Is the autumn wind making you want to get the most out of your crops and what you buy at the farmers market? Has preserving your fruits like oranges become a priority on your to-do list?

You don’t need to sweat too much about drying oranges this fall. It is very simple to do, and you have different methods to choose from.

Drying Oranges In The Oven

Wash your oranges properly and use a cloth to dry them. Then slice them thinly to prepare them for the oven.

Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and preheat your oven to about 200F.

While waiting on the oven heat up, place the slices or orange on the wire rack. Make sure to place them in single layers.

You might need to bake your orange slices for about 4-5 hours to get them well dried. After baking them, let them cool and then place them in a jar with a lid for storage.

Drying Oranges In A Food Dehydrator

Choosing to dry your oranges in a food dehydrator will allow the slices to retain a lot of nutrients. This method is great for orange slices that you will be using for cooking.

Wash and slice the oranges, and place them in single layers on the dehydrator trays. This process might take up to 24 hours. Just check them to see when they have reached the dryness that you desire.

Drying Oranges In The Sun

If you are having a lot of sunshine, you can set your orange slices to dry in the sun over a period of days. This could take 3 or more days. It depends on how thin or thick the slices are, and how much sunshine they get.

You will want to remove your oranges from the outdoors at nights and put them back in the sun in the mornings. Also, watch out for rain, because you want to prevent your oranges from getting wet while trying to dry them.

How To Use Dried Oranges

You can use dried oranges for making pretty garlands to decorate your home. And you can also use dried orange slices to make a potpourri that will make your home smell wonderful.

Dried oranges are also very handy in the kitchen, as you can use them to make soups, stews dressings, sauces, salads, and pastries.

You can also use dried oranges in teas and cold beverages to add more flavor and color. Dried orange slices make a really nice citrus tea.

I hope you enjoy drying your own oranges, and whatever you make with them this autumn.