Instruction Manual

10
Drying Fruit Rolls (Fruit Leather)
Fruit leathers are a favourite kids snack. It is a chewy fruit product made from puréed fresh fruit,
which has been dried and rolled into snack sized pieces. Fruit rolls are easy to make and cost less
than those bought at the store. Any fruit high in pectin will make an excellent fruit roll. Most fruits
can also be combined.
Some fruits, such as apples, are high in pectin and fibre, and have an excellent texture when dried.
The combinations are limitless, use your imagination.
Certain fruits, such as citrus, should be used in combination with other fruits because they have so
much liquid and very little pulp. If you find that a fruit is too runny, combine it with apple, applesauce
or a similar fruit that will give it texture.
When fresh fruits are not available, canned fruits (either sweetened or un-sweetened) can be used.
Simply drain the liquid, and pour the fruit into the blender. Applesauce can be taken directly from the
container for wonderful fruit rolls. Frozen fruits can also be used, although they tend to be a bit
runnier. Simply thaw and follow directions for using fresh fruits.
Wash fruits and cut away any blemished portions. Purée fruit in a blender until it is very smooth. In
some blenders with some fruits, you may want to add a little juice or water to start the blending
process. You can also add fruit pulp left from juicing.
Fruits generally need no added sweetening, but if fruits are under ripe or particularly tart, you may
add light corn syrup or honey. Add one or more tablespoons sweetening for each quart of purée,
depending on your preference.
Drying
Place a trimmed baking parchment or Teflon sheet on the dehydrator tray and wipe lightly with a
vegetable oil to prevent sticking. Purée should be about 1/4” to 3/8” thick and evenly spread. Dry at
60℃ until fruit feels leather-like and is pliable, about 4 to 8 hours.
Storage
Remove the fruit roll while it is still warm, roll, cut into smaller size pieces (if desired) and wrap in
plastic wrap. Individually wrapped pieces of fruit leather should be stored in larger airtight and
moisture proof containers.
Fruit Drying Chart
Expect a variance in the time needed to dry different fruits. Drying times are affected by the size of
the load, fruit thickness and the moisture content of the food itself. The guidelines are general. For
more accurate drying times, keep records of your own drying experiences.