How to Dry Blueberries
This page may contain affiliate links. More Information.
Dehydrating is an easy way to preserve fresh blueberries for longer storage. Learn how to dehydrate blueberries for an easy way to store. It’s an easy process, I’ll share some tips to make it quicker. Using a dehydrator is the best way but you’ve got options.
Dehydrating Blueberries
Preparing Blueberries for Dehydrating
Because they have a waxy skin and are very sweet, they do take a long time to dry. To shorten the dry time you’ll need to break the skins open to allow moisture to escape easier.
There are a couple ways to do this. Blanching and pricking the skins.
How to blanch Blueberries for Dehydrating
Many resources say to blanch. I tried this and ended up with blueberry mush. I got distracted, boiled the berries too long and over blanched! Oops. (They still dried fine.) Blanching is very easy and quick.
- Place your berries in a basket.
- Dip them into boiling water for 30 seconds. (not too long!)
- Cool with cold water right away.
In my opinion (and this is only opinion) I don’t care for blanching first. It seems like a lot of the juices end up in the blanch water and you’ll be losing flavor in the process. I bet it shortens drying time, but I want to keep all that flavor. Its all personal preference.
I much rather prefer to keep those juices with the flavor. And let the dehydrator do the work.
Pricking the skins
I suggest a rough chop or pricking the skins. Also very easy… but probably a bit more tedious. There are a few ways to do this as well.
- Place the berries on a counter and roughly chop them.
- Use a food processor and pulse briefly. When I did this it worked great. I did have a few berries that missed the blades and remained whole. I just picked those out and used a knife on them to make sure all berries got at least a slice out of it.
- You can also manually prick each berry with a needle. (I have not tried this. Seems very tedious.)
- Dry blueberries whole without any pricking. Expect much much longer drying times for whole berries. Since I tried it, I’ve never dried them whole again.
No dips or additional pretreatments are needed beyond breaking the skins.
Drying Methods & Time for Blueberries
Drying Blueberries in a Dehydrator
Dry blueberries at 125–135°F for 12–18 hours, depending on berry size and prep method.
Spread blueberries (with broken skins) in a single layer on the dehydrator trays so they will dry evenly.
Note: Blueberries will be very drippy at first. The bottom of my dehydrator ended up quite messy. It cleans up easily so it was not a big deal but if your dehydrator is hard to clean put some parchment paper protection down. Be careful not to interfere with the fan in your dehydrator. If your fan is at the bottom you’ll just have to clean up later.
You also want to stir the berries once or twice during the drying process to prevent sticking. Just wait a few hours until partially dry then move the berries around on the mesh.
Other Methods of Drying Blueberries
You can use an oven to dry blueberries but like I’ve said in other dehydrating recipe, I don’t really recommend it. Using the oven is inefficient (in my opinion). But if it is all you have and you want to give it a try… it’s fine.
- Oven: Use the lowest temperature setting, with trays lined with parchment and the door slightly open. Check frequently.
- Air drying: Not recommended due to high moisture content. If you live in extremely dry conditions, and have good air flow it might work. Watch your berries closely.
How to tell when blueberries are done
Fully dehydrated blueberries are hard and yet have a chewy texture. It is a hard chew though. firmer than raisins. When you think they are done, let the berries cool completely and check again. Warm fruit can feel soft.
If your blueberries still feel soft or sticky when cool, put them back in the dehydrator for more drying time.
Note – When dehydrating you’ll usually have an estimated time that it will take to dry. But always make your final decision on texture. Drying time can vary wildly. The time range is just a suggestion of what to expect.
Rehydrating Tips
Soak dried blueberries in warm water or juice for 10–20 minutes. For a softer texture, you can simmer briefly in the cooking liquid.
Storing and conditioning Dried Blueberries
Before you store them away, place the dried blueberries in an airtight glass jar for 7–10 days. This is called conditioning. It is a final check for fully dry berries before you store them away.
Gently shake daily to check for any signs of moisture. Watch for moisture on the jar, or maybe sticky berries clumping together tightly. If the berries break apart with gentle shaking they are probably fine. You’ll know if the clumping is due to excess moisture.
Once dry, store blueberries in a tight airtight container like a canning jar or vacuum-sealed bag for up to 12 months. Cool dark and dry are important storage conditions. Usually a cupboard or pantry works fine.
How to use Dried Blueberries
For baking, you can rehydrate for muffins, pancakes, scones, or breads. They’re a great addition to breakfast foods like oatmeal, yogurt, or cereal! Let them soak a bit so they soften up a bit.
You can also enjoy them like a chewy hard candy straight from the container. They aren’t going to be as soft as, say, store-bought raisins, but they’re still delicious to suck on.
Quick Reference for Drying Blueberries
- Temperature: 125–135°F
- Drying time: 12–18 hours
- Texture: Hard
- Storage: Airtight container, conditioned, shelf life up to 12 months
FAQ
You don’t have to blanch blueberries for dehydrating, the goal is to break the skins. Instead you can prick or chop the berries to break the skins.
Blueberries typically take 12–18 hours in a dehydrator at 125–135°F. Whole berries can take much much longer. The drying time will depend on size of berries, how the skins were broken, the humidity that day. Go by texture not time.
Yes, but it takes significantly longer. The skins slow down the drying process quite a bit. I strongly suggest pricking each berry or do a rough chop.
Dehydrated blueberries can last up to 12 months. Store them in an airtight container and keep them in a cool, dark place for best shelf life.
