How to Make Dried Plums | Dehydrator or Oven

Dried plums are a fantastic snack, and can be used in baking, simmer pots and more! This is the easiest way to preserve lots of plums. Everyone will enjoy the sweet-tart flavor of this dried fruit!

We've dried plenty of fruit in the past: apples, peaches, pears, etc. We did plums for the first time this year and man- they are by far the easiest and require the least hands-on time!

My husband grew up with these as a special treat. He loved them so much that his mom would send him some for Christmas after he moved out and he was always ecstatic to receive them!

Speaking of that, dried fruit or fruit leather is actually quite a nice homemade gift idea! Most people enjoy them. I've got instructions for dried peaches and fruit leather.

We've had a dehydrator for years, so I'm not sure why we didn't think to make our own prunes until this year. But hey, now we've got some! And I'll admit, I really enjoy them as well and so does our two-year-old.

We bought a 20 pound box and it yielded about 20 cups of dried fruit. It should last us all winter and hopefully, we'll have some left for spring and summer road trips next year!

We definitely need to get a plum tree.

WHY DRY PLUMS?

Dehydrating plums is a fabulous way to preserve them while they're fresh and available in the summer, so you can enjoy them throughout the year.

They can be used in several different ways and are simply delicious!

ARE DRIED PLUMS HEALTHY?

Prunes are high in Vitamin K and contain decent amounts of 9+ vitamins and minerals, plus antioxidants and fibre.

They are well known for their ability to help relieve constipation, but they have more health benefits! Dried plums can reduce inflammation (preventing many diseases), promote bone and heart health and reduce blood sugar.

FAQ

WHAT TYPE OF PLUMS SHOULD I DRY?

Italian plums or European plums (often called "prune plums") are usually used since they aren't as juicy and big. The pit also can be removed very easily since they are a "freestone" variety, which makes this process a total breeze!

But really, you can dry any plum variety!

HOW TO PICK FRESH PLUMS

The plum's skin should be smooth and tight, without any bruises or wrinkles.

They should also smell slightly sweet, feel heavier than they look and give slightly when squeezed.

DO YOU HAVE TO PEEL PLUMS TO DEHYDRATE THEM?

You don't! In fact, peeling the plums would add a lot of time and effort to this process. The skin dries right along with the fruit and it's barely noticeable when eating.

CAN YOU DRY WHOLE PLUMS?

You can dry plums whole, but it will take a very long time and you'll need to cut a slit from the skin to the pit. It will also be a lot harder to remove the pit once the plum has dried around it.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRY PLUMS?

This depends on the size of pieces you are drying, but when drying plums halves (flipped inside out like we do) it takes between 24 and 30 hours (or 36 if we never rotate the trays!).

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN THE PLUMS ARE DRY?

When they are done, the dehydrated plums should be somewhat pliable, yet no moisture should be evident in the thickest part of the plum. No area of the plum should feel mushy and it should have a chewy texture.

Store your dried plums in a clear airtight container such as a mason jar or Ziploc bag. This way you can easily see if any condensation is forming, indicating that the plums aren't fully dry yet. Just pop them back in the dehydrator for a few more hours!

WHY ARE MY DRIED PLUMS STICKY?

It's totally normal for home-dried plums to be slightly tacky, they shouldn't be too sticky or too dry. Just make sure there aren't any mushy spots!

ARE DRIED PLUMS FRAGRANT?

As they are dehydrating, you will smell a sweet, fruity fragrance. You can add dried plums to a simmer pot with other fruits and herbs to add a lovely natural, non-toxic smell to your house.

HOW LONG WILL DRIED PLUMS LAST?

If properly dehydrated and stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, the dried plums should last at least one year, possibly longer.

HOW TO USE DRIED PLUMS

• On their own as a healthy snack
• In baked goods, in place of other dried fruit such as raisins (chopped into small pieces)
• In any recipe that calls for prunes
• Soak for 3 hours in hot water and blend to make a prune puree sauce. Try some of the recipes in this post about how to use prune puree!
• Add them to simmer pots to help your house smell great naturally

Tools You May Need

Paring knife

Cutting board

Food dehydrator or oven

How to Make Dried Plums

Ingredients:

• Fresh plums (just ripe)

Instructions:

Wash the plums thoroughly with cold water.

Using a sharp knife, cut the plums in half, all around the pit. Twist the two halves in opposite directions and they should split apart. Remove and discard the pit.

We dry the plums in halves, but if you'd like to shorten the drying time, you can cut the halves into smaller pieces.

Hold the plum half with your thumbs in the middle of the skin side and your pointer and middle fingers on the outer portions of the flesh side.

Push your thumbs in to flip the plum inside-out. This is optional but will make for a shorter drying time, although truth be told, they aren't as pretty! If you don't flip them inside out, place them cut side down.

DEHYDRATOR METHOD

Place the plum halves skin side down on each dehydrator tray, ensuring they aren't touching each other.

Dehydrate at 135°F for 24 hours (could take more or less time, depending on the size of the pieces). Rotate the trays once or twice in that time frame for more even drying.

Test for doneness. The plums should be somewhat flexible, yet no moisture should be evident in the thickest part of the plum. No area of the plum should feel mushy.

Allow to cool fully before storing.

OVEN METHOD

Because dehydration isn't as efficient in the oven, I'd suggest slicing your plums smaller.

Set your oven temperature to its lowest setting.

Use oven-safe wire racks to hold the plums for the most efficient option, but you can place them on a baking sheet as well. Place the plums skin side down and ensure they aren't touching

Propping the oven door slightly open will also speed up the drying process. Rotate the racks or trays every couple of hours, until the plums are somewhat flexible, but not mushy or moist.

Plum slices would likely take 8-12 hours to dry in the oven.

How to Store Dried Plums

Store dry fruit in an airtight container (a glass jar works great, but freezer bags work too) in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight. The fruit should last for at least a year, possibly much longer if properly dehydrated.

Did you try this recipe? If so, I would really appreciate a 5-star rating and your comments below! Thanks!

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