Written By Sam Henselijn
How To Dry Cranberries? Cranberries are a popular “superfood” high in antioxidants and nutrients. Unlike most fruits we consume in the United States, cranberries are actually native to North America. They grow across the northern United States, Chile, and Canada. Often linked to fall recipes, the berries can be consumed year-round as is, in the form of sauces, as juice, or even added to baked goods, stuffing and casseroles. In this article learn how to dry cranberries.
History of Cranberries
The Cranberry, or genus Vaccinium, is native to the swamps of
northeastern North America. It belongs to the Heather family.
Back in the day, the little fruit was a staple for Native Americans. They harvested wild cranberries and used them in foods, drinks and several remedies. According to National Geographic, they were interestingly used in an energy bar-like food called “pemmican”. The concoction provided a much needed source of nutrition for fur traders in the winter months.
In 1816, a retired sea captain named Captain Henry Hall became the first person to successfully cultivate cranberries in Massachusetts. Allegedly, he came across a cranberry vine thriving on Cape Cod and saw potential. The rest is history…
Dried Cranberries
These days, you can easily find dried cranberries packaged in grocery stores all over the country. After harvest, the fruits are frozen to preserve their nutrition and break down their flesh. Later, they’re sliced, sweetened, and dried. The goal is to remove as much moisture from the cranberries as possible. Because they’re naturally very tart, this process also concentrates their natural sweetness. For the final step, a commercial dryer with dry heat is used to dehydrate the berries.
If you’re wondering, dried cranberries still retain many of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in raw cranberries.
How To Dry Cranberries?
Fresh cranberries are more of a seasonal thing, but dried cranberries are enjoyed year-round. Although readily available in supermarkets, you can absolutely also make them at home! It’s easier if you have a dehydrator, but an oven will work just fine otherwise.
- The first step is to prep the cranberries. They need to be blanched and sweetened before going in the oven. Feel free to omit the sweetening step if you wish. Just keep in mind that unsweetened cranberries can be extremely sour and astringent.
- Let your fresh cranberries soak in a bowl with hot water for 10 minutes. They should “pop” or split open. Then drain and pat them dry with a clean dish towel.
- To sweeten them, a simple sugar syrup is generally preferred. You’ll use 2 parts water to 1 part sugar and simmer the mixture until it’s reduced by half. You need about 1/4 cup of syrup for every 12 ounces of cranberries. Alternatively, you can substitute the same amount of maple syrup.
- Mix the cranberries with the sugar syrup (or maple). Spread them on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Make sure to use a knife to pierce any cranberries that didn’t split during the blanching! Trust us, you don’t want them exploding in the oven…
- Now it’s time to dry the cranberries. Turn your oven on to its lowest setting. On most ovens, that would be 150 F. But if yours go even lower, 135 F is ideal.
- Put the baking sheet of cranberries in the oven for 6-8 hours or overnight. Check after the initial time. They should be fully dry but still somewhat leathery and pliable. The goal is for dried cranberries to have a texture similar to raisins.
- You probably won’t be able to tell if the cranberries are fully dehydrated until they have cooled. Once they seem dry, turn off the oven and let them cool for 20 to 30 minutes. Then tear one open to check if there’s any visible moisture. If not, they’re ready!
How to Store Dried Cranberries
Homemade dried cranberries keep best in the freezer. Just pack them in jars or in plastic bags, write down the date, and stash them away. They should last for up to a year!
How to Enjoy Cranberries
Cranberries are always delicious, but dried cranberries are the most versatile to have on hand. They are a tasty and fun alternative to raisins and an excellent addition to cereals, granolas, or your morning oatmeal. Some people enjoy simply eating them by the handful as a little pick-me-up.
You can also mix them with nuts for a DIY trail mix or make a snack plate with some dried cranberries and a few slices of hard cheese, nuts, and deli meat. Another great way to incorporate cranberries into your diet is to simply sprinkle some atop a hearty salad. They are also delicious tossed into a rice or grain side dish!
Dried Fruit
Yes, we love our dried fruits! Convenient, packed full of flavor and nutrients, and easy to include in many recipes… What’s not to love? Make sure to also try our diced apples, sweetened banana chips, whole medjool dates, crystalized ginger slices and dried kiwis! You’ll see what we’re talking about…
Sam Henselijn Author’s Biography – Meet L’Orenta Nuts CEO
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