How to Dehydrate Apples in the Air Fryer

If you’re craving a sweet treat that’s as healthy as it is delicious, you might consider dehydrated apples. While apples (and a host of other foods) can be dehydrated in a dehydrator, you might not have one on hand. The best alternative, which is also much faster and more convenient, is to use your air fryer to make dehydrated apples.

Keep reading to learn how to dehydrate apples in the air fryer, and take advantage of this low-calorie food that can be used as a snack or as part of a meal.

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This Recipe
• Air Fryer Dehydrated Apples Ingredients
• Steps for Dehydrating Applies in an Air Fryer
• Dehydrated Apples Serving Suggestions
• Dehydrated Apple Storage Information
• Tips and Hints for Perfectly Dehydrated Apples in the Air Fryer
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How to Dehydrate Apples in the Air Fryer

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Versatile - Children and adults alike enjoy dehydrated apples. They’re sweet, chewy, and have a concentrated flavor. 

• Healthy - If you’re watching your waistline, you’ll be glad to know that they’re low in calories, and if you’re trying to eat more fiber, you’ll be able to add to your daily requirement in a fun, easy way.

• Convenient - They are also easy to pack and have a long shelf life. You don’t need to refrigerate them; simply pack them in a container to serve as a standalone snack, part of your lunch salad at work, or as an addition to your child’s lunchbox. 

• Time-saver - Making them in the air fryer is perfect because it’s fast, easy, and doesn’t require a cumbersome dehydrator to take up room in your pantry or on top of your counter.

Air Fryer Dehydrated Apples Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make dehydrated apples in the air fryer:

• Apples - Only one apple will likely fit in your air fryer at once. You can use any variety you’d like. I’m using Gala apples, but other popular choices are Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith.
• Lemon - This is optional; you can coat your apple slices in lemon juice to prevent browning if you’d like, but it’s not necessary for flavor or nutrition purposes.
• Spices and seasonings - These are also optional. Sweet seasonings are best if you decide to use them. Try cinnamon, nutmeg, or a pumpkin or apple pie spice. 

Steps for Dehydrating Applies in an Air Fryer

1. Prepare your apples - Wash the apples well and slice them into ⅛-inch slices. You can peel them if you prefer, though it’s not necessary. You can also core them first, but I find it easier to just pop the seeds out of the slices with a spoon.
2. Sprinkle the apples with lemon juice - This step is optional, and it will help the apples stay white rather than turning brown. It isn’t necessary, though, and the brown color will not affect the taste of the apples once they’re dehydrated.
3. Season the apples - Sprinkle them with your preferred spices for extra flavor, if you’d like. You can leave the apple slices plain if you’d like simple apple chips.
4. Preheat the air fryer -  to 320 degrees. 
5. Once preheated, add the apples - Place the slices in a single layer for the best results; you may need to do several batches if you’re using more than one apple.
6. Cook for 5 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
7. Check the apples as they continue to cook - If you want your dehydrated apples to be more leathery, they might be done after 10 to 15 minutes in total. If you’d like them more crispy, you may need to put them in for a while longer. You should check them every 2 minutes, flipping them over each time, until they are the consistency and firmness you prefer. My dehydrated apples took 22 minutes in my air fryer, and they were on the crisp side.
8. Remove the apples - and serve as desired.

Alternate oven directions

If you prefer to use your oven, you can do so by setting the temperature to 200 degrees and baking for up to several hours, flipping every 30 minutes. This will take a long time, between 3 and 5 hours, so be sure you have plenty of time to complete the dehydration process before beginning.

Dehydrated Apples Serving Suggestions

There are so many ways to use your air fryer apple chips! Here are some of them:

• Simply eat them - Air-fried apples are delicious by the handful! Eat them alone or serve them alongside cheese and nuts for a snack full of healthy carbs, fiber, and protein.
• Add them to a trail mix - Dehydrate your apples so they’re crispy, then break each slice into a few pieces and add to a trail mix of nuts, dried cranberries or raisins, and chocolate chips. This would be great for a day spent hiking or as a road trip snack.
• Add dehydrated apples to yogurt - These make a great yogurt mix-in if you’re looking for a healthy breakfast idea.
• Add apple chips to a salad - Various types of salads are the perfect base for your dehydrated apples. Consider one made with lettuce, feta cheese, candied pecans, and a raspberry vinaigrette.
• Stir them into oatmeal - If you stir your apple slices into the boiling water along with your oats, they will rehydrate, and you’ll have a natural sweetness and an extra hit of fiber.
• Serve as chips and dip - Apple chips and sweet dips, such as those made from peanut butter, honey, caramel, or chocolate, are a perfect pairing. You can also use them to eat chocolate hummus.

Use your imagination and creativity to find even more ways to use this versatile ingredient!

Dehydrated Apple Storage Information

Dehydrated apples don’t need to be refrigerated, but they should be stored in an air-tight container or zip-top bag. First, let them cool completely. Softer apple leather should be consumed within a few days, but crisp apple chips can be saved for months in an air-tight or vacuum-sealed container. 

Tips and Hints for Perfectly Dehydrated Apples in the Air Fryer

To make your dehydrated apples come out perfect, keep these tips in mind:

1. Slice your apples uniformly - You can use a mandolin slicer for more consistency, but you can also slice them all the same thickness with a sharp knife.
2. Don’t overcrowd them in the air fryer - Leave space between the apple slices so there’s plenty of airflow. Depending on how many apples you’re cooking, you may need to run several batches.
3. Watch them carefully - Once you have air-fried them for 5 minutes on each side, be sure to keep a close eye on them. They can go from almost done to overdone in a matter of a minute or two, so don’t let them continue cooking without checking on them frequently.
4. Cool before storing - Don’t try to store warm dehydrated apple slices, as this will create condensation that could lead to the apples spoiling and molding. Instead, wait until they are fully cooled.