This post will show you, step-by-step, How to Dehydrate Apples in your Air Fryer. Dehydrated apples are easy to make in an air fryer and a great way to preserve the apple flavor and extend the life of your apples. They are also easy to store and make an ideal quick snack, and garnish, and are tasty in many dishes!
Dehydrating apples in the air fryer is very popular in the fall, especially if you have apple trees or a lot of apples on hand, and want them to last! This was inspired by my post on How to Dehydrate Herbs in the Air Fryer on this site.
Jump to:
- 🥘Ingredient Notes
- 📖Variations & Substitutions
- 🔪Step-by-Step Instructions for Dehydrating Apples in your Air Fryer
- Expert Recipe Tips (for dehydrating apples in an air fryer)
- 🥗 What to do with Air Fryer Dehydrated Apples
- 🌡️Storage
- 👪 Serving Size
- 🔢WW Points
- Top tip
- ❔ Recipe FAQs
- 🍎More Apple Recipes
- 📋How to Dehydrate Apples in the Air Fryer
🥘Ingredient Notes
You only need a few things to dehydrate apples in your air fryer:
- Fresh apples - you can use any type of apples you have on hand (pink lady, red delicious, Granny Smith etc. ) and you can keep the skin on or take it off, depending on how you plan to use them. Sweet apples are the best apples to use, but if you like it tart, then Granny Smith apples would work too.
- Lemon juice - you can use lemon juice from concentrate (Realemon) or freshly squeezed lemon juice
See recipe card for quantities.
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Lemon Juice - you can use fresh lemon juice instead of lemon juice from concentrate, but you'll need to double the amount
- Apples - use any types of apple you have on hand. * You can prevent browning completely by using Cosmic Crisp apples. I have done my own testing and they take a very long time to brown -up to 24 hours!
- Add-ins - add cinnamon if you like, you can even sprinkle on a little sugar
🔪Step-by-Step Instructions for Dehydrating Apples in your Air Fryer
Apples can be dried with or without peeling and sprinkled with cinnamon before or after dehydrating. But whether you do either of these things depends on how you plan to use the apples. I like to use them for both sweet and savory dishes, so I prefer to peel them before dehydrating and not add cinnamon in advance.
You also may opt to peel the apples if you are going to rehydrate the dried apples for baking or plan to add them to another recipe like a stuffing or rice mixture.
I rinse them in lemon water first because the acid in the juice of the lemon helps prevent browning. Lemon juice also helps absorb more of the cinnamon (if you want to add that before dehydrating them in your air fryer). *Mine went a little brown because I stopped the process for a while (as I had to go out). But you can prevent browsing completely by using Cosmic Crisp apples. I have done my own testing and they take a very long time to brown!
Peel (optional) core and slice apples into 3mm (⅛ inch) approximately, circular pieces
Use a sharp knife or mandoline slicer to slice apples.
Pour lemon juice into a bowl of water and add apple slices to rinse (I leave them in about 3-5 minutes)
Remove sliced apples from lemon water and pat dry with paper towel
Place apple rings in air fryer in single layer ( you can get more in a Ninja Foodi or other drawer type air fryer if you put some under the grate and the rest on top of the grate/grill.)
If you have an air fryer basket, place in single layer (you can also cut the circles in half).
Set dehydrator function to 135 degrees F (57 degrees C ) - use match cook if you have a Ninja Foodi
Dehydrate for 7-8 hours until apples are crisp and no longer contain moisture. You can put them back in for longer if you like them very crispy.
*I found 8 hours was perfect for me but they weren't really crispy (which I didn't want). If you want them crispy, you need to leave them even longer (just keep checking on them).
If your Air Fryer does not have a dehydrate Function:
- Preheat the air fryer to its lowest setting (on some that is 300 degrees F or 148 degrees C)
- Follow steps 1-3
- Add the apple slices to the air fryer basket without overcrowding. (You may have to air fry in batches ).
- Cook time: Air fry for about 15 minutes if your lowest temperature if 300 degrees F (depending on your air fryer and lowest temperature will dictate how long to air fry them), tossing the slices around every 5 minutes. You need to keep a close eye on them.
- You will know when they are done if you can't squeeze any liquid from them, remove them onto a platter and let them cool.
Expert Recipe Tips (for dehydrating apples in an air fryer)
- Firm & Crisp Apples Work Best – Opt for apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Cosmic Crisp for the best texture. Avoid mealy apples like Red Delicious, as they tend to dry unevenly.
- Slice Uniformly – Use a mandoline slicer for even, consistent slices (about ⅛ inch thick). Thicker slices will take longer to dehydrate.
- Core Before Slicing – If you plan to use the apples as rings, core them before slicing to maintain the shape.
- Single Layer is Key – Even though some air fryer models allow stacking, placing them in a single layer ensures even drying.
- Check for Dryness – Apples should feel dry to the touch with no moisture inside. To test, break a piece in half—if no moisture beads appear, they’re done.
🥗 What to do with Air Fryer Dehydrated Apples
These are my favorite ways to use air fryer dehydrated apple chips:
As an edible garnish on Apple Cider:
ENERGY BARS: making your own energy bars! You can swap these dehydrated apples out for any dried fruit in this recipe or simply add them in for extra flavor and nutrition!
These air fryer apple chips make a delicious sweet treat eaten straight up, made into cinnamon apple chips with a little sprinkling of ground cinnamon, or dipped in peanut butter or yogurt, or make caramel apple chips by dipping into carmel dip or drizzling caramel sundae sauce over them. Or make this yummy Dulce de Leche dip I use for my Churros for dipping. They are the perfect healthy snack!
One of my favorite ways to use dehydrated apples is in my award-winning Apple Rice (with Sausage)
Add chopped dehydrated apples to granola, oatmeal, porridge, or muesli
Add them to your favorite stuffing !
Here are a few more ideas for how to use air fryer dehydrated apples:
🌡️Storage
Store these Air Fryer dried apple slices in an airtight container at room temperature, in cool, dark place such as a pantry for up to 6 months (IF they are completely dried). If you're not sure, store them in the fridge.
If you are storing them for a week or two and plan to eat them, they can be stored in a ziploc bag or a sealed jar.
The shelf life of dried fruits increases when stored in the freezer or refrigerator - they can last up to 6 months if properly dehydrated. A vacuum sealer can also extend the life of your dehydrated apples. With proper storage, dehydrated apples can last up to 12 months.
👪 Serving Size
These homemade apple chips use 4 apples and make about 24 apple slices, if they are cut into 3mm (⅛ inch slices). Depending on how large your air fryer is, you could fit more at one time.
🔢WW Points
This Dehydrated apple in Air Fryer recipe is Weight Watchers friendly @ 2 WW points per ¼ cup (about 4 slices).
Top tip
How to rehydrate dehydrated apples: Pour boiling water over your dehydrated apple slices in a bowl and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes to soften them up!
❔ Recipe FAQs
Apples can be dried with or without peeling and sprinkled with cinnamon before or after dehydrating. But whether you do either of these things depends on how you plan to use the apples. I like to use them for both sweet and savory dishes, so I personally prefer to peel them before dehydrating and not add cinnamon in advance.
Even if your air fryer doesn't have a dehydrator setting, you can still dry apples on the lowest setting.
Apple slices should be crisp yet bend a little (pliable) when properly dried. To tell if they are dried properly, cut a dehydrated apple slice in half and squeeze it; there should be no moisture that drips out.
In a Ninja Foodi Air Fryer (or an air fryer with the dehydrate function) it will take 7-8 hours to dehydrate apples.
If you soak them in lemon water for 3- 5 minutes, it will help prevent browning.
If you are looking to get the most from your air fryer AND your apples, give this air fryer dehydrated apple recipe a try! They are easy to make and make a nutritious snack.
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📋How to Dehydrate Apples in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 apples
- cold water
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice (from concentrate) * if you substitute fresh lemon juice you need to double the amount
Instructions
- Peel (optional) core and slice apples into 3mm (⅛ inch) pieces.
- Pour lemon juice into a bowl of water and add apple slices to rinse. Leave for 3-5 minutes.
- Remove slices from lemon water and place on paper towel and pat dry with more paper towel.
- Place in air fryer in single layer ( If you have a drawer style air fryer you can do 2 layers if you put some under the grate/grill and the rest on the grate.)If you have an air fryer basket, place in single layer (you can also cut the circles in half.
- Set dehydrator function to 135 degrees F (57 degrees C ) - use match cook if you have a Ninja Foodi.
- Dehydrate for 7-8 hours.If you air fryer does not have a dehydrator function: Preheat the air fryer to its lowest setting (on some that is 300 degrees F or 148 degrees C)Follow steps 1-3. Add the apple slices to the air fryer basket without overcrowding. (You may have to air fry in batches ).Cook time: Air fry for about 15 minutes if your lowest temperature if 300 degrees F (depending on your air fryer and lowest temperature will dictate how long to air fry them), tossing the slices around every 5 minutes. You need to keep a close eye on them. *how long they take will depend on your air fryer, the lowest temperature and the thickness of the applesYou will know when they are done if you can't squeeze any liquid from them, remove them onto a platter and let them cool.
- To tell if they are dried properly, cut a dehydrated apple slice in half and squeeze it, there should be no moisture that drips out.
Notes
-
- Preheat the air fryer to its lowest setting (on some that is 300 degrees F or 148 degrees C)
-
- Follow steps 1-3
-
- Add the apple slices to the air fryer basket without overcrowding. (You may have to air fry in batches ).
-
- Cook time: Air fry for about 15 minutes if your lowest temperature if 300 degrees F (depending on your air fryer and lowest temperature will dictate how long to air fry them), tossing the slices around every 5 minutes. You need to keep a close eye on them.
-
- You will know when they are done if you can't squeeze any liquid from them, remove them onto a platter and let them cool
-
- Firm & Crisp Apples Work Best – Opt for apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Cosmic Crisp for the best texture. Avoid mealy apples like Red Delicious, as they tend to dry unevenly.
- Slice Uniformly – Use a mandoline slicer for even, consistent slices (about ⅛ inch thick). Thicker slices will take longer to dehydrate.
-
- Core Before Slicing – If you plan to use the apples as rings, core them before slicing to maintain the shape.
-
- Single Layer is Key – Even though some air fryer models allow stacking, placing them in a single layer ensures even drying.
-
- Check for Dryness – Apples should feel dry to the touch with no moisture inside. To test, break a piece in half—if no moisture beads appear, they’re done.
Terri Gilson
I love making these dehydrated apples in my air fryer! It's such a smart way to use up extra apples, especially in the fall when I always seem to have too many. The best part is how versatile they are - I snack on them, add them to my morning oatmeal, and even use them to jazz up my baking.