Air Fryer Dehydrated Apricots

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If you love having a stash of dried apricots on hand for baking or snacking, you’ll love this easy recipe for Air Fryer Dehydrated Apricots. You just need a can of apricots, an air fryer and a little patience while they dehydrate!

You guys, this recipe couldn’t be easier! You don’t need a dehydrator and it’s a great way to save money on dried apricots.

I love chopping them up and adding them to this Israeli couscous salad, but they’re also delicious in cookies and granola bars!

Overhead view of dried apricot halves in a white dish.

If you haven’t tried dehydrating fruit in your air fryer yet, what are you waiting for?! You can also make dehydrated mango and dehydrated peaches!

It’s so easy to dry fruit this way. Since an air fryer circulates air around food, it works similar to a dehydrator.

You just need to use a low temperature setting so the air fryer circulates warm air (not hot) around the fruit. This ensures the fruit dries out and doesn’t cook.

Check out the dehydrated apricots story!

Why this recipe works

You just need one ingredient! And we’re using canned apricot halves, so you don’t need to worry about peeling, cutting or pitting them. Just drain the juices and they’re ready to go!
While you can use fresh or frozen apricots for this recipe, canned apricots are more convenient and readily available year round.
It’s a money saver! A bag of dried apricots can be expensive, especially if you go through a lot when baking cakes and cookies or adding them to trail mixes. By drying your own, you save a few dollars.

Side view of dehydrated apricots in a white bowl.

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

Other air fryer recipes to try

Ingredients

You need just one ingredient for this recipe!

You’ll need one 15 ounce can of apricot halves. You can buy canned apricots with or without the peel. While I prefer using peeled apricots, you can use either one for this recipe.

Step by step instructions

Drain the apricot halves and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Place the apricots in the air fryer so they're not touching. **Add more or less apricot halves as desired or that will fit in your air fryer basket.

Apricot halves arranged in a single layer in an air fryer basket.

Cook at 120F degrees for 12 hours. Use the dehydrate function if your air fryer has it.

The apricots will still be slightly moist in the center, but should no longer be tacky on the outside.

If your air fryer doesn't go down to 120F, cook at 135F degrees for 6-8 hours, checking periodically.

Expert tips

Make sure your air fryer can go as low as 120F (or 135F) degrees or has a dehydrating function. Some air fryers do not have a temperature setting low enough to dehydrate food.
Using a paper towel to pat the apricots dry is an important step as you want to remove as much moisture as possible before placing the apricots in the air fryer.
To help the centers dry out, arrange the apricot halves in the air fryer cut side up. You can even try to push the centers inside out to expose them to more warm air.
Some air fryers will dehydrate faster than others, so check on the apricots a few times while they’re drying.
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. You want air to circulate around the apricots evenly. If the apricots are touching or overlapping, some pieces may not fully dehydrate.
To ensure the apricots dry at the same rate, make sure the halves are roughly the same size.
Since the apricots will still be a little moist in the center, I like to store them in the fridge so they last longer. If they start getting soft, it means there is some moisture in the bag they’re stored in.
To change things up, try seasoning the apricots with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, Tajin seasoning, garam masala or a dash of ground cinnamon.

Dried apricots in a white dish on a white cloth.

Common questions

Can you use fresh apricots?

Yes, you can use fresh apricots for this recipe. I used canned apricots as they're available year round. Fresh apricots have a very short growing season and are not always available everywhere.

What temperature should you set your air fryer for dehydrating apricots?

You’ll want to set your air fryer to a very low temperature. I usually set mine at 120F degrees to dehydrate apricot halves. This ensures that the circulating air is warm enough to dry out the apricots but doesn’t end up cooking them.

If your air fryer has a dehydrating function, I suggest using that setting. If your air fryer doesn’t go as low as 120F, dry the apricots on 135F for 6-8 hours.

How long does it take to dehydrate apricots in the air fryer?

It will take about 12 hours for apricot halves to dehydrate at 120F degrees. Since different air fryer brands and sizes may vary in their cooking times and temperatures, I suggest checking on the apricots periodically.

How do you store dehydrated apricots?

Let the dried apricots cool completely and then place them in an airtight container or sealable bag and store them in the fridge.

How long do dehydrated apricots last?

If stored in the fridge in sealed bags, these dried apricots should last about 6 months.

Dehydrated apricot halves in a white dish.

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!