Name: How to Dry Peaches in a Dehydrator
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 h
Total time: 12 h 15 min
Yield: 3
Ingredients: 10 peaches; 8 cups water (optional. If doing multiple batches of peaches, just reuse this water combined with the lemon juice); 3 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)

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Learn how to dry peaches (aka rays of sunshine!) in a few simple steps and use them in baking, oatmeal, granola, on their own as a snack and more!

holding a slice of dried peach — *This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here*.

There are only a few short months in the summer when fresh freestone peaches are available (at least where I live!) and we stock up. We love peach season!! We eat them fresh as much as we can and usually can the rest, but this year I wanted to do something else, so I made some dried peaches. It's honestly the easiest way to preserve them, in my experience.

I love them. We've done a lot of other dried fruit in the past (looooooots of apples), so I'm kind of tired of those. These are something new and exciting. And honestly, peach anything is delicious!

It's nice to do an afternoon of work, fill the dehydrator and have dehydrated peaches in the pantry for months to come. Oh, and they are such a ray of sunshine in the middle of winter!

Why Dry Peaches?

Drying, or dehydrating, removes the moisture from the peach and therefore is a fantastic way to preserve them as well as many other fruits and vegetables. They last a long time at room temperature (they won't take up your freezer space!) and there are many delicious ways to use them.

Are Dried Peaches Healthy?

Most of the nutrients in peaches are maintained after the drying process, so they still contain a great amount of fiber, antioxidants and vitamins and minerals. Dried fruit is high in natural sugar, but because of the high fiber content, it's unlikely to cause a spike in blood sugar.

How to Use Dried Peaches

On their own as a snack
Granola
Homemade trail mix
Smoothies
Salads
Oatmeal
Baking (cakes, cookies, muffins, etc)

FAQ

What Peaches Are Best for Dehydrating?

You can dehydrate any type of peach, just as long as it's ripe, but not overly soft. Freestone peaches are the easiest to prepare, as they are not attached to the pit. If you use clingstone peaches, you will have to cut the peach flesh away from the pit, so it's a little more labor intensive, but still doable.

Can YOu Dehydrate Canned Peaches?

You can, just keep in mind that canned peaches often have a lot of added sugar and higher water content than fresh peaches, so will take much longer to dry, anywhere from 15-20 hours. Sometimes you get peach halves in a can and you can dehydrate those without cutting them into smaller pieces, it will just take longer.

CAn YOu Dehydrate Frozen PEaches?

Just as with canned peaches, frozen peaches have a lot more moisture than fresh peaches, so will take between 15 and 20 hours to dry.

Do YOu Have to Peel Peaches to Dehydrate?

Peeling the peach skin is optional and is up to personal preference. If you prefer dried apples without the skins, you'll likely prefer dried peaches without them too!

Do You Have to Blanch the Peaches Before DEhydrating?

Blanching is done to make it easier to remove the peach skins, so it is an optional step. I would recommend it if the skin on your peaches is difficult to remove and you are doing a large batch.

To blanch, simply boil a large pot of water. Once boiling, reduce the heat so it simmers and place peaches in for 30 seconds. Remove the peaches to a bowl of cold water. Once they are cooled, the skin should easily peel away!

How to Keep Peaches From Turning Brown?

Fill a bowl with water and add a few tablespoons of lemon juice. Place your peach slices in the water before placing on the dehydrator trays to prevent brown spots from appearing.

How Long Does it Take to Dry Peaches?

This is dependant on the thickness of your slices. I slice mine ¼ inch thick and they take between 9-11 hours @ 135°F, depending on the environment in the house at the time (temperature, humidity, etc). Always check them after 8 hours at least and if they have moist spots, just continue to dry them, checking every hour or two until the moisture is gone.

How Will I KNow When the Peaches Are Dry?

The peach slices should be pliable when fully dried, but shouldn't contain any visible moisture. Cut a few pieces in half at their thickest point and try to squeeze any moisture out. If none comes out, the peaches are dry!

How Long Do Dried Peaches Last?

Dried peaches stored in an airtight container at room temperature will last at least 6 months, but likely much longer!

Tools You May Need to Dry Peaches

Food dehydrator

Cutting board

Paring knife

Large bowl

How to Dry Peaches

Ingredients:

10 peaches
8 cups water (optional. If doing multiple batches of peaches, just reuse this water combined with the lemon juice)
3 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)

Instructions:

If you are concerned about your peaches turning brown (it's only aesthetic, nothing to worry about), combine water and lemon juice in a large bowl.

Wash peaches thoroughly if you plan to leave the skins on during dehydration. If you desire to remove the skins (my preference), do that now. Cut the peach in half, then quarters. Gently pull on the corner of the skin and if the peach is ripe enough, it should peel right off. If it doesn't, you may need to cut the skin off with your knife or use a vegetable peeler to remove it.

Slice peaches into ¼ inch slices and place in your bowl of lemon water (if using). Once all the peaches have been peeled and sliced, remove them from the water with a slotted spoon and place peach slices in a single layer on your dehydrator trays, ensuring there is space between each slice.

Dehydrate @ 135°F for 8-12 hours. Remove the trays and the dried peaches. Allow to cool completely before storing.

How to Store Dried Peaches

Dried peaches should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature out of direct sunlight and will keep that way for at least 6 months.

Did you try this recipe and love it? If so, I would appreciate a 5-star review and your comments below!

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📖 Recipe

How to Dry Peaches in a Dehydrator

Yield: 3 cups

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 hours

Total Time: 12 hours 15 minutes

Learn how to dry peaches in a few simple steps and use them in baking, oatmeal, granola, on their own as a snack and more!

Ingredients

10 peaches
8 cups water (optional. If doing multiple batches of peaches, just reuse this water combined with the lemon juice)
3 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

If you are concerned about your peaches turning brown, combine water and lemon juice in a large bowl.
Wash peaches thoroughly if you plan to leave the skins on during dehydration. If you desire to remove the skins (my preference), do that now. Cut the peach in half, then quarters. Gently pull on the corner of the skin and if the peach is ripe enough, it should peel right off. If it doesn't, you may need to cut the skin off with your knife or use a vegetable peeler to remove it.
Slice peaches into ¼ inch slices and place in your bowl of lemon water (if using). Once all the peaches have been peeled and sliced, remove them from the water with a slotted spoon and place peach slices in a single layer on your dehydrator trays, ensuring there is space between each slice.
Dehydrate @ 135°F for 8-12 hours. Remove the trays and the dried peaches. Allow to cool completely before storing.

Notes

Store in an airtight container at room temperature out of direct sunlight and the peaches will keep for at least 6 months.