Want to keep your raspberries longer? Preserve raspberries throughout the year by dehydrating and powdering them. Follow these easy steps to get you started.
Raspberries, like blackberries, usually last just a few days, and then turn to moldy mush in the blink of an eye. They’re ripe…and then *poof* they’re not. This is the mold monster.
Don’t let the mold monster win.
If you love raspberries and want to keep them longer than just a few days, your choices are as follows
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HOW TO DEHYDRATE RASPBERRIES
- Inspect for and remove any bad raspberries or debris;
- Rinse or soak thoroughly. I use a 3:1 vinegar/water wash;
- Shake gently to drain, then lay out on towels to dry;
- Lay raspberries on racks for your dehydrator;
- Dehydrate at 125F for 24-36 hours or until paper dry. (Typically you dry fruit at 135F, but I have found 125F works best for raspberries and blackberries.)
Always preheat your dehydrator when you begin to prep your produce, and dehydrate at the appropriate temperatures. Running at 160F doesn’t make things dehydrate faster, it just promotes case hardening, which you don’t want!
INSPECT RASPBERRIES
It’s important to remove any bad raspberries that may be developing mold. Remove any debris as it is not something you want in your final powder.
WASH RASPBERRIES
Rinsing thoroughly, or soaking if you choose, not only helps rinse away pesticides and other organic matter, but also helps remove mold spores that may be settling on your fruit.
DRY RASPBERRIES
Since raspberries have an opening that allows water to collect, gently shake raspberries in a colander, run through a salad spinner, or layout on towels to allow water to evaporate. They do not have to be perfectly dry, but get as much moisture out as you can.
LAYOUT ON RACKS
Whether you’re using an Excalibur 9-tray, a Nesco FD-80 or other dehydrator, lay your raspberries out on racks. You may choose to use a liner for your racks in case there is some juice that sticks during the process, but it isn’t necessary.
If you notice, I am not fussed with the way these look. Some like to place with the opening down to help with dehydrating time. I’ve never found it to help. Just give them space.
*if you are dehydrating frozen raspberries, DO place protective liners on each tray as the cells of the fruit are damaged in the freezing process, and you will have a lot of juice. I would suggest defrosting first, then putting your raspberries in the dehydrator to dry to keep the mess at a minimum (but still protect the machine with liners).
DRYING INSTRUCTIONS
Dry at 125F for 18-36 hours. You may have to go longer if your raspberries are big and plump, you have humid weather, or your machine is crammed full.
*Note: While fruit is typically dried at 135F, I prefer to dry my raspberries and blackberries a little cooler at 125F to help them dry a little slower. Because they can be problematic in dying into hard little nuggest, I find drying them a little slower helps them dry more evenly and be more beneficial to the powerding process in the end.
TIP>> Budget-friendly Dehydrator Tools
How to Store Dehydrated Raspberries
Conditioning – once you’ve dehydrated your raspberries, you need to condition them for about a week. Place in an airtight canning jar, and shake the jar once or twice a day. Conditioning is the act of allowing the humidity level (preferably less than 20%) to equalize amongst all the fruit in the jar as some may hold more moisture than others.
If you see condensation on the inside of the jar, throw them back into the dehydrator and dry longer. If you see no condensation, or if your humidity indicator strip still shows less than 20% humidity, continue with long-term storage.
You can watch this video in how I vacuum seal my blackberries for long-term storage. You can do it for all of your dehydrated fruits and vegetables.
However, there is one addition to the video that I did not make clear. If you are storing in regular mouth jars, instead of a wide mouth, use two lids through the process. The two lids allow for better seating of the bottom lid and better overall suction. Then simply remove the top lid to use again another day.
Either way, you’ll need these jar attachments to use this storage method. If you don’t have a full-sized vacuum sealer, you can use this hand-held model to do the same thing. I did a Facebook live video on how I use it that you can watch in our dehydrating group (membership request is required).
DEHYDRATING RASPBERRIES Q & A
Can I dehydrate frozen raspberries?
Yes, but I do suggest you allow them to come to room temperature on paper towels (or lint-free towels you’re willing to be stained), to allow the juice to be absorbed. The cell structure of the fruit is slightly damaged in the freezing process, so they will be juicy and can make a mess in your dehydrator. You’ll want to go ahead and use liners for your trays
What kind of dehydrator should I use?
Ideally, a dehydrator should have a temperature setting that allows you to go from 95F-160F (35-70C), and is powerful enough to run with consistent heat for up to two days (I look for at least 600 watts). You also want trays that are not thin plastic that might break quickly. I use an Excalibur 9-tray without a timer (I don’t think it is necessary) and have used a Nesco FD-80 in the past that I also recommend.
There are other worthy machines out there, such as the Cabelas 10-tray model, with more and more coming on the market daily. Read reviews or join our dehydrating group and ask for opinions. There are a wide variety of machines in use there.
►TIP: See my full list of recommendations here.
Are there other ways to preserve raspberries?
- Dehydrate Raspberries
- Freeze Raspberries
- Can Whole Raspberries or Raspberry Jam
- Freeze-dry raspberries
HOW TO POWDER RASPBERRIES
- Place raspberries in a blender or coffee grinder (I really love this grinder as it has a removable bowl for easier cleaning);
- Pulse until powdered;
- Run through a fine mesh strainer to remove seeds;
- Store in an airtight container with a desiccant pack to absorb moisture.
Tip – watch this video to see the complete process.
How do I use Raspberry Powder?
- Mix into yogurt
- Add to oatmeal
- Use to flavor salad dressings
- Sprinkle onto cupcake icing instead of sugars
- Use as a natural food coloring
- Add to milk instead of chocolate
- Use as a flavoring in pudding or chia pudding
- Add as a flavor boost to muffins or smoothies
How to Dehydrate Raspberries and Make Raspberry Powder Video
LEARN ABOUT DRYING FRUITS:
Simple Homestead Blog Hop
PRINTABLE QUICK NOTES
DEHYDRATE & POWDER RASPBERRIES
HOW TO DEHYDRATE RASPBERRIES
- Rinse berries thoroughly.
- Allow to dry.
- Lay raspberries out on dehydrator sheets.
- Dry at 125F for 18-30 hours.
- Raspberries will shatter between fingers and sound like rustling paper when fully dehydrated.
- Store in airtight container with a desiccant pack to absorb moisture.
HOW TO POWDER RASPBERRIES
- Use a mallet or hammer to crush blackberries in a zip-top bag.
- Alternatively, use a coffee grinder to powder blackberries.
- Run through a fine mesh strainer.
- Store in an airtight container with a desiccant pack to absorb moisture.
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