I absolutely love drying citrus fruits! From creating dried orange slices to crafting black limes, there are endless possibilities for using dried citrus. But why limit yourself to oranges and limes? Dried lemons are incredibly versatile too! You can easily dehydrate lemons with either a dehydrator or an oven.
Dried lemon slices are great to have available at home. They can be added to various dishes and beverages, or even used to embellish gifts for a personal touch! I always add dried lemons to my syrup especially when making baklawa, cheese kunafa, and zlabia. They are great in cocktails, stews, soups, and even rice dishes!
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😍 Why You'll Love Drying Lemons
- Dehydrating lemons is easy and fun!
- Add dried lemon slices to hot water for a refreshing lemon tea. Combine with other herbs like mint, ginger, or chamomile for a flavored tea.
- Dehydrated lemons can be used to embellish gifts, or to make garlands.
- Dehydrating lemons is a great way to preserve lemons before they go bad.
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
All you need to start dehydrating lemons is lemons! There's no need to brush them with lemon juice like some other dehydrated fruits because, well, they're lemons! The only way they'll turn dark is if you over-dry them.
To make dehydrating lemons easier, choose seedless lemons, which makes slicing (without tearing them) much easier. Select firm, blemish-free lemons for the best flavor and appearance. Overly soft, juicy lemons are messier to slice.
Other Citrus Fruit — This method of drying lemons can also be applied to other citrus fruits, such as limes, tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit.
🔪 Helpful Tools
Although you can technically make dried lemons without these tools, having them makes the job much easier!
🍋 How to Make Dried Lemons
Step 1: Wash approximately 6 lemons to remove dirt or wax. If using non-organic lemons, scrub with a vegetable brush to remove pesticides. Using a mandoline or a very sharp knife, slice lemons into uniform ⅛" slices.
Step 2: If lemons have seeds, remove the seeds before dehydrating them. Arrange lemon slices on dehydrator trays in a single layer. Do not overlap, leave room for air circulation.
Step 3: Add the dehydrator cover and set the temperature to the fruits & vegetables setting (135°F). Set a timer, and flip the lemon slices after a few hours to prevent them from sticking to the trays. Dehydrating lemons can take up to 6+ hours. Lemon slices are done when they are crisp and no longer sticky, tacky, or pliable.
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🫙 How to Store Dehydrated Lemons
Allow the dehydrated lemons to cool completely to prevent condensation, then store them in a quart-sized mason jar. Use a mason jar vacuum sealer to remove excess air from the jar. This will keep the dehydrated lemons fresh longer. Store the jar in a cool, dark location, like a pantry.
☕️ Ways to Use Dried Lemon Slices
Dried lemons can be added to potpourri or wreaths for a natural, fragrant touch. Dehydrated lemons can also be used in craft projects, such as making garlands or coasters. For a refreshing lemon scent, add them to homemade candles or sachets. You can also use dried lemons in your holiday simmer pots with other spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves to freshen the air.
You can also grind the dried lemons, just follow the steps in this dried orange peel post. Then use the sugar and salt to create a DIY exfoliating scrub. Or add the dried and ground lemons to your favorite spice mix, especially as a sumac substitute! You can also make a natural cleanser with dehydrated lemons by infusing vinegar with dried lemons for a citrusy cleaning solution.
Have more lemons? Another great way to preserve lemons is to make Moroccan Preserved Lemons. Or use them to make super juice or this Italian limoncello recipe!
🎛 Oven Drying Instructions
- Preheat oven to the lowest setting (typically 150–200°F or 65–95°C).
- Place lemon slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a wire rack for better airflow.
- Bake for 4–6 hours, flipping slices occasionally to prevent sticking.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Dehydrating lemons is a great way of preserving them for later use. The dehydrating process concentrates the lemons' flavor, making the dehydrated lemons lend tanginess to drinks, rice, soups, and baked goods. Dried lemons can also be added to simmer pots because they have a wonderful citrusy scent.
Although dried lemons are edible, they're not meant to be eaten as-is. Dried lemons should be added to syrups, iced tea, and lemonade, or rehydrated in various dishes to give the dishes a lemony flavor.
Dried lemons can be added to soups and stews to give them a citrusy or sour flavor. Sliced dried lemons can be added to water, lemonade, and cocktails.
They can also be used to embellish cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts. Dried lemon peel can be ground into a powder and mixed with frosting, cake, or pancake batter to enhance the flavor.
As long as there is no moisture remaining in the dried lemons, they will last for years when stored in an airtight container.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- Slice lemons into uniform, thin slices (about ⅛ thick) for consistent drying. The thicker they are, the longer they will take to dry.
- If you have lemon pieces that are too thick or too thin, don't toss them out. You can still dehydrate them, then add them to your water or tea for a lemony flavor. You can also grind these pieces into powder!
- Before dehydrating, gently remove the seeds to avoid bitterness.
- Sprinkle with sugar or spices (e.g., cinnamon) before drying for added flavor.
- Store in an airtight jar or container in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry.
- Occasionally check the container to ensure no moisture has developed, which could lead to mold. Adding an oxygen absorber can be helpful!
🍊 More Ways to Use Your Dehydrator
If you enjoy this post, check out these other dehydrator recipes!
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Easy Dried Lemon Slices
Ingredients
- 6 medium firm, seedless lemons
Instructions
- Wash approximately 6 lemons to remove dirt or wax. If using non-organic lemons, scrub with a vegetable brush to remove pesticides. Using a mandoline or a very sharp knife, slice lemons into uniform ⅛" slices.
- If lemons have seeds, remove the seeds before dehydrating them. Arrange lemon slices on dehydrator trays in a single layer. Do not overlap, leave room for air circulation.
- Add the dehydrator cover and set the temperature to the fruits & vegetables setting (135°F). Set a timer, and flip the lemon slices after a few hours to prevent them from sticking to the trays. Dehydrating lemons can take up to 6+ hours. Lemon slices are done when they are crisp and no longer sticky, tacky, or pliable.
How to Store Dehyrdated Lemons
- Allow the dehydrated lemons to cool completely to prevent condensation, then store them in a quart-sized mason jar. Use a mason jar vacuum sealer to remove excess air from the jar. This will keep the dehydrated lemons fresh longer. Store the jar in a cool, dark location, like a pantry.
Notes
- Slice lemons into uniform, thin slices (about ⅛ thick) for consistent drying. The thicker they are, the longer they will take to dry.
- If you have lemon pieces that are too thick or too thin, don't toss them out. You can still dehydrate them, then add them to your water or tea for a lemony flavor. You can also grind these pieces into powder!
- Before dehydrating, gently remove the seeds to avoid bitterness.
- Sprinkle with sugar or spices (e.g., cinnamon) before drying for added flavor.
- Store in an airtight jar or container in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry.
- Occasionally check the container to ensure no moisture has developed, which could lead to mold. Adding an oxygen absorber can be helpful!
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