Dehydrated Apple Strings

These are a delicious way to use the apple peels when you are canning apples. Children love them. They are high in fiber and a great sweet treat.

Get good clean apples with no bad spots.

I'm using an apple peeler. You can do it by hand. It will probably have more apple flesh on it, but can be wider.

If you are doing lots of apples, you may want to store the peels in vinegar or lemon water to keep them from browning until you are ready to dry them.

This is really to taste. The sugar helps draw some of the moisture out of the peels and of course gives them a sweeter taste. I use about a cup of sugar to every two dozen apples. I use about a tablespoon of cinnamon for each cup of sugar.

Put the apple peels in a seal-able container with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Seal the container and shake to evenly coat all the peels.

Until the peels and sugar mixture are dry, they can get sticky. So it is best to lubricate you drying rack with non-stick spray.

Spread the peels out evenly on a rack or multiple racks depending on how many peels you have.With my dehydrator, I usually dry the peels for 24-36 hours.

The best method I have found is to turn the rack upside down over a flexible cutting mat and twist and tap. The apple strings should be crisp enough now to break, not bend.

Put the strings in a jar with an airtight lid. You can use an oxygen absorber, but I have had just the strings last 18 months with no ill effects. You could probably use an airtight bag. You want to keep moisture away from the apple strings and sugar because they will absorb moisture from the air.