Dehydrated watermelon jerky, yes, you read that correctly! This little snack is a great way to enjoy watermelon on the go, even when it's no longer in season! If you're used to making dehydrated apple chips or dehydrated orange slices, get ready for a whole new sweet experience!
Watermelon is one of my favorite fruits, so I'm always on the hunt for watermelon-flavored snacks. Even when I freeze dry candy, I always include watermelon Jolly Ranchers, which are my favorite flavor. But now there is a new way I can enjoy this delicious fruity flavor without all the added sugar!
If you can't wrap your head around dehydrating watermelon, think of it as watermelon fruit leather instead of jerky. It's basically the same thing. We're just removing the water content and leaving behind the dehydrated pulp and concentrated watermelon flavor!
So if you already make healthy snacks like dehydrated pineapple chips, candied orange slices, and homemade fruit rollups, try your hand at dehydrated watermelon jerky too!
😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Dehydrated watermelon jerky makes a healthy candy option.
- It's a novelty, kids and adults will love it!
- If you grow watermelon in your garden, this is a great way to preserve it, especially if you have a bumper crop, lucky!
- Dehydrating watermelon is perfect for long-term storage. You can enjoy the taste of watermelon long after the summer months!
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Watermelon: All you really need for this recipe is one medium, ripe watermelon. Some people prefer it with seeds and some recommend seedless watermelon. I'll let you decide which to use. Just make sure to get one with a large yellow field spot to ensure a sweet watermelon.
- Optional: If you are feeling adventurous, you can try sprinkling a few of the slices with your favorite seasoning just to experiment with different flavors. Begin by brushing the sliced watermelon with lime juice, then sprinkle seasoning. Think sea salt, Tajin Seasoning, chili powder, or cayenne pepper.
🔪 Helpful Tools
🍉 How to Make Dehydrated Watermelon
Step 1: Slice watermelon in half, remove rind, then slice into strips ¼"- ½" in thickness. Keep in mind, the thicker you make the slices, the longer it will take to dehydrate them.
Step 2: Arrange watermelon strips on dehydrator trays and leave room for air circulation. Set the temperature to 135 degrees F. Depending on the thickness of your watermelon slices, the total time can be anywhere from 12-24 hours, flip halfway through.
Pro Tip: If you don't have silicone tray liners for your dehydrator, you can use parchment paper.
Step 3: When the cooled watermelon jerky snaps when it's bent, it's done. If not, continue to dehydrate, unless you prefer it bendable and chewy rather than crispy. If so, feel free to remove it sooner.
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Pro Tip: You can start and stop the dehydration process to check the texture of the cooled jerky. It's hard to gauge the texture when the jerky is still warm.
Step 4: Allow watermelon jerky to cool completely on wire racks before storing it in airtight containers, ziplock bags, or mylar bags. I like to toss in an oxygen absorber.
Pro Tip: If you prefer a chewier texture, slice the watermelon into thicker slices ½" to ¾" or dehydrate the slices for less time. Keep in mind if there is a lot of moisture remaining, the jerky won't keep as long.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Some swear by banging on a watermelon and picking one based on the sound it makes, while others make their choice based on size, shape, color, and webbing.
An even better way to pick a good watermelon, however, is to choose one with a large yellow field spot. The spot indicates that the watermelon was ripened in the field, which will ensure a sweet and juicy watermelon.
Like other dehydrated fruit, dehydrating a watermelon really intensifies and concentrates the sweetness of the fruit. Some compare it to watermelon candy.
Watermelon can be sliced anywhere from ¼" to ¾" thick before dehydrating. However, the thicker the slices, the longer it will take to dehydrate. If you prefer a crispier texture, slice it thinner. For a softer and chewier texture, slice it thicker.
If stored properly, for example, in sealed food-saver bags or airtight containers, dehydrated watermelon does not need to be refrigerated.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- One advantage to slicing watermelon into thinner slices (¼") is that it will significantly reduce the dehydrating time. I don't like to wait, do you?
- Keep in mind smaller pieces will be done sooner than the larger ones.
- To keep the watermelon from sticking to the trays, consider using mesh screens (tray liners) or line the trays with parchment paper.
- If you need to, you can turn off the dehydrator overnight and restart it in the morning.
- Store watermelon jerky in a cool, dark pantry in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Place dehydrated watermelon in the freezer for longer storage.
🍍 Other Dehydrated Recipes
If you're new to dehydrating and looking for other ways to use your dehydrator to dry fruit, vegetables, and herbs here are some recipe ideas:
- dehydrated oranges
- dried currants
- dehydrated apple chips
- how to dry basil leaves
- dehydrated pineapple chips
- dehydrated tomatoes
🍒 Related Recipes
Love this watermelon jerky recipe? You may also want to try my spicy smoked pork jerky and elk jerky recipe!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
📖 Recipe
Dehydrated Watermelon Jerky
Equipment
- 1 dehydrator
Ingredients
- 1 medium ripe watermelon (10 lbs or less)
Instructions
- Slice watermelon in half, remove rind, then slice into strips ¼"- ½" in thickness. Keep in mind, the thicker you make the slices, the longer it will take to dehydrate them.
- Arrange watermelon strips on dehydrator trays and leave room for air circulation. Set the temperature to 135℉. Depending on the thickness of your watermelon slices, the total time can be anywhere from 12-24 hours, flip halfway through.
- When the cooled watermelon jerky snaps when it's bent, it's done. If not, continue to dehydrate, unless you prefer it bendable and chewy rather than crispy. If so, feel free to remove it sooner.
- Allow watermelon jerky to cool completely on wire racks before storing it in airtight containers, ziplock bags, or mylar bags. I like to toss in an oxygen absorber.
Notes
- If you don't have silicone tray liners for your dehydrator, you can use parchment paper.
- You can start and stop the dehydration process to check the texture of the cooled jerky. It's hard to gauge the texture when the jerky is still warm.
- If you prefer a chewier texture, slice the watermelon into thicker slices ½" to ¾" or dehydrate the slices for less time. Keep in mind if there is a lot of moisture remaining, the jerky won't keep as long.
- One advantage to slicing watermelon into thinner slices (¼") is that it will significantly reduce the dehydrating time. I don't like to wait, do you?
- Keep in mind smaller pieces will be done sooner than the larger ones.
- To keep the watermelon from sticking to the trays, consider using mesh screens (tray liners) or line the trays with parchment paper.
- If you need to, you can turn off the dehydrator overnight and restart it in the morning.
- Store watermelon jerky in a cool, dark pantry in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Place dehydrated watermelon in the freezer for longer storage.
Nutrition
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
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