Apple varieties for drying

9 years ago

I have access to Gala, September Wonder, Rome, and Jonagold. Which of these are best for apple chips? May also do some apple butter. Thanks!

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Comments (3)

grainlady_ks
9 years ago
Taste is subjective, so you will want to do your own taste test. When I first got my dehydrator I purchased one apple of as many varieties as I could locate to see the different tastes and textures after they were dehydrated. You'll find some apples are not as sweet as others, some have very little flavor, and the textures are slightly different - not to mention cost. "How To Dry Food" suggests: Gravenstein, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Newton, Rome Beauty and other firm-textured, tart varieties.

My favorite to dehydrate for snacking are Jonathan because they are nice and sweet after they are dried. Johnathan are also one of the least expensive apples and I can usually get them for under $1/pound. They should be showing up in stores soon, and when they do I will be dehydrating them nearly non-stop until they are no longer available (usually early December). I only dehydrate new-crop apples and dry enough to last a year.

I harvest and dehydrate free-for-the-picking apples and don't always know what variety they are and they are generally used in cooking/baking rather than snacking because they will be seasoned with spices. Nearly any variety of apple will work for making applesauce with dehydrated apples.

You can always sprinkle bland-tasting apples with cinnamon/sugar or flavored gelatin powder before you dry them - who doesn't like those??? When we visit our granddaughter at college in October (in E. Tennessee), she has already requested LOTS of dried apples. ;-)

-Grainlady
party_music50
9 years ago
I would dry the one with the finest/firmest texture and sweetest taste. :)
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Gala apples are our favorite and I dry pounds and pounds of them each Fall. One of our local stores has them on sale for 3 pounds for a dollar on certain days. That's when I buy my apples for dehydrating! We use them as snacks when we are travelling and also share with grandkids, kids, neighbors, etc. I have use Anna Apples and Red Delicious but the Anna's are very tart and the Delicious seem too "crumbly".

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Apple varieties for drying

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grainlady_ks

party_music50

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mamatoad

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