So…you just found a pack of blueberries hiding in your freezer, and you’re not sure what to do with them?
I vote to dehydrate them! It’s simple, and you don’t even have to blanch them or thaw first.
To learn more about dehydrating frozen blueberries, keep reading and I’ll walk you through it!
How to Dehydrate Frozen Fruit (Blueberries Are One of the Best Options for This Method!)
When dehydrating frozen fruit, you may think that you need to defrost and drain the fruit first. This extra step isn’t needed though.
To dehydrate the frozen blueberries using a dehydrator, spread them out on the trays so that they’re in a single layer.
Set the dehydrator to 125-130 degrees or the machine’s directions.
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The drying process can take anywhere from 15-30 hours depending on the size of the blueberries.
Make sure that you don’t raise the temperature to speed up the drying process. This can cause the blueberries to dry unevenly so it’s best to use the slow, steady process for the best results.
Store the frozen fruit in airtight containers away from direct sunlight and preferably in a cool, dry place.
How to Dehydrate Frozen Blueberries in the Oven
If you don’t have a dehydrator, then you can also use your oven. This method works well but tends to use more electricity than a dehydrator so plan for this.
It’s really just like drying fresh blueberries:
Make sure to line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread out your blueberries. If you want, you can defrost the berries before putting them in the oven but this is not necessary.
You’ll also want to ensure the berries are clean and free of any stems or leaves for the best results.
Place the berries in the oven and then bake at 135 degrees F for 10 hours.
However, if you do this, you’ll have to keep a close eye on them to prevent burning. Use a thermometer in your oven to ensure that it’s at the appropriate temperature and adjust as needed.
How to Turn Your Once Frozen Blueberries into Delicious Blueberry Powder
Blueberry powder has many uses and can be made from your dried berries.
Make sure that your berries are completely dried and then use a food processor to turn them into a powder.
Some of the better processors are going to give you good results such as a Vitamix.
Put in up to three cups of the dried berries and pulse it in order to create the powder.
After the powder has reached the desired consistency, you can sift it to remove any lumps although this is not required.
Store the blueberry powder in clean jars or containers. Since the powder may spoil faster than the intact berry, it’s probably best to only grind up the powder that you’re going to use in a month.
In this other post, I share lots of ways to use your homemade blueberry powder.
How to Rehydrate Dried Blueberries
If you want to rehydrate your dried blueberries for recipes, smoothies, and more, you can do this fairly easily.
Place the dried berries in a clean bowl and cover them with room temperature water. The berries should absorb the water and be ready in about half an hour. Drain any excessive water.
Keep the reconstituted blueberries in the fridge until ready to use. It’s probably best to use the berries within a few days as it may be more likely to spoil.
Dried blueberries are nutritious with many benefits, so I like to toss them into as much as I can—yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, cereal and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to blanch frozen blueberries before dehydrating them?
No, frozen blueberries do not have to be blanched before dehydrating them. Some people prefer to do this though and it won’t cause any problems with the freezing process.
If you decide to blanch your blueberries, make sure to drain them thoroughly before drying.
Should I defrost the frozen berries first?
This is also not required. The only benefit of defrosting the berries first is that you will be able to get rid of excess moisture and the drying process may be faster.
You can defrost the frozen berries in the fridge overnight and then dry the following day. While not required, you may prefer to add this step in the drying process.
Can rehydrated blueberries be used for baking?
Yes! You’ll just want to pat them dry thoroughly to avoid adding extra water to your recipe. 🙂
I have soooo many frozen blueberries and this will help tremendously. I appreciate this valuable information Jordan, it’s right on time!