How to Dry Plums

5 from 17 votes

Learn how to dry plums in a dehydrator to make homemade prunes.

Course Preserving Food, Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Drying Time 10

Total Time 10 20

Servings

Calories 24kcal

Italian prune plums Use as many plums as you have that will fit on your dehydrator.

Wash your plums with cool water
Italian prune plums
Slice in half lengthwise and remove pit
Place plums skin side up on dehydrator trays. It's okay to fit them close together, just don't overlap the plums
Turn dehydrator to 145°F and let the drying begin!
Drying will take anywhere between 10-18 hours. That's a huge range, but it really depends on the size of your plums, the moisture level in plums, the amount your are drying and weather conditions.
Where you are drying them. I often set my dehydrator outside under a covered porch. The cooler temperature or higher humidity will increase drying time.
Check your plums every few hours to determine if they are dry enough. The plums should be pliable with no visible moisture.
Remove dried plums from dehydrator and place in a large glass jar or plastic bag. Rotate the plums around in the container to help condition the plums. If moisture appears on the jar or on the bag, the plums are not dried long enough. Just place back on dehydrator and dry for a bit longer.
Store prunes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one month. For longer storage, place in vacuum seal bags and freeze for up to one year.

Drying time will vary depending on the size and moisture content of the plums, how full the dehydrator is, and the temperature and humidity where the dehydrator is running.
Begin checking the plums after about 6 hours and check more frequently as they get closer to being done.
Rotate the dehydrator trays about halfway through the drying time.
Dried plums should be pliable with no visible moisture.
Condition the plums before storing. If moisture appears in the container during conditioning, return the plums to the dehydrator for additional drying.