Follow these easy instructions for how to dry orange slices for potpourri, garlands, wreaths, centerpieces or even cocktail garnishes! This post describes how to dry oranges in the oven or in a dehydrator.
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
If you like making crafts occasionally, but don't consider yourself crafty (that's me!) this is an ideal craft for you!
I tested three ways to dry orange slices: in the oven, in a food dehydrator and in an air fryer. This post includes tips to make the best dried oranges for potpourri and crafts. It also includes drying times for each method and my recommendation for the best drying method.
Love making homemade gifts from your kitchen? This post, Make your Own Simmering Holiday Potpourri has been incredibly popular with my readers. It's so easy to make and it will make your home smell like Christmas! Adding a few dried orange slices to your potpourri spice mix smells wonderful and makes an attractive hostess gift.
I also love getting in the mood for fall and cozy sweater weather by simmering this Homemade Simmering Fall Potpourri, too. It's a natural mix of spices, apples, lemon, cinnamon and vanilla to make you welcome Autumn!
While these recipes both used fresh citrus fruit, they can also be packaged attractively to make hostess gifts for Thanksgiving or Christmas. While fresh oranges won't last, dried ones will!
Adding dried orange slices to each little bag makes a thoughtful (and pretty) gift.
🛒 Ingredients and substitutions
All you'll need is fresh citrus fruit: oranges or lemons, grapefruit, blood oranges, or even kumquats!
🔪 Instructions
For both drying methods,
- Slice off the stem ends, then slice the oranges into ¼ inch thick slices.
- Use a piece of paper towel to pat the slices dry to remove excess moisture.
Oven-drying instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°F. (convection)
- Lay the orange slices in a single layer on a rack placed over a baking sheet.
- Bake on a convection setting for 3 - 4 hours, turning the slices over halfway through the cooking time. Remove the tray from the oven and let it sit on the counter overnight to finish drying.
Food Dehydrator Instructions
- Lay the orange slices in a single layer on a dehydrator tray.
- Dehydrate at 135°F. for 5 hours. Turn the dehydrator off and let them sit overnight to finish drying.
Air Fryer
These did NOT turn out well at all.
My air fryer has a minimum temperature of 300°F. which was much too hot. After only 10 minutes in the air fryer, the orange slices were scorched but still very moist.
Unless you have an air fryer with low-temperature settings, I don't recommend this method for drying citrus fruit slices.
🔁 Possible Variations
Use any type of citrus fruit:
- grapefruit
- Cara Cara oranges
- mandarin oranges
- blood oranges
- lemons
- kumquats
👍🏼 Helpful Tips
Try to cut the slices to the same thickness so they dry at the same rate. Use a mandoline slicer if you have one.
Patting them with a paper towel first helps to remove excess moisture and decreases the drying time needed.
❓Reader's Questions
If they're properly dried, they'll last for a year or two. After that, they tend to darken and turn brown. They're so easy to make that I make a fresh batch every year.
If they're a little squishy or bendable, they may develop mold.
Yes! While this post has been written for drying oranges for potpourri or crafts, dried oranges are edible. The peel may be a little bitter. You can google "candied oranges" if you want to make sweetened or candied oranges to top cakes or tortes.
🍳 Equipment
If you're making oven-dried oranges, you can use a half sheet pan with a rack on top to allow the air to circulate. Cover your baking pan with parchment paper if you don't have a rack. T.urn the oranges over more frequently as they're drying
If you have a food dehydrator, simply use the racks that come with it. I've had this dehydrator for many years.
🍽 Ways to use dried oranges
Dried orange or lemon slices are so pretty! Here are a few ways I've found to use them over the years.
- Add them to gift bags of potpourri.
- Add to a mulling spice mix.
- String them together with jute or twine to make a rustic farmhouse-style garland.
- Tuck them into a centerpiece or tablescape.
- Add them to wreaths.
⏰ Storage Instructions
I store these in a glass jar in my pantry where it's cool and dark. Any airtight container will work.
🗒 More recipes for homemade kitchen gifts
When you make these dried oranges, please leave a comment and a rating below. I love hearing from you! Thanks in advance. Subscribe to my newsletter and receive new recipes delivered straight to your inbox.
How to Dry Orange Slices
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium oranges
- baking sheet
- rack to fit over baking sheet, or use parchment paper
Instructions
- Slice off the stem ends, then slice the oranges into ¼ inch thick slices.
- Use a piece of paper towel to pat the slices dry to remove excess moisture.
Oven-drying instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°F. (convection)
- Lay the orange slices in a single layer on a rack placed over a baking sheet. If you don't have a large cooling rack, line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Bake on convection setting for 3 hours, turning the slices over half way through the cooking time. Remove the tray from the oven and let it sit on the counter. overnight to finish drying.
Food Dehydrator Instructions
- Lay the orange slices in a single layer on a dehydrator tray.
- Dehydrate at 135°F. for 4 hours. Turn the dehydrator off and let them sit overnight to finisih drying.
- Use in potpourri recipes, as holiday tree or wreath decorations, or in garlands.
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