Michigan
State University Extension
Preserving
Food Safely - 01600536
10/13/97
Sometimes called fruit rolls or fruit taffies, these
"leathers" can be eaten as is, or they can be made into a
beverage by adding 5 parts of water to 1 part leather in a
food blender. They can also be used in pie filling, in
cooking and as a topping for dessert.
Any type of fruit can be used including: apricots,
apples, grapes, berries, pineapple, oranges, pears,
peaches, tomatoes, plums, tropical fruits and others. Fruit
not suitable for drying are grapefruit, lemons, persimmons
and rhubarb--without certain modifications.
Preparation:
1. Select ripe or overripe fruit.
2. Remove stones, pits or seeds from fruit. Peel, if
desired.
3. Cut fruit into chunks and place them in a food chopper
or mechanical blender.
4. If yellow or light-colored fruit are used, add 1
tablespoon of lemon or lime juice to each quart of fruit.
5. Chop, grind, or blend until a thick puree is formed.
6. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar per quart to orange and
pineapple pulp. (Additional sugar is not needed for other
fruits.)
7. Put plastic wrap in a cookie sheet or tray that has a
1/4 inch edge.
8. Pour the puree onto the sheet or tray about 1/4 inch
deep. Distribute evenly by tilting the tray; do not use a
spatula or knife.
OVEN DRYING:
Set the oven at the lowest setting (140 degrees
Fahrenheit). Place the sheets or trays in the oven and
leave the oven door cracked open--2 to 6 inches. The
fruit leather will be dry in 6 to 24 hours depending on
the thickness of the puree, oven temperature and water
content of the fruit being dried.
DEHYDRATOR DRYING:
Place sheets or trays in the dehydrator. Set the
temperature control at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry 4 to 5
hours and test for dryness.
TESTING FOR DRYNESS:
Properly dried fruit leather will be sticky to the touch,
but will be easily peeled from the plastic wrap or waxed
paper. Lift the edge, (it will adhere tightly to the
surface) and peel it back about an inch. If the leather
peels readily, it is properly dried.
STORAGE:
After loosening the edge and peeling it back about an
inch, roll the plastic wrap or waxed paper and the dried
leather in one piece in a loose roll.
Store in a cool, dry dark place. Under proper storage
conditions, leathers will keep from one month to one year.
For longer storage, place leather in the freezer.