Have you ever tried to dry pineapples? It’s my sister’s favorite gift, and I make for her birthday every year. Fresh pineapple dried concentrates all the sweetness into a delicious treat. It tastes better than candy (well maybe not chocolate), and it is healthier for you. This all-natural snack is easy to pack in your purse and for lunches. The secret to getting it to taste delicious is making sure you practice patience. Allow the green pineapples to ripen naturally to produce a higher sugar content. You may lose a small section of the fruit to browning, but overall it is worth the wait.

Pineapple is easy to prepare as long as you use a sharp knife. Cut off the top and bottom and slice down the sides of the pineapple close to the tender fruit. I make two passes when dressing out the sides of the pineapples to make sure I get all brown barbs off the bright yellow fruit.

Slice the pineapple into uniform pieces. If you are in a hurry and cut larger pieces, it is not as critical with pineapple as with some other fruits. Check the trays often and move the more substantial parts that are drying slower to one tray that will continue to process after the smaller pieces have dried.

One pineapple will fill one tray. It’s great to load the dehydrator in winter as the additional heat isn’t an issue. If you want to save more essential enzymes, set it on the lowest setting and allow it to dry for over 24 hours. When doubting if your fruit is dry enough for storage, take a small amount of the fruit and place it in a Ziploc bag and seal the bag. Wait an hour and check the top of the bag, if there is any condensation, the fruit still has enough liquid in it to spoil if taken out of the drying process, so allow the fruit more drying time. 

You can burn pineapple by over processing it. It still tastes great but isn’t as attractive for gifting. Check it every couple of hours. Pieces should be pliable but firm.

Here is the finished product, ready for gifting! It’s a delight being able to give something that I know will be enjoyed and appreciated. I love the “Simpler Life!”

Be blessed and happy! Anne May