How to Use Your Dehydrator to Reduce Food Waste And Create More Usable Products

‍3. Fruit: from leftover platters to future snacks

Fruit platters and dessert tables often leave behind uneaten fruit that’s still perfectly good.

Great options to dehydrate

• Grapes, strawberries and blueberries
  
  
• Apples, pears and stone fruit
  
  
• Pineapple, mango and kiwi
  
  
• Citrus slices (for garnishes and teas)
  
  

Basic method for fruit Garnish

1. Slice fruit to a consistent thickness
   
   
2. Arrange in a single layer on dehydrator trays
   
   
3. Dehydrate until leathery or crisp (depending on desired texture)
   
   
4. Store in airtight containers once fully cool
   
   

Use your dehydrated fruit as:

• Lunchbox snacks
  
  
• Cereal, muesli and yoghurt toppers
  
  
• Baking add-ins and trail mix
  
  
• Cocktail and mocktail garnishes

Basic method for Fruit Leather

Got leftover Christmas fruit? Turn it into fun, no-waste fruit leather!

‍IngredientsMethod

1. Prep the fruit
   Remove any stems, stones and cores. Roughly chop fruit into blender-friendly pieces.

1. Blend to a smooth puree
   Add fruit and lemon juice to a blender and blend until completely smooth. Add a splash of water or juice only if needed to get a pourable, applesauce-like consistency.

1. Sweeten and spice (optional)
   Taste the puree. If it needs a little sweetness, blend in honey/maple syrup.

1. Spread on dehydrator trays
   Line your dehydrator trays with silicon mats. Pour the puree on and spread to about 3 mm / ⅛ inch thick in an even layer.

1. Dehydrate
   Dry at 55–60°C / 130–140°F for 6–10 hours, or until the leather is dry to the touch, no longer sticky, and peels away cleanly from the liner. Drying time will vary depending on how juicy your fruit is and how thickly it’s spread.

1. Cool, cut & roll
   Let the leather cool completely, peel it off the liner, then cut into strips and roll up.

1. Store rolls in an airtight container or jar. Keep in a cool, dark place or the fridge for longer shelf life.

Great Leftover Christmas Fruit Combos

• Mango, pineapple & a squeeze of lime
• Strawberry, cherry & vanilla
• Peach, nectarine & a pinch of cinnamon
• Mixed berries & leftover pavlova fruit (add a dash of lemon juice)
• Apple, pear & a splash of orange juice

Recipe Link For a more detailed, structured guide, you can refer to our Passion Strawberry Fruit Leather recipe here:  You can simply swap in your leftover Christmas fruit follow the same method and drying times - just focus on getting an Applesauce Consitency! 

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4. Holiday tip: Let leftovers live on in your Home Kitchen

Instead of scraping plates into the bin or overfilling the fridge, build a “dehydrator habit” after big meals or services.

As you pack down:

• Put leftover veg on one tray
  
  
• Herbs and aromatics on another
  
  
• Extra fruit on another
  
  

Start the dehydrator and walk away. By morning, you’ve turned potential waste into:

• Stock powder
  
  
• Seasoning blends
  
  
• Shelf-stable snacks
  
  

Your dehydrator becomes a food waste reduction tool, not just a snack machine.

Turn food waste into opportunity with BenchFoods

From a home kitchen to a large-scale production space, a dehydrator helps you:

• Reduce food waste
  
  
• Save money on ingredients
  
  
• Create new, usable products like stock powders, snacks and seasoning blends
  
  

If you’re ready to turn your leftovers and surplus into something you can actually use, explore the BenchFoods dehydrator range.