How to Dehydrate Pineapple with Honey
Dehydrated pineapple is a delicious snack to enjoy alone or use in other recipes. In this easy dehydrated pineapple recipe, I brush fresh pineapple with a light coating of honey for a little extra sweetness without overpowering its tangy flavor. I’ll show you how to use honey to dehydrate pineapple for a sweet, chewy treat.
Sometimes when I use honey in recipes, you don’t really taste an overwhelming sweetness. That is the case with these dehydrate pineapple chips – the sweetness is not too sweet.
Why Add Honey to Dried Pineapple?
Fresh pineapple is already plenty sweet, so the goal isn’t to turn it into candy.
A light coating of honey adds another layer of flavor and just a little extra sweetness.
I prefer brushing honey onto the slices rather than soaking them in a honey-water mixture. It uses less honey and gives me more control over how much goes on each piece.
Ingredients
You only need two ingredients for this recipe—fresh pineapple and honey.
- pineapple
- honey
Choosing a Pineapple
Choose a ripe pineapple that is firm with a fresh, sweet smell. Avoid fruit with soft spots or signs of spoilage.
A ripe pineapple will have plenty of natural sweetness and good flavor after drying.
Honey
Honey is one of those marvelous pantry staples. When honey is stored properly, it never spoils – it lasts forever.
When choosing honey to use for dehydrating fruits like pineapple – variety doesn’t really matter. Of course, I always recommend buying raw honey straight from the beekeeper when possible.
You only need a light coating—the honey should complement the pineapple, not overpower it.
Making Honey-Dried Pineapple
The process is simple, but evenly sliced pineapple and a light coating of honey will give you the best results.
1. Prepare the pineapple. Remove the top and bottom, then cut away the outer skin and any remaining eyes. Remove the tough center core and cut the pineapple into slices about ¼-inch thick.
2. Arrange the slices. Place the pineapple slices in a single layer on the dehydrator trays, leaving a little space between them for good air circulation.
3. Add the honey. Lightly brush honey onto the pineapple slices. Some recipes use a honey-water soak, but I prefer brushing because it uses less honey and gives me better control over the amount. You only need a thin coating.
4. Dehydrate. Set the dehydrator to 135°F and dry for about 12–16 hours. The exact time will depend on the thickness of the slices, moisture in the fruit, humidity, and your dehydrator.
5. Check for doneness. The pineapple should be dry and somewhat firm but still flexible and chewy. Because of the honey, it may remain slightly sticky, but there should be no obvious moisture. Let the pieces cool completely before storing.
How to Store
After allowing the dried pineapple to cool, store in an air-tight container. Clear mason jars (with wide mouths) are wonderful storage containers for dried fruit.
Inside a glass jar, moisture condensation should not be a problem if you have dried the pineapple sufficiently.
However, If you are concerned about mold or the product absorbing moisture – pop a few packets of food grade silica gel (link in recipe card) in there.
If you plan to consume it within a few days, a jar on the counter is fine. It also stores in the refrigerator for several weeks or freeze it for months of storage.
Honestly, I also like to use vacuum seal bags for my bulk food storage. They are easier to stack in the pantry and I can open them and transfer to a jar if desired.
Ways to Use Dehydrated Pineapple
Of course, the easiest way to enjoy dehydrated pineapple is straight from the jar. But these sweet, chewy pieces are also handy to have around for other uses.
Add them to trail mix or granola, chop them into smaller pieces for baked goods, or pack a few for an easy snack when you are on the go.
Just be warned—they tend to disappear faster than you expect!
More Ways to Use Honey
Dehydration as a way of food storage has many applications in the kitchen. If you really want to get creative, you can try your hand at dehydrating honey.
If food preservation is your thing – get ready for blueberry season. This recipe for making honey blueberry syrup is awesome. Its a yummy topping for pancakes and waffles.
Perhaps, these Honey Caramel Apples would be a great snack for another day! The honey caramel is a bit thinner than regular caramel but still as tasty – and fewer empty calories.
Another fresh recipe idea is my honey lime fruit salad. Light are refreshing it is a great way to use up fresh fruit in season – don’t let it go to waste.
FAQs
The dehydration time can vary depending on the thickness of the slices and the temperature settings of your dehydrator. Generally, it takes about 8 to 16 hours at 135°F (57°C) to fully dehydrate pineapple slices
Absolutely. Pineapple has plenty of natural sugar and can be dehydrated without adding anything. The light honey glaze in this recipe is for flavor and is one of my favorite ways to put honey to good use.
Canned pineapple can be dehydrated, but drain it very well first. For this recipe, I prefer fresh pineapple because I can control the thickness of the slices and the amount of honey added.
Yes, you can dry pineapple in an oven set at its lowest temperature. Arrange the slices on a lined baking sheet and check them often as they dry. An oven may dry the fruit faster than a dehydrator, so use the texture of the pineapple rather than the clock to determine when it is ready.
Learning how to dehydrate pineapple is a great way to store fruit for future use. The shelf life is long and it does not take up a lot of room in the freezer or pantry.
Did you like this recipe? Please leave a 5 star (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) rating in the recipe card below. And, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest.
Dehydrated Pineapple Recipe
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Read my disclosure.Equipment
- Mandolin Slicer (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 piece pineapple ripe
- 1/2 cup Honey
- 1 pkg Food Grade Silica Gel (Optional)
Instructions
- Choose the PineappleSelect a nice pineapple of medium size. If it is still very green, let it ripen for a few days. However, do not wait too long – over-ripe pineapples will be more acidic.
- Off With Its Head!The first thing to do is to “behead” your pineapple. Hopefully, the top is still mostly green with a few dried ends of the foliage. This is a good sign.
- Remove Peeling from SidesPineapples can be a rather frustrating food to peel. They are a bit rough and lack the smooth peel of an apple. Use a knife to slice off the outer covering. Several cuts from top to bottom are required.You will see some brown spots left (eyes). Use your knife to cut the brown away – it is okay if you have to cut into the pineapple a bit. That is normal.
- Remove CoreThe center of a pineapple is the core. This area of the fruit is woody and not as flavorful. It is common to discard the core.Some cooks use a pineapple corer. That is great if you have one on hand but a knife will work just as well. Slice the whole thing into pieces and then cut off the core.
- Slicing Uniform PiecesUsing your knife (or a slicer) cut all of the pineapple into slices of near uniform thickness. If using a mandolin slicer take care to avoid cutting yourself. Cut resistant gloves are a good kitchen accessory to have.
- Absorb Excess MoistureLay pineapple slices on a flat surface with a paper towel underneath. Use another paper towel to blot off any excess juice on top of the slices. You don't have to do this but I think it is worthwhile.
- Brush Honey on one SideUse a silicone brush to apply a light coat of honey to the top side of each pineapple slice.
- Repeat for other sideFlip fruit over and place on dehydrator trays. Apply another light coat of honey to this side.
- Dehydrate for 16 HoursDehydrate pineapple until firm and dry. It may be slightly sticky but there should be no wetness. Normally this takes approximately 16 hours at 135°F.
- Remove from DehydratorWhen pineapple is dry and firm, remove from dehydrator and allow it to cool.
I eat store bought dried pineapple slices. I heard it may be coated with sugar. Wondering if honey would give me an energy zing and it’s flavor and taste might be improved.
Honey is a preservative?
Store bought is likely sugar coated. But, I will say that I have never been able to duplicate that flavor with homemade dried slices. The honey gives them a subtle sweetness but not intense like the commercial ones.