
- Microwave-safe cooking trays
- Microwave-safe non-stick baking liners
- Oven-safe baking sheet
- Table fan
- Chair or stool
References
- Fort Valley State University Cooperative Extension Program: Drying Foods in the Microwave
- University of Missouri Extension; Quality for Keeps: How to Dry Foods at Home; March 2010
- Colorado State University Extension; Drying Fruits; P. Kendall, J. Sofos; May 2010
- "Processing Fruits: Science and Technology"; Diane M. Barrett, et al.; 2004
- "Advances In Microwave and Radio Frequency Processing"; Monica Willert-Porada (Editor); 2006
