Easy Dehydrated Watermelon (Watermelon Jerky)
Watermelon jerky is an ultra-sweet, chewy version of the summer fruit we all know and love. It's a perfect snack for when you're craving a healthy sweet treat.
Servings: 8
Calories: 169kcal
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- 1 watermelon
Instructions
- Wash outside of watermelon thoroughly.
- Cut ends off of watermelon to make flat surfaces.
- Set watermelon on one cut end. Cut rind into strips by starting at the top. Keep going until all rind has been removed.
- Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise. Cut watermelon into thin slices ⅛"-¼" thick. Then cut slices into rectangles about 1 ½" wide and 4" long. The shape and size are less important than the thickness. The thicker the pieces are, the longer it will take to dehydrate.
- Cut pieces of parchment paper to fit dehydrator racks.
- Lay watermelon in a single layer on the parchment paper-lined racks with some space in between slices.
- Set the dehydrator to the "fruit" setting, usually 135-145°F. Dehydrate for 24-30 hours. Flip slices halfway through and rotate the dehydrator trays. Some slices will be done before others. Remove finished slices while the others continue to dehydrate.
- Store in zippered bags in the freezer for maximum freshness.
Notes
- Select a ripe watermelon by turning it over to see if it has a flat, yellow spot on the bottom. If it has a yellow spot, this means it was ripened in the field and is ready to eat.
- For a chewy texture, slice the watermelon on the thicker side (¼"). For a less chewy texture, slice the watermelon on the thinner side (⅛" or less).
- After the watermelon jerky has sat in a bag for a day or so, check on the texture. Any moisture in the thicker pieces may have been distributed to the thinner pieces and you may need to dehydrate them more to get to your desired texture.
- Parchment paper is optional for dehydrating watermelon. But, adding a layer of parchment paper to your dehydrator trays helps so much for clean-up. I highly recommend it!
Nutrition
Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 630mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 3201IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg
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